
A group of local employers, including Oregon State University, is hosting a multicultural networking event from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, for both new and established residents to make connections and build community in the Mid-Willamette Valley area.
Hello Mid-Valley is a free event aiming to provide networking opportunities for people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ people and allies. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. The event will be held at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center at OSU, 725 SW 26th St. Corvallis, OR 97331. Registration is required.
The idea came out of conversations a few years ago among human resources departments throughout the region, said Bonny Ray, executive director of University Human Resources at OSU.
“We said, ‘This is a problem across many employers in the Mid-Valley. We recruit people, then we don’t have a way to help them build connections, and then they don’t stay,’” Ray said. “If you can’t find things outside of work to feed your soul, you move on.”
The event is hosted by Valley Connections, a partnership established by OSU, Samaritan Health Services, HP and Linn-Benton Community College as an outgrowth of similar Hello Mid-Valley events sponsored by a larger group of local employers in 2022 and 2023.

Valley Connections plans to hold one to two events per year, which will include both facilitated and unstructured networking time.
Hello Mid-Valley is modeled after the Say Hey! multicultural networking events in Portland, though Say Hey! is specifically for professionals of color who have recently relocated to the Portland area. Hello Mid-Valley has a broader target audience, hoping to provide space for people with many different backgrounds and identities to build connection and belonging.
“It’s not a work event; it’s a community event,” Ray said. “We were founded by the four major employers, but anyone can join. Nothing about it is exclusive.”
If folks who are new to the Mid-Valley within the past 18 months feel comfortable being highlighted, they can request in their registration form to be honorees who will be introduced by name. Honorees will also receive swag bags at the event. If people have already registered but would like to be recognized now that they have more context about the event, they can contact Megan Kilgore, [email protected].
“Everybody needs community, and everybody needs belonging. The pandemic made that more apparent for people,” Ray said. “It can be hard to find meaningful connections and make friends as an adult.”
Event sponsors include Boss Mortgage, Chemeketa Community College, Corvallis Chamber of Commerce, Linn-Benton Community College, HP, Inc., Oregon State Credit Union, Oregon State University, Samaritan Health Services, Corvallis School District and WorkSource Oregon.