The 32nd Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference will be held Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at the Oregon Convention Center.
Legend:
(I) Informational (lecture style) - This workshop is best for attendees interested in gaining exposure to an introductory level DEI topic or concept.
(S) Skill-Building (interactive style) - This workshop is best for attendees who have strong foundational knowledge of DEI concepts and desire to deepen and expand their equity toolkit.
(P) Practicing (Equity Practitioner style) - This workshop is best for attendees who are leading equity work in their respective bureaus, counties and agencies seeking practical application and implementation of tools, frameworks, and equitable practices.
Conference schedule.
8:00 AM
REGISTRATION OPEN → Portland Ballroom Lobby
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
WELCOME → Portland Ballroom
Opening Remarks
Julia Adebawo, Multnomah County
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
BREAK
9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION (for elected officials, executives and department/bureau directors)
Room F150/151: Exploring Our Triggers and Their Impact to Create More Inclusion and Belonging - Lillian Tsai
9:15 AM - 10:45 AM
WORKSHOP PERIOD 1
(I) Room D133/134: Making Menopause Work - Kylie Bayer
(P) Room D135/136: Human-Centered Design in Action: Building Inclusive Public Services - Suzanne Boyd
(P) Room D137/138: Tortoise Teaching: Building a Trauma Informed Human Services Training Plan - Lesley Delapaz
(S) Room D139/140: Transforming Spaces Through Restorative Practices: From Principles to Impact - Ebony Jeffries, Abdimalik Buul, and Siria Martinez
(P) Room E141/142: The Intersections of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Indian Country - Adam Becenti (Diné)
(I) Room E143/144: Beyond Headlines: Confronting Anti-Arab Hate & Islamophobia - Mawadda Amboun and Emilie Azorr
(S) Room E145/146: Courageous and Compassionate Feedback - Parfait Bassalé
(I) Room E147/148: Effective Communication: Working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Timothy Vander Ploeg
10:45 AM - 11:05 AM
BREAK
11:05 AM - 12:35 PM
WORKSHOP PERIOD 2
(I) Room D133/134: Making Menopause Work - Kylie Bayer
(S) Room D135/136: Invisible Scars: Trauma, Identity, and Compassionate Leadership in Public Service - Magdianamy Carrillo Sotomayor
(P) Room D137/138: Between Cultures: Navigating Identity and Inclusion in a Globalizing Workforce - Ismail Jirde Warsame
(S) Room D139/140: Interrupting Oppression: Embodiment and Strategies - Isabel Mesa Vasquez and David Kennedy-Wong
(P) Room E141/142: The Intersections of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Indian Country - Adam Becenti (Diné)
(I) Room E143/144: Upholding Values: Navigating Ethical and Legal Responsibilities During Global Conflict and Genocide - Emilie Azorr, Drew Bibee, Robin Easton-Davis, and Marlene Eid
(P) Room E145/146: Achieving Equitable Outcomes Through Engagement and Communication - Harmonee Dashiell and Magan Reed
(I) Room E147/148: Effective Communication: Working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Timothy Vander Ploeg
12:35 PM - 2:10 PM
LUNCH PROGRAM → Portland Ballroom
Keynote
Diane Lim, Board Member of Shelter House and Former Director of the Equity Hub at the U.S. Treasury Department
Robert Phillips Regional Diversity Award
2025 Honoree Percy Winters Jr., Multnomah County
2:10 PM - 2:30 PM
BREAK
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
WORKSHOP PERIOD 3
(I) Room D133/134: How Community Power Built a Model for Equity-Centered Government Investment - Wendy Serrano, Hamdi Ali, and Ayano Healy
(P) Room D135/136: From Fear to Fortitude: Advancing DEI Amid Legal and Political Uncertainty - Barry Johnson-Smith
(P) Room D137/138: Between Cultures: Navigating Identity and Inclusion in a Globalizing Workforce - Ismail Jirde Warsame
(P) Room D139/140: Resilience and Pride: Lessons from Queer and Trans Communities - Meiver De la Cruz
(P) Room E141/142: Achieving Equitable Outcomes Through Engagement and Communication - Harmonee Dashiell and Magan Reed
(S) Room E143/144: Unpacking Antisemitism and Anti-Palestinian Racism: A Framework for Collective Liberation - Toby Lyons, Anthony Bencivengo, Mar Zusman, and Maxine Fookson
(S) Room E145/146: Team Health: Activities for Your Colleagues - Cheryl Denise Baker
(I) Room E147/148: Care, Commitment, and Culture: How We Built the State’s Most Successful Equity and Inclusion Committee - Shawn Sullivan, Dominique Turman, Sarah Brown, and Sara Deane
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
OPTIONAL NETWORKING RECEPTION → Portland Ballroom Lobby
5:30 PM
CONFERENCE ENDS