31st Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Oregon Convention Center

2024 CALL FOR DEI PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

This year, twenty-eight leading municipalities have combined resources to present this one-day conference on October 8, 2024. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to cross diverse boundaries in pursuit of a common purpose that promotes the values of inclusion, cultural awareness, and equal opportunity.

Who will attend:  Public employees at all organizational levels including line employees, technicians, managers and executives.

We are focusing on the skills and techniques that public employees need to achieve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the public sector workplace. This is your opportunity to train a large group of public employees to better serve our population. As our conference continues to expand, we welcome new ideas and innovations to enhance public service.

The conference is seeking proposals for presentations, panel discussions, and workshops that connect with the conference mission of: Crossing Diverse Boundaries for a Common Purpose

Recommended topics*

  • Practical Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) tools and resources for the workplace (can be focused on a specific category such as accommodations, race, disability, sexual orientation, etc.): 

    • Courageous intervention.

    • Understanding pronouns.

    • Recognizing and overcoming personal held biases during the recruitment process 

    • Trauma informed practices for people of color. 

    • Creating a culture of inclusion.

  • White supremacist culture.

  • Restorative justice in the Native American community.

  • Historical racism in Oregon and SW Washington - how it has manifested in organizational structure. Understanding legacies of historical racism in public institutions.

  • Addressing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate.

  • The intersectionality of race and gender/identity.

  • Addressing anti-blackness (what is it, how does it infect every system, how are we all affected). 

  • Intercultural biases.

  • Ableism.

  • Anti-fatness.

  • Neurodivergence.

  • Ageism.

  • DEI in government: diversity and inclusion on boards and commissions, civil rights compliance, equity data in government, equity policy practices, supplier diversity and inclusion best practices, using equity review tools.

  • Equity Data: best practices related to collecting, analyzing and reporting on disaggregated demographic and other community data, as well as service access, service quality and outcomes.

  • Language access.

  • Employee resource groups.

*We are open to considering a topic that is not listed, as long as it supports our conference mission.

All presentations must have clear and measurable learning outcomes, and provide attendees with tools for professional growth, regardless of where they may be at in their DEI skill level.

The conference will pay selected presenters a speaker fee. Public Sector employees are not eligible for compensation.

Selected presenters will have a complimentary pass to the full day of activities. We thank you for helping us to make this conference the best yet.

For more information, please contact Carolyn Lee, Conference Coordinator, at carolynjlee13@gmail.com

Past conference programs can be viewed here

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Online submissions opens - Monday, May 13, 2024

  • Online submissions closes - Friday, June 14, 2024

  • Proposal acceptance notification - no later than July 12, 2024

  • Final presentation outline/abstract, headshot(s), and bio(s) - Wednesday, July 31, 2024

  • Deadline for digital handouts and materials - Friday, August 30, 2024

  • Day of conference - Tuesday, October 8, 2024

ELIGIBILITY AND MORE INFORMATION

  • There will be three 90-minute workshop periods throughout the day.

  • An abstract must be uploaded with your submission.

  • The maximum number of panelists is 4 per panel, including the moderator.

  • Presenters must be able to train a large audience.

PRESENTATION TIPS

  • Presentations promoting audience participation are encouraged.

  • Presenters should successfully manage their time and thoroughly cover the workshop content.

  • The audience should be able to take away tangible tools that they can apply to their workplace.

  • Your abstract should clearly match the workshop being presented.

PREVIEW THE QUESTIONS

View here