MISSION
The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center promotes lasting peace, social justice, and a culture of nonviolence at home and worldwide. We accomplish this through partnerships, education, and direct action.
HISTORYThe idea for the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center (WPJC) came about in early 2002 among participants of the Bellingham Peace Vigil, the nation’s longest-running weekly peace vigil (1967-present). WPJC began under the sponsorship of the Bellingham Quakers and received its own non-profit status in February 2005.
The center was formed not only to address U.S. aggression against the people of Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq, but to establish an organization fostering nonviolence as a way of life and as a tool of domestic and foreign policy. |
RENA PRIESTBoard of Directors![]() Rena Priest is a Poet and a member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation. She is the recipient of an American Book Award, an Allied Arts Foundation Professional Poets Award, and residency fellowships from Hedgebrook, Hawthornden Castle, and Mineral School. Priest has published work at Poets.org, Poetry Northwest, High Country News, YES! Magazine, Seattle Met, and elsewhere. She is a National Geographic Explorer and holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College
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MARTINA BOYDVolunteer![]() As a German immigrant, I learned early of the injustices perpetrated by the Hitler regime. I knew my passion would be to help, never harm, and make a difference. I have spent 45 years caring for all peoples as a registered nurse. In my retirement, I continue to serve by volunteering, which encompasses not only the WPJC but Lydia Place, the Friday peace vigil and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health). I enjoy spending time with my wonderful, loving family, hiking the trails around Bellingham and good friends.
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AISHA MANSOURVolunteer![]() Aisha Mansour is a Palestinian activist who was born and raised on Duwamish land (Seattle area). She is currently a senior at Western Washington University, pursuing a degree in Law, Diversity, and Justice as well as a minor in Education and Social Justice.
Aisha is proud to be involved in Palestinian liberation work. She is currently a board member of @WWU-SUPER (Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights), sits on the future leaders committee of @PACCWA (Palestinian American Community Center of Washington State), and lobbies with @AMPalestine (American Muslims for Palestine). Aisha is passionate about solidarity work and hopes to deepen ties between different social movements in Bellingham during her time with the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center.
“If you live, live free or die like the trees, standing up.” – Mahmoud Darwish
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DEVAN GUNTHERVolunteer![]() Devan Gunther is currently a sophomore studying political science at Western Washington University. Originally from Texas, Devan moved to Washington for high school after their father got transferred to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. They were involved with their high school county-winning environmentalist team and in college, they often volunteer in voter registration campaigns and in lobbying at the capital.
When they’re not studying for classes or volunteering at WPJC, you can find them drawing, sculpting, reading, or hanging with friends.
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The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center calls on our government and society to disavow policies of violence and seek a culture of peace.
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