Dear County Employee, 

Please join me in congratulating Efren Corado Garcia on his new role as our Diversity & Inclusion Officer. 

Efren, a Guatemalan native, found his love for the arts in Southern California. Salt Lake City became his home after attending the University of Utah to complete a Master of Fine Arts degree and a Laban Movement Analyst Certification. Efren taught at the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, and worked for Utah Humanities before joining Repertory Dance Theater. Efren has served as an appointee to the Salt Lake City Arts Council Board for the past five years, working to highlight the need to decentralize traditional standards measuring distribution of resources to under-represented communities. 
 
In 2018 Efren joined the Salt Lake County Division of Arts & Culture as the Arts for All Program Coordinator. Efren partnered with organizations serving Salt Lake County residents in areas ranging from homelessness, mental health, and veteran affairs to the economically challenged on inclusivity and access to the arts. At the start of COVID-19 and the closure of performing venues, Efren redeployed to the Salt Lake County Health Department to support the County’s Quarantine and Isolation Unit serving vulnerable populations. As a redeployed staff Efren served as a shelter site lead managing safety policy, client care, and staff training. 

I believe that Efren’s background including his work with the creative community will help us reexamine equity, diversity, and inclusion by identifying the intersectionality of our shared experiences. By stepping onto the front line of COVID-19 response, Efren demonstrated the strength of his character and put into action his commitment toward Salt Lake County’s goal of delivering every County service through a lens of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

Sincerely,


Mayor Jenny Wilson