Published February 27 2018
It’s almost time for the City of Bellevue’s biennial Neighborhoods Conference! This year’s event, to be held on Saturday, April 21 at City Hall, will focus on the themes of “Innovation, Inspiration and Connection.” Residents can register beginning March 1 at an early bird rate of $35 until April 7.
The packed program consists of 16 workshops. Each breakout session offers participants a chance to become more knowledgeable about the city, be inspired around civic engagement and experience the technology and innovation that Bellevue has to offer. The conference is built around four themes:
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Our Community – Our Stories
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On the Move - Innovation in Transportation
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Looking Forward – Urban Growth
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Rooted at Home – Environment and Conservation
Notable workshop topics include:
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“Electric Vehicle Test Drive” includes the experience of taking an electric vehicle out for a spin downtown.
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“Exploring the Workforce of Tomorrow” where industry leaders will share what it takes to be hired by technology companies, featuring panelists from Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), Bellevue College, Microsoft and the city’s own economic development team.
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“Mining for Gold” will help participants dig deep into explorations of self-identity, culture and storytelling with the city’s diversity team and a Bellevue College poetry professor.
The conference webpage offers full workshop descriptions.
Kicking off the conference will be keynote speaker, Marc Berejka, REI Co-op’s director of Government and Community Affairs. Berejka will highlight how environmental sustainability, civic engagement and accessibility of the outdoors is not only a core value of REI, but also the inspiration for locating their company headquarters in the new Spring District in Bellevue.
Register and choose your workshops. Regular admission is $50 and scholarships are available for those with financial need. All admission tickets include continental breakfast, lunch workshops and materials.
For more information or to request a hard-copy catalog, please contact neighborhoodsconference@bellevuewa.gov.