Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” The Culture Committee within local nonprofit Friends of Herriman, which supports local arts, parks, trails and culture, aims to create ripples here and beyond with the premier of “Herriman Smiles,” a diversity exhibit on display at city hall during October. 

“The ‘Herriman Smiles’ initiative gives residents an opportunity to celebrate diversity and culture within our community,” Culture Committee member Megan Hastings said.

Nearly 40 people who reside, work or go to school in Herriman were nominated by Herriman residents to be spotlighted in the exhibit, which will coincide with Diversity Month. Twenty nominees were able to participate. 

A huge undertaking, each participant was interviewed and photographed by volunteer members of the committee and local volunteers. “Volunteering with ‘Herriman Smiles’… has been a wonderful opportunity,” Culture Committee member Lynne Naylor said. 

The ripples first began in 2023 with Committee Chair Marco Escobar, who was once an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. In charge of the Inclusion subcommittee, he was asked to brainstorm events that ZAP could support; Zoo, Arts and Parks is a Salt Lake County program that supports local arts, culture and recreation. Inspired by the popular Humans of New York project, he pitched the idea of showcasing diverse people in or around Herriman. 

“One of the key goals I had… was to create an event that shared the commonality between us all,” Escobar said. “Whether black, brown, white, blue or red, we all have a smile, and the idea began to take root.”

The other committee members loved the concept. When Escobar became the head of the general Culture Committee that encompassed the Inclusion subcommittee, the project expanded and evolved to include four main diversity categories: military, veterans and first responders; historical residents; individuals struggling with health and wellness; and the original diversity inclusion category. 

One of the first steps to realizing this vision was securing ZAP’s approval. The committee completed an outline explaining the project and received approval. The ZAP program provided 50% of the funding for the project, up to $1,500.

The second hurdle was finding someone to provide the most important component—photos of everyone’s smiles. Kaity Smith of Kait Mikayla Photography magnanimously agreed to help. 

“The heavy lift came in finding folks that fit the requirements of the project. We began asking the community early in the year and slowly created a backlog of individuals along with the individuals nominated by the subcommittee,” Escobar said.

Once nominees in the four categories were identified, committee members reached out for permission to include them in the exhibit. From there, nominees were interviewed, bios were completed and the photographs were taken. Finally, everything went off to the printers. 

“This is a creative way for the Friends of Herriman to show some of the faces within our community and tell stories,” Herriman City Communications Manager Jon LaFollette said. “We’re looking forward to seeing their display in the city hall lobby.”

The exhibit represents countless hours of dedicated volunteer work over many months. “We’re very excited to see the results. This event does not happen without amazing volunteers and sponsors,” Escobar said.

He and the other committee members hope the exhibit demonstrates to Herriman and the surrounding communities that individuals have more in common with each other than they think and that we are all connected. 

“My hope is that community events, like ‘Herriman Smiles,’ encourage everyone to learn more about the diverse number of people and cultures within Herriman City that can positively impact all of us…,” Culture Committee member Ninzel Rasmuson said. “By learning and participating more, we can create a better community and sense of belonging…”

Escobar agrees. “We’re all so similar. We all have beauty in our smiles, and while they read each bio, they’ll learn that we’re all not that different,” he said. “We all look to be better humans, spouses, children and members of our community.”

This project has particular meaning for Escobar. “When I was a child, I stood out. I didn’t know people like me existed in my community of West Valley City. I felt like an outcast because of where I came from, how I dressed, what we ate, etc.,” he said.

One ripple the team hopes to create is to help anyone who may feel marginalized or that they don’t fit in to see themselves in each smile within the exhibit. “Though we may come from different beginnings, we all belong here in this amazing community,” Escobar said.

To further highlight diverse members of our community, Friends of Herriman will also host a banquet for participants, volunteers, sponsors and city officials in early November.

 The Culture Committee team would love for the exhibit to be an annual event in Herriman and hope it ripples into other Salt Lake County cities as well. 

“I… look forward to being a part of things in Herriman that encourage empathy and compassion for all walks of life,” Rasmuson said.

Other goals include partnering with high school and college photography and journalism classes and creating a permanent website where these and future smiles will always be on display.

“What better way to learn about and connect with our neighbors than through this unique experience?” Hastings asked.

“Herriman Smiles” will be available to view in the lobby of Herriman City Hall Oct. 1–31 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. λ