Conferences and Events
Since 2005, we have coordinated over a dozen major statewide conferences, and dozens of smaller regional and community forums (from soup to nuts). We've organized these events for as few as 25, and as many as 700, attendees, bringing in major national speakers such as University of Chicago researchers, ABC News Reporter John Nance, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and FERC Commissioners. Our events are designed to move public policy and make a difference for residents of the region.
Youth Homelessness
Research indicates that youth homelessness is the #1 indicator of adult homelessness. Yet Oregon spends 99% less on youth programs. The Alliance4Kids, Oregon Alliance for Safe Kids & Healthy Families, and others joined at the Oregon Health Forum. 700 attendees looked at the research and recommended steps to tackle this critical issue.
The Alliance4Kids
A4K was the first to address the issue of "Adverse Childhood Experiences" in Oregon, bringing the original author of the Kaiser ACE study to the state. Subsequent conferences and forums featured all five Oregon State Agency Directors, the Governor, University of Chicago experts, and an average of more than 250 attendees.
Following in the footsteps of our Alliance4Kids conferences, we delved into the question "what now," helping bring state leaders together to explore "Trauma Informed Practices," "Trauma Informed Schools," and more. These are now embedded in Oregon policy for the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Healthy Authority and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Trauma Informed Pilots at Tigard High School and Central High School have led to these practices being adopted by schools througout Oregon, and organizations like Southern Oregon Success.
Trauma Informed Practices
CCO Oregon Conferences
We were in the middle of Oregon's debate over health care transformation, and founded the statewide organization that is still advocating for reforms and health delivery through Oregon's Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) model. Our seven CCO Oregon conferences averaged over 500 attendees per-event.
Before CCOs
Before Oregon created CCOs, there was this conference! National experts outlined the ACO/CCO model, lighting a fire under key legislators, including Rep. Mitch Greenlick and Sen. Alan Bates, who took what they learned and went to work drafting HB3650, which created Oregon's CCO model. We like to think that we played a role in this innovative model that has been improving the health or Oregonians for the past nearly 10 years.
NW Wind Industry Alliance
From 2005 to 2011, we ran the Northwest Wind Industry Alliance, sponsoring five major Northwest conferences and dozens of smaller events, featuring speakers from Senator Ron Wyden to FERC Commissioner Phil Moeller and wind energy experts from around the world. Our conferences averaged 325 attendees.
