EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Abby is a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights and social justice, with a lifelong commitment to amplifying the voices of historically marginalized communities. The daughter of immigrants who made the Walla Walla Valley their home, she grew up witnessing firsthand the challenges her family and others faced. This shaped her passion for creating more equitable opportunities and dismantling barriers that disproportionately impact immigrant and underrepresented communities.

As the Executive Director of the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition, Abby leads strategic initiatives that empower immigrant communities through advocacy, policy engagement, and direct services. She works closely with community leaders, policymakers, and organizations to advance systemic change, ensuring that immigrant voices are heard and represented at all levels of decision-making.

With a career spanning leadership roles in higher education, workforce development, and immigrant rights, she has consistently focused on building inclusive systems that promote access, equity, and social mobility. Guided by her deep-rooted commitment to justice, Abby continues to advocate for transformative policies and community-led solutions that uplift those too often left unheard. She is dedicated to ensuring that every individual—regardless of background—has the opportunity to thrive.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Paola Herrera serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator and Promotora at the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition, where she passionately works to connect migrant families with essential resources that uplift the community’s well-being. Born in a small town in Michoacán, Mexico, Paola immigrated to the U.S. at age 16, leaving behind her home and half her family. Navigating life in a new country, she developed a profound empathy for the struggles migrant families face.

Her career began in agriculture, moving from the fields in California to the orchards and vineyards of Washington. Rising to crew supervisor, Paola felt an unbreakable connection to her roots and a powerful drive to serve her community. Understanding firsthand the language barriers, lack of information, and systemic obstacles migrants face, she became a champion for change, collaborating with other advocates to make resources accessible to her teams.

In 2023, she co-founded Mujeres en Acción, a group of Latinas dedicated to supporting immigrant women in Walla Walla. Driven by her experiences and desire to help others, Paola works tirelessly to bridge gaps in support, inspire empowerment, and foster community connections. Her vision is for every migrant family to feel seen, supported, and empowered to pursue their dreams, just as she has done.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR & STRATEGIC CONSULTANT

Tia is a co-founder and Director of the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition’s Colectivo de Arte Social (2018-present), which initiates bold creative projects like The Listeners Project: Queremos Escucharte to share unheard stories from the Walla Walla Valley. She also serves as a strategic consultant for the organization.  

Tia Kramer is an artist, social choreographer, and educator who creates collective experiences that disrupt the every day, engaging participants in embodied poetry and radical imagination. Her artworks manifest as socially engaged projects and performances rooted in public art, creative pedagogy, oral history, dance, and social action. She received her MFA in Art + Social Practice from Portland State University, a Post Baccalaureate in Fiber + Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and BA in Studio Art from Macalester College. She has developed projects at venues including the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park, Everson Museum of Art, Henry Art Gallery, Bellevue Art Museum, MadArt Seattle, Harper Joy Theatre, Georgetown Steam Plant, and her beloved Prescott School District. Her artwork has been supported by multiple National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Artist Projects, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Artist Trust, 4Culture, Inatai Foundation, Washington State Library, and others.

Originally from a tiny town in rural Iowa, Tia spent nearly two decades living in urban areas throughout the US and conducting creative research at overseas sites including McMurdo Station, Antarctica; the Ho Region in Eastern Ghana; and throughout Asia. She is now happily rooted in Walla Walla, Washington where she delights in asking questions, getting her hands dirty, hosting relational meetings, and running a 10-minute mile.