The Mayor and Seattle City Council recently announced the initial 13 appointees selected to serve on the City of Seattle’s new Community Involvement Commission (CIC). The CIC will ultimately be comprised of 16 equity champions who will work to ensure that our City departments are creating and implementing equitable engagement strategies that lead to more relevant and impactful public participation. They will also provide feedback on the development of City departments’ community involvement plans. All the appointments are subject to City Council confirmation.

Alison Turner

Alison Turner
City Council Appointee: District 4

Alison Turner grew up in Bothell, Washington, and has lived in Seattle for over a decade. A designer and urbanist, Alison is interested in urban planning as public health and how our built environment can serve everyone. Her experience includes working as the Policy & Advocacy Intern at the Housing Development Consortium, and doing research and writing for Transportation Choices Coalition. Alison graduated from the University of Washington in June 2017 with a degree in Community, Environment and Planning. In her spare time, she likes to bicycle around town, explore our great outdoors, dance, and make things.

What inspired you to serve on the Community Involvement Commission?

I had been following the development of the commission after the finding that the neighborhood councils were not representative of Seattle residents. I went back to school because I wanted to make a difference in the community and this seemed like a perfect opportunity, especially with my graduation from the University of Washington coming up. Being a long-time renter living in Seattle, I have experienced this city through recession and prosperity. I am very concerned that the current economic boom is not equitably benefiting everyone in Seattle and I believe that we need to do much more to ensure that our city grows inclusively.

We’ve taken to calling our Community Involvement Commissioners “EQUITY CHAMPIONS!” Do you accept this superhero moniker and what does it mean to you personally?

Yes, I do. I decided to go back to school to study urban planning because I saw that the design of the built environment has so much influence on our health. I also realize that power largely determines where things get built and I believe that a more equitable distribution of power is necessary for a better future.

What is your unique real-life superpower?

Infectious laughter.

What do you hope the Community Involvement Commission will bring to the City?

I hope that the Commission will provide a space for real dialogue about how our city can mitigate displacement and grow inclusively.  I am very excited to get to work and see what we can accomplish together.

Learn more about the Community Involvement Commission at seattle.gov/neighborhoods/community-involvement-commission.