The Mpact Innovators hosted the final Coffee Chat on November 14 on takeaways from the 2025 Mpact Transit + Community conference in Portland, OR. Innovator Aidan Doyle kicked off the session. Attendees from the conference and others in the Mpact network discussed a range of experiences from the conference.
Innovator facilitators prompted small groups to discuss:
- If you attended the conference, what are your highlights, lessons learned and key takeaways? What’s sticking with you? Did anything surprise you? Anything to share with people who weren’t able to attend?
- How was Portland? What did you learn from exploring the city and region through mobile workshops, walking tours, or other activities?
- What do you want to learn more about or focus on over the next year? What topics would you like to see at on the program in Toronto in 2026 or at a future conference?
- Are you considering a PechaKucha™ for the Mpact PK Slam? What would be your topic?
- If you didn’t attend, what are you curious to know about?
Takeaways from #MpactPDX
Those who attended the conference shared they appreciated that the conference gathers people from diverse careers, that they all felt like they were able to make genuiune connections with others and felt that their cup was full by the close of the week. During the Coffee Chat, people shared what they learned, ideas for future conferences, plus a hot tip for those who plan to attend a future Mpact Transit + Community.
Learnings and highlights
- Creatively activating transit – Attendees offered examples of activations on transit and in community that they about learned about, including one that attendees at the conference got to experience themselves: live bands on streetcars on the way the Welcome Reception at OMSI!
- Decreasing barriers in public engagement – One conference attendee learned about how an agency is using art activities to help community members feel more comfortable opening up and sharing their ideas and input for projects. Building off that, another person in the room thought kittens and puppies could be a way to also put people at ease.
- Impactful topics on the big stage – One breakout room discussed how the plenaries were inspiring, engaging, and thought-provoking. This year’s line-up featured discussions on youth and the future of transit, reconnecting communities, and accessibility on transit for all.
- A night to remember at the PK Slam – A few of the breakout rooms shared how the PK Slam was a great way to see colleagues in a different light. Ideas for future PK presentations ranged from bike lanes to mobility options in small communities.
Ideas for the future
- Offer spaces for lunch groups – A group chatted about an idea to provide space at the conference over lunch for affinity, geographic or other small groups to be able to gather and meet.
- Future topics at the conference – Attendees would love to see sessions on first/last mile, micromobility, and rider/user experience.
A tip for future attendees
- Choose mobile workshops intentionally – One attendee shared they found great value from attending a mobile workshop and learning in the field. They recommended researching the city or location before registering for a mobile workshop and to double check which sessions may conflict with a mobile workshop so that you’re not missing out on key sessions you’d like to attend.
Closing the Coffee Chat
At the end of the session, everyone reflected on how they felt leaving that day’s Coffee Chat. Check out their responses in this word cloud.
About the Mpact Innovators and Coffee Chats
The Mpact Innovators are a national networking group that welcomes the next generation of industry leaders and thinkers. The Innovators plan networking events, tours, sessions and more for the annual Mpact Transit + Community conference and beyond.
In 2025, the Mpact Innovators launched a new series called Coffee Chats, a virtual networking series to discuss hot topics in the transit, land use, and community development world. Coffee Chats are not “listen only, camera off” events. The idea is to connect with others and share thoughts and experience about core topics. Read about May’s Coffee Chat on Housing & TOD, July’s Coffee Chat on Funding for Transit, and September’s Coffee Chat on Public Engagement. Thanks to Innovators who led these chats.
Stay tuned for 2026 plans!
P.S. If you or people you know are interested in joining the Mpact Innovators, please fill out the interest form on the Innovators page.