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Show Profile The Park Record. A-15 www.parkrecord.com SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, DECEMBER 30, 2017-JANUARY 2, 2018 Zegarra finds home, mission in Park City After growing up in Peru, Parkite aims to create change ANNA MOORE Record contributing writer Looking out the window of his office at the Park City Community Foundation, Diego Zegarra can see the snow-caked roofs of Prospector Square under the shadow of Iron Mountain. The ski town vista is a far cry from the cliffy coast, speckled with surfers and busy discotheques, of his hometown, Lima, Peru. With a perfectly styled pompadour and a sharp tailored shirt, Zegarra’s style seems fitted for a bigger city. Although Park City lacks fresh ceviche and beach soccer, it has become home to the 26-year-old humanitarian. As the development and special projects manager for the Park City Community Foundation, Zegarra is in charge of connecting low-income families with equal opportunities in town. Above all, his mission is getting Latino children involved in recreation. Fast Facts Biggest role model: My mom Favorite local restaurant: Does Ritual count? If not, Coal & Lumber – their bread is of transcendental importance. Favorite song right now: Childish Gambino – Redbone Top of your bucket list: World Cup in Russia 2018! “My family was middle class,” Zegarra said, “and my school gave me opportunities that led me to where I am today.” Zegarra describes himself as “living proof” that education can take you wherever you dream. During his first years at the University of Lima, Zegarra lived comfortably with his parents. At the age of 21, he received a J-1 visa to work in the mountains of Utah at Solitude Mountain Resort. After two snowy seasons, he fell in love with snowboarding and the I heard about landlords taking advantage of these poor families, family members with illnesses, or people who struggled with immigration and deportation,” Diego Zegarra development and special projects manager for the Park City Community Foundation Wasatch. Upon returning to Peru, he asked his parents if he could finish his studies in business and marketing at the University of Utah. With their support, he applied and was accepted. Before the move, “I was a kid,” said Zegarra, who was thrust into adulthood when he moved to Salt Lake City without any friends or family. Coming to Utah was as much of a geographical change as it was a cultural change. “It felt like moving to a small town,” said Zegarra, who wasn’t used to the conservative nature of much of Utah. Graduating in 2009 into a recovering economy, Zegarra was catapulted into a new career path. His goal of climbing the corporate ladder dissolved with the lack of job offerings, and he took a modest position as a substitute teacher at an after school program. It was in the classroom that the stories of students and their families sparked his passion for social justice. He found that his students’ struggles went beyond the classroom. For the first time, he was confronted with the socioeconomic impacts that affect many among Utah’s Latino population. “I heard about landlords taking advantage of these poor families, family members with illnesses, or people who struggled with immigration and deportation,” he said. “You’d hear about 10 people living in a two-bedroom apartment, and I realized that these communities need a lot of help.” As Zegarra became closer to the TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD families, he felt he had to do more. After moving to Utah from his hometown of Lima, Peru, Diego Zegarra joined the Having big ideas for how teachers staff of the Park City Community Foundation and heads up an effort to get Latino could help students didn’t always youth involved in athletic programs. go over well with the school board. The ideological disconnect between Foundation. City students are Latino, few particischools and Zegarra ultimately led to At the exact same time, an initia- pate in local athletic activities. Comhis being let go. Free from a job, Ze- tive called The Solomon Fund was munication barriers and lack of transgarra took the opportunity to spend a being created. Named after the do- portation keep many Latino students year road tripping around the States. nor Elizabeth “Beano” Solomon, the from joining teams, but finances are “People called it my ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ program “facilitates access to sports the biggest deterrent, Zegarra said. “The cost for sport participation trip,” he said with a laugh. and recreation opportunities for LatiUpon returning to Utah, Zegarra no children in Park City.” Serendip- is set by the coach,” he said. At Park moved to Park City, where he found itously, Zegarra found himself in a City High School, for instance, team the socioeconomic issues facing stu- community that needed his specific participation ranges in price from dents particularly striking, given the experience to help young Latino stu- around $250 to join the wrestling extreme wealth of a resort town. In dents with “integration through recAugust of 2016, Zegarra started his reation.” Please see Zegarra, A-16 GGRealEstate_SixthBedroom_Qtr_final.pdf 1 of 12/27/17 12:43 PM career at the Park City Community Although nearly a quarter Park Helping you is what we do best. 2. You won’t miss that sixth bedroom when you’re sitting on your deck sipping champagne gazing up at Iron Mountain. A house will cost around the same to build with a great view as with an average view. However, the value of the home when complete will be far higher on a great view lot, especially after the home has aged a little. 2351 W. RED PINE COURT - PARK CITY, UTAH Buy the best view you can afford, and make the house smaller, if needed, to stay on budget. When we say “million dollar views” in Park City, we mean it. The same home on a great lot can easily be worth a million dollars more than on an average lot. This statement is becoming even more true as great view lots become rarer due to build out. 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