32nd Annual State of the Community Luncheon

Thursday, April 24, 2024

University of Utah, Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House

155 South Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City

BOOK BANNING IN UTAH

Literary Freedom: A Cornerstone of Democracy

Keynote Speakers: Peter Bromberg, Every Library, and Thomas Ford, ACLU

Making Democracy Work Award: Let Utah Read

Community Service Award: Dr. Susan R. Madsen

TICKET PRICE: $100

Do you belong to a book club? Consider coming as a club. Let us know on your ticket purchase and you will receive a special door prize.

interested in being an event sponsor? Link to our sponsorship page.

Peter Bromberg, EveryLibrary

Peter has over 30 years of library experience, including stints as a consultant at a multi-type library cooperative, a law librarian, a public library director, and an advocate for libraries on local, state, and national levels. As Associate Director of EveryLibrary, he supports librarians and community groups in combating censorship through strategic messaging and coalition-building. As Co-Chair of the Utah Library Association Advocacy Committee, and Co-Founder of Let Utah Read, he works with legislators and coalition partners to oppose censorship and build support for libraries in Utah.

Thomas Ford, ACLU

Tom joined the ACLU of Utah as a Staff Attorney in January of 2024 and is committed to protecting Utahn’s First Amendment rights, which include the fight against book banning and classroom censorship. Tom earned his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he represented incarcerated people with disabilities, challenging oppressive and illegal conditions of confinement as a Student Attorney. He worked as an Assistant Public Defender at the Alaska Public Defender Agency, where he fought to defend the rights and dignity of indigent people accused criminally across Alaska.

Making Democracy Work Award: Let Utah Read

Let Utah Read is a coalition of Utahns, educators, parents, librarians, and organizations dedicated to preserving Americans’ freedom to read. They advocate for diverse literature in schools and libraries, empowering parents to guide their children's reading choices. By educating and mobilizing Utahns, they work to ensure that all individuals have access to a wide range of ideas and perspectives, free from censorship.

Community Service Award: Dr. Susan Madsen

Dr. Susan R. Madsen is a leading expert on women’s leadership. She has authored numerous books and articles on the subject. Her research has been featured in major publications such as the U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times and more. Professor Madsen is the Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at USU. She is also the Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project. She is passionate about empowering girls and women in Utah and worldwide.