Common(s) Questions with Alex Peri

Meet Alex Peri, Operations Lead at Civic Commons.

Alex brings more than a decade of operations expertise to Civic Commons, with experience working across both the public and private sectors.

His passion for community, racial equity, and impact-driven work in our region is what has led him to being an essential role player on the team. His positive mindset, penchant for collaboration, dedication to compassionate listening, and synergetic approach to project management ensures that our team and partners feel supported every step of the way.

As one of the vital faces behind the work here at Civic Commons, we welcome you to learn more about Alex.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Originally when I was very young, I was and still am obsessed with gorillas and primates. I think they're just fascinating animals and I wanted to study primates. I wanted to be a primatologist. 

It wasn't until like 12 or 13 that I got the acting bug and then I wanted to be an actor. Neither really worked out, but I still did plenty of acting in my day and have had many amazing opportunities.

Q: What’s your favorite part about your job? What gets you out of bed each morning?

A: Honestly, the team, working with Caitlin, Frank, Marty, Michael, Maisha, and Jasmine. It really makes the work that much more enjoyable. The work itself, the physical or mental work of it is very stressful and very fast-paced. To have a team that you feel supported by but also feel like you can be yourself with really takes that stress out of the job. I just feel very, very blessed, #blessed to work with my team.

What gets me out of bed is just seeing what's coming, what's going to happen next, because this work though in many ways is fast-paced, the impact and the real visible change is very slow.

So, being able to kind of start each day and being like, “OK, what's going to come about today? How will we make a difference today and most days?” To know that the work we're doing is acting to drive change and systemic change, that's definitely a huge motivator.

Q: What gives you hope about the region? What do you feel are some of our biggest challenges here?

A: The thing that gives me hope for our region is that our region is one in which many transplants from around the country have decided to call home. I think with that because a lot of them are coming here for work and yes, a lot of them are tech, but a lot of people have come to this region because they see the networks and the communities that come up and exist within.

Whether it's tech, whether it's local government, whether it's religious organizations, etc., I feel that when people get here, they realize there's a very rich community here and because there's so many diverse, not only just people from different parts of the world, different ethnicities, but also a diverse set of backgrounds, educations, and interests that brings fresh ideas and perspectives to the region.

I think the biggest challenge is almost part of that because we are such a hub and the cost of living and cost to be part of that community is so high.

So many native Seattleites and natives to Washington are are being pushed out and the folks that are coming in— though they're bringing in these great life experiences and professional backgrounds and money—it's still a very unbalanced region where the folks in the margins are the ones who are on the receiving end of huge inequities.

Q: What’s one thing each of us can do to make our community a better place?

A: Well, I'm going to quote Michael, “when we all do better, we all do better.”

If folks were able to make the shift, both—mentally in their perspective and how they operate with folks, personally and professionally—away from this scarcity mindset and towards an abundance mindset, […]if we were able to move away from that to have a mindset and a view of things that says, “there is enough actually. Let's find ways to distribute that and make it fair.” We can then figure out where the places, people, and infrastructure are that need that attention, that need that money. 

Just thinking about that, having the awareness and empathy to understand that there actually is enough for everyone. If we all just didn't have that mindset of there isn't, that would make a huge difference.

It would at least open people up to the experiences and conversations that can bring about change.

Q: If you could grab coffee with any Seattleite, past or present, who would it be? Why?

A: That is actually very easy, Jimi Hendrix. I grew up with a hippie mother and he was the first musician that I globed on to as a kid. The influence was purely my own interest.

Yeah. My mom always played music for me. I grew up with the Beatles, Janis Joplin, and all the other stuff, but the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix I was like, “what is this? holy moly this is amazing.” I was obsessed with him as a kid. Any chance I had to do a book report on someone I was like, “Jimi, let's do it again, let's learn more!”

I would just want to chat with him, not about anything in particular. Just get a window into him because he seemed like a really cool dude.

Q: Where's the 1st place you would take someone that's out of town?

A: I would probably take them to either Pike Place Market or to General Porpoise Donuts and then take them to the Pike Place Market.

My wife and I love taking people from out of town to eat. We're junk food type of people in the fact that we don't eat it that often so when we do, we want really, really good junk food. We often will take out of town people to like General Porpoise Donuts or Pacific Catch for their fish and chips, or we'll take them to Pike Place Market and get fish sandwiches.

Q: What's your proudest moment as a Seattle resident?

A: Knowing how to properly use the ferry system. Figuring all that out—getting to the ferry, getting the car on the ferry, making sure you pay for the right amount of tickets. 

Yeah, there have been a few close calls. Let's just say that.

Q: How do you like to unwind and unplug?

A: Definitely going for long walks with my dog and my baby. If it's just me, usually yoga or going for a run. 

Also, I know it sounds funny, but honestly, just like eating. My wife and I love to cook but we've gotten to the point where there are a lot of things we can make and there are certain things we can't make like really good pastries or good ethnic foods we like to go out for. That's really a great source of joy and comfort for both of us.