A group that started meeting the day after the 9/11 attacks continues to gather monthly. Cache Community Connections has a focus on maintaining a safe‚ healthy community that values diversity‚ yet recognizes the challenges it can bring.

Chair Tom Schroeder‚ a member of the Religious Society of Friends‚ known as the Quakers‚ said 80 percent of the group consists of members of all spiritual groups and congregations in the community. Others involved include leaders of local government‚ Utah State University and the chamber. They have heard presentations generally revolving around issues of diversity‚ and every year‚ Cache County Connections sponsors a baccalaureate high school graduation ceremony‚ an interfaith Thanksgiving service‚ and a concert and lecture series. The group includes Protestants‚ Catholics‚ Muslims‚ Buddhists and Bahais‚ and is open to anyone who wishes to join.

In late 2006‚ the group came together in the midst of a federal raid on 145 Hispanic workers alleged to be illegal aliens at a meatpacking plant in Hyrum.

“Our place was not to deal with the politics of the issue‚” Schroeder says. “We were solely there to support the individuals who were impacted.

This had quite a ripple effect through the community.” The group has also consulted with authorities on a chapel when the jail was being built and suggested ways to make the Angels Landing playground accessible for people with disabilities.

“We try to keep our voice and attention on any issues that affect the safety and harmony of the Valley‚” Schroeder says.