Blog
Discover more about our recent advocacy and the communities we fight for through our latest blog posts and media releases.
THE LATEST
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...
Be Part of the Story: Imagine Justice Art Reception
Imagine Justice Art Reception When: September 18 | 5:00PM to 8:00PMWhere: Bale Breakers Brewing Company1801 Birchfield Rd, Yakima, WA 98901 With the Imagine Justice Art Reception coming up in less than a month, now is the perfect time to register and save your spot....
Celebrate Youth Art & Justice – Join Us September 18
You are invited to an inspiring evening of art, community, and action at the 2025 Imagine Justice Art Reception – our first ever Imagine Justice event in Yakima! When: September 18 | 5:00PM to 8:00PMWhere: Bale Breakers Brewing Company1801 Birchfield Rd, Yakima, WA...
Celebre el arte juvenil y la justicia – Acompañenos el 18 de septiembre
Están invitados a una noche inspiradora de arte, comunidad y acción en la Recepción de Arte Imagina la Justicia 2025, ¡nuestro primer evento Imagina la Justicia en Yakima! Cuándo: 18 de septiembre | 5:00PM a 8:00PMDónde: Bale Breakers Brewing Company1801 Birchfield...
Justice Takes Time — We’re in It for the Long Haul
Grounded in the Work, Ready for the Fight As we navigate this season of change at CLS — both in our leadership and across the communities we serve — we’re staying grounded in the work. Thank you for your continued partnership as we hold both the complexity and the...
Gomez v. Stemilt – Court of Appeals Opinion
Reflections on the 2025 Legislative Session
Note: We know this update is arriving later than usual. The session may be behind us, but the questions it raised — about budget priorities, federal interference, and long-term strategy — are still shaping our work. We appreciate your patience and hope this reflection...