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WALLA WALLA–Community Council seeks suggestions from any and all community members to help determine the topic for the upcoming 2021-2022 study. Past study topics included: affordable housing, education and economic growth, outdoor recreation, and food insecurity. Community Council facilitates these studies to better understand and address issues that affect the quality of life in this region, which encompasses Columbia and Walla Walla counties and the Milton-Freewater area.

Past studies and subsequent advocacy for recommended change have shown how much we can do when we work together. There is tremendous capacity in the “Power of Us” – this energy is first developed through the study process and then harnessed and directed through the implementation effort. The only thing needed to get the “study” ball rolling again is the next topic.

Do you have a communitywide concern, issue, or problem statement? Does it affect the quality of life or the economic well-being for a large number of people? Is it likely to attract broad participation from the community? Can the topic be clearly defined and then studied? Is it likely that the issue can be resolved by fact-based analysis? Is it a new issue that has not been addressed in previous Community Council studies?

If you know of such a topic, then please share your idea with us.

Once a topic has been selected, Community Council will convene a study committee (open to the public) to learn about the topic and develop recommendations for positive change. The study process will last 26 weeks and culminate in the publication of a study report that includes findings and recommendations. Thereafter, Community Council will convene an Implementation Task Force (also open to the public) to advocate for the implementation of the study recommendations.

Visit Community Council’s website to submit a topic. Or, send your ideas to us at: PO Box 2936, Walla Walla, WA 99362. For consideration this year, please submit topics by March 5, 2021.