In 2016, the the city manager established the Bellevue Diversity Advisory Network (BDAN) as part of the new Diversity Advantage Initiative. For nearly a decade, that group of diverse Bellevue community members provided counsel to the city on how to better reach, serve, communicate and collaborate with Bellevue’s diverse communities. In 2021, the City Council also implemented the Centering Communities of Color Coordinating Team (CCC) to support a community-led effort to advance the city’s values and commitment to racial equity and to collaborate on the update of the Diversity Advantage Plan.
Following the adoption of the updated Diversity Advantage Plan 2035 in December 2026, the former members of BDAN and CCC combined their efforts into a new group called the Bellevue Equity Advisory and Community Outreach Network (BEACON).
In collaboration with Bellevue's diverse communities and guided by the goals and principles of the Diversity Advantage Plan 2035, BEACON advises the city manager and city departments on practices and services towards more equitable, accessible and culturally responsive outcomes, particularly for communities who face the highest barriers to accessing and benefitting from city services and resources.
BEACON members must meet the following requirements:
- Live, work or study in Bellevue
- Demonstrate a strong sense of cultural humility and a dedication to collaborating with community members and city staff to create a more inclusive and equitable community.
- Demonstrate an alignment with the city's Core Value of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
- Have cultural connections and knowledge of the city’s diverse population
- Possess a willingness, curiosity and interest in bridging cultural gaps to strengthen community
- Volunteer a minimum of six hours a month, including monthly meetings for general membership and subcommittees
- Be able and willing to serve a two-year term
Meetings
Meeting monthly, BEACON has the following duties:
- Offer input on matters brought forth by the city manager, city staff and departments that centers the needs and interests of Bellevue's many diverse communities, particularly those who experience the least access and most structural barriers
- Be an advisor to departments and the city manager on the implementation of DAP 2035
- Participate in initiatives that foster equity, inclusion and access
- Collaborate with local organizations who serve communities that are furthest from access
- Provide culturally responsive counsel on how to engage our various communities
- Act as a bridge and champion for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts happening throughout Bellevue