Blog
Discover more about our recent advocacy and the communities we fight for through our latest blog posts and media releases.
THE LATEST
Law, Courage, and the Work Still Before Us
By DonYeta Villavaso-Madden, Equity and Anti-Racist Strategist In eighth grade, Malcolm Little was among the strongest students in his class at Mason, Michigan. When his teacher asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Malcolm answered confidently: a lawyer. The...
A message from CLS Interim Executive Director
I am honored to have joined Columbia Legal Services (CLS) as Interim Executive Director. Through my prior work as a civil legal aid attorney and with Alliance for Equal Justice partners, including JustLead Washington and Seattle University School of Law, I have long...
Washington Supreme Court to Hear Sunnyside Mushroom Workers Case, Signifying Major Step in Windmill Mushroom Fight
Sunnyside, WA — Last week, the Supreme Court of Washington State granted a motion by the United Farm Workers (UFW) and former workers at Windmill Farms in Sunnyside, WA to take up their case for discretionary review. After years of organizing, standing up to...
“No más”: Two women who refused to look away
For years, the women in one Yakima Valley mushroom plant were told the same thing: work faster, do not complain, and be grateful you have a job. Breaks were cut short or skipped. Older women worked through pain. Supervisors raised their voices and made it clear that...
“No más”: Dos mujeres se negaron a mirar hacia otro lado
Durante años, a las mujeres de una planta de hongos del Valle de Yakima les decían siempre lo mismo: trabajen más rápido, no se quejen y agradezcan tener un empleo. Los descansos se reducían o se omitían. Las mujeres mayores trabajaban a pesar del dolor. Los...
Standing Together During the Mass Blackout
Dear friends, We want to share that from November 25 to December 2 we will be joining the Mass Blackout, a collective action that calls attention to exploitative labor practices, widening economic inequality, and systems that place profit before human wellbeing. Our...
CLS Welcomes Jen Werdell as Interim Executive Director
Dear Friend, We’re pleased to share that Columbia Legal Services has appointed Jen Werdell as our new Interim Executive Director following an extensive and thoughtful search process. She will join the team in January 2026. Jen brings more than 20 years of experience...
Newsletters & Media
Welcome to our Newsletters & Media Archive! Dive into our collection of past newsletters to explore all the work we've shared. Each edition is packed with the latest updates, initiatives, and resources from CLS. Not only will you find important developments in...
Fighting Back for Justice: Advocacy, Community, and Action This October
Dear friends, On November 1, federal cuts will strip food assistance from families already struggling to make ends meet. ICE is stepping up raids across Washington, tearing parents from children. And at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, a for-profit detention...
Hispanic Heritage Month & Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Celebration Amid Contradiction
“Seeing the humanity in others is not passive work—it is an active practice of humility, empathy, and accountability.” Anonymous By: Elvia Bueno, Annabell Joya, and DonYeta Villavaso-Madden In...
Looking back on a powerful Imagine Justice Week
Thank you for being part of Imagine Justice Week. Whether you joined us in person, followed along online, or supported from afar, you helped make this year’s events a powerful success. Together, we uplifted art, advocacy, and the shared belief that justice should...
Community Highlight – Yakima Community Aid win!
Over the past month I have been supporting Yakima Community Aid in their campaign to hold the Yakima Health Board accountable. In late August, the Yakima Health Board voted to send a letter to federal enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement...