Tsutakawa worked as director of external relations for the Wing Luke Asian Museum before going to work at the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC). She became active in community activism while still in college and has continued her community work throughout her career. She started her professional career at the International Examiner, working there after earning her BA. After earning her graduate degree, she worked as a reporter and later an art critic and copy and layout editor for The Seattle Times, where she was the first Asian American female reporter at all major papers in the region at that time. She taught East Asian/Asian American history and journalism at Seattle Central Community College and in 1984 went to work for the King County Arts Commission as an Arts Coordinator. She co-edited the first national Asian American women’s literature and art anthology, “The Forbidden Stitch: Asian American Women’s Literary Anthology.” The anthology was awarded the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award in 1990. She has been involved in a number of cultural projects, community committees, and grant-award panels.