I had the absolute honor of opening the Pacific Northwest Employment Forum in Portland this week, and what a way to kick off the conference. Being invited to serve as Tuesday’s opening keynote was both humbling and energizing. I’m especially grateful because PNWEF centers our disability community and the people who power it, service providers, program participants, advocates, employers, and vendors who show up every day to build pathways to real, meaningful work.

Rolling into the ballroom on Tuesday morning and feeling the buzz, support teams comparing notes, self-advocates greeting each other, exhibitors setting up resources, reminded me why I do this work. When we gather across roles and identities with a shared belief that employment creates belonging, possibility becomes practice. That is the spirit of PNWEF.

Heart of Inclusion: The Keynote

I delivered my “Heart of Inclusion” keynote, which is all about moving inclusion from concept to daily habit, what we notice, how we design, and who we center. We talked about shifting from helping to co-creating, from accommodations as afterthoughts to accessibility as a design choice, and from performative support to measurable outcomes. My goal was to open the day with both heart and a clear challenge, inclusion is not a side quest, it is the operating system.

Throughout the morning, I could see people nodding, laughing, tearing up, and, most importantly, taking notes they could bring back to their teams. That is the PNWEF magic, inspiration that is immediately actionable. I loved that the Tuesday program set the tone for the days ahead.

Community, Connection, and Next Steps

What makes this forum special is the mix, direct support professionals sitting beside state partners, employers learning from self-advocates, students discovering career paths, and vendors demonstrating tools that remove barriers. When these perspectives meet, we get smarter systems and better jobs, period.

To everyone who came up afterward to share a story, ask a question, or snap a photo, thank you. Your courage and candor keep me grounded and motivated. Please keep the conversation going. Keep pushing for equitable hiring, accessible onboarding, and inclusive career progression. The outcomes we are after, fair pay, real choice, community belonging, require all of us.

With Gratitude

A heartfelt thank you to the PNWEF organizers for the invitation and for positioning the opening keynote to launch Tuesday’s momentum. It was a privilege to be included among this year’s featured speakers and to help set the tone for the sessions, awards, and employer conversations that followed.

An extra special shoutout to Glen Bishop and CJ Webb, both proud leaders in Oregon APSE, the Oregon chapter of APSE, the Association of People Supporting Employment First. Your tireless work ahead of the forum showed up in every detail, from the accessible logistics to the thoughtful curation of voices. Thank you for making space where our community can learn, connect, and thrive.

Until next time, Pacific Northwest, keep leading with the heart of inclusion.