WWU sponsors ‘Heal Without Cure’ community conversations Oct. 28 and Nov. 7

Western Washington University’s RN to BSN nursing program is partnering with Whatcom County health care organizations to form the Palliative Care Initiative, which is sponsoring free events Oct. 28 and Nov. 7 for honest conversations and shared learning about living with chronic conditions, illnesses and death.

“Heal without Cure” community conversations are scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at the YWCA Ballroom (1026 N Forest St.) in Bellingham and at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at Jansen Art Center (321 Front St.) in Lynden. These events are free and open to the public. Event participants will join in small group conversations designed to uncover collective learning about the most compassionate and helpful ways to care for one another, both within and outside of professional health care.

Everyone will eventually live with a chronic health condition or limited function and face death, for themselves or a loved one. Opening up honest conversations about community involvement and connection is an important step toward shaping an active and supportive palliative community.

In community conversations guided by Marie Eaton (professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Western), Richard Scholtz (member of the Community Organizing Group for Health) and Geof Morgan (executive director of the Whatcom Family and Community Network), participants will have an opportunity to put aside professional identities and affiliations and to come together for a time of shared stories and shared wisdom.

Western Washington University has partnered with Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement (WAHA), Community Organized Group for Health (COGH), PeaceHealth Palliative Care and PeaceHealth Hospice to transform the human responses to living and dying.

For more information please visit www.wwu.edu/bsn