Staff
Turner Bitton is the Executive Director of Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC) and West View Media. Raised on a cattle farm in Ogden, Utah, he brings a lifelong commitment to community and hard work to his leadership in housing, transportation, and urbanism. Turner serves in several civic and nonprofit leadership roles, including as Chair of the Glendale Neighborhood Council and the Salt Lake City Police Civilian Review Board. He lives in Salt Lake City’s Glendale neighborhood with his husband, Chase, and their dogs, Moose and Melon, and plays too much pickleball in his free time.
Lauren Cole - Policy Manager is an attorney whose commitment to the pro-housing movement is grounded in a belief that strong communities begin with abundant, accessible homes. Her work across justice and equity issues reinforced that housing affordability shapes nearly every social outcome, motivating her focus on the policy and systems needed to expand opportunity and stability in Utah.
Lauren earned her J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah and her B.A. in journalism and political science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Before joining WALC, she served as a judicial law clerk for Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. Earlier in her career, she was part of an investigative journalism team awarded the grand prize in the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Award and received multiple Hearst Journalism Awards.
Originally from the Midwest, Lauren now lives in Salt Lake City's Marmalade neighborhood and values its walkability, community feel, and diverse housing. Outside of work, she can usually be found sharing a good meal with loved ones or out on a trail getting her hiking boots dirty.
Jessica Kjar - Jessica Kjar is the External Affairs Manager at Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC), where she leads communications, public engagement, and external partnerships to advance equitable and sustainable housing solutions across the Wasatch Front. She brings more than a decade of experience across public policy, compliance, government operations, and community-focused program management, including key work during the COVID-19 pandemic overseeing Utah's K-12 testing strategy and nearly $1 billion in federal relief funds. This experience strengthened her expertise in crisis response, regulatory oversight, and large-scale stakeholder coordination. Jessica is known for building coalitions, navigating complex systems, and translating complicated policies into clear, actionable solutions. She lives in Davis County, Utah, with her husband and son, whose support and perspective ground both her work and her commitment to the community.
Matty Sudweeks - Membership Organizer was born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley and now lives in the Central City neighborhood. They are insatiably curious, community-oriented, and driven by a deep desire to build a better future for all. Matty recently graduated from the Masters of Environmental Humanities program at the University of Utah, where they focused on environmental justice, community engagement, and Utah's energy future. Over the years, they have been part of community organizing efforts focused on educational equity, mutual aid, transportation justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Outside of work, you'll likely find Matty exploring our local trails with their dog, listening to live music, or reading sci-fi and fantasy books.
Board of Directors
Ro Bandeirinha (pronoun indifferent) is a communications and design professional based in Salt Lake City with a background in architecture, urbanism, and community-centered storytelling. Born and raised in Portugal, Ro earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture and Planning from the University of Coimbra before working for four years as an architect in Madrid. After immigrating to the United States, Ro shifted into nonprofit communications, driven by a passion for equitable cities, public art, and accessible design. Ro has worked with several Utah nonprofits, using storytelling and visual communication to advance community advocacy. Ro loves riding their bike and walking their dogs through different parks and neighborhoods, and they bring a deep commitment to livable, connected urban spaces to their role on the WALC Board.
Alessandro Rigolon lives in Sugar House, and he envisions Salt Lake City as a place where everyone can truly belong. He loves his family, riding bikes, the great outdoors, and Salt Lake City. He has a Ph.D. in Design and Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, and he has worked in planning and architecture for over 15 years. He believes that abundant housing of different types is a fundamental building block to making our city more inclusive and affordable. He is also a big fan of data, community engagement, and evidence-based policies.
Jacob Richardson is a clean energy policy advisor living in Millcreek with his wife and son. Seeing the cost of housing increase so drastically motivated Jacob to get involved in his community. This led him to run and be elected to the Millcreek Community Council in 2022. In 2024, he was appointed to the Millcreek Planning Commission where he continues to advocate for policies promoting housing affordability and accessibility.
He holds a Masters of Statistics from the University of Utah, and believes data-driven, grassroots activism can empower residents and improve the lives of individuals in the community.
Kayla Harris loves living in Liberty Wells, a neighborhood she treasures for its bike-ability and local charm. Having spent more than a decade in Utah, Kayla is deeply invested in shaping Salt Lake City into a thriving, innovative community that welcomes future generations. When she’s not working on building a better Salt Lake City, you can find Kayla dreaming up what an impossibly cool 21st century could look like at the Abundance Institute.
Jarod Hall is a licensed architect that has worked on projects across the United States and abroad. He has been working in the building and construction trades for 21 years. He has experience both from the building and design side as well as experience developing his own projects.
Brandon Dayton is an artist that has worked in video games and comic books. He spent four years as a member of the Rose Park Community Council, playing critical roles in designing and installing new neighborhood monuments, installing the first street painting project in Salt Lake City, and organizing the Slow Down Six North campaign.In 2018 he organized the first Small Scale Developer's workshop in Salt Lake City, working with the Incremental Development Alliance and local partners, training over 90 participants in a day-long development workshop.Brandon is a certified relational mindfulness facilitator and has been leading weekly practice groups online and in-person since 2022. He lives in the Rose Park neighborhood with his wife and 3 kids.
Browne Sebright is an urbanist and planner who lives in downtown Salt Lake City. He is a project manager with the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency, where he works on housing development and community investment initiatives that advance affordability, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable growth. Browne holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Browne has worked for various municipalities in northern Utah, including Bountiful, Park City, and Salt Lake City. With a background in urban planning and public policy, he focuses on connecting development opportunities with broader community goals. He enjoys spending time with his cat, traveling, attending live music performances, and ice skating.
Mohith Reppale was born in India and raised throughout the Salt Lake Valley, in Taylorsville, Holliday, Sandy, Central City and Sugarhouse, since he was 7 years old. He went to Skyline High School in Millcreek and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Information Systems along with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Utah. His movement throughout the valley has given him a unique perspective in what makes cities and neighborhoods feel vibrant and liveable. He is passionate about ensuring Salt Lake City provides access to housing that people can afford and want to live in. HE believes that data driven policy can create better communities and cities that can meet the challenges of the 21st century. He currently lives in Downtown Salt Lake City with his fiancé. He enjoys reading, skiing, hiking and spending time with friends.
Thomas Christiansen moved to what is now Millcreek at age 15, when his parents returned to their hometown after 30 years away. When his own family moved back to the neighborhood in 2005, his neighbors included a plumber and a mail carrier. Today, only doctors and Silicon Valley tech workers can afford to live there. He believes the Wasatch Region is strongest when people from all walks of life can afford to live in every neighborhood, as was true for much of the region’s history. Professionally, he is an independent management consultant who primarily works with McKinsey’s social sector practice. His work focuses on supporting philanthropies as they set strategic and grant-making priorities in education, economic and workforce development, and behavioral health.
Ian Sumner is a resident of Salt Lake City and an MBA candidate at the University of Utah, who believes in the power of community-driven change. He works professionally in climate tech, where he helps grow mission-driven startups and has founded multiple climate summits that have helped thousands of individuals transition into green careers. Outside of his work, he is a dedicated volunteer and outdoor enthusiast. Ian is passionate about applying his technical marketing and strategy skills to local political campaigns and is excited to bring them to WALC.