On September 17, the Seattle Municipal Tower buzzed with energy as Evans School alumni and students came together for a special luncheon hosted by Evans interns working at the City of Seattle. With support from the Evans Student Organization and leadership from Emilio Castañeda, Vice President of Outreach, the gathering brought together Evans graduates and current students serving across city departments including the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Seattle City Light, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Sustainability & Environment, and many more. 

For some, the event was a chance to meet fellow alumni for the very first time, even though they work just floors apart. For others, it was a joyful reunion that highlighted the strength of the Evans network. Again and again, participants remarked with pride that “Evans alumni are everywhere.” 

As the group enjoyed pizza, they played a lively round of networking bingo. The prompts sparked both laughter and storytelling, with questions like “someone who commutes via ferries,” “someone who has worked under three different mayors,” and “someone who has been to all three Washington National Parks.” Conversations flowed easily, covering everything from historic light rail testing across the floating bridge, to Seattle’s iconic film Singles and its public service subplot, to celebrating the interns as they wrapped up their summer assignments. 

The room was filled with energy, joy, and the unmistakable pride of being part of the Evans community. Alumni reminisced about past events like this one and shared their hopes for keeping these connections alive. Before the afternoon wrapped up, ESO raffled off Evans swag, adding an extra layer of fun to the gathering. I also had the chance to share updates from the school and invite alumni to find more ways to stay connected. 

I left the event feeling deeply grateful. Watching our community show up for one another, even in casual settings, was inspiring. These connections are not just about friendship, but about collaboration across departments that will shape the future of our city. Moments like this remind us that the Evans School’s greatest resource is its people. When we come together and lean on each other, we strengthen not only our community, but the impact of our collective work. 

Thank you to ESO, the City of Seattle, and everyone who joined us for this gathering. 

If you are interested in hosting an Evans alumni gathering at your workplace or would like to help organize a social event, please reach out to Justyn Jacobs at justynj@uw.edu. We would love to support you in creating more opportunities for connection.