A Season of Growth, Some Exciting News, and How to Get Involved
Dear OPHA Colleagues,
OPHA has been in a season of transition this year, and with transition comes both discomfort and incredible growth. We're working diligently to strengthen our core and expand our capacity, all while staying rooted in the values that brought us together in the first place.
I've promised you some behind-the-scenes updates, and while a few things aren't quite ready to unveil, I do want to share something you may soon see across our website as part of our ongoing equity work:
The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) acknowledges that a weight-centric approach to public health has caused and continues to cause harm to individuals, communities, and society as a whole. While everyone is impacted by weight stigma, it disproportionately harms those in larger bodies. As such, OPHA explicitly includes body size as part of our equity lens in our work, both internally as an organization and in our work with partners and communities throughout the state.
This acknowledgment is just one of the many ways we're working to improve equity and accessibility as we evaluate and strengthen the foundations of our organization, so we can grow and continue to be effective stewards and stand fully behind our members for years to come.
Our section work is making waves, y'all! We're absolutely tickled to be solidifying our section guidelines, welcoming new sections before the conference, and revamping some of our existing ones. If you have questions or want to get involved, reach out to me directly at [email protected].
Have you heard? August is Civic Health Month, and it's the perfect time for OPHA to reconnect with our partners at Vot-ER to mobilize for a healthy democracy. This year, more eligible voters are facing barriers to voting, and those obstacles fall hardest on some of our most vulnerable communities. Voting is about collective power, and we're calling on our members, partners, and fellow civic organizations to get engaged. Oregon's General Election is November 3rd, so we still have time to get organized! If you are interested in engaging with our policy and advocacy work email [email protected]. You can heck out events hosted by Vot-ER happening this month.
Last weekend, we shared some wildfire resources with you, and one of our sharp-eyed members reached out to point us to another great one: Nurturely's free Wombs and Wildfires Toolkit. Our friends at Nurturely are doing incredible work supporting equity in perinatal wellness, so take a look at their free toolkit.
Speaking of connections, our job board is buzzing! We're seeing more and more postings come through, which is amazing for connecting quality candidates to roles right here in our region. Keep spreading the word and posting your open positions. We love creating these connections!
And don't forget: early bird registration for our annual conference ends August 31st! We recently announced our keynote speakers on social media, Valdez Bravo, MHA, MBA, FACHE and Kelsey Mueller-Wendt, MPH, and we could not be more thrilled to welcome them, and you, this year!
If your organization wants to get involved with our conference, 82 Years of Oregon Public Health: Shaping What's Next!, check out our sponsorship opportunities for more information or reach out to me directly!
With gratitude and excitement,
Valerie Striplin, MPH (She/Her)
Executive Director
Oregon Public Health Association | [email protected]
Stay Connected With OPHA
Don't miss Oregon's premier public health conference, happening October 21 & 22. Tickets are live on our website, early bird rates end August 31st so lock in your rates soon for the best prices! Hotel options are being added in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring, take a look at our sponsorship packet to see what feels like the right fit for you.
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Have an announcement, event, or opportunity to share with Oregon’s public health community? Send submissions for our newsletter to Heather Daniel at [email protected]
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