As a city that welcomes the world and celebrates diversity as our strength, we are committed to helping everyone feel Bellevue as a welcoming place free from hate or bias. The city is doing many things foster a feeling of belonging for everyone who lives, works or visits here. From events like Pride on the Plaza and a recent hate and bias forum to internal practices like trainings for staff and community advisory groups, we are striving to deliver every day on that promise to the community.
Messages from City Leadership
Below is a playlist of video clips where leaders at the City of Bellevue are taking the opportunity to share our values of belonging, welcoming and inclusion at events and in various city efforts.
What does it mean to belong?
Belonging can mean different things to different people, but we see it as foundational to safety, community connection and resilience.
In 2023 and 2024, we hosted a variety of community dialogues where people told us what makes them feel at home in Bellevue. They also shared the barriers they experienced to feeling a true sense of belonging in this city. They said it is essential to their well-being to feel safe in their community and to know they are valued and have power.
That feedback has informed the city's practices and priorities in multiple ways. From the development of the City Council’s strategic target areas and the update of our Diversity Advantage Plan to the creation of the Cross-Cultural Center without Walls program, the city strives every day to support a community where everyone can belong.
Diversity Advantage Plan 2035
The Diversity Advantage Plan is the city’s strategic plan that guides progress toward the creation of a welcoming and belonging environment where everyone feels valued and can contribute their diverse perspectives and talents. Actions related to the plan will be tracked in an online dashboard starting in 2026.
Hate Has No Home Here
The city strives to address and eliminate hate in all its forms including racism, sexism, xenophobia, antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ hate, ableism, intolerance and discrimination. Learn more about how to report a bias incident or hate crime to Bellevue Police. We want to hear your experience.
Community Resources
Coming soon! Explore public and community-provided resources that can support essential human needs such as housing, food, clothing, legal aid, utility assistance and more.
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