Residents from Bridle Trails to Somerset joined together on May 21 for the city’s first-ever Neighborhoods Conference.

Attendees attended sessions on everything from aging to communicate tools for community groups to building next generation leaders. Altogether, approximately 85 people from Bellevue’s various neighborhoods took part in the event.

“Things like this that get the community together are great. I just wish it was 500 people instead of 80,” resident and East Bellevue Community Council member Steve Kasner said of the event.

The event has been many years in the making.

Community relations coordinator Julie Ellenhorn first came up with the idea four or five years ago when she heard about conferences of this nature around the country. It was always clear to Ellenhorn that the interest was there. Four years ago, Hopelink’s Marci Williams came to speak during one of the busiest times of the year — the end of school/finals/school graduations — about communication with different groups of people, it was standing room only.

Over the years, different groups have also joined the fray.

“When I started here eight years ago, the community groups were mostly full of white residents over 65. They’ve since become much broader and younger,” Ellenhorn said.

A wide array of people from different nationalities and age groups attended the conference. Sessions such as Williams’ “Breaking Down Language Barriers” were packed full of people learning how to communicate with limited-English speakers.

“I have one newer neighbor who I know wants to meet people. She actually stands at the end of her driveway,” one woman said. “I just want to learn how to help her.”