City hires organizations to deliver cross-cultural programs

Published May 9 2024

18 groups to produce 35 free events over next 12 months for Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls

People in Bellevue will be able to pick from among 35 free, cross-cultural events - ranging from celebrations of food and music to sessions focused on conflict resolution and community dialogue - over the next year.

In response to a request for proposals issued by the city in February, dozens of organizations responded with proposed programming. The city awarded contracts this month to 18 local organizations.

The events are all part of the Cross-Cultural Center without Walls program, intended to create interactions between people and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural and other backgrounds. Bellevue is among the most diverse cities in the region, making this programming key to sharing and learning about the many cultures in the area.

Bellevue studies between 2018 and 2022 showed widespread community support for cross-cultural programming in Bellevue, and a desire for this programming to be "community-led, city-supported" - directed by local organizations with support from city staff and resources.

The city launched the Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls in 2023 by hosting community meetings for residents to share their visions for the initiative.

The organizations and projects selected to offer programming reflect the vast diversity of the Bellevue community, with nearly 80% of hosting organizations run by people of color, 60% run by women, 50% run by immigrants or refugees, and 17% run by people from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Details, including organizations hosting events and a way to sign up for updates, are available at Cross-Cultural Center. A calendar of events will be added in the next couple of months.