Our Place in Walla Walla: Kate Morrison ’95
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Feature by: Noah Leavitt, College Liaison for Community Affairs
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Painting of Kate Morrison by Oregon artist Deborah DeWitt.
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Kate Morrison ‘95 and I spoke over lunch at the newly reopened Bacon & Eggs location on Main Street near campus. It was a sunny Friday early afternoon, and town was buzzing.
How are you involved in the Walla Walla Valley and in the community?
I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector since shortly after graduation with fundraising, strategy and other aspects of social change work. I did spend 10 years in Portland as a musician and freelancer and came back here about 2½ years ago to help a nonprofit organization recover. I’m in the process of transitioning to the Blue Mountain Community Foundation working in philanthropy. And, I’m still a musician! Both as part of different groups and as a solo performer. I also still have my Portland-based musical colleagues, who come from Portland to play here from time to time, and I travel to perform with them.
What is something you’ve learned about this area that surprised you or that you weren’t expecting?
Something unexpected and unusual is how the nonprofit organizations here work together and support each other. Actually, it’s not just nonprofits. It’s businesses too. People are really willing to help each other. Compared to other places I’ve lived and visited—it’s really different. That’s special about Walla Walla.
Here’s a story—about Michelle (one of the owners of Bacon & Eggs)—I was walking across Main Street a little while ago. Michelle was on the other side, and she had a big heirloom tomato in her hand. She saw me, crossed the middle of the street, handed it to me, gave me a big hug and said, “Here. This is meant for you.” It’s great small-town stuff, but we’re not a small town—that’s the beauty of living here.
In our local musical scene, if you need a piece of equipment at a gig and you don’t have it (or forgot it), you can call someone and they’ll bring it to you! People have your back and that’s pretty sweet. It seems like a little thing, but it’s a big thing—you can’t do a show without the right cable, and here you know that you’ll be able to get one!
Read more.
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Beyond the interview:
Kate Morrison is available for conversation with students who would like to follow up on anything in this interview. You can reach her at katemorrisoncreative@gmail.com. Any other questions? Please contact Noah Leavitt at leavitns@whitman.edu.
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English Professor Interviewed for Article on Syllabus Accessibility
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Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Associate Professor of English Mary Raschko was quoted extensively for an article recently published by HigherEdJobs. The article, titled “Syllabus Accessibility: 4 Essential Considerations,” provides a brief overview of accessibility as it fits into the broader concept of Universal Design for Learning, a set of principles geared toward providing equal access to learning for all individuals.
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Staff Member Organizes Community Listening Event
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Senior Designer Matthew McKern is organizing “Lift Up Your Voice: A Community Listening Event for Young Community Members” on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Walla Walla Public Library. The nonpartisan event aims to provide an opportunity for young voters to speak to the issues that are important to them. The event will be facilitated by Abby Muro, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition. The Whitman Votes student organization will host a voter registration table at the event.
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Pášx̣apa Powwow Events This Week
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Whitman College will host the second annual Pášx̣apa Powwow on Saturday, May 3, at the Sherwood Athletic Center. A trio of educational and cultural events will also take place throughout the week in Olin Auditorium. (Flyer attached.)
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All of the powwow events are free and open to the public.
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Music Department Concert Tonight
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The Music Department will present “Music of Empowerment” on Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in Cordiner Hall. This concert by Whitman’s Orchestra, Chorale and Chamber Singers will feature the American premiere of “Suffrage Cantata” by Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée. (Flyer attached.)
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History Department Visiting Lecture Tomorrow
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The History Department presents the Edward F. Arnold Visiting Professor Lecture on Tuesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. in Olin Auditorium. Nassima Neggaz, Associate Professor of History and Religion at New College of Florida, will deliver a presentation titled “Sunnis, Shi’a and the Fall of Baghdad.” (Flyer attached.)
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Listserv Feedback Survey Closes Friday
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At the beginning of this academic year, the Office of Communications made some updates to the structure of our moderated listservs and published updated listserv moderation guidelines to provide more clarity about how moderation decisions are made. Whitman students, faculty and staff are invited to provide feedback on these changes through an anonymous survey by Friday, May 2.
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Last week, Astronomy majors in the Observational Astronomy class took a field trip to the Whitman-owned 30-inch telescope located between Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities, where they observed Jupiter, Mars, two star clusters and the Whirlpool Galaxy.
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Das Deutsche Haus (Interest House)
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Reid Campus Center, Room G02
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Cordiner Hall, South Lawn
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Reid Campus Center, Room G02
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Reid Campus Center, Lower Level
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Reid Campus Center, Queer Resource Center
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Welty Student Health Center
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Reid Campus Center, Room 207
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Fishhook Park & Wallula Gap
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Varsity Gym
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Reid Campus Center, Coffeehouse
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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