Residents of Bellevue are invited to the graduation ceremony for the Bellevue Essentials program on March 6, 2024. This event, hosted by the City of Bellevue, will feature keynote speaker Kevin P. Henry, a former leader in the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Henry, who served the city for two decades, will address the 36 graduates with a speech titled “The True Leader in All of Us.”
Henry is widely recognized for his commitment to promoting diverse voices and enhancing public engagement. He developed programs such as “Voices of Diversity,” which have been instrumental in supporting Bellevue’s efforts toward inclusion. Following his departure from the city in 2015, Henry has continued to advocate for equity and community engagement through various organizations across the United States.
The ceremony will also include remarks from Cosmos Darwin, a product manager at Microsoft and a Bellevue resident. Darwin will share his experience with the Bellevue Essentials program, which has educated over 400 participants since its inception. According to a release from the City of Bellevue, the program aims to empower residents by providing them with knowledge about local government, community resources, and civic engagement.
This celebratory event is scheduled to take place from 19:00 to 21:00 at Bellevue City Hall, and it will feature a dessert reception for attendees. Residents interested in attending can register online through the City of Bellevue’s official website.
Looking ahead, the next session of the Bellevue Essentials program is set to begin in September 2026. Further details about the upcoming session will be announced in spring 2025, as the city continues to foster community involvement and leadership development among its residents.
