Through our sub-teams, challenge cycles, and community events, the Innovation Programs acts as a neutral place to build, learn, and collaborate, bringing people together to turn good ideas into real possibilities for the region.
Digital Equity
Digital Equity is to empower all individuals in the community to fully participate in the digital world, irrespective of their background, race, income, language, education or geographic location.
Short-Term Goals
The Innovation Forum's Digital Equity Sub-Team will focus on four key areas as short-term goal initiatives.
- Foundational Framework: Map local resources, establish partnerships, and collect data from target community groups.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research and Data Support
- Connectivity: Use Bellevue’s Digital Equity Grant to offer affordable internet access, promoting digital inclusion for residents, businesses, and schools.
- Devices: Provide equitable access to free or low-cost devices so everyone can fully engage in digital life, education, and work.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research and Program Development Support
- Support: Provide free, accessible tech support to help individuals confidently manage and resolve digital issues, promoting equal access to technology.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research, Map Findings for Locations, and Work with Local Providers
Long-Term Goals
- Connectivity: Offer affordable internet access to ensure everyone can connect for education, work, and communication, bridging the digital divide.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research, Work with Local Providers, Identify Grant Opportunities
- Education: Provide digital literacy classes to build essential tech skills for education, jobs, and personal growth, advancing digital inclusion.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Outreach to Local Organizations and Map Findings for Locations
View a print-friendly version of the Digital Equity Sub-Team Overview.
Prioritization and Policy
The Innovation Forum's Prioritization and Policy Sub Team provides meaningful input to city staff on community innovation priorities through the development of a Bellevue innovation framework. This work will help advance inclusive innovation opportunities in government service delivery.
The future of Bellevue is multidimensional, and city government will keep the trust of its residents by focusing on:
- High performance government
- Vibrant economy
- Safe and efficient transportation system
- High quality built and natural environment
- Community safety and health
- Thriving people and communities
Short-Term Goals
The Policy and Prioritization Sub-team will discuss and shape potential innovation policies that staff may bring to council for consideration.
- Establish Innovation Policy Framework
- Review existing AI Policy (public-facing)
- Review existing Privacy Policy (public-facing)
Volunteer Opportunities: Review Policy and Provide Input
Long-Term Goals
- Virtual Community Idea Lab
Volunteer Opportunities: Communications, Youth Engagement, Programming Ideas and Brainstorming
View a print-friendly version of the Prioritization and Policy Sub-Team Overview.
Innovation Ecosystem
Innovation Ecosystems intends to grow collaboration and beneficial relationships between startups, nonprofits, corporations, investors, academia and residents—to foster innovation that impacts the entire community and drives digital equity and economic growth.
Short-Term Goals
- Establish Community Partnerships
- Increase Forum Participation
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer to Mentor, Event Planning, Organizing, and Communications, Sponsorship Introductions, Volunteer for Talks and Demos, Youth Engagement, Programming Ideas and Brainstorming
Long-Term Goals
- Create a self-sustaining innovation hub, including small business support, digital learning, and field testing, where all community members can participate and benefit from innovation.
Volunteer Opportunities: Sponsorship Introductions, Thought Leadership and Advice, Programming Ideas
View a print-friendly version of the Innovation Partnerships Sub-Team Overview.