'I Feel Like The Vibe Is Changing': Meet The People Of Provo, Utah

Provo, Utah, was the 20th stop on our Listen to America road trip. We spoke to residents and passersby near the Provo City Library for a day. Here’s what they had to say:

“I plan to stay here the rest of my life. We have lots of opportunities here for recreational things.”

― Burt Knudson, 79, retired

“I flee to here for the strict political persecution from China ... I’m very lucky to flee here and to tell the world what we are facing.”

― Rovssel Liu, 20, artist

“I decided to move here because I like hiking. I really like the community here because we have a really tight-knit kind of underground scene in Provo. We’ve got a really, really tight-knit queer community here.”

― Brianna Cluck, 24, direct support professional at home for adults with disabilities

“I think it’s just a great city and I think that it’s progressing ... I’ve been doing things to better [Brigham Young University] and also Provo. I think that’s the biggest part of BYU and Provo, the opportunity of being able to make the difference you want to see.”

― Erin Tapahe, 21, student

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“I like going to BYU, but I’m not sure I’m going to stay in Utah because I’m more of a Democrat and I think I’d do better in a different part of the country.”

― Kirk Earl, 23, student

“It’s really a growing community. My kids go to a dual-immersion Mandarin-speaking program in elementary school. It’s growing. I feel like the vibe is changing here so we’re happy to be here.”

― Becca Kearl (and son, Theo), 37, works in nonprofit

“It’s full of opposition. It’s got brand new things going on. It’s got very traditional things. It’s got conservatives. It’s got a huge hipster movement. The LGBT community is really growing here.”

― Jody England Hansen, 59, artist/activist

“We’re going back to school. It’s just kind of like an easy, slow, cheap place to live right now.”

― Beatriz Pahulo, 31, stay-at-home mom

“Moved here for school. Didn’t expect to get married and raise a family, but I love the environment and culture.”

― Peniva Pahulo, 32, freight associate

“I spent five years in Provo ... It’s got a good feel to it, a good vibe. I enjoy that.”

― Jeffrey Butler, 41, financial adviser

“I’m from about half an hour north of here. My parents went to Brigham Young University, all my siblings have gone here so it’s where I wanted to go to school ... I like the college-town atmosphere.”

― Emily Ashcraft, 24, student

“I converted to the LDS church in my early 20s. Came out to go to school in the late ’60s at BYU. Was here about a week and called my mother in the South and said, ‘I’m not sure I’ll ever come back there. I can breathe here.’”

― Joyce Baggerly, 77, retired

“It’s a relatively safe community. It’s more diverse than you might expect it to be. It’s where I live with my wife.”

― Alex Quinn, 34, student

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Also on HuffPost

Mo Elinzano (back to camera) talks to Samantha Tomaszewski, Curtis Wong and Carol Kuruvilla during HuffPost's visit to Provo, Utah, on Oct. 18, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip."
Mo Elinzano (back to camera) talks to Samantha Tomaszewski, Curtis Wong and Carol Kuruvilla during HuffPost's visit to Provo, Utah, on Oct. 18, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip."
Passers-by check out the "Listen To America" tents during HuffPost's visit to Provo.
Passers-by check out the "Listen To America" tents during HuffPost's visit to Provo.
Haily White and Willow Vrablic sign up to be interviewed.
Haily White and Willow Vrablic sign up to be interviewed.
Craig Cooley walks to the video tent to be interviewed, accompanied by Emma Reilly and Hayley Miller.
Craig Cooley walks to the video tent to be interviewed, accompanied by Emma Reilly and Hayley Miller.
Abram Charriet talks to HuffPost staffer Hayley Miller.
Abram Charriet talks to HuffPost staffer Hayley Miller.
HuffPost and Peak XV staff put together swag bags before events get rolling in Provo.
HuffPost and Peak XV staff put together swag bags before events get rolling in Provo.
One of multiple interviews is conducted during HuffPost's visit to Provo.
One of multiple interviews is conducted during HuffPost's visit to Provo.
Bus driver Bobby Jansen cleans the HuffPost bus.
Bus driver Bobby Jansen cleans the HuffPost bus.
Nick Schaffer plays with Max while his mother, Sarah Hess, is interviewed.
Nick Schaffer plays with Max while his mother, Sarah Hess, is interviewed.
HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski talks to Jody England Hansen after her interview.
HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski talks to Jody England Hansen after her interview.
Jared Labrum and his sons Beckett and Stockton wait to be interviewed.
Jared Labrum and his sons Beckett and Stockton wait to be interviewed.
A street scene in Provo, Utah.
A street scene in Provo, Utah.
People are interviewed in the tents.
People are interviewed in the tents.
Yulia Tanner and her daughter Olivia wait to be interviewed.
Yulia Tanner and her daughter Olivia wait to be interviewed.
Audience members enter the "Who Are Mormon Millennials And How Will They Change America?" event at Provo City Library on Oct. 18, 2017.
Audience members enter the "Who Are Mormon Millennials And How Will They Change America?" event at Provo City Library on Oct. 18, 2017.
Moderator Melissa Jeltsen (far right) and panelists Eric Baker, Ashley Lee and Carley Porter take part in the "Who Are Mormon Millennials And How Will They Change America?" event.
Moderator Melissa Jeltsen (far right) and panelists Eric Baker, Ashley Lee and Carley Porter take part in the "Who Are Mormon Millennials And How Will They Change America?" event.
Ashley Lee speaks at the Mormon millennials panel discussion.
Ashley Lee speaks at the Mormon millennials panel discussion.
The audience listens to a discussion about the role of Mormon millennials.
The audience listens to a discussion about the role of Mormon millennials.
Moderator Melissa Jeltsen speaks to the panel.
Moderator Melissa Jeltsen speaks to the panel.
Panelist Carley Porter answers questions.
Panelist Carley Porter answers questions.
Audience member Lee Hales asks questions of panelists Eric Baker, Ashley Lee and Carley Porter (not shown).
Audience member Lee Hales asks questions of panelists Eric Baker, Ashley Lee and Carley Porter (not shown).
Panelist Eric Baker speaks at the event.
Panelist Eric Baker speaks at the event.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.