Meet Sandi Walker

About this episode

Cassie Clark interviews Sandi Walker about her candidacy for mayor and the history of the Waldensian community in Valdese.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sandi Walker—Valdese Mayoral Candidate, owner of Dolls & Designs, and Senior Tour Guide for the Waldensian Trail of Faith. A direct descendant of the original Waldensian settlers, Sandi brings a deep, personal perspective to Valdese’s history and community. Together, we talk about the Waldensians’ incredible journey from the Alpine valleys of Italy to the foothills of North Carolina, how their faith shaped the town of Valdese, and the modern challenges the community faces today. If you’ve never heard of the Waldensians—or if you’re curious about small-town leadership, heritage tourism, and the future of Valdese—this episode is for you. Connect with Sandi Walker: Website Facebook X Sponsors: NC/TN High Country WX Nascar WX Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5 Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via: Venmo Cash App Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms: Website Instagram X TikTok Contact: cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com Tags: #Valdese #Waldensians #NorthCarolinaHistory #SmallTownNC #WesternNorthCarolina #LocalHeritage #CommunityLeadership #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms

People in this episode

Host: Cassie Clark

Guest: Sandi Walker

Topics covered

• Waldensians
• Valdese history
• community challenges
• heritage tourism
• small-town leadership

Keywords

• Valdese
• Waldensians
• North Carolina History
• Small Town NC
• Community Leadership

Sponsors

NC/TN High Country, WX Nascar, WX Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dolls & Designs, Waldensian Trail of Faith

Places: Valdese, Alpine valleys of Italy, North Carolina

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