Rooted on Common Ground
October 27-29
Sunriver, Oregon
Monday, October 27th
Plenary Speaker: Karimah Dillard – “The Power of Showing Up”
Karimah Dillard currently serves as the Director of Policy at the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV), where she leads legislative and policy initiatives that center survivor voices and advance justice for those impacted by domestic violence. Her work has been instrumental in passing several groundbreaking laws in Georgia, including the creation of the state’s first Address Confidentiality Program, legal protections for pets in protective orders, and the expansion of protective orders to include victims of dating violence.
Tuesday, Oct 28th
Keynote Speakers: Debra Dority and Carol Schrader – “Protecting Survivors’ Confidentiality and Privilege”
Carol Schrader (she/her) is a senior attorney on the Victim Rights Law Center’s national technical assistance and training team. She helps OVW-funded attorneys and other victim service providers across the country provide legal advocacy for and protect the confidentiality of survivors of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. Carol has advocated for survivors of gender-based violence throughout her career including as a legal aid attorney, executive director of a nonprofit working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, manager of the Oregon DOJ Crime Victims’ Rights Compliance Project, National Crime Victim Law Institute attorney, and as a U.S. Antarctica Program confidential victim advocate. Her community-care includes hiking with friends and enjoying her book group.
Debra Dority (she/her) is a State Support Unit (SSU) Attorney at the Oregon Law Center (OLC) and provides mentoring and technical assistance on family law and domestic violence to attorneys at the OLC and Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO). Before joining the SSU, Debra worked at the Pendleton LASO office and the Hillsboro OLC office. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, she has been a legal aid lawyer since 2005. Throughout her legal career, Debra’s practice focused on providing legal services to victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in protection order and family law cases. She has also represented clients in a Title IX sexual discrimination case and an international child abduction case. Debra’s move to the SSU has allowed her work on statewide policy issues related to domestic and sexual abuse and stalking. Debra is the Vice Chair of the State Family Law Advisory Committee, co-chairing its Domestic Violence Subcommittee, and is a member of the Oregon Judicial Department’s Law and Policy Work Group. Debra is also a member of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.
Wednesday, October 29th
Plenary Speaker: Libra Forde
Leadership is Libra’s passion. With an athletic spirit, Libra thrives on building leadership skills in herself and championing others to their personal best. Libra has been described as the person who brings great energy to any room. Her warm presence and calm demeanor are welcoming, opening the room to her Systems Thinking and Dreaming. She has a way with words that will make you think, laugh, DO, cry, and feel inspired to achieve dreams and aspirations. Libra lives to empower others through the gift of words and planned actions.
In addition, over 25 years of corporate, racial/social justice and orator experiences enable her to relate to diverse communities, professional groups, and individuals. Libra is currently the Executive Director for the Women’s Foundation of Oregon.
She is the proud mother of a recent college math major graduate and a current college biology student. Libra calls her children her superpowers because they are the impetus to her drive and success. She is a fighter with a justice heart, and systems mind ready to get the work done so we can have a place we can all be proud of beyond our existence.
Click here to register
Registration Rates:
Early Bird rate, use the discount code: “EarlyBirdRegistration2025″ for $25 off per registration until September 12th.
Regular Rate, Ends October 6th
*Member Program: $375
Standard: $450
Student (with Valid student ID): $350
Late Registration Rate, October 7th-27th
*Member Program: $400
Standard: $475
Student (With Valid student ID): $375
*Executive directors of member programs with renewed membership for 2025 were emailed a promo code to access their two free scholarship registrations. If you believe you should have received this code and have not, or if you have questions about the membership scholarship, please reach out to us at [email protected] for support.
See Scholarship Reimbursement Details for Member Programs in the document below.
Agenda Overview:
Sunday the 26th
OCADSV staff will be opening registration in the evening for check-in. Skip the line on Monday morning a nd come say hello. We will also be hosting our annual BIPOC Dinner on Sunday evening.
*Check in Desk open 5:30-6:30pm
BIPOC Dinner at 6:00pm
At our Annual Conference, OCADSV hosts a dinner for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to discuss and celebrate the unique challenges and contributions for and by communities of color in Oregon’s anti-violence community. This is a closed space for those who identify as BIPOC.
Day 1: Monday, October 27th
Prevention, Intervention, and Management Workshops
We are starting off with workshops discussing topics around management, intervention, and prevention conversations.
7:30 am Check in Desk Opens – Homestead
8:00 am Breakfast – Homestead
9:00 am Plenary Speaker Karimah Dillard – Homestead
10:15-11:45 am
“Yes, and… Let’s Talk!” Using Improv for Violence Prevention Conversations
Presented By: Kyndra Laughery located in Homestead
Cultural Consideration When Working with Tribal Communities
Presented By: Danica Love Brown located in Landmark
Removing the Mystery to Supervision
Presented By: Deadria Boyland and Leigh Hofheimer located in Heritage 1
11:45am Lunch
1:00pm-2:30pm
Unity in Adversity: Strengthening Support for Culturally Specific Staff in Divisive Times
Presented By: Perla Estrada and Lorena DeGaray Located in Heritage 2
Direct Service Track-Privacy, Confidentiality, & Agency Use of Tech
Presented By: Laisa Schweigert Located in Landmark
Building Strong Sexual Violence Services in Dual Programs
Presented By: Keri and Jenna Located in Heritage 1
2:30-3:30pm Refreshment Break
3:00pm-4:30pm
Tough Times: Looking Back for Looking Forward
Presented By: Maureen McKnight, Jessie Mindlin, Keri Moran-Kuhn Located in Heritage 2
Being a Good Host! Reducing Rules & Improving Shelter for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Presented By: Deadria B. & Leigh H. Located in Landmark
The Employment Rights of Survivors in Oregon
Presented By: Robin Runge Located in Heritage 1
Prevention in these Times
Presented By: Ashleigh Jiminez Located in Homestead
Day 2: Tuesday, October 28th
Legal, Intervention, and Management Workshops
We will begin the day with an extended plenary offering a deep dive look at privilege and confidentiality and workshops that detail the various legal challenges and considerations presented over the course of doing this work.
7:45 am Check in Desk Opens – Homestead
8:00 am Breakfast – Homestead
9:00am-11:45am Plenary Speakers: Debra Dority and Carol Schrader – Homestead
11:45am-12:00pm Compassionate Canines and Break
12:00pm-1:00pm Award Ceremony and Lunch
1:00pm-2:30pm
Technology- Facilitated Abuse: Safety Planning and Documentation
Presented By: Laisa Schweigert Located in Homestead
Protect Your Family Packet: Supporting Survivors and Protecting Families
Presented By: Loerit Perez Located in Heritage 2
The ABC’s and 123’s of Erin’s Law in Elementary Schools
Presented By: Kyndra Laughery Located in Landmark
Innovative Practices for Collaborative Multidisciplinary Sexual Assault Medical Advocacy
Presented By: Giseel Acosta, Brianna Ellingston, Christina McGovney Located in Heritage 1
2:30pm-3:00pm
Refreshment Break and Compassionate Canines
3:00pm-4:30pm
Advocate Privilege and Confidentiality: Application and Legal Considerations
Presented By: Ashley R Cadotte Located in Homestead
Advocacy for Advocates: Advancing Interest of Survivors at the State Legislature
Presented By: Sybil and Niki Located in Heritage 2
Hospital-Based Advocates and SANE Response
Presented By: Forensic Nurse Examiners Located in Landmark
Working with Minors
Presented By: Jessie Mindlin Located in Heritage 1
5:00pm
Gentle Yoga and Sound Bath with Ben Defrancisco
Combining slow, restorative yoga postures with a “sound bath,” an immersive experience using instruments like singing bowls and gongs. Located in Great Hall
Day 3: Wednesday, October 29th
What’s Next?
We will have speakers, the OCADSV Annual Meeting, followed by a closing speaker and lunch. This will be a more full day than in years past, please plan to stay with us through lunch!
7:00am-7:45am Morning Qui Gong: An ancient Chinese practice that combines gentle movements, breathing techniques, and focused intention to cultivate and rebalance energy.
7:30 am Check in Desk Opens – Homestead
8:00 am Breakfast – Homestead
9:00am-10:45am OCADSV Annual Meeting – Homestead
10:45am-11:45am Keynote Speaker: Libra Forde
11:45am-1:00pm Lunch and Closing Remarks
*Attendees need only check in once
Sunriver is offering OCADSV Conference attendees a reduced rate room block, the last day to reserve your room is September 19th
To learn more about Sunriver and events to explore outside of the conference, visit their website here.
For lodging reservations you can book your room online or call: 855-420-8206 and let them know you are with the OCADSV Annual Conference
To keep our conference safe and accessible for all to attend, we ask that attendees review and agree to abide by our community agreements while at the conference. These are available at the time of registration or you can read about them below.
We ask everyone to agree to conduct themselves in a manner aligned with the OCADSV mission, philosophy, and equity and inclusion statements.
Please treat others with dignity and respect throughout your time with us. If any concerns or issues arise during the conference, you may speak with any OCADSV staff member.