From the Field: 2025 Power Summit
From the Field: 2025 Power Summit
By Mackenzie Aime
In November, hundreds of Oregonians gathered on the Oregon Coast for our very first multi-day Food for All Oregonians Power Summit – a weekend of learning, connection and community action. Almost 200 grassroots leaders – individuals, children, families, community members – gathered to build relationships, learn from one another and strategize to advance the vision of Food for All Oregonians.
Why we held the 2025 Power Summit
Despite bipartisan support and an outpouring of community support across the state, Oregon’s legislative leaders decided that Food for All Oregonians would not pass in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session. This power summit was born from the need to be in community and think plan for how we prepare for an increase in hardship across our communities with the implementation of H.R. 1 — a federal law that creates some of the largest cuts to important programs that support food access and affordable healthcare, making it even harder for families to afford basic needs.
What happened during the two-day gathering
This two-day event welcomed a diverse group of people, children, teens and elders, all with unique perspectives, experiences and skills, which made for rich conversation. Participants chose from sessions focused on political education, building social-emotional capacity and growing organizing skills to address the current political moment. Laughter, art, stories of resilience and adversity and meals were shared as we strategized the future of Food for All Oregonians.
Voices from community leaders
Leaders from across the state connected, shared their expertise and took action together. Adrianna Contreras, a Community Leader and Policy Leadership Council member from Ontario shared:
“Joining the Oregon Food Bank Power Summit was seriously transformative. For the first time ever, I felt truly empowered — like I could actually make a difference. Sharing my lived experience was a massive step, something I'd never done publicly before. It genuinely lit a fire inside me, giving me the energy and focus to keep pushing for change. It was exactly the spark I needed.”
How You Can Take Action Now
Whether you joined us or couldn't make it, you can still take action! Get involved right now by urging Congress to reverse the cruel cuts to SNAP. You can also sign up to participate in the next Power Night to End Hunger and share this initiative with your community.
