Walla Walla Valley Civility Project

04/22/2026

For those who participated in the recent civility lunch, thank you. We discussed policies related to diplomacy and Military use. There was a lot of good conversation, and the key takeaway was that National policy should reflect the principles of Civility.
Please join us for our next lunch event at the China Buffet on June 6 at 12:00 on the Topic of Religious
Nationalism.

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03/16/2026

For those who participated in the recent civility lunch, thank you for the participation. We had a good turnout of over twenty people and we talked civilly about the concerns and objectives of the ICE activities within our nation.

Here are the takeaways that were formed from this discussion:

(1) We felt there was a need for better clarity as to the rules and laws for deportations.
(2) We believe that deportations and ICE agent conduct should proceed lawfully and as peacefully as possible.
(3) Finally, we agreed that Dignity and Respect must be given high priority. Both to the enforcers as well as to the deportees.

It is the position of the Civility Project to try to bring conflict and disagreement to a peaceful result by allowing for civil discourse to occur. We encourage all people in the Walla Walla area to support and participate in these goals.

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02/05/2026

The Walla Walla Civility Project invites you to join us for another gathering centered on food, discussion, and civility. Despite ever growing hostility, we still believe that we can disagree without being enemies, and it is imperative for the people's flourishing that we do so. Our topic this month will be the recent developments in the sphere of immigration. After a brief introduction, we will break off into groups of 2-3 to discuss the questions below. We will close with a brief time for sharing insights gleaned.

For those who came to this country by non-legal methods, what further criteria (if any) should they meet before government action should be taken to find them and send them back?
For those who meet your criteria, how should the "finding" be approached? How should the "sending back" be approached?
How should those who dislike the current approach express their views?
What (if any) government action should be taken regarding those who came to this country by non-legal methods but do not meet your criteria?

When: February 28th at noon (arrive early enough to acquire your food beforehand)
Where: China Buffet (1618 Plaza Way, Walla Walla, WA, 99362)
Who: Anyone. Bring a friend!

Our website is below. Please let us know if you plan to attend.

Thanks,
David Alford (509) 386-7725
wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com

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09/29/2025

The Walla Walla Civility Project will be taking a break over the next three months, during which we won't be presenting any events, including our planned Civility Cafe for October 23. In January, we'll be holding another board meeting, and will move forward from there.

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07/30/2025

Project members are devastated at the loss of board member Dwight Steffanson. Board Chair Mark Lawless reflects here on his time serving with Dwight toward their shared passion for a civil society.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C1w8dbMmF/

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04/22/2025

https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/unity-is-key-element-in-coalition-s-revival-of-walla-walla-diversity-festival/article_0064d0d5-61bc-48ce-9df7-ac7bc1570c9c.html

The Unity and Diversity Festival on Sunday, April 27, in Heritage Square will spotlight vendors, music, dance and other performances from different cultural traditions in a renewed take on a

03/24/2025

The public is invited to a no-host Civility Lunch at the China Buffet adjacent to the Plaza Safeway on Saturday, March 29 at noon, sponsored by the Walla Walla Valley Civility Project.

Following individual food choices, the lunch will begin in the restaurant's meeting room with an introduction to civility principles and practices, then participants will break into small groups to share thoughts and feelings about current and planned cuts in federal funding, including any effects they're likely to have on the quality of life in the Walla Walla Valley.

Because of limited seating, interested participants are asked to register by email to [email protected] and to include their contact information, after which the Project will confirm their registration.

The mission of the Civility Project is to promote understanding and respect among all members of our local communities and beyond. Learn more at the Project's website at wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com.

04/21/2024

Thursday evening members of the community gathered together with the Civility Project to share what was on their hearts and minds and to learn more about joining and getting involved with the work of the project as general members. If you weren't able to join us Thursday but would like to learn more about the project, visit our webpage and check out the membership form linked here:
https://wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com/p/membership-application.html
You can also write using the email on our "info" page to learn about our new yard signs and bring one to your own yard and share the message of civility.

04/15/2024

Are you coming to our Community Civility Café this Thursday? Learn more in the article below, or in the event information on our page. Hope to see you there!

A Walla Walla Valley Civility Project gathering open to the community will be at 7 p.m. on April 18 in the Walla Walla High School Commons.

03/17/2024

PUBLIC INVITED TO COMMUNITY CIVILITY EVENT
APRIL 18 AT WA-HI COMMONS

The Walla Walla Valley Civility Walla Walla Civility Project is inviting the public to attend a Community Civility event in the Wa-Hi Commons at 7 pm on Thursday evening, April 18.

The Civility Project was organized two years ago to promote and learn civility practices that will help us to work together as a community. Since then, it has sponsored booths at a variety of community events, and has held two Community Civility Cafes at the Wa-Hi Commons and a third in Dayton at the fairgrounds pavilion.

The April 18 event will invite ideas and discussion of activities the Project should consider undertaking to promote and practice civility in our local communities, and how participants would like to be involved, as well as sharing food and fellowship. Following that, those who wish can take part in respectful small table discussions regarding what is on their hearts and minds, as well as learning the views of others. Those planning to attend are asked to respond by email to [email protected].

The Project’s website www.wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com explains that widespread divisions in our present society appear to threaten our ability to consider a variety of issues as a cohesive community, and the Project hopes to help restore civility in our behavior and our speech and to re-establish the bonds of fellowship and community that allow us to work together and are essential to friendship and mutual respect.

Its goal is to assist in creating a community where everyone feels safe and is treated respectfully, and believes that one of the most important ways to do that is to learn to discuss and deal with differences in a civil and constructive way. Civility does not require giving up beliefs, being passive, staying silent, backing down, agreeing, or avoiding conflict. What is does require is speaking respectfully, kindly, and courteously, withholding judgment, and listening with the goal of understanding rather than to persuade.

Those interested in joining the Project are asked to submit an application form found at www.wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com

For more information, contact [email protected], call 509-522-0399, or write to Walla Walla Valley Civility Project, PO Box 1222, Walla Walla WA 99362.

 On April 5, 1968, the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and two months before his own assassination, Robert F. Kennedy made the following statement on the menace of violence in all its forms: