{"id":245,"date":"2014-08-28T20:51:09","date_gmt":"2014-08-28T20:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/mc\/?page_id=245"},"modified":"2026-05-11T18:00:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:00:05","slug":"cead-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/mc\/programs-services\/cead-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"CEAD Conference 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n

15th Annual Celebrate, Educate & Appreciate Diversity (CEAD) Conference<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, May 16, 2026<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Gilbert Center, EOU Campus<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Eastern Oregon University (EOU) and the Office of Strategic Equity Initiatives invite the campus community to the 15th annual CEAD (Celebrate, Educate & Appreciate Diversity) Conference on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to  1:30 p.m. at the Gilbert Center on the EOU campus in La Grande. This milestone year celebrates a long-standing campus program focused on learning, connection, and shared understanding. Sponsored by the Office of Strategic Equity Initiatives and the Student Council for Cultural Affairs, this free event is open to all EOU students, faculty, and staff, as well as non-EOU college students and high school students. Conference registration for community members and all others is $50. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and some parts of the conference will be livestreamed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 marks the 15th year of the C.E.A.D. (Celebrate, Educate & Appreciate Diversity) Conference. Over the years, the CEAD Conference has explored a range of topics, including the value of different perspectives, how systems shape experiences, and, more recently, building relationships, communicating effectively, and strengthening a sense of community. This year\u2019s conference will continue to focus on community, connection, constructive dialogue, and navigating conversations around identity and lived experiences, particularly within rural settings. The event is designed to bring together students, faculty, staff, and community members for thoughtful discussion and reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
REGISTER for the CEAD 2026 Conference HERE!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Logo<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

2026 CEAD Keynote Speaker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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) from Oregon Humanities and Oregon\u2019s Kitchen Table, brings extensive experience facilitating thoughtful, grounded conversations across differences. Drawing from both lived experience and professional work, Eliot will share stories of building meaningful connections and invite students to reflect on how they can show up for one another in authentic and supportive ways. Through his work, he has helped communities across Oregon engage in meaningful dialogue around complex issues, with a focus on listening, shared understanding, and finding common ground. His approach, centered on curiosity, care, and connection, makes him especially well-suited to help set the tone for this year\u2019s conference.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2026 CEAD Conference Goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s CEAD Conference\u00a0also\u00a0offers a unique opportunity to participate in a facilitated statewide conversation about belonging in higher education. Through storytelling and shared experiences,\u00a0Oregon’s Kitchen Table (opens in a new tab)<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) (opens in a new tab)<\/a>\u00a0hope to gather the voices of college students from across Oregon to better understand what it means to belong\u00a0(or not belong)\u00a0in our campuses and communities.\u00a0For students in rural Eastern Oregon, this conversation is especially important. Too often, assumptions and biases shape how people view rural communities and the students who live here. This is your chance to share your experiences, perspectives, and stories in a space where they can help inform conversations and decisions about the future of higher education across the state. Your voice matters, and this is an opportunity to ensure rural student experiences are heard, valued, and represented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CEAD Conference aims to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n