2026 CEAD Keynote Speaker

This year, the conference continues to center community, belonging, and navigating conversations around identity and equity, especially within rural contexts. The keynote speaker, Eliot Feenstra (he/they) is a community organizer, artist, gardener, and facilitator. He currently works with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT), a statewide community engagement program that creates pathways for Oregonians to participate in public decision-making. Prior to joining OKT, he also worked as an arts educator, queer community organizer, peer support, and farmhand. In 2011, he moved to Josephine County where he worked with a small team to create original plays and dance-theater pieces about community issues with intergenerational groups, from kindergarteners to people in their 70s. He uses theater and art as well as dialogue to bring people together, and has led conversations and trainings across the state with Oregon Humanities since 2015. He also served on the community advisory team for the Pride in Numbers statewide LGBTQ+ research project and currently sits on the board of the Rural Organizing Project. He holds an MA in Performance Studies from York University and a BA from the University of Chicago, as well as training in community storytelling, social practice, and applied theater. After living in Josephine County for many years, he now lives in Portland with his wife and they are expecting a baby in July.

2026 CEAD Conference Goals

At a time when there is a growing need to engage in conversations about responsibility, empathy, and what it means to support one another across differences, this year’s CEAD Conference offers an opportunity for students to come together, listen deeply, and build stronger connections within the campus community. This year’s theme, “What Helps Us Feel Like We Belong?” invites students to reflect on what belonging means to them, and use storytelling as a way to foster meaningful relationships and build community. EOU remains committed to fostering a campus environment where all students, faculty, and staff feel a meaningful sense of connection and support. The CEAD Conference is one way the university continues to invest in opportunities for open dialogue, reflection, and shared responsibility in building a strong and connected campus community.

The CEAD Conference aims to:

• Provide opportunities for students to engage with individuals whose backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives differ from their own, fostering a broader understanding of diverse experiences
• Support personal growth and the development of critical thinking skills, helping students approach diversity-related challenges as opportunities for learning and growth
• Encourage participants to develop leadership skills that actively recognize and advance the benefits of diverse perspectives.
• Strengthen students’ understanding of power, privilege, bias, and stereotypes, and how these factors influence interactions and perceptions of diversity

Student Learning Outcomes

The CEAD Conference supports EOU’s mission to prepare students for leadership rooted in thoughtful reflection and engagement. Students will have the opportunity to:

• Deepen their understanding of how social dynamics, such as access, influence, and representation, impact individuals and communities
• Explore how personal experiences and cultural influences shape beliefs, behaviors, and decision-making
• Strengthen their ability to engage in respectful conversations that bridge differences and encourage connection
• Practice listening and communication techniques that promote understanding, trust, and collaboration

The CEAD Conference offers a unique opportunity for participants to broaden their worldview, challenge their perspectives, and build skills that contribute to strong, healthy relationships—on campus and beyond.