About Us

The Walla Walla Partnership for Community Safety is a community-led effort formed to address one of the most complex and important issues facing our region: how to build a safer, more respectful, and more connected community in the context of immigration. It began by bringing together 65 local leaders and residents from across Walla Walla Valley, including law enforcement, elected officials, business and nonprofit leaders, faith leaders, and community members with a wide range of political views and lived experiences.

Through a process of listening, learning, and honest conversation across differences, participants worked to find common ground. That process led to the creation of Our Shared Public Commitment, a public statement rooted in shared civic values. It reflects a belief that community safety grows when people are treated with dignity, trust is strengthened, legal pathways are supported, neighbors stand in solidarity with one another, and all residents have opportunities to contribute and belong.

Adopted on April 13, the commitment has continued to grow through the support of community members who have added their names and voices. The partnership has now moved from words to action, with five Action Committees working to strengthen trust, expand support, encourage solidarity, increase opportunity, and help the broader community understand and live out the commitment. This website is a place to learn about that work, explore the commitment, and find ways to stay connected and involved.

Signing the Shared Public Commitment is a simple but meaningful way to help shape the kind of Walla Walla Valley we want to live in: a valley where fear does not get the final word and neighbors look out for one another.

Signing is not about agreeing on everything. It is about committing to how we show up for one another. Each new signature makes that commitment more visible and affirms a community where everyone can feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

Each signature reflects a willingness to stand alongside neighbors from different backgrounds and perspectives and to take shared responsibility for the future of our community. As John Lohrmann said, "while we may come from many backgrounds, we can certainly agree on the basic values that guide us forward. We are diverse, and we are equal."

For many in our community, this commitment is deeply personal. As Abby Muro shared, these commitments are "more than words" - they are a sign that people are seen, supported, and not alone. That kind of support can shape what feels possible for families and strengthen the sense of safety and belonging across our valley.

Signing makes visible what kind of community we want to be: one grounded in dignity, shared responsibility, and care for one another. It is a public step toward a valley where people feel protected, connected, and less vulnerable to division.