The Secret Weapon Oregon is Sending to a National Summit? These Two Local Leaders.

From Eastern Oregon to the Nation's Capital: Two Women on a Game-Changing Mission

PENDLETON, OR – Washington, D.C. is about to get a dose of Eastern Oregon expertise, and it could change everything for families across the state. Two local leaders, Marissa Loiland and Courtney Carter, have been selected for a high-stakes mission: to represent Oregon at the prestigious 2025 National Summit this November.

But this isn't just another conference. They are part of a handpicked delegation for the Upstream Initiative, a revolutionary movement focused on tackling childhood challenges before they even start. The summit, hosted by powerhouse organizations like Nurture Connection, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Reach Out and Read, aims to shift the national focus from downstream crisis intervention to upstream primary prevention. Think of it as fixing a leaky roof instead of constantly mopping up the floor—a proactive approach to building stronger, healthier families from day one.

Leading the charge from our region is Marissa Loiland, the director of Early Learning Initiatives for the InterMountain Education Service District and the head of the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub. She brings years of professional insight and strategic leadership to the table. But the delegation's true secret weapon might be Courtney Carter, a Umatilla County parent whose invaluable "lived experience" provides a powerful, authentic family voice that is so often missing from policy discussions.

This dynamic duo will join four other Oregon leaders to form a six-person team ready to make waves on the national stage. Their two-fold mission is critical: first, to showcase the innovative, community-led design pilots that are already making a difference right here in Oregon. Second, they will absorb cutting-edge strategies from experts across the country, with the explicit goal of bringing those powerful new tools back home to strengthen family support systems throughout Eastern Oregon.

For Loiland and Carter, this is a unique opportunity to collaborate with the nation's brightest minds in health, education, and social services. The insights they gain and the connections they forge in D.C. on November 5th and 6th are expected to have a direct and lasting impact on our local communities. By championing early childhood investment and proactive support, these two women aren't just attending a summit—they are building a better future for Oregon's next generation.