Published March 22 2016
Residents who want to connect better with their neighbors can learn how at Bellevue's first "Better Together" Neighborhoods Conference. Early bird registration is now open for the conference, scheduled for May 21, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE.
"The Neighborhoods Conference is the first of its kind for Bellevue," said Julie Ellenhorn, a community relations coordinator with the city. "This event is unique in that it creates an opportunity for residents to network, share their ideas and learn more about how city government works."
The conference features 20 one-hour workshops focused on four major tracks. Participants can go deeply into one of the following tracks or mix and match tracks throughout the day.
- Building Community in My Neighborhood;
- The World in My Neighborhood;
- Staying Safe in My Neighborhood; and
- Navigating the City for my Neighborhood.
Whether you are attending as an individual or as part of a neighborhood group, the program provides opportunities to connect with your neighbors through structured, interactive workshops and unstructured networking opportunities. City staff and community experts will lead the workshops.
Workshop topics include learning to navigate city process and communications tools, planning neighborhood events, engaging volunteers, bridging cultural barriers, dealing with conflict, creating safer neighborhoods and more.
A full brochure with registration materials is available at Better Together. The registration fee is $35. Scholarships are available on request. Continental breakfast and lunch and registration is open to those who live or work in Bellevue. Workshop spaces will be assigned in the order registrations are received, and space is limited.
Contact Julie Ellenhorn (425-452-5372 or jellenhorn@bellevuewa.gov) with questions or to receive a registration packet.