In response to the groundswell of local and global justice work, Pioneer United Methodist Church and the Neighborhood Engagement Program at the City of Walla Walla are hosting a monthly series of speakers and storytellers on a variety of critical topics in our city and surrounding area. This is for our whole community — join us, and bring your friends and neighbors!
May 2021: Police Chief Scott Bieber & Chief’s Advisory Committee
On May 11th at 6:30 pm, Walla Walla Speaks welcomed Walla Walla Police Chief Scott Bieber and members of his Advisory Committee to talk about policing in our city, DEI initiatives, and differential call response.
April 2021: Chinese-American Immigration
On April 13th at 6:30 pm, Walla Walla Speaks welcomed immigration lawyer and Veterans’ advocate Wendy Cheng for a discussion on the history of Chinese-American Immigration.
Watch the recording of our April webinar here:
March 2021: YWCA
On March 9th at 6:30 pm, Walla Walla Speaks welcomed a panel of staff from the YWCA to discuss domestic violence in our community, including domestic violence in immigrant homes, Life Skills work, and violence prevention.
You can find the recording of the March 9th webinar here:
February 2021: Everett Maroon
On Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30, we sat down (via Zoom) with Everett Maroon, executive director of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, to hear about his work with marginalized populations in our community, preventing and treating illnesses like opioid dependency and HIV. Many thanks to Everett and all who participated in this hour of storytelling and Q and A!
You can find the recording of the February 9th webinar here:
January 2021: Life After Prison
Our January gathering took place on Tuesday, January 12th at 6:30 pm via Zoom Webinar and featured Becky Turner, Executive Director of The STAR Project. Founded in 2004, The STAR Project helps people with felony convictions as they reenter the community after incarceration, serving around 150 Walla Wallans each year. What a joy to begin 2021 with stories of fresh starts with friends and neighbors!
You can find the recording of the January 12th webinar here:
Contact Us
If you have questions about our program, please email livg@pioneerww.org or zgalant-laporte@wallawallawa.gov. We hope you’ll join us for listening and learning!
Past Walla Walla Speaks Conversations:
December 2020: Population Health
Becky Betts, Manager, Population Health SEWA, Providence Medical Group
Becky Betts has been with Providence for 29 years, spending most of her career as a bedside nurse and case manager. In 2019, she left the hospital to build Providence’s Population Health Southeast Division. In December, Becky joined WWS to talk about community health in the midst of COVID.
CLICK HERE to watch the recording of our December 2020 Walla Walla Speaks with Becky Betts.
November 2020: Immigration
Abigail Scholar, Executive Director of Central Washington Justice for our Neighbors and Dr. Aaron Bobrow-Strain of the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition.
In November, leading advocates reflected on the current state of immigration and immigrant rights, regionally and nationally.
CLICK HERE to watch the recording of our November 2020 Walla Walla Speaks with Abigail Scholar and Aaron Bobrow-Strain.
October 2020: Criminal Justice
Dr. Keith Farrington, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Whitman College
In October, Sociologist Dr. Keith Farrington joined us to talk about criminal justice and to reflect on some our local issues.
CLICK HERE to watch the recording of our October 2020 Walla Walla Speaks with Keith Farrington.