Evolving How We Convene: Introducing BDA Engage

Evolving How We Convene

As Downtown Bellevue grows and changes, so must the ways we bring people together. Great places don’t happen by accident—they require intention, collaboration, and the space for dialogue. That’s why we’re evolving how BDA members convene. Our goal is simple: to create more relevant, accessible, and action-oriented experiences that reflect the complexity and momentum of Downtown Bellevue.

Why the Change?
Over the years, the BDA’s standing committees played a valuable role in organizing conversations around land use, livability, and transportation. But as the pace of growth increases and topics become more interconnected, we recognized the need for a more agile and inclusive structure—one that better supports collaboration, welcomes diverse perspectives, and aligns with how our members want to participate.

This is more than a format change; it’s a strategic shift. We’re moving from static committees to a dynamic framework that supports a broader set of opportunities for members to connect, learn, and shape the future of Downtown.

Introducing BDA Engage
BDA Engage is our new umbrella platform—an intentional, flexible system designed to match the moment with the right format. It centralizes some existing programs focused on Downtown's well-being and adds new convening formats that serve different needs, timelines, and levels of involvement.

At the center of this framework are two new key elements:

The Urban Forum
The BDA Urban Forum is a recurring gathering that takes a big-picture view of Downtown Bellevue. It’s designed for members who want to stay informed about the major forces shaping our city—land use, mobility, open space, economic development, and more. The Forum provides opportunities to hear from leaders, explore pressing issues, and engage in constructive dialogue. It’s open, inclusive, and aligned with the BDA’s Strategic Plan.

While the Forum promotes dialogue and shared understanding, it is not a decision-making body. Its role is to elevate the conversation and ensure members have the insights they need to stay engaged.

The Workgroup System
For more focused, outcome-oriented work, the BDA Workgroup System creates space for specialized engagement. These groups are tailored to specific issues or stakeholder types—like property owners along the Grand Connection or businesses connected to street-level activity. Workgroups are intentionally structured to be nimble, relevant, and responsive.

There are four workgroup types, each designed to support a different kind of engagement—from deep-dive discussions to geographically focused coordination to policy development.

What’s Retiring
With the launch of BDA Engage, we’re formally retiring the Land Use & Livability Committee and the Transportation Committee. These legacy committees have served as foundational forums for community conversation and policy engagement. Their work helped shape Downtown Bellevue’s trajectory—and we’re building on that success with a more adaptive structure.

This transition marks a deliberate shift toward a model that supports broader participation and more targeted collaboration. The issues previously addressed by our standing committees will now be explored through the Urban Forum and relevant workgroups within the BDA Engage framework.

What to Expect Next
With this transition, BDA is officially launching BDA Engage, including the Urban Forum and Workgroup System. Members can now expect a more flexible structure that offers a range of ways to engage with timely, relevant topics that impact Downtown Bellevue.

But this is just the beginning.

In the months ahead, BDA will continue to build out the Engage platform. We’re working to add new resources that support member participation—such as access to curated downtown data, planning tools, and an archive of past BDA initiatives. These enhancements will help make BDA Engage not just a way to convene, but a hub for shared knowledge and collaboration.

As always, we welcome your ideas and involvement. To stay up to date on upcoming events and opportunities, visit BellevueDowntown.com/Engage.