Oregon's Kitchen Table

05/28/2026

Just a few days left! Be sure to share your thoughts by June 1st!
tinyurl.com/hecc-belonging

There is still time left to share what gives you a sense of belonging in college or training programs!! Share what you think by June 1st!

A sense of belonging matters: Students are more likely to continue their education if they feel like they belong in places of learning. Research shows that students’ sense of belonging makes a difference in student success. What can help Oregon students feel a sense of belonging at college and training programs?

We wants to hear from you! Share what you think through our survey: tinyurl.com/hecc-belonging

What you and others share will help the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission and partners decide on ways to help foster belonging for students.

05/28/2026

We are just six weeks away from Hatfield Futures summer camp! ☀️

Our latest team will be joining from eastern Oregon. Alba, Gracelyn, Elana, and Lily attend Wallowa High School and will be visiting PSU for the first week in July for futures-thinking. Swipe through to learn more about their team.

05/21/2026

There is still time left to share what gives you a sense of belonging in college or training programs!! Share what you think by June 1st!

A sense of belonging matters: Students are more likely to continue their education if they feel like they belong in places of learning. Research shows that students’ sense of belonging makes a difference in student success. What can help Oregon students feel a sense of belonging at college and training programs?

We wants to hear from you! Share what you think through our survey: tinyurl.com/hecc-belonging

What you and others share will help the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission and partners decide on ways to help foster belonging for students.

05/21/2026

Our next Hatfield Futures team comes from the Portland Metro area! Zakaria, Mohamed, and Farzin will be joining us at PSU this July from the Oregon Islamic Academy and Summit Early College. Click through to read more about them!

We're so excited to be welcoming all our teams to do some future-thinking this summer at Hatfield Futures! Learn more about our program at our website: https://www.oregonskitchentable.org/hatfield-futures

05/13/2026

We're celebrating another Cross-Regional team for Hatfield Futures this week. Our next team is coming together from Albany and Hillsboro. Olha, Emi, and Anna will join us in July at PSU for a week of future-thinking and putting a proposal together on the future of Oregon.

Click through to learn more about their team and explore Hatfield Futures on our website: https://www.oregonskitchentable.org/hatfield-futures

05/08/2026

Are you an apprentice or journeyworker in a construction trade?
Do you support people in the trades?

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) wants to hear from you about Oregon’s new Child Care for Construction Program!

Take the survey today: https://tinyurl.com/okt-ccc-survey

Oregon’s new Child Care for Construction Program provides help paying for child care for people in construction trades during their apprenticeships and in the first five years as journeyworkers. The program is under the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).

Now, BOLI wants to hear from construction trades apprentices, journeyworkers and their families, as well as other community members about what could help make the program easier to access and meet their families’ child care needs. Your input will help BOLI and partners make it easier for people to learn about and access this financial support.

There are various ways that we are inviting people to share what they think:
1. Take the survey in English or Spanish through May 31, 2026 - https://tinyurl.com/okt-ccc-survey
2. Invite other people - Let people who work in construction or who support people who work in construction know how to share what they think!
3. Would you like to host a conversation in your community, invite us to speak with your class or table at your event? Oregon’s Kitchen Table will be hosting conversations and tabling at community events in May to hear from people. If you would like to work with us to hear from your community, reach out to us by emailing Eliot Feenstra ([email protected]).

Learn more and sign up for the Child Care for Construction program here:
https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/Pages/Financial%20Assistance%20for%20Registered%20Apprentices.aspx

05/07/2026

Our next Hatfield Futures team comes from Cave Junction and Illinois Valley High School. Team members Annabelle, Jayden, and Morgan will be joining us at PSU this July for a week of future-thinking and putting a proposal together on the future of Oregon.

Join us in cheering on the Hatfield Future teams and learning more with the link in our bio

05/06/2026

Thank you for inviting us to join your students in conversation about belonging in postsecondary learning settings! We loved getting to be on the floor, right in the midst of where students are learning, to see and hear and feel their stories about belonging. Such a treat!

05/04/2026

Don't forget to share what brings you a sense of belonging in college or training programs by May 27th! Use the links below to fill out a survey.

Oregonians are Invited to Share Input on What Creates a Sense of Belonging in Postsecondary Programs – Please help us share this opportunity!

Read and share today’s press release: https://lnks.gd/3/3TTvB8H
Take the survey at tinyurl.com/hecc-belonging

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), in partnership with Oregon's Kitchen Table, has launched a survey and community engagement initiative, inviting input through now through May 27, 2026.

In a press release today, HECC is pleased to announce this opportunity for Oregonians to share input about what could help create a sense of belonging for students at Oregon college, university, and training programs and settings. We are partnering with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT)—a statewide community engagement program—to hear directly from current, recent, and future students and learners, as well as community members who support learners, about what could help create a sense of belonging in learning settings after high school.

- Complete the online survey: What Helps Create a Sense of Belonging in Oregon College and Training Programs? The survey is available in English, French, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese, and is open through May 27, 2026. Survey link: tinyurl.com/hecc-belonging

- Consider organizing a conversation: Oregonians are welcome to share their input by hosting a conversation with their community about belonging. OKT has created the Kitchen Table Conversation Guide for anyone in Oregon who wants to organize and host a Kitchen Table Conversation with their family, friends, neighbors, or any group. Anyone interested may contact Oregon's Kitchen Table at [email protected] or (503) 725-5248 for support in hosting a discussion. Conversation guide link: https://lnkd.in/gnAqwz-g

Please help us share this opportunity for engagement! The input collected from this survey and engagement initiative will help inform future actions as we work to better serve Oregon communities.
Read the full press release to learn more:
https://lnks.gd/3/3TTvB8H

04/30/2026

We are just about two months away from Hatfield Futures! Are you getting excited??

We're celebrating by announcing another cross-regional team. Sara, Brianna, Elise, Emi, and Lakshmi are joining from all over the state: Portland, Madras, and Eugene! With summer camp right around the corner, we are looking forward to get a glimpse of Oregon's future through this team. Click through to learn more about them.

And, if you're signed up for Hatfield Futures, don't forget to join us for our virtual orientation TONIGHT! We'll see you there!! 😎