As the calendar flips to the middle of September, Bellevue and its neighboring Eastside cities are gearing up to quickly usher in Welcoming Week, an initiative that brings communities together in the name of inclusion. From Sept. 13-22, locals can participate in a variety of events aimed at welcoming newcomers to the United States and celebrating cultural diversity. Bellevue, along with Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond, and Sammamish, has been observing this tradition since 2016, with non-profits and civic groups leading the charge, according to a city announcement.