Building Community
Public service and volunteer positions that shape and teach me how to be a better human.
Head Coach - Crossfire Rec | Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association (2025)
Coaching at 60 Acres, the same field I grew up playing on, healed part of my soul. Early in the season, I committed to learning each player’s history with the game so I could meet them wherever they were in their development. Some were working toward high‑school roster spots, others were brand‑new to soccer, and a few stayed on the team simply because they loved the environment we created together. My goal was to bring back the feeling of “street soccer,” playing for joy, connection, and the love of the game.
Alumni Fellow & Mentor | University of Washington (2022- Present)
As an Alumni Fellow and Mentor, I support the Communication Leadership Graduate Studies program by mentoring current students, strengthening community connections, and helping create meaningful professional development opportunities. In this role, I've partnered with faculty, hosted events, and served as a resource for students navigating their academic and career paths. Staying connected with Comm Lead allows me to attend industry talks, network and continue learning about evolving Communications across industries.
commlead.uw.edu/person/alyssa-hagen/
Community Outreach & Marketing | Redmond Garden Club (2022- Present)
Horticulture is a lifelong learning opportunity, and being part of the Redmond Garden Club puts me elbow to elbow with some of the most prolific gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve updated the club’s website, managed social media, negotiated meeting and plant‑sale venues, and volunteered at events, all while learning from others and helping young gardeners get excited about seed starting. At the plant sale, I run the kids’ tent with my daughter, where young gardeners explore hands‑on activities.
Copy Editor | International Student Guide (2022)
More than half of the students in my graduate program come from outside the United States. I had the opportunity to provide copy‑editing support for the first edition of the Comm Lead International Student Guide, a resource created to help incoming international students navigate relocation, academics, and life at the University of Washington. It was meaningful work that allowed me to contribute to a guide designed to make the program more accessible, welcoming, and supportive for students arriving from around the world.
Writing mentor | Gashora Girls Academy of Science & Technology (2019- 2020)
My volunteer commitment with the Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology in Rwanda involved working with seniors to develop their unique voices through writing‑focused coursework and college essays for international university applications. https://www.ggast.org/
Coach | Bellevue United FC & Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association (1998-2017)
Since 1998, I’ve coached five soccer teams for one to five consecutive seasons. My goal (pun always intended) is to teach a love for the game and a real understanding of it, while reinforcing sportsmanship and respect. The values learned on the field always translate into life off the field.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) | King County (2005-2007)
While working as a legal clerk in the Family Law department at Preston, Gates & Ellis under Mabry DeBuys, I was considering law school and wanted firsthand experience in child advocacy. I volunteered with the King County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, representing the best interests of abused and neglected children whose parents were involved in dependency and child‑welfare proceedings.
As a CASA, I interviewed family members and other adults in each child’s life, researched their living conditions, and collaborated with the Department of Social and Human Services to make informed recommendations to the court. I wrote detailed reports and appeared at hearings to present my findings to the judge. All three of my cases ultimately resulted in the children being adopted into safe, loving homes.
My work was featured in the January 2007 issue of All You magazine in an article titled “A Hero for Children,” which profiled my role as a CASA volunteer and highlighted the challenges and rewards of advocating for children in the foster care system.
I look forward to returning as a CASA in the future.