From a very early age, Caitlin Raines hasn’t been afraid of being “too political.” She remembers taking time at elementary school recess to make sure her classmates were aware of issues that she felt strongly about. Despite this comfort with broaching difficult topics, in recent years she found national politics created a feeling of doom inside her and she worried about burnout. Instead of disengaging, she turned to her local community and focused on what she could do there. She worked on her art, focused on friendships, and built connections by rooting herself in her hometown of Provo.
Wanting to get more involved in formal local politics, something she feels more college-age voters like herself need to do, Caitlin attended a cottage meeting for Provo City Council candidates in 2025. In that meeting a candidate running for reelection spoke about how they wanted Provo to have the vibe of a much larger city, like New York. Caitlin liked the sound of that a lot, but it didn’t match her experience.
Caitlin and her friends love spending time in downtown Provo, and one of their favorite things to do is play music in fun outdoor spaces, such as Center Street. But since music is prohibited after 10 pm, even in the downtown, they’ve had the cops called on them and have been asked to clear out. “As an artist in Provo, I felt like the City was against us.” This disconnect between a vision for her city that she shared with an elected leader and the reality of her attempts to realize that vision didn’t sit well with her.
She knew she needed to get more involved, so Caitlin spent time making sure her friends were registered to vote and understood the importance of city elections. She also canvassed for her preferred council and mayoral candidates. Caitlin realized that she didn’t have to know everything about city government to make a difference; she just needed to do what she could.
Before long, Caitlin developed a confidence in her ability to effect change for her community, and she is eager to encourage her friends and fellow artists to get involved themselves. Caitlin shares, “One of my favorite memories was when newly elected Mayor Judkins came to an ‘Artist Town Hall’ meeting, where she greeted local artists and talked with us for hours. It was cool to see her, but the part that stood out to me was seeing all my friends realize they could communicate directly with her. They all stood in a line with me, waiting for our turn to talk to her. It was such a beautiful collective moment of realization.”
In September 2026, Caitlin was appointed to the Provo Arts Council. This is a volunteer position where she will help promote and advance the arts in the community for the next four years. She hopes that more people, especially young people (she’s only 20!), will start attending meetings, reaching out to city leaders, and paying close attention to city elections.
Caitlin also stresses that overtly political actions aren’t the only way to have an impact on the place where you live. “Start going to local gatherings!” She recommends the open mic night at Java Junkie where she regularly meets new people. “They also have fliers for local events you can attend and become a stronger member of the community. The people who go there are the greatest!”