Person Behind the Place: Keri Pravitz

Person Behind The Place: Keri Pravitz

Manager, Community Engagement | Amazon

To Keri Pravitz, nonprofits represent the beating heart of Bellevue. She’s seen firsthand how community services can change people’s lives and works tirelessly to drive impactful, long-term change through her role as Manager of Community Engagement at Amazon. By leveraging the company’s resources and expertise, she sits at the forefront of the immediate needs and deeper systemic issues of the local region.

This demonstration of corporate social responsibility extends beyond traditional financial donations. Her work is rooted in her personal connection to Bellevue, where she was raised and is raising her family. Through these relationships, she has built a first-hand understanding of the city's social fabric. Through professional expertise and personal dedication, she demonstrates a deep-seated belief in the power of collective action.

Pravitz’s unique perspective stems from a wide range of experience in both public and private sectors, including community engagement and government relations roles at the Port of Seattle and Puget Sound Energy. Prior to that, she provided two decades of management leadership to nonprofits on the Eastside. Today, she plays a pivotal role in enacting positive change through her professional and personal life. Read on to learn how she embodies Amazon's leadership principles, her dedication to creating hopeful futures for the people of Bellevue, and more.

Tell me about your role at Amazon. 

I work in community engagement, which is housed within our public policy team. In this role, I partner with over 150 nonprofits on the Eastside, primarily in Bellevue, but also wherever we have a footprint of employees. We approach these partnerships not just by offering financial support, but by working to combine all the strengths and resources we have.

I’ve been in this role for almost two years, and in that time Amazon has invested over $20 million in support of key issues and causes Bellevue. Those include major investments into Eastrail and support for the Grand Connection, which also contributes to our goal of having our employees settle here instead of needing to rely on their cars to commute to work.

How does your experience as a Bellevue native shape the way you approach your position?

I raised my whole family here, which gives me a frontline perspective of the issues in Bellevue. I’ve watched how local nonprofits have supported those around me. In my role, I get to enhance, amplify, and take to a different scale what nonprofits are already doing by helping and solving local concerns. 

What have been your biggest accomplishments during your time in this role?

Being able to support and be a part of the Friends of the Grand Connection, for one. This is a huge project that is so important -- it’s bringing business, nonprofit, and community leaders together to work and connect our bifurcated city. I’ve also been able to help support local youth by increasing funding for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue to provide scholarships for childcare support. 

One of my favorite community activations is our Winter Wonderland experience. At Amazon, we embrace the concept of “think big”, and through 13 of our nonprofit partnerships we were able to identify disadvantaged or underserved youth who may not be able to celebrate the holidays. We wanted to create those “surprise and delight moments”, so we chartered buses to an immersive seasonal experience in SLU where children could pick from over 13,000 free toys while their parents used computers to choose what they wanted and needed for the holidays from Amazon. It was such a powerful, joyful day that created dignity for people who may be experiencing periods of great difficulty.

How does Amazon’s presence in Downtown Bellevue differ from Seattle? What is Amazon’s vision for the future in Bellevue?

Currently, we have over 14,500 employees in Downtown Bellevue and will expand to 25,000 -- so there’s a lot of room for growth here. We are laser focused on keeping our Bellevue workforce connected, and that was a driving factor that informed our partnership with BellHop which provides free transportation between campuses. We envision a future where our walkable city can include even more amenities for both Amazon employees and community residents alike.

How do you stay engaged with the Downtown Bellevue community? 

I try to always embody Amazon’s 16 leadership principles, with a special emphasis on “success and scale bring broad responsibility”. This guides how I show up in the community, by meeting people where they are and constantly striving to do better each day. For me, this involves getting out and volunteering, staying involved on boards and committees, and encouraging other Amazonians to stretch the boundaries of thinking about how we can positively impact the world around us. 

What is your favorite part about working in Downtown Bellevue?

My wife and I are able to commute together, which is great. I love how walkable Downtown Bellevue is, with the added bonus of BellHop expanding the footprint of where we can go.

What are your favorite spots in Downtown Bellevue?

Cielo Cocina Mexicana is my go-to lunch place -- it’s a minority, woman-owned business and Adriana and her team are amazing. Bellden Cafe is great for coffee meetings and you can find me at Royal Bakehouse almost every Sunday.

What are your passions outside of work?

I care a lot about youth and family services and ensuring people in the community have what they need. One of my current passion projects is getting involved with the new safe parking lot at the Lincoln Center, where unhoused residents living in their vehicles can have access to bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, and case management services as they search for permanent housing.

Even though my kids are getting older, they’re still my biggest passion -- but they’d probably want me to say something else. I’m also a cat-lover and a dedicated Husky football fan!

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