Dave Hillis

Dave Hillis is a father to three adult son, Patrick, Ryan, and Jordan (who passed away in September, 2023). He and his wife Teresa have resided in Tacoma, Washington for over 40 years, raising their family as they worked for the spiritual and social renewal of Tacoma as well as other cities around the world.

He currently serves as the Samuel Shoemaker Senior Innovation Fellow with the Leadership Foundations (LF) Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center, devoting himself to thinking, writing, and speaking about the idea and ramifications of seeing our cities as God's playgrounds. Dave's perspective was honed as an area and regional director of urban Young Life, president of the Northwest Leadership Foundation, and president of the global network of Leadership Foundations. He received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University, his Master of Divinity from Fuller Seminary, and his doctor of ministry from Bakke Graduate University. Dave has authored Cities: Playgrounds or Battlegrounds?, and was a contributor and editor of of the anthology, City As Playground.