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The Tu Voz Importa event takes place Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Provo. (Courtesy Betsy Ramirez)

Courtesy Betsy Ramirez

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The Tu Voz Importa event takes place Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Provo. (Courtesy Betsy Ramirez)

Courtesy Betsy Ramirez

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The Tu Voz Importa event takes place Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Provo. (Courtesy Betsy Ramirez)

Courtesy Betsy Ramirez

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In Provo, there is a disconnect between existing community resources available and the people who know about them, according to Tim Smith, a member of Provo-based Preservando El Arte. 

It can be amplified by a language barrier for Spanish-speaking individuals, or those who speak English as a second language, because most websites and social networks are in English, Smith said.  

The annual Tu Voz Importa event, held last week at the Provo City Library, aimed to bridge the gap. Presented by the Provo City Council, Elevate Utah and Preservando El Arte, nearly 20 organizations set up shop in the library ballroom, from Provo City School District to My Hometown and United Way, to teach attendees about the services provided.

“People can connect and realize, oh my gosh, my neighbor is having a baby, I need to take her to the baby-to-baby program,” Smith said. “Oh, they’re not immunized. We need to go to the health department. Oh, they don’t know about the Provo library services. They were giving out free library cards tonight. You know, so it’s just like connecting people with the real things that are abundantly available that people don’t know about.”

Janet Olivas, a member of Preservado El Arte who first helped organize Tu Voz Importa three years ago, said it is important for different organizations to get involved and support the community. 

“We need more unity, and that’s what these classes are for,” Olivas said, translated from Spanish.

She added that many local Latino businesses have joined in to support the program, such as the restaurant Como En Ecuador.

“These are people who want to help the community. I tell them, ‘If you help the community, you’ll succeed,'” Olivas said. 

In Provo, roughly 19% of residents identify as Latino and roughly 18% of households speak Spanish at home, according to the city.