Oregon community college and university representatives attended the 2023 NW Regional Equity Conference. This conference aims to improve equitable, sustainable experiences and outcomes for systemically marginalized and underrepresented populations through inclusive and anti-racist strategies.

This professional development opportunity was supported by funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Conference Takeaways

Here are some of the takeaways that Oregon attendees are thinking about after the event.

The NWREC conference reinforced that Justice & Equity work is an on-going process that we need to be intentional, purposeful & authentic about. The sessions I attended were rich and provided me with more tools for continuing this critical work. -Jessica Dougherty, Western Oregon University

The conference was really enlightening for me. I loved learning about some of the historical events and the movements that pushed against power imbalances and inequities. I also loved the affinity group session and picking up some new strategies and connections relevant to our contemporary movement for equity and justice. -Princess Osita-Oleribe, Klamath Community College

Some really good thoughts and resources about whiteness and how see it more and challenge where needed. Time for healing and love with some of the presentations. Got that conference “high” and wanting to tweak things starting small and moving larger. -Anonymous

I witnessed an amazing model of community accountability and healing. -Anonymous

My main takeaway is the inspiration to engage students as whole people in the courses and programs I design. I routinely think about what my students might think of a course assignment or resource, but perhaps I should also consider how each element will make them feel emotionally and physically. And of course keeping in mind that their emotional and physical responses are due not just to factors I control about my course, but also their individual lived experiences. -Anonymous

NWREC is unlike any conference I’ve ever attended and I greatly appreciated the support to attend for a second year. The level of engagement in sessions and among conference attendees is unparalleled. I learned practical approaches to more inclusive teaching, as well as tools and dispositions to be a more reflective teacher. -Anonymous

I really appreciated the expertise and flexibility the conference organizers showed when running the conference. Some of the sessions were a little rough for me personally—not because they were bad, but because the content required some deep work around exploring the history and present-day experience of people who don’t look like me in the US. I especially appreciated the ability to connect with other attendees in the “community” space, which led to some great connections and conversations! -Anonymous

This conference reminded me of the importance of DEI work, and to become more politically active to ensure we can continue to incorporate DEI into teaching & learning. -Anonymous