Hispanic

Partnerships: The Office of Hispanic Affairs participated on a number of community advisory boards, including the Micro-Enterprise Loan Fund, Zion’s Diversity Advisory Committee, Disproportionate Minority Confinement Committee, POST Council, Wasatch Youth Advisory

Board, Police Corps Advisory Council, University of Utah dean search committee, Multi-Ethnic

Housing Board.

The Utah Office of Hispanic Affairs advises the governor on issues that impact the Hispanic community. To accomplish this mission, the office assesses the responsiveness of state government to the needs of Utah’s Hispanic residents.

Mission

Office of Pacific Islander Affairs

www.dced.state.ut.us/poly

Governor Mike Leavitt signed an Executive Order on December 16, 1999 changing the name of the Utah Office of Polynesian Affairs to the Office of Pacific Islander Affairs. With the new name, the office identifies more appropriately with all the communities it serves including Micronesians and Melanesians, in addition to Polynesians. This is significant because it coincides with the beginning of the new millennium and the 2000 Census.

Highlights

Referral Services: The office responded to more than 1,000 telephone calls, letters, and visits from Pacific Islanders living in Utah and residents concerned about Pacific Islander issues.

Those issues included immigration, racial profiling, discrimination, education, job equity, and health care. Inquiries were directed to appropriate agencies, councils, committees, and task forces that serve and represent Pacific Islanders and ethnic citizens. Other states have also requested information from the office on how to best serve Pacific Islanders.

Pacific Islander Business Development Conference: In conjunction with the Small Business Administration, this inaugural conference brought together 75 Pacific Islanders who operate or are interested in starting small businesses.

Census 2000: The office mounted a concerted effort with several community organizations to organize various initiatives to garner full participation by the Pacific Islander community in the federal census.

Pacific Islander Young Achievers: Four GIFT (Governor’s Initiative on Families Today) conferences were held during the fiscal year to honor young achievers. Academic and leadership awards were presented to 574 junior and senior high school students. Thirty-one all-state athletes also received recognition.

1999-2000 Joint Ethnic Work Plan: The Office continued to team with the state Offices of Asian, Black, and Hispanic Affairs, their advisory councils and respective communities in addressing criminal justice, economic opportunities, education, and health issues impacting the ethnic communities in Utah. Recommendations will be included in a Joint Ethnic Annual Report.

Cultural Awareness: The office and Polynesian community collaborated with KUED-TV to produce a sixty-minute documentary, “Polynesian Gift to Utah,” to promote a