Orem comes together with ‘Peace and Pie’ event following divisive election

OREM, Utah — It has been a very divisive and contentious election season in Orem. Many residents strongly disagreed over Proposition 2, a chance for the city to break off from the Alpine School District and create its own district.

Ultimately, 72% of voters decided to strike it down on election night.

One week later, those for and against the split came together for a “Peace and Pie” event put on by Orem Council PTA, a group which was against Prop 2. Nearly 250 people attended the event Tuesday night at Orem High School.

“We want our city to be a community again,” Orem Council PTA President Julie Walker said. “So we’ve invited the city council, we’ve invited pro-split people and anti-split people to come together, and what better way to do that than over pie.”

Nearly 250 Orem residents came together tonight for a “Peace and Pie” event. This, after the city saw one of the most divisive elections over Prop 2.

At 10:00, the significance of this event and what voters on both sides say they learned from this election @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/z4ddW6jWtn

— Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) November 16, 2022

Walker is hoping events like these show the community they can come together, especially if a similar proposition comes up in the future.

“We want to collaborate and work on moving forward in the best way,” she said. “Let’s go back to being friends and neighbors.”

Councilman David Spencer, who strongly supported Prop 2, is hopeful residents of Orem learned important lessons from this election about being kind and civil online.

“I just think we need to move forward and join hands and work together for a solution,” Spencer said. “I just think that we need to do a better job at maybe getting information out and not be so divisive.”

The event is part of the city’s “Kindness Week.” Organizers plan to have the event back next year.