The 32nd Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference will be held Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at the Oregon Convention Center.

Conference schedule.

8:00 AM

REGISTRATION OPEN → Portland Ballroom Lobby

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

WELCOME → Portland Ballroom

Performance

Opening Remarks

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

BREAK

9:15 AM - 12:15 PM

EXECUTIVE SESSION (for elected officials, executives and department/bureau directors)

9:15 AM - 10:45 AM

WORKSHOP PERIOD 1

  • Human-Centered Design in Action: Building Inclusive Public Services - Suzanne Boyd

  • Making Menopause Work - Kylie Bayer

  • Courageous and Compassionate Feedback - Parfait Bassalé

  • Transforming Spaces Through Restorative Practices: From Principles to Impact - Ebony Jeffries

  • The Intersections of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Indian Country - Adam Becenti

  • Beyond Headlines: Confronting Anti-Arab Hate & Islamophobia - Mawadda Amboun and Emilie Azorr

  • Tortoise Teaching: Building a Trauma Informed Human Services Training Plan - Lesley Delapaz

  • 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

  • Invisible Scars: Trauma, Identity, and Compassionate Leadership in Public Service - Magdianamy Carrillo-Sotomayor

  • Making Menopause Work - Kylie Bayer

  • Between Cultures: Navigating Identity and Inclusion in a Globalizing Workforce - Ismail Jirde Warsame

  • Interrupting Oppression: Embodiment and Strategies - Isabel Mesa Vasquez and David Kennedy-Wong

  • The Intersections of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within Indian Country - Adam Becenti

  • Upholding Values: Navigating Ethical and Legal Responsibilities During Global Conflict and Genocide - Emilie Azorr, Drew Bibee, Robin Easton-Davis, and Alis Smbatyan

  • Achieving Equitable Outcomes Through Engagement and Communication - Harmonee Dashiell and Magan Reed

  • Effective Communication: Working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Timothy Vander Ploeg

12:35 PM - 2:10 PM

LUNCH PROGRAM → Portland Ballroom

Robert Phillips Regional Diversity Award

Keynote

2:10 PM - 2:30 PM

BREAK

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

WORKSHOP PERIOD 3

  • How Community Power Built a Model for Equity-Centered Government Investment - Wendy Serrano and Hamdi Ali

  • From Fear to Fortitude: Advancing DEI Amid Legal and Political Uncertainty - Barry Johnson-Smith

  • Between Cultures: Navigating Identity and Inclusion in a Globalizing Workforce - Ismail Jirde Warsame

  • Resilience and Pride: Lessons from Queer and Trans Communities - Meiver De la Cruz and Davey Schlasko

  • Team Health: Activities to Rejuvenate Your Colleagues - Cheryl Denise Baker

  • Unpacking Antisemitism and Anti-Palestinian Racism: A Framework for Collective Liberation - Toby Lyons, Anthony Bencivengo, Mar Zusman, and Maxine Fookson

  • Achieving Equitable Outcomes Through Engagement and Communication - Harmonee Dashiell and Magan Reed

  • 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