TUNE’s Civic Engagement Speaker Series builds awareness, inspires action

TUNE Cares is an employee-driven program that brings TUNErs into our surrounding communities to build awareness and make a positive impact.

A new TUNE Cares initiative is flipping this script by bringing the community to TUNE. Through the Civic Engagement Speaker Series, local policymakers and active citizens are invited to TUNE HQ in Seattle to present on topics of their choice and lead a discussion about each individual’s capacity to make change. Attendees are not asked to agree with the speakers, but rather to engage with an open mind.

Launched earlier this year — shortly after the presidential transition — the Civic Engagement Speaker Series has already sparked conversations inclusive of diverse worldviews and approaches to leadership. Speakers have included:

• Rob McKenna (former Washington Attorney General)
• Ed Murray (Seattle Mayor) and Rebecca Lovell (Seattle Deputy Director for Economic Development)
• Naria Santa Lucia (Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Executive Director) and Caroline King (Washington STEM CEO)
• Ed Lazowska (Chair of University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering)
• Noah Purcell (Washington Solicitor General)
• Brady Walkinshaw (Grist CEO) and Amelia Urry (Grist Associate Editor)

Discussions ranged widely, from homelessness to taxation to education opportunities to responsibilities of businesses to Washington State’s unique primary system to environmental justice to immigration to the prospect of a return of the Sonics … and quite a bit in-between. United by a shared acknowledgement that citizenship is not a spectator sport, TUNErs are proving that we can have respectful civic dialogue that builds awareness and inspires action, regardless of political beliefs. And with direct access to influential community leaders, TUNErs are reminded that each of us is capable of making change.

Through these conversations, TUNErs are exploring different paths to changemaking and leadership. Inspired by the speaker series and aided by these new connections, employees are already taking direct action, including joining a nonprofit board, volunteering as a mentor, and forming a new “green team” to promote environmental stewardship.

TUNE Cares aims to build meaningful experiences for employees, encourage lifelong learning, and inspire our colleagues to find their individual passion and make a difference in their community. We’re so proud of what our colleagues are already doing in their communities, and can’t wait to see what’s next.