The Westside Coalition is comprised of 18 Directors, six of which are the current chairs (or their designees) of the six Community Councils comprising the Coalition. The next six are Community Appointees selected by each westside community council. The remaining six are At-Large seats are elected from community residents, local community and business leaders and representatives from other community-based organizations on the Westside. These are two year positions with elections conducted at the annual meeting. Nominations are accepted at any time for open positions. Coalition Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) are then elected by the Board subsequent to the election. The current leadership is shown below:
 Dan R. Strong President (At-Large Representative) | Dan was elected President of the Westside Coalition in March of 2022. Dan has been an advocate for the Westside and his Rose Park neighborhood since moving there in 2012. Dan has served as Secretary and Chair of the Rose Park Community Council and Communications Director for the Westside Coalition. In his day job, Dan works as the Director of the Utah Sentencing Commission, coming to that job after ten years as a prosecutor. Dan believes West Salt Lake City's neighborhoods are the best in the state. Dan is eager to help build on their potential, while preserving what makes them great. |
 Jason Wessel 1st Vice President (Rose Park Appointee) | Jason Wessel has resided in Rose Park since 1993. After graduating from West High School he proceeded to acquire several expensive pieces of paper at the University of Utah culminating in a PhD. In addition to the Westside Coalition he currently serves as the vice chair on the Rose Park Community Council executive board and is the vice chair of the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission. He has a bunch of letters and credentials that can be listed after his name that really only make sense to people who have the same ones. In between degrees Jason has worked at the Department of State, managed too many political campaigns, was a public school teacher, a failed small business owner, worked for a nonprofit, and squeezed a term of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA in there somewhere. For fun, Jason is a co-host of the SLC chapter of Drinking Liberally and manages to hold a weekly D&D session as well as a weekly Star Trek watch party, when coordinating several people's adult schedules does not interfere. |
 Charlotte Fife-Jepperson 2nd Vice President (At-Large Representative) | Charlotte Fife-Jepperson has deep roots in Poplar Grove, having lived there for nearly 50 years. Her three boys are 5th generation Westside residents. Charlotte's parents, Fred and Ila Rose Fife, taught her the importance of volunteerism through their example of service on numerous civic boards and commissions throughout their lives. Charlotte has always sought out ways to apply her talents and skills to help improve her beloved community. She co-founded The West View community paper in 2001, and after graduating from the first class of the Westside Leadership Institute in 2004, developed it into the nonprofit organization, West View Media. She recently retired as Managing Editor of The West View after 15 years of service. Charlotte invests countless hours enriching the lives of local youth. She has taught several generations of piano students (privately and in local schools) for over 30 years, coached the Junior Panthers Swim Team and several Junior Jazz teams, and helped run the Rose Park Baseball little league when her boys were young. These days, she spends her time passing on the joy of piano to Glendale Middle School students as well as maintaining a private piano studio, helping develop the Westside Coalition, and serving on the Fairpark’s International Market Planning Committee. She also loves to bike or walk the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Her past board service includes: |
 Izumi Okamura Treasurer (At-Large Representative) | As a life-long Utah resident, I fell in love with Salt Lake City while attending the University of Utah, where I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After teaching junior high and high school math for several years, I transitioned to the private sector and currently work in the financial technology industry. Over the years, I have been actively involved in volunteer work across the city, including organizations like the Road Home, Circles, Hser Ner Moo, and the VOA, and have participated in projects like the Jordan River Parkway cleanup and River Court. I’m also an avid runner and recently began competing in triathlons, which has deepened my appreciation for the Northwest Recreation Center’s excellent swimming amenities. In 2019, I moved to the Fairpark neighborhood and was immediately struck by the strong sense of community on the West Side. I joined the WestSide Coalition because I believe in contributing to the vibrant, diverse, and inclusive neighborhood that welcomed me so warmly. My goal is to help foster continued growth and improvement in this wonderful community. |
 Daniel Tuutau Communications Director (Poplar Grove Chair) | Daniel Tuutau is originally from Los Angeles, California, and has been a resident of Poplar Grove for the past decade. He is a small-business owner of DB Productions Utah, which provides photography, videography, and digital design services to businesses, non-profits, and individuals throughout the Wasatch Front. He holds BA & MM degrees in music from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Utah in Vocal Performance. He is also an active performer and voice instructor, frequently performing with Utah Opera and other local venues. He is the chair of the Poplar Grove Community Council and frequently organizes events to raise community involvement for the west side of Salt Lake through arts and engagement. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Brandy, and their four children. |
 Billy Palmer (Glendale Appointee) | A resident of Salt Lake City’s Glendale neighborhood and father of three adult children, Billy Palmer enjoys time with family, live performances of all kinds, film festivals, and traveling whenever possible. Billy currently works in legislative and policy advocacy focused on environmental issues, voting rights, and the empowerment of Indigenous Peoples. His most recent roles included serving as Campaigns Director at the ACLU of Utah and as host and producer of KRCL 90.9 FM’s public affairs show RadioACTive, where he also served as Director of Civic Engagement. Billy’s background spans filmmaking, music promotion, and swing dance performance and choreography. With over 20 years of activism and grassroots movement building—locally and nationally—Billy brings a deep commitment to justice and equity to the WestSide Coalition. Among many focuses Billy’s advocacy has centered on economic equality, human rights, gender equity, anti-Black and Indigenous policy reform, youth empowerment, and support for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. |
 Carlos Palestina (At-Large Representative) | Carlos Palestina is a dedicated advocate for education and social change, with a deep commitment to equity that began during his time at the University of Utah. With over a decade of experience as an educator in various institutions, he has worked tirelessly to provide quality education and support to underserved students. His passion for community engagement led him to take on leadership roles in various organizations from a young age, further strengthening his resolve to create meaningful change. Currently, Carlos serves as the Programs Manager for Salt Lake City, where he oversees the nationwide initiative My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), introduced by former President Obama. Through MBK, he works to empower young men and boys of color, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. His leadership extends beyond education; as a coach and mentor to young athletes, he fosters personal growth and development both on and off the soccer field. Carlos is a committed leader in community-based initiatives, currently serving on the NeighborWorks of Salt Lake and Utah SOMOS Foundation boards. In these roles, he advocates for key issues such as access to affordable housing, economic opportunities, and mentorship opportunities for students pursuing their education, all of which have a direct and meaningful impact on the Westside community. His ability to build coalitions, develop strategic partnerships, and implement impactful programs makes him a strong candidate for the Westside Coalition Board. With a lifelong dedication to community empowerment, Carlos seeks to bring his experience in mentorship, education, and policy advocacy to the board. His vision is to foster collaboration, uplift underrepresented voices, and ensure that the Westside continues to thrive. By serving on the board, he hopes to contribute his expertise and passion to advance initiatives that create lasting, positive change for all Westside residents. |
 Chilton Hawk (Westpointe Appointee) | Chilton was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Brandywine High School.. During his High School years, he was active in the Civil Air Patrol, learning about emergency services and aviation. He also managed a recycling center that collected glass and cans for reuse in manufacturing. Chilton has an AA in science from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. After which, he migrated to Utah. He graduated from Weber State University with a BS in Technical Sales. He is an amateur radio operator and currently serves as Vice President of the Crossroads Amateur Radio Club. He is also trained in Community Emergency Response for disasters. He currently serves on the board of directors for Park Place Townhomes. His interests include alternative health therapies, such as light-based healing and KAATSU. He bases his leadership style on the quote "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." ~ R. Bucmiinster Fuller I also believe that if I oppose an idea, it is a good idea to suggest an alternative. |
 Dan Potts (Poplar Grove Appointee) | Dan grew up on the Westside, attended Northwest Jr. High and West High Schools. Has a BS in wildlife management from Utah State and a master’s in aquatic ecology from Auburn, AL. Spent two years representing the US as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, SA building fishponds and studying native fishes. Returned to the Westside in 1985 where he has dedicated his life to the promotion of wildlife, especially along the Jordan River near his home in Poplar Grove. He is known as the west side’s naturalist, published a list of the critters found along the Jordan available on the Jordan River Commission’s website and published a wildlife article in our Westview paper for years.He isprobably best known, however, as a West High School Wrestling coach for over 30 years.As a president of Utah’s oldest wildlife nonprofit, Salt Lake Fish and Game, three times over the past 35 years andwas the original organizer for the creation of the Fred & Ila Rose Wetland Preserve on the 9-Line (which after 15 years still does not qualify as a ‘nature preserve’??) |
 Dorothy Owen (Westpointe Appointee) | Waiting on Bio |
 Jeffery Olson (Fairpark Chair) | Jeff has been active in the Westside Community since retiring to Fairpark in 2019. He has been a member of the Fairpark Community Council since 2023, chairperson since April, 2025. Before that he and his wife Julie founded and oversaw My Hometown Salt Lake City, an initiative to bring together people of all backgrounds to serve people on the Westside and neighboring areas. He retired after a 42-year career as a professor and academic administrator, starting in 1977 as Assistant and then Associate dean of the University of Utah College of Law and ending as Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Utah Valley University, with stints in between at Stanford University and St. John’s University, New York. He was raised in Salt Lake City, except for five years in the San Francisco Bay Area. |
 Justice Morath (At-Large Representative) | Justice Morath is an associate professor of psychology at Salt Lake Community College since 2013. He’s based out of the South City Campus but also teaches at the main Taylorsville campus and out at the state prison. He moved to Rose Park from central city in 2015 then made a huge leap two blocks south to Fairpark in the fall of 2024. He is currently serving as Acting Chair and District 1 Representative on SLC’s Transportation Advisory Board. He’s active in numerous local and national science outreach programs. An avid writer, you may have seen his commentaries in the Tribune, Deseret News, or West View. He and his wife have an old pit bull and spry border collie, with the occasional Ruff Haven foster in there too. When not working you might catch him riding his bike around town, at one of the West Side’s great skate parks, or waiting for a local brewery to finally open over here! |
 Kevin Parke (Rose Park Chair) | I have lived in Rose Park in Salt Lake City's West Side since 1999. My wife and I chose Rose Park because it was a good location between where I was working in Ogden, and the University of Utah where my wife was attending school. We quickly fell in love with Rose Park and decided this was where we wanted to raise our family. Four kids, a daughter in law and a grandson later we still love the westside and continue to look for ways to serve our community. I ran for Salt Lake City Council District 1 in 2013, and while the outcome was unsuccessful, I had some wonderful experiences and met some amazing people while knocking on doors and attending community events. This experience renewed my commitment to my neighborhood. I have served on the Rose Park Community Council since 2014, serving as Chair since 2019. I have also served on the Police Civilian Review Board for Salt Lake City since 2016. |
 Sam Higginson (Jordan Meadows Chair) | Sam has lived in the Westside area for 35 years. Growing up went to West High. After graduating attended the University of Utah where he received his Bachelor's in Business and an MBA. Since that time has owned his own consulting firm for retail businesses with a focus on the Westside of Salt Lake. Currently he is the Committee Chairman for the Jordan Meadows Community Council but served as a board member for the Rose Park Community Council. |
 Peter Makowski (At-Large Representative) | Peter Makowski is the Deputy Director of the Business Development Division for Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development. While working in the outdoor recreation industry, he attended the University of Utah where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Urban Planning. Upon graduation, he worked as a Project Manager in the Business Development Division of Ogden City, Utah, specializing in marketing, real estate, business recruitment/retention/expansion efforts, community development finance, and small business assistance. He oversaw Ogden’s Small Business Loan Program, the City’s Business Information Center, and served as Executive Director of Wasatch Community Funding CDFI. In his time at Salt Lake City, Peter has managed corporate recruitment, retention, and development efforts resulting in over 10,000 jobs attracted, over 5 million square-feet of new commercial and industrial construction, and over $1B in new capital investment. Peter is a Salt Lake City native, an outdoors enthusiast, and moonlights as a musician. He’s lived in the Poplar Grove neighborhood for 3 years and serves on the Poplar Grove Community Council. |
 Jennifer Madrigal (Glendale Vice-Chair) | Jennifer moved to Utah almost a decade ago and settled down in the Glendale neighborhood, which instantly felt like home. The mainstream path for the academic colleagues in her field is to move to one of a few major US cities for job opportunities, or to continue in Academia, requiring at least two additional long-range moves. She chose a different path in settling down in Glendale, where she has a chance to build local community relationships and support the voices of neighbors less frequently heard by civic circles of influence. She is currently Vice Chair of the Glendale Neighborhood Council, and happy to be forming relationships with local leaders, facilitating cross-communication and advocacy for the needs of all of our Westside residents. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry (Chemistry minor, UCR), Ph.D. in Biochemistry (U of Utah), and has collected three Associate’s degrees from Riverside Community College (A.S. in Math and Science, A.A. in Humanities, Philosophy & Arts, A.A. in Communication, Media & Languages). Now settling into research and development remotely, she has had occupational experience in such areas as sign twirling, corporate software reselling, fruit packing, reconstruction of protein models using electron microscopy, foodservice, and work for a foundation. She speaks English and Spanish, her dogs speak Spanglish, and her children speak Gen Alpha. |
 Ted Lewis (Fairpark Appointee) | Ted retired as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Beneficial Life Insurance in October of 2008. He worked at Beneficial Life for more than 33 years. Upon retiring from Beneficial Life, Ted served as Retained Counsel for the American Council of Life Insurers and as the Executive Director of the Utah Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association. He retired from the Guaranty Association in June of 2024. In 1982, Ted was elected to the Utah House of Representatives and served there until 1992. After leaving the Legislature, Ted served for several years as member of the Utah State Transportation Commission and later as a Commissioner at the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Utah State Fair. |