Walla Walla Violence Prevention Coalition

Dr. Dorothy Edwards

“I do this work because I believe with everything in me that current rates of power-based personal violence are not inevitable. I do this work because if I didn’t believe this could change – I would be accepting some truths about humanity that I am just not willing to accept.”

Dr. Dorothy J. Edwards, author of the Green Dot Violence Prevention Strategy, holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman’s University. Prior to her current position, serving as the Executive Director of greendot.etcetera, a center dedicated to effective intervention and prevention of personal violence, Dr. Edwards served for five years as the founding Director of the University of Kentucky Violence Intervention and Prevention Center. She has worked in both counseling and teaching capacities in higher education at Appalachian State University and Texas Woman’s University. She founded the Community Education Program at Denton County Friends of the Family, which addresses sexual assault and relationship violence. With a specialty in primary prevention, she provides training and consultation in the areas of power-based personal violence, organizational capacity building, program implementation, strategic planning and community mobilization. Dr. Edwards is currently working with government entities, state coalitions, the military, non-profits, community organizations, high schools and colleges around the globe.

7 p.m. in Cordiner Auditorium, Whitman College

Keynote address by Dr. Dorothy Edwards:

“What Works? Effective Ways to Reduce Violence in Our Community”

A growing body of evidence suggests that communities can measurably reduce rates of violence. Dr. Edwards will review important findings from many fields that demonstrate that current rates of interpersonal violence are not inevitable. In fact, there is compelling research to show that individuals can help prevent violence by becoming active agents for change rather than passive bystanders. Dr. Edwards focuses on some of the daily actions individuals can take to transform potentially violent situations in our community. This talk encourages members of the Walla Walla community to join together in creating hope for a safer, stronger, violence-free community.