Neighborhoods team launches Cultural Conversations facilitator course

Published March 9 2026

Gain skills building connection in the community

The City of Bellevue's Cultural Conversations program is deepening its community collaboration by inviting those who live, work or play in Bellevue to take a new facilitator course. Participants will develop skills building greater connection in our community and design the next season of Cultural Conversations.

From May to August, participants will receive a two-hour training each month on group facilitation, cultural competency, language access and best practices for participatory engagement. They will identify relevant community themes for the 2026-2027 Cultural Conversations season, which runs from September to May, and practice new skills during real-world Cultural Conversations events.

Course graduates will be able to use their newly acquired skills to better connect with a wider range of their neighbors and spark collaborative conversations in their own communities, while continuing to expand the reach of the Cultural Conversations program.
Learn more about course details and commitments and, apply online for the course at Cultural Conversations.

Applications are due by 5 p.m., Sunday, April 12, and, in addition to the online option, can be submitted in the following ways:

• In-person at Service First in City Hall or at Mini City Hall in the Crossroads Mall
• By email to [email protected]
• By mail sent to Cara Iwasaki, P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA 98009-9012

The city encourages participation from community members of all backgrounds, experiences and language abilities. Applications are available in Bellevue's main translated languages (Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese). There is no cost to apply or participate.

The Cultural Conversations program aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and connection by creating space for conversations across differences. Each event is centered in mutual understanding, curiosity and empathy.