Building Resilience, Together

For the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with the Walla Walla Community Change Team (CCT) through the Whitman Community Fellowship Program. CCT is a nonprofit that focuses on trauma-informed care in recovery-oriented spaces. This semester, we hosted our main event, Together 26, which showcases art by community members and Whitman students. This year’s theme was resilience, and the artworks explored many ways people experience and demonstrate it. 

Planning and hosting Together 26 allowed me to pursue a passion for supporting recovery-oriented spaces while developing skills in event planning, collaboration, and creating welcoming environments. One of the skills I value most is connecting with others and having meaningful conversations—whether with attendees or alongside my supervisors, Becky Turner and Karen Carman. These connections strengthened the community at the event and reminded me why this work is so important. 

I also collaborated with the Whitman College First Responders on training about responding to calls involving alcohol, drugs, and potential overdoses, with a focus on patient-centered communication and safety. Training responders to communicate with empathy enhances patient outcomes, reduces the fear of seeking help, and fosters trust between responders and the community. 

Being involved with CCT has also shown me the importance of connecting Whitman students with the Walla Walla community. Opportunities like Together 26 allow students to learn from diverse experiences and contribute to initiatives that support community health. Strong communities are built through collaboration, empathy, and shared effort, and students have an important role in that work. 

I am excited to continue my fellowship with CCT next year, building on this work and exploring new ways to engage both Whitman students and community members. This experience has motivated me to further develop my skills and continue contributing to safe, supportive, and connected spaces.