Park City, UT - Community Council

The Park City Community Council provides an example of how a city can unite residents, organizations, and leaders to plan meaningful service opportunities around a shared purpose. This overview highlights the approach taken by the Park City Humanitarians, offering insights into how collaborative councils can effectively organize large-scale volunteer efforts.

Summary

In preparation for the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, a group of Park City, UT residents formed a council to coordinate communitywide service events and volunteer opportunities. The group, known as Park City Humanitarians, included local humanitarians, nonprofit representatives, school and government leaders, JustServe specialists, and interfaith representatives.

Planning and Structure

The council met approximately six to eight weeks before the Day of Service to determine next steps. During this initial meeting, members identified individual strengths, community connections, and potential partners. Each council member was assigned to reach out to two or three community groups or nonprofits to invite their participation and gather projects for the event.

To promote the initiative, the council drafted letters and media materials and developed a clear communication plan to spread awareness across Park City.

Community Engagement and Promotion

As nonprofit organizations were invited to create service projects for the day, the council worked together to promote both participation and awareness. Their outreach efforts included:

• Posting all service projects on JustServe.org, unified under the organization Serve Park City.
• Participating in interviews with local newspapers and radio stations.
• Sharing updates on social media platforms, including Nextdoor and Instagram.
• Engaging with the public through local parades.
• Circulating a newsletter to project participants, faith congregations, and neighborhood associations.

These strategies helped ensure visibility across multiple communication channels, strengthening participation from diverse community groups.

Event Logistics

To manage logistics for the Day of Service, the council:

• Assigned a project administrator from among its members to oversee each project.
• Created co-branded logos for every initiative, combining Serve Park City and partner organization logos.
• Printed posters, t-shirts, maps, flags, and giveaway cards to promote and identify service sites.
• Secured donations from local businesses, faith groups, and the City of Park City to cover printing costs and sponsor the community breakfast.

The event began with a remembrance ceremony to honor the spirit of 9/11 and to inspire a day of collective service. Breakfast, donated by local businesses, provided an opportunity for volunteers to gather before serving.

Across the community, 31 projects were offered, engaging over 900 volunteers in acts of service.

Follow-Up and Sustainability

Following the Day of Service, the council held a recap meeting to review successes and lessons learned. To maintain momentum, a training session was scheduled for all participating organizations, offering guidance on how JustServe can continue to be used for volunteer coordination throughout the year.

Key Takeaways

• Early collaboration among diverse community sectors creates a strong foundation for large-scale events.
• Consistent communication and branding build community awareness and credibility.
• Partnerships with local businesses and faith groups make events sustainable through shared resources.
• Post-event reflection and training strengthen ongoing collaboration beyond a single day of service.