Where all are welcome
By Christina Walden
Hello PJALS Members! I am a new Intern at PJALS this years from the Eastern Washington University School of Social Work. I am so excited to be here working with you all to advance the causes of peace and justice here in Spokane, in our region, and hopefully throughout the nation. I am very passionate about equity in our society, especially for those who are marginalized by race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and disability status. I have felt so welcomed already by those of you I have met at the events over the last few months, PJALS is truly a place where all are welcome!
I am a nontraditional student in that I am attending University later in life having finally found my passion to help others. As a women with invisible disabilities I was far too used to being dismissed and had to find my own voice.
I am also a single mother of an 8 year old son with special needs who has taught me so much about being a better person and fighting for those whose voice is not heard. I have also learned in my short time so far at PJALS that not only do we need to fight for others we need to fight with them to make sure their voices are the ones being heard. I look forward to learning so much more and meeting all of you at events throughout this year and beyond.