Helping newcomers feel at home in Seattle
Seattle is known for its innovation, stunning scenery and — for thousands of newcomers — a social climate that can feel isolating. But a new civic initiative wants to help transplants, from tech workers to retirees, find their footing.
Why it matters: In a world grappling with an epidemic of loneliness and a city known for being socially chilly, some Seattleites are finding they have to work to break the ice.
Driving the news: Starting next weekend, the Chamber of Connection — a newly launched nonprofit focused on helping newcomers build community and combat social isolation — will host a monthly series of interactive orientations for new residents.
What they're saying: Seattle's tech boom has brought waves of new arrivals, but also deepened social divides, said Aaron Hurst, who founded the Chamber of Connection to help bridge those gaps.
"Seattle is a city of silos with newcomers joining each of them but often staying in their silos," he told Axios in an email.
The chamber's welcome committee includes members from Microsoft, Amazon, UW, the Mariners, the Kraken and more to help people from tech, sports, medicine and the arts get out of their comfort zones and meet each other, he told GeekWire.
The big picture: Hurst struggled with the culture shift after moving to the Emerald City from Brooklyn 10 years ago and said he found the city needed a bigger, systemic effort to foster deeper connections.
A former founder of Taproot Foundation, which connects nonprofits with pro bono professionals and Board.Dev, which strengthens nonprofit leadership, Hurst's goal is to see Chamber of Connections in 50 U.S. cities in 10 years.
What's next: The chamber is looking for volunteers to help launch Neighborhood Clubhouses with monthly meet-ups at bars or cafes.
Welcome Day orientation — for people over 16 who identify as newcomers — will be held at Town Hall from 10am-2pm on Feb. 8, March 1, April 19 and May 17.
$20, lunch included.
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