Building an economy that works for everyone

Changemakers

Our annual Changemakers Dinner is an evening of community, reflection, and building momentum for the work ahead. We have a strong community of changemakers committed to making Washington a place where everyone can thrive.  Let’s build this momentum and make lasting progress for all Washingtonians. 

In 2025, we had our largest event in five years. This speaks to the urgency we all feel in this current political and economic climate. Join us on this important night of inspiration and action. Your presence and support sustains the momentum that we’ve collectively powered through crisis and uncertainty. Your role is critical in securing wins for all Washingtonians.

 

Emcee April Sims (center) shares a moment on stage with the Economic Opportunity Institute’s Legislative Director, Sam Hatzenbeler (left), and House Representative Nicole Macri (right) during the 2025 Changemakers Dinner.

Hear from Changemakers across Washington

Headshot of April Sims, our 2025 Changemakers emceeEmcee
April Sims was elected President of the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), AFL-CIO in October 2022. She is the first woman to be elected WSLC president and the first Black woman elected to the presidency of an AFL-CIO state federation.

As President, Sims is the chief executive officer of the council, supervises all of its activities and staff, and leads Washington’s largest union organization representing more than half a million union members.

 

Headshot our the Economic Opportunity Institute's Executive Director, Rian Watt Economic Opportunity Institute Executive Director
Rian joined the EOI team as Executive Director in 2024. He previously served as the Executive Director of The Urbanist, a Seattle-based advocacy journalism organization; as a Strategy Lead for International Large-Scale Change for Community Solutions, a national homelessness nonprofit; and as a Senior Analyst for Abt Global, a public policy research firm.

 

 

Keynote Conversation
Katie B. Wilson is the Mayor of Seattle, taking office in January 2026. A longtime transit advocate and community organizer, Wilson co-founded the Transit Riders Union and then led the organization for over a decade, during which time she had extraordinary success building coalitions to win better transit, affordable fares, higher wages, stronger renter protections, and new progressive revenue.

 

 

Keynote Conversation
Annie Kucklick holds a Master’s of Social Work in Administration and Policy Practice from the University of Washington (UW) and has dedicated her career to advancing economic justice through research and advocacy. She brings extensive experience in data-driven policy analysis affecting household economic security and is committed to catalyzing policies that strengthen equity and opportunity for Washingtonians. Outside of EOI, Annie is an instructor for the Master’s of Social Work program at the UW.

 

 

 

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown gives his keynote address at the 2025 Changemakers Dinner.