Building Utah

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Blue Star Families supports military-connected families in Utah by providing resources, programs, and advocacy. They help families build connections, access essential services and thrive despite the unique challenges of military life. Executive Director, Marcie Valdez, joins us with more. Marcie Valdez: The families of our All-Volunteer Force make unprecedented sacrifices to serve our country. Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses to empower these families to thrive as they serve. Utah is home to more than 42,000 military-connected individuals, and over 150,000 veteran families. We are committed to strengthening Utah’s military families by connecting them with their neighbors — both individuals and organizations — to create vibrant communities of mutual support. We deploy local programs that address the highest needs of Utah's military community, including food insecurity, financial readiness and a sense of belonging. Since January, we have offered 4