A reflection on the values that shape Kitsap—and the future we’re building together.
Last month, standing before a room of business, government, and community leaders from Bainbridge Island and across the Kitsap Peninsula, I asked a question:
As we look to the future, what do we want Kitsap to be known for?
While facilitating the conversation for the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), I heard a variety of thoughtful perspectives on what Kitsap could—and should—become. Words like “livability,” “opportunity,” “sustainability,” and “growth” resonated throughout the room.
The discussion stayed with me long after it ended, and I found myself reflecting on what this community has come to mean to me personally.
Five years ago this month, my family and I made Kitsap our home. After spending the pandemic in a small Seattle apartment, we moved to Poulsbo in July 2021 in search of a better life for our four-year-old son as he prepared to start kindergarten.
Not long after, I left my job at a global public relations agency to launch a boutique communications consultancy focused on helping purpose-driven organizations create positive change. After spending two decades leading communications campaigns for Microsoft, the Gates Foundation, Harvard University, and other large organizations, I began supporting smaller nonprofits, social enterprises, and public programs in the very community where I live.
None of that would have been possible without this community. What I’ve come to realize is that Kitsap isn’t defined by a single industry, institution, or group of people, but by the values we share.
We’re a Community of Builders
Seattle is a place of ideas. Kitsap is a place where things get made. From the Navy and shipyard to advanced manufacturers, marine technology firms, and local food producers, this is a place where people turn ideas into reality. We design, develop, test, and improve the things that matter—often strengthening our community in the process.
We’re a Place of Connection
Kitsap is defined by convergence. Urban and rural, land and sea, military and civilian, longtime residents and newcomers. We’re a diverse community at the intersection of industries, lifestyles, and cultures—a place where different worlds come together and new possibilities emerge.
We’re Committed to Purpose
This community is guided by a sense of mission. From the Tribal members who lead efforts to preserve the lands and waterways, to Naval personnel who protect our country, the health workers who care for our families, and educators who expand our opportunities for the future, service runs deep here. We care for our own. Yet the work happening here often reaches far beyond county lines.
We’re Driven by Possibility
Finally, Kitsap, to me, is a place of reinvention—a community defined by new beginnings.
Whether you’re a Seattle professional searching for a better quality of life, a former servicemember pursuing a new calling, or a retiree eager to become more engaged, Kitsap is where you can write your next chapter.
I know, because it did that for me.
What started as a move to create a better life for my family turned into an opportunity to reimagine what I want to create in the world. Here, I found the inspiration to build, the space to connect, and the confidence to pursue the things I care about.
And while my story is just one of many, I suspect I’m not alone.
So, as we look to the future, perhaps the question isn’t simply what we want Kitsap to be known for.
Perhaps it’s this: What do we hope to build here?
And if we’re fortunate enough to help shape that future, then it’s on us to ensure that Kitsap remains a place where people have the opportunity to not only make a living—but build a life.
