The town hall will happen at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Provo City Library, where Mayor Michelle Kaufusi and Provo City Council members will answer questions, while attendees enjoy free food and cultural performances and learn about available community resources, a city-issued press release stated.

Numerous local organizations will be on hand at the event, including Elevate Utah (formerly Centro Hispano), Preservando El Arte as well as Community Action Services and Food Bank.

Provo hosted its first “Tu Voz Importa” in February 2024, Kaufusi said the response from that event indicated the need for direct dialogue between the city and its Hispanic and Latino communities.

“Provo’s Hispanic and Latino community is an integral part of who we are as a city. It’s not enough to say everyone belongs–we must demonstrate it through meaningful action,” she said. “Events like this build the trust and connection that strong communities require.”

According to U.S. census data, Provo’s hispanic population currently sits at 19%, and roughly 1 in 5 families speak Spanish in their homes. The city says the town hall aims to address a vital need for accessible civic engagement in an inclusive space where Spanish-speaking residents can directly communicate with their elected officials in their preferred language.

Jackie Larson, CEO of Elevate Utah, said the event allows the Hispanic community in Provo to be seen and heard by city leaders and elected officials.

“Tu Voz Importa is more than just a town hall meeting — it’s promoting the connection and inclusion of the Hispanic community into the Provo City community as a whole,” she said. “I’m grateful to Mayor Kaufusi and the Provo City Council for showing, through their presence and leadership, that they genuinely care about the well-being of the Hispanic community in Provo.”

The town hall comes amid President Donald Trump’s increased immigration enforcement efforts.

The impacts are being felt across the state, including in Utah Valley.

Last month, Utah County Commissioners approved an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to bolster coordination with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, despite heavy opposition from community members.

Despite the expanded enforcement, Provo says a main goal of the event is to encourage Spanish-speaking residents to become civically engaged, which includes serving on boards and commissions or taking on leadership roles in the Neighborhood District Program — places where their voices and perspectives are needed, the city says.

City Councilman George Handley said he pitched the town hall idea to Kaufusi ahead of last year’s event as a way for the city to foster a stronger connection with Provo’s Spanish-speaking residents.

“As a council, we are excited to extend this invitation to our residents in Provo, especially to those who speak Spanish,” he said. “We will provide information, answer questions, and seek to understand how we can serve all members of our community better.”

Thursday’s town hall will be conducted mostly in Spanish, with English translation to be provided.

All residents are welcome to attend and encouraged to register at tuvozimportaprovo.eventbrite.com.