Participate in the Exchange Northwest

The Exchange Northwest is a regional hub for collaboration, experimentation, and community‑driven problem‑solving. We bring together public agencies, nonprofits, businesses, educators, innovators, and community members to explore ideas and co‑design solutions that strengthen our region. Participation is open and flexible, offering many pathways for people and organizations to contribute.

Volunteers

Contribute skills, time, and experience

Volunteers are essential to the Exchange’s work. Whether you’re offering subject‑matter expertise, supporting research efforts, facilitating workshops, mentoring student teams, testing new tools, or helping coordinate community engagement activities, your contributions shape the work directly. Opportunities range from short‑term project involvement to ongoing collaboration on challenge topics, capacity‑building initiatives, and applied innovation efforts. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds including practitioners, students, retirees, civic leaders, and community members.

Attendees at the First Civic Innovation Exchange talk between sessions.

Sponsors

Invest in regional innovation and community capacity

Sponsors help fuel a sustainable model for civic innovation. By investing in the Exchange, sponsors support programming, challenge development, community partnerships, and the development of tools that enable practical experimentation across the region. Sponsorship is a chance to demonstrate commitment to community resilience, economic opportunity, and public‑sector innovation, without influencing government purchasing or technology decisions. We work with organizations of all sizes to identify sponsorship opportunities that align with their values, visibility goals, and community impact commitments.

Community members

Collaborate, learn, and help shape solutions

The Exchange is intentionally inclusive and accessible. Community members can contribute ideas, identify priorities, participate in design activities, engage in conversations about emerging technologies, and help evaluate prototype solutions. Whether you’re joining a workshop, adding your perspective to a research effort, or staying connected to regional innovation efforts through our updates and resources, your involvement strengthens the work. Everyone brings something valuable and each perspective helps the Exchange build solutions that serve the community.

Get involved

Participation can take many forms: volunteer, sponsor, collaborate on a project, or simply stay connected and informed. However you choose to engage, you’ll be joining a growing network committed to shared learning and meaningful regional impact. Email innovation@bellevuewa.gov with your areas of interest and our team will help get you connected.

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