Seattle Connection Council
The Seattle Connection Council is a cross-sector leadership body charged with safeguarding and strengthening social connection and community. It ensures Seattle remains a city defined by human connection and the conditions that drive personal wellbeing, economic vitality, cultural richness, and pluralism.
The Council is responsible for ensuring that social connection is intentionally built, measured, and sustained across Seattle.
Members serve as ambassadors for connection within their sectors and across the city—championing its importance, influencing peers, and helping embed connection into the norms and practices of civic and institutional life.
Set the Standard
Define what connection means for Seattle and align leaders around a shared vision and framework.Measure What Matters
Establish shared metrics, track progress, and use data to identify gaps and drive action.Activate Across Sectors
Ensure business, government, nonprofits, and cultural institutions embed connection into their core work.Build Pathways for Residents
Create clear, accessible ways for people to build relationships, especially during key life transitions like moving, career transitions, retirement, etc.Strengthen the Ecosystem
Connect and elevate community builders across the city to expand reach and impact.Champion and Sustain the Work
Advocate for connection, shape policy and investment, and steward this work over the long term.
Founding Members
-

QUYNH PHAM
Director
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods -

LARA LITTLEFIELD
Executive Director
Allen Family Philanthropies -

DERRICK BELGARDE
CEO
Chief Seattle Club -

JON SCHOLES
President & CEO
Downtown Seattle Associations -

LAURA SMITH
Co-owner, General Manager, Designated Broker
Windermere -

KAYLA DEMONTE
Deputy Director
Citizen University -

ALONDA WILLIAMS
President & CEO
Big Brother Big Sister -

JANICE DEGUCHI
Executive Director
Neighborhood House -

ALVERTIS BROOKS
Executive Director
Rainier Valley Community Development Fund -

TERRY KYLLO
Executive Director
Paths to Understanding -

CRYSTAL BROWN
Executive Director
Cultivate South Park -

MEGHAN BARNES
Executive Director - Puget Sound
Blue Star Families -

DANA GUY
Executive Director
PEPS -

ILONA LOHREY
President & CEO
GSBA -

JEN HALLER
Partner
Ascend VC -

RACHEL LIGTENBERG
President & CEO
Pike Place Market PDA -

TRACEY CATALDO
Publisher
The Stranger -

MICHAEL GREER
President & CEO
ArtsFund -

JESSI WASSON
Deputy Director
Inspire Washington -

REBECCA BEAR
President & CEO
Seattle Parks Foundation -

ALLISON BRISCOE-SMITH
Diversity Lead
University of Washington -

BRIAN LAWRENCE
CEO
Seattle Public Library Foundation
ⓒ Chamber of Connection, 2025
501(c)(3) nonprofit - tax exempt.
hello@chamberofconnection.org

