Utah Women Are Resourceful

May 2021

We’re featuring Ellen Selu for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Ellen was a community builder who wanted every Utahn to know that they belong here. So she started yearly Polynesian festivals, raised money or scholarships for AAPI kids, and hosted a Hawaiian show on KRCL radio. Her work as a community builder had a lasting impact on Utah, from community centers to historic sites. Plus, she was the first woman to own a Greyhound Bus station!

Click here to download the calendar.

Utah women have always been resourceful, gathering folks together to solve problems, build communities, and effect positive change. A few we’re featuring in May:

• Bernice Gibbs Anderson, “Mother of the Golden Spike,” who led the effort to create Golden Spike National Historic Site.
• Mary Nakaishi, who ran a cafe with her husband on Ogden’s 25th street that helped those in need. When the city forced the cafe to shut down, Mary and Uke used their resources to start St. Anne’s Soup Kitchen, which still operates today.
• Hannah Kaaepa, who emigrated to Tooele County from Hawaii and spoke in DC about Hawaiian women’s rights.

Visit our bios page to learn about more AAPI women in Utah!