September 2026 Newsletter | |
IAP2 Conflict Strategies Workshop
Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for our Managing Conflict, Opposition, Misinformation and Distrust workshop, facilitated by the City of Beaverton’s Center for Mediation (CMD) and Dialogue. Learn more about CMD’s trainings and resources. More opportunities to learn and connect are coming!
| | Featured Events & Opportunities | | Don't forget! Oregon Voters: October 13 deadline to register to vote for the election. | | | |
IAP2 North American Conference
Many Voices, One Table.
Co-Creating the Future of Engagement
October 1 - 3, 2026
Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
Join public participation professionals from across North America for an inspiring experience of learning, collaboration, and connection. The 2026 North American Conference brings together practitioners, community leaders, and innovators to explore new ideas, share proven practices, and strengthen the future of public engagement.
Whether you are looking to gain practical strategies, hear from thought leaders, or build meaningful connections with peers, the North American Conference offers something for every engagement professional.
Learn more and register
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Applications Open through Oct. 1 for Multnomah County’s Charter Review Committee
Multnomah County residents are invited to apply for the 2027–2028 Charter Review Committee by October 1, 2026. Supported by the Office of Community Involvement, members will use their community experience to study the County Charter and may propose amendments to go to public vote in 2028. Prospective applicants can learn more and get help at virtual or in-person information sessions through September 25, 2026.
Learn more and apply
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Building Tomorrow Together: Engaging Youth in Plans
Brought to you by the IAP2 Midwest Chapter
Tuesday, October 13
10 AM - 11 AM via Zoom (free)
This session explores practical, approachable strategies for engaging young people, particularly in community planning. The session highlights why youth are essential early stakeholders and how their involvement builds long-term civic understanding and community ownership. Participants will walk through examples for connecting with youth where they already are and learn how to design simple, hands-on activities that help kids express ideas about their cities and neighborhoods. Engagement won’t be passive: attendees will be asked to participate in at least one quick, interactive activity during the session to model the types of tools that resonate with younger audiences. This helps planners experience the approach directly and see how these tactics can be incorporated into their own work, even with limited time or resources.
Register online
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IAP2 USA Podcast
Public Participation Amplified - Episodes 3, 4 & 5
Missed the latest Public Participation Amplified episodes? Catch up on three recent conversations exploring where the field is headed:
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Episode 3: Healing-Centered Public Participation — Trauma-informed engagement, trust and emotional intelligence. Watch the recording
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Episode 4: Young Professionals and the Next Generation of Democracy — How emerging practitioners and changing community spaces may shape the future of P2. Watch the recording
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Episode 5: Community Power Is Shifting — Digital organizing, changing power dynamics and what institutions can do to keep pace. Watch the recording
| | | Have an upcoming event or engagement opportunity you'd like us to feature? Send us your requests at IAP2Cascade@gmail.com. | | Featured IAP2 USA Trainings & Events | | |
When Safety Isn’t Enough | A Neuroscience-Informed Approach to Moving Communities from Self-Protection to Shared Responsibility
Oct. 27 from 8 AM - 10 AM (PDT)
What happens when a group feels safe, but still cannot stay open when things get difficult?
When uncertainty and conflict rise, people can become more defensive, narrow their thinking, and rush toward solutions. This course goes beyond traditional conflict management to explore how neuroscience, emotion, and group dynamics shape participation under pressure.
Learn practical facilitation approaches for helping groups slow down, stay curious, work with emotion, uncover what is beneath opposing positions, and create space for better decisions.
If you facilitate difficult conversations, navigate community conflict, or help groups work through uncertainty, this course offers practical tools you can put to work immediately.
Register ($175 for IAP2 members; $250 for non-members | 2 spots remaining)
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IAP2 Demo Days
Oct. 28 from 8 AM - 3 PM (PDT)
Discover the Tools Shaping the Future of Public Participation.
Finding the right engagement technology can be overwhelming. Demo Days is designed to make it easier to explore what is out there and see the tools in action.
Join public participation professionals from across North America for live demonstrations of engagement platforms and digital tools. Hear directly from platform providers, explore real world applications, ask questions, and compare approaches in one place.
Participating partners include Irth, Jambo, Maptionnaire, and OpenPoint, with another partner to be announced.
All demonstrations and panel discussions will be recorded, and your registration gives you access to the full collection of recordings.
Register (Free for IAP2 USA members and nonmembers)
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Community Engagement Specialist
Oregon State University
Salary Range: $66,033 - $85,740
Oregon State University Division of Extension and Engagement is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist for Lane County. This is a full-time, 12-month, professional faculty position based at the OSU Extension Lane County Office in Eugene, Oregon.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify and coordinate opportunities that advance education and community engagement programs to serve constituencies in Lane County.
- Develop, nurture, and expand partnerships to enhance Extension programming across Lane County.
- Develop and nurture relationships between OSU Extension and municipal leaders (e.g., mayors, city councilors, city administrators and managers) across Lane county’s twelve incorporated cities.
- Develop, implement, and participate in outreach programming and events to create collaborative relationships between OSU Extension, Lane County and external stakeholders, including local government officials, community leaders, volunteers, alumni and industry partners.
- Increase collaborations between community partners to capitalize on collective wisdom around emergent social, environmental and/or economic issues; facilitate collaboration across difference, ensuring people from underserved communities are fully included.
- Build and continually improve capacity within OSU Extension for employees serving Lane County around community engagement.
- Create, manage, or serve on internal and external committees, task forces and advisory boards to encourage, develop and support relationships and collaborations with external stakeholders.
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Administrative Specialist (Communications)
Clark Regional Wastewater District
Salary Range: $32.74 - $42.80 Hourly
Job Summary:
The Administrative Specialist is responsible for facilitating communications and public outreach and providing professional administrative support. An employee in this position is expected to have high-level computer, multitasking, communications, and organizational skills to design and execute content strategy and public/media relations, provide external agency coordination, develop meeting materials and presentations, and conduct research and analysis. Provides specialized administrative support using multiple computer applications for editing and preparing official documents, document management, including tracking and reporting of information, often of a technical nature. The work performed requires a general knowledge of District operations.
Communications & Public Outreach. Typical tasks: Develop and implement internal and external communication, marketing and outreach efforts that support the District’s branding and strategic communications and outreach goals and initiatives. Apply storytelling and copywriting skills to create compelling stories, messages and presentations for varying audiences, mediums and information platforms. Deploy public participation, awareness and information campaigns through digital and printed media platforms and coordinating, staffing, and attending community events. Coordinate with creative services staff and consultants (e.g. videography, photography, graphic and UI/UX design), plan and manage the production and delivery of a broad range of high-quality printed, audio and visual-based communication and engagement materials including printed collateral, digital media, traditional media, and community education and outreach program materials.
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