Engage Everett Celebrates 11 Years of Community Connection

January 14, 2026 - Everett, WA

Attendees at the celebration event

Dozens of people gathered at the Everett branch of New American Funding on Colby Avenue this evening to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Engage Everett, a grassroots networking initiative that has become a cornerstone of the local business community.

Rilee Louangphakdy, a planning committee member for Engage Everett who served as main host for the anniversary event, emphasized what makes the initiative unique: it's not a formal organization, business, or even a non-profit. Instead, Engage Everett operates as a purely community-led effort with no budget, membership fees, or attendance requirements.

Rilee Louangphakdy hosting the celebration event

"Attendance at events is free because we want to be a resource for local connections," Louangphakdy explained. Local businesses donate space to host the rotating events, with each gathering held at a different venue throughout the area. The events are open to everyone from Snohomish County, though most are designated 21+ to maintain the relaxed, low-pressure networking vibe the organizers have cultivated.

"I promise you there's someone out there who wants to help you." - Rilee Louangphakdy

Engage Everett was conceptualized in 2014 and officially launched the following year through a collaborative effort. Individuals from various organizations including Everett Music Initiative, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, Leadership Snohomish County, and Downtown Everett Association helped bring the initiative to life.

Now, 11 years later, Louangphakdy believes the anniversary celebration demonstrates "the need for connection more than ever." In today's polarized political climate, he sees authentic human connection as essential. "It's very important to be yourself and connect with people you don't know," he said, noting that these connections can help bring people together across divides.

For 2026, Louangphakdy's vision includes expanding Engage Everett's reach into south Everett. He pointed out a key challenge: while downtown Everett offers a walkable environment conducive to community engagement, south Everett's landscape is dominated by automotive-focused infrastructure which doesn't naturally encourage the same kind of interaction. Small businesses in that area need attention and deserve to be welcomed into the fold.

His message to struggling small business owners throughout the region is one of hope and support: "I promise you there's someone out there who wants to help you." Engage Everett exists to make those connections happen, with no strings attached.

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