The South Coast Equity Coalition is working to empower voices and create change in the community.
As part of that mission, they are hosting the fourth annual South Coast Diversity Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 10 and April 11, in partnership with the Diversity Conference Committee.
The one-day conference offers the same content on two different days, giving participants the opportunity to choose which day works best for them.
The conference focuses on the theme, ‘Empowering Voices, Creating Change’ and features several speakers and panel discussions throughout the day.
Workshops will include ‘Tribal Natural Disaster Cross Coordination,’ presented by the Northwest American Indian Coalition; ‘Access Matters: Crafting Inclusive Workplaces,’ presented by Emily Purry; and a keynote address with Dr. Shaashawn S. Dial about creating spaces that are welcoming to multiple identities instead of a primary identity.
“I’m really excited about the speakers being truth tellers. I am hoping that people step into it open to hearing new ideas and that vulnerability arises,” said Jayden Ruff, the director of the South Coast Equity Coalition.
“I feel the key to really push ourselves into changing, or being open, is in that moment where we can be vulnerable and say, ‘I don’t know everything and that’s okay. I get to be a lifelong learner and that’s okay.’ Instead of doing something for everyone, we get to prioritize each person, and recognize each person’s individual experience,” Ruff said
The South Coast Equity Coalition is one of 13 regional coalitions that exist throughout the State of Oregon. The local group has been prioritizing community needs and focusing around equitable health care access and gender affirming care, as well as organizing cultural-specific events such as Southern Oregon Coast Pride, Juneteenth, and Day of the Dead celebrations.
“We are looking historically at what has happened as far as Oregon’s exclusionary laws and how that has affected the society of people that we advocate on behalf of. We also want to make sure that we’re amplifying their strength – the fact that there’s resilience, joy, smiles, and love there – along with the barriers that we get to address collectively,” Ruff said.
The South Coast Diversity Conference will be held at the Mill Casino on 3201 Tremont St, North Bend.
The conference fee is $75 per ticket. For information about scholarships that may be available, email equity@unitedwayswo.org.
Those interested in attending the conference should do so promptly. The original deadline day is April 1, but organizers said spots may still be available if reserved during the first week of April. For more information about the 4th Annual South Coast Diversity Conference, visit southcoastequity.org or email equity@unitedwayswo.org.