Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake

This profile is part of our Community Partner Spotlight series where we celebrate the important work of our grantees and partners across the communities we serve. These organizations share our belief that every person should have an equal opportunity to live the healthiest life possible, and we're honored to work alongside them toward meaningful change. Throughout this series, you can expect to gain insight into a wide array of nonprofit organizations that are helping us create healthier and more resilient communities.

Focus area supported:

Healthy and Connected Aging

Geographic area served:

Utah, specifically Salt Lake, Davis, Tooele, Utah and Weber counties

About Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake:

For over fifty years, the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake has served as a resource to ensure American Indians/Alaska Natives have access to critical resources, education, economic assistance and health services. As members of tribal nations in Utah began uprooting their lives for the promise of improved economic stability and living conditions in urban areas, it became apparent that an organization like Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake was necessary to support their transitions. In fulfillment of its mission “to serve The People by honoring Native cultures, strengthening health and wellness programs, and cultivating community,” the team prioritizes preserving cultural knowledge and traditional practices.

Our partnership:

After gathering feedback from community members, Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake learned that its communities wanted expanded offerings around health and wellness with additional cultural initiatives that allow for storytelling, exploration of cultural roots and multigenerational connection. In response, it launched the Rebalancing Culture program in 2024 which Cambia Health Foundation invested in.

Since the launch, Rebalancing Culture hosted eight events, and nineteen workshops designed to honor and celebrate Indigenous traditions while addressing contemporary needs. Participants experienced an array of activities including an event to honor Native veterans, a series of traditional beading and sewing classes with intergenerational participants, introductory and advanced Diné Bizaad (Navajo) language classes, and community dance demonstrations showcasing the traditions of several local Tribes. Each initiative invited elders to connect with each other and with Native youth in their communities, cultivating social bonds and sharing knowledge across generations in ways that reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness.

The Rebalancing Culture program continues into 2025, and Cambia Health Foundation is proud to continue supporting it through a new round of grant funding. Click here to view upcoming events.

In their words:

“Many of the participants expressed how the program positively impacted their family financially, emotionally and mentally. The tools, teachings and skills they acquired gave them the confidence to apply what they learned in their personal lives, whether through crafting, entrepreneurship or cultural preservation. One family coming through our entrepreneurial program can now self-sustain and not worry about feeding their family daily. We are extremely proud of how large an impact Cambia Health Foundation made through its generosity.”
- Matt Poss, executive director with Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake