Publication Date

6-19-2026

Abstract

Valerie Dumser is the co-founder and first Board President of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP). As a pivotal figure in the organization's history, Dumser served on the original West Bloomington Task Force, helped establish WBRP as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and founded the WBRP Community Garden, the first WBRP program, by drawing on her experience as a Master Gardener. Since the organization's founding, she has remained actively involved in its growth and development, and continues to provide leadership and advocacy as a resident of Bloomington's West Side. This oral history interview explores the history and evolution of the WBRP, Dumser's experiences living in and serving the West Side community, and the longstanding partnership between Illinois Wesleyan University and the WBRP in advancing community revitalization efforts.

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