Welcome Rachel Ketola

We are excited to introduce you to our new Lead Community Organizer, Rachel Ketola, who you may recognize from many years of volunteering with Grupo de Solidaridad! We're thrilled to welcome them in a new capacity as they lead the Faith Land Initiative, Budget Roundtable, and emerging community organizing priorities. Rachel shares:

Rachel Ketola (she/they) is an organizer, legal advocate, and community member who has supported movements for justice across Seattle and the Puget Sound region for over a decade. They come to the Church Council from a background in legal advocacy with immigrant and refugee communities, human rights research, and grassroots coalition building.

Rachel holds a master's in International Studies from the University of Washington, where they studied the limits and radical possibilities of faith-based sanctuary and solidarity efforts with immigrants in Seattle, and contributed to UW Center for Human Rights research on how surveillance and ALPR cameras have aided ICE arrests in violation of Washington's Keep Washington Working law. 

Coming from an evangelical background, Rachel later found her home in liberation theology, mysticism, and contemplative and embodied spirituality. She is passionate about building collective power toward liberation and mutual flourishing, and about inviting more people into proximate, sustained solidarity efforts.

As Lead Community Organizer, Rachel is excited to work alongside faith leaders and community partners toward a more livable Seattle, from an equitable city budget to responsible stewardship of assets and resources. Outside of work, she loves to garden, make pottery, go dancing, and explore Seattle neighborhoods with her dog, Santo.