Community Building Services (CBS) is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to empowering New Americans, with a special focus on underserved populations facing systemic barriers. Guided by respect, inclusiveness, belonging, and cultural pride, CBS promotes growth and resilience through arts, culture, education, and social services.
CBS builds strong partnerships with organizations such as Columbus Adult Education & Youth Programs and Refugee Services Office (DWS), the City of South Salt Lake, to create collaborative spaces for delivering high-quality programs and services. These partnerships are designed to address community-identified needs, emerging issues, and opportunities—while fostering pathways to family stability, community cohesion, and harmonious living.
Our initiative, ranging from dance and cultural festivals to employment support and family workshops, is led by committed volunteer program personnel. CBS works closely with partners to identify shared goals and develop original programs that amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. Through our engagement with University Neighborhood Partners, we advocate systemic change and improved access to education, resources, and services.
Our focus on “Relationships, Education, Advancement, Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life)” Initiative.
We support both adults and youth by promoting active communication, relationship-building, identifying and reducing risk factors, and community capacity development. This is achieved through workshops, group meetings, one-on-one sessions, and resource dissemination. CBS is committed to bringing communities together and building vibrant, self-sufficient neighborhoods where every individual and family has the opportunity to thrive in harmony.
Our Mission
We empower underserved and historically marginalized populations by enhancing capacity, preserving culture, promoting equity, and building inclusive partnerships that help every individual thrive.
Our Vision
Vision: “New Americans are culturally competent & aware, self-reliant, healthy, and civically engaged by addressing systemic barriers to educational success, fostering increased access to technology, programs, and services for community members, increasing participation, and enhancing quality of life for all served.”
Values We Uphold
CBS is committed to mutual respect, empowerment, and learning rooted in wide-ranging life experiences.
Diverse knowledge and life experiences are primary to addressing community issues.
Understanding and knowledge are helpful tools for open, active, and mutual sharing of information and resources.
It is the right of all community members to have equal access to the greatest range of opportunities, and it is their choice how to make the best use of these opportunities.