Young Professionals of Seattle

Join us for an inspiring evening co-hosted by YPC-Seattle, United Way of King County’s Emerging Leaders 365, Seattle Metro Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN), and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN). This event will feature insightful discussions with local and civic leaders about the critical role of voting, the significance of local elections, and key issues on the ballot. You'll also have access to valuable resources from various organizations, offering guidance on how to deepen your community engagement, effectively communicate with your legislators, and manage mental health before, during, and after an election. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and make a difference!

Speakers Include:

Julie Wise, King County Director of Elections
Julie Wise was first elected in 2015. Her election followed a long career with King County Elections that began in 2000 when Julie was hired to answer voter questions and provide assistance in the phone bank. In the years between, Julie worked her way up to Deputy Director, with time spent in nearly every work area. In her more than twenty years of service to voters, Julie has earned both her state and national certifications in election administration.

A champion for increasing both accessibility and security, Julie is dedicated to removing barriers to voting, while maintaining accuracy, security, and transparency. She has been a vocal advocate for expanding language access and has been successful in adding four non-English languages to King County Elections’ suite of full-service languages. The department now provides ballots, voting materials, all correspondence, customer service, and voter education materials in seven languages.

Alicia Crank, Executive Director of Seattle City Club
Alicia Crank’s intense passion for the city has been on full display the past two years in her role as executive director of Seattle CityClubThis link will take you away from uwkc.org, where she has worked tirelessly to bring diverse voices to Seattle’s political scene.

“For me, it’s always been about making sure that there’s representation on our local city councils,” says Crank, a former candidate for Edmonds City Council herself. “Representation doesn’t just mean race or gender, it’s socioeconomic. It’s also life experience, and work experience.”

In addition to her CityClub duties, Crank has joined Seattle magazine as the new “director of opportunities.” In her new role, Crank will serve as a community ambassador for the publication, and will help identify both revenue and engagement opportunities.

Ashley Ford (moderator)
Ashley Ford (she/they) is a community builder and fundraiser with a passion for redistributing resources to those who need them most. They are a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion, currently chairing the board for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) of Seattle and serving as a Co-Chair on the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission. Ashley has also been a musician for over 15 years currently performing as a flautist with the Rainbow City Bands. In their free time, you can find them on a local hiking trail or looking for the best lavender latte in town!