Lehi, UT - Community Council

The Lehi Serves Community Council offers a practical example of how a city can bring together leaders, organizations, and residents to coordinate meaningful service efforts. This overview highlights the structure and practices that have worked well in Lehi, Utah, providing a model that other communities can adapt to their own needs.

Summary

The Lehi Serves Community Council was created to bring together city leaders, community organizations, and residents in coordinated service. What began as a committee preparing for the 9/11 Day of Service has developed into an ongoing collaborative model for planning community-wide volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Purpose and Structure

The council includes representatives from across the community—the Lehi City Mayor and staff, local schools, the local newspaper, faith groups, nonprofit organizations, and JustServe specialists.

The structure remains intentionally informal, encouraging flexibility and open participation. Subcommittees, such as marketing, form as needed, and committee chairs volunteer to lead specific efforts. There are no term limits, which supports continuity but can contribute to volunteer burnout over time.

The council currently operates without formal bylaws, and decisions are made by consensus.

The founding focus of the council was to coordinate community involvement for the 9/11 Day of Service, and that remains its primary annual initiative. Each year, the council helps organize large-scale service projects and hosts a memorial service on the morning of September 11.

More recently, the group has expanded its scope—planning a spring service project and considering quarterly volunteer opportunities open to all Lehi community members.

Community Engagement

Preparation for the 9/11 Day of Service begins months in advance. Information is distributed through faith groups, the city government, and the local newspaper, while volunteer opportunities are promoted on JustServe.org.

As awareness has grown, so has participation. Each year, more residents and organizations join, making the event one of Lehi’s most unifying community traditions.

Challenges

The council has identified several ongoing challenges:

• Marketing and Promotion: Ensuring broad community awareness and engagement.
• Volunteer Burnout: Sustaining energy among core council members without term limits or rotating leadership.
• Fundraising: Securing consistent funding for projects and events.

To address fundraising needs, the council created a nonprofit organization dedicated to managing donations and financial support for community service projects.

Metrics and Success Measurement

Each participating organization tracks the impact of its service projects, while JustServe monitors volunteer sign-ups and participation data. These metrics are compiled into a joint presentation shared with the mayor and city council, demonstrating the reach and value of the community’s collective efforts.

The local newspaper covers the 9/11 Day of Service before and after the event, highlighting the partnerships and outcomes achieved. Additionally, faith leaders receive reports summarizing volunteer engagement and community impact.

Key Takeaways

• A flexible, consensus-based structure allows for open collaboration across sectors.
• Early and multi-channel communication drives awareness and participation.