We are dedicated to building a welcoming environment
We are making concrete efforts to achieve this, including establishing community norms, detailing physical accessibility elements, sharing some mental wellbeing reminders, and providing an easy map to plan your route around Ellensburg. If you have additional ideas or suggestions on how to make PLACES 2026 more welcoming and accessible for you, please let us know in your conference registration form or by emailing our planning team at .
Our Community Norms
For the next three days, we will be living in community with each other. And like any community, it is important we establish shared norms: standards that set a foundation of how we will be interacting with, speaking to, and speaking about each other.
Below is our list of community norms, which we expect everyone in our PLACES community to follow. Following these norms will ensure we keep our community happy, healthy, and ready to learn!
Everyone is welcome.
We believe PLACES should be welcoming and safe. Our learning community may last three days, but the way we treat each other and relationships we create last much longer. As such, discrimination, harassment, or any form of exclusion will not be tolerated. If you experience discrimination or harassment and you want support, please tell PLACES conference staff.
Respectful communication.
Listen actively and refrain from interrupting others, especially panelists. Raise your hand if you have a question during the Q&A portions of the presentation, and wait for a microphone to be brought to you to ensure everyone can hear your question. Be sure your questions and comments relate to the content being discussed and are not about a panelist’s or speaker’s identity (ex: “You’re part of the LGBTQ+ community; how do I get more LGBTQ+ people to join my board?”).
Supportive environment.
We aim to foster a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. Please be sure your actions and language reflect that supportive space. There are many ways to help foster a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions—by staying curious, taking time to reflect, and remembering that no one person knows everything, but together we know a lot!
Be mindful of pronouns.
We will provide pronoun stickers (among others!) for nametags at our registration table. When referring to someone in third person, be sure to use the pronouns that are on their nametag or that they shared with you, rather than assuming based on how they look. Share your own pronouns when you introduce yourself (ex: “Hi, I’m Lydia, and I use she/her pronouns. What’s your name?”). When in doubt, you can always default to using the person’s name.
Learn more about the importance of pronouns >
Honor personal boundaries.
Not everyone is a hugger! Ask before physically touching someone. This includes asking someone if they need help rather than just jumping in (ex: “Do you need help getting your wheelchair across the street?”). We are a group of doers, but don’t let that mean you take someone else’s agency away.
Respect our host community.
Ellensburg has generously opened its streets and buildings up to our conference. We are their guests. Treat those living and visiting Ellensburg for non-conference reasons with respect.
Accountability.
Hold yourself and others accountable for upholding these norms. If you need support or want to learn more, please tell PLACES conference staff.
We ask YOU to help us live out these norms!
Venues & Easy Route Planning
Longtime attendees of our annual conference know that we like to use the downtown as our classroom, which includes utilizing a variety of spaces as venue space. When we’re able to announce this year’s venues, we’ll do so here!
Physical Accessibility
We’re aiming to make PLACES as accessible as possible for all bodies, brains, and sensory needs. Here is what our team is already incorporating into the PLACES planning process based on previous feedback:
Audio. All presenters will use a microphone during their presentation. Microphones will be passed to anyone who has a question during the Q&A part of a presentation—please wait for the mic to be handed to you before asking your question (yes, even if you have a loud voice!)
Slide decks. In an effort to make presentations more widely accessible, we have provided all speakers with a template that adheres to visual accessibility best practices. Plus, all slides will be made available to attendees after the conference, so you can get a closer look or just revisit your favorites!
Mobility. All meeting and event spaces are accessible to wheelchair and scooter users.
Have an additional accommodation request? Please add your request to your conference registration or email our planning team at .
Mental Wellbeing
Let’s face it—conferences can being overwhelming. You’re engaging with new ideas, chatting with strangers and colleagues, traveling to new towns on your mobile tours, and generally running around all day. That, my friend, can be exhausting.
At PLACES, we want to make sure you are taking care of YOU. This helps you get more out of your conference experience, and we love that for you. Here are some mental wellbeing reminders:
- Take breaks. There are 15-minute breaks scheduled between sessions. If you need more time, take it!
- Get your zzz’s. Make sure to prioritize rest each night. This will help your ability to stay awake and learn throughout sessions during the day.
- Stay hydrated. We’ll provide you with a reusable water bottle, and there will be water refill stations throughout the conference venues.
- Take time to be in Ellensburg. Conferences can be exhausting, and it’s no secret that the PLACES schedule is filled to the brim! Remember: You don’t have to attend everything—it’s okay to skip a session block, duck out of an event early, or arrive to a happy hour late. Take time to recharge each day and to really be in this vibrant city, whether by sitting in a peaceful outdoor space, people-watching in a bustling public square, or doing a little shopping.
Banner photo by Heirloom Creatives; all other photos by Casey Evans Media.