2026 Basic Needs Oregon Statewide Convening

Skill building: Throughout the convening you will practice concrete, immediately applicable approaches that can enhance the way you assess student situations, build solutions, and collaborate across your campus. You’ll practice asset‐based communication and framing that centers student strengths and community resilience, sharpen skills in front‐end analysis, expand your toolkit for developing solutions beyond traditional aid, and explore collaborative and innovative ways to respond to student needs. 

Connection: As the first in-person statewide convening, we aim to build a sense of community and connection for the Basic Needs Oregon community of practice. You’ll have structured and unstructured time to build relationships, exchange ideas, and develop a sense of mutual support that can continue to grow long after the event.

• Practice and gain concrete, immediately applicable approaches that can enhance the way you assess student situations, build solutions, and collaborate across your campus.
• Develop skills for front-end analysis and solution-building.
• Practice asset-based communication and develop skills for collective, collaborative framing of Basic Needs work in the current context.
• Build a sense of community and connection with others in similar roles and functions throughout the state or Oregon.

• Basic Needs Oregon is funding the registration fee, lodging, and conference meals for up to two delegates from each community college and university.
• Meals will be provided: 
  • Tuesday, August 4: Dinner reception
  • Wednesday, August 5: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Thursday, August 6: Breakfast, lunch
• Coffee throughout the day will be provided.
• Most of the convening will be held at the LaSells Stewart Center at OSU in Corvallis, which is about a four minute walk from the Hilton Garden Inn. Some sessions on Thursday will be held at the Basic Needs Center, approximately one mile across campus from the LaSells Stewart Center; a motorpool will be available to shuttle participants between locations.