The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show aims to celebrate transforming trash and inspire sustainability while also raising money for fieldwork and intensives for students at REALMS Middle and High School. The 2026 fashion show is Saturday May 9th at the Pavilion in Bend. Designers Nora Sites and Astrid Pava are students at REALMS Middle School and Karen Holm is one of the founders of Rubbish Renewed. www.rubbishrenewed.org
Wildfire Prevention and Education with Regional Fire Specialist Ariel Cowan on the OSU Extension Connection
Ariel Cowan is a Regional Fire Specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Fire Program. She talks about this year's wildfire expectations and how to learn more at upcoming local fairs and workshops. More information about all of these events can be found at centraloregonfire.org/prevent-wildfires.
REDdress + WHITEdress: Threads of Silenced Nations with Mila Shelehoff and Jaime Black
Jaime Black, a Métis artist from Winnipeg, created the art installation The REDress Project to bring awareness to missing or murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Bend artist Mila Shelehoff is the director of Kolovita, an organization dedicated to stewardship of Ukrainian culture. Her art installation REDdress + WHITEdress: Threads of Silenced Nations is Saturday February 21st at Farewell Bend Park in Bend.
COCC Black History Month Celebration Dinner with Shekinah McLean and Aizza Perez
Central Oregon Community College is hosting events celebrating Black history throughout the month, culminating with the Black History Month Celebration Dinner on Saturday February 28th. Shekinah McLean and Aizza Perez are COCC students, members of the Afrocentric Studies Club, and two of the organizers and emcees of the dinner.
1.25% for Wildlife with Sally Compton from Think Wild
Oregon House Bill 4134 is also known as 1.25% for Wildlife and would create funding for conservation work throughout the state. Sally Compton explains the potential impact of the bill, which is currently before the House Committee on Revenue. Sally is the Executive Director of the wildlife hospital and conservation center Think Wild. thinkwildco.org
Fill All Pantries with Kristin Points from High Desert Food & Farm Alliance
Fill Your Pantry is a community bulk-buying farmers market held annually in the fall at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The event typically accepts SNAP benefits for payment, but with the current funding freeze, Central Oregonians haven’t received their benefits for November. Kristin Points - Executive Director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance - talks about the current Fill All Pantries fundraiser that was started as a response to the SNAP benefits freeze.
Visibility is Civic Duty with Mila Shelehoff, Yuliia Hryhorenko, Olena Vasylenko, and Anna Donoghue
Yuliia Hryhorenko and Olena Vasylenko relocated their families to Central Oregon two years ago so that their children could be safe from war. They moved here through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), a US government humanitarian parole program that allowed private US citizens to sponsor and help support Ukrainian refugees.
They are joined by Mila Shelehoff, Executive Director of Art Sprouts and Founder of Bend For Ukraine, a community initiative supporting Ukrainian families resettling in Central Oregon. Anna Donoghue also joins as translator.
Mila Shelehoff’s article The Quiet Trail: Oregon’s Hidden Humanitarian Crisis and information about upcoming events can be found at artsprouts.org
Welcoming Week's Culture Jam
September 12th through 21st is the eighth annual celebration of Welcoming Week in Bend. Numerous community partners make Welcoming Week happen. Gillian talked to three of those partners about this Saturday’s event, Culture Jam.
Wesley Heredia is Program Manager at Vámonos Outside. vamonosoutside.org
Kenneth Adams is the Executive Director of The Father’s Group. thefathersgroup.org
huong tran is the Executive Director of Embrace Bend and co-founder of APIC - Asian and Pacific Islanders Collective. www.embracebend.com/apic-
Culture Jam is Saturday September 13th, Noon to 7pm, at Open Space Event Studios in Bend.
huong tran is facilitating the Welcoming Week event Designing Matrilineal Systems Sunday Sept 21st, 2pm the East Bend Library.
You can learn more about all Welcoming Week Events at bendoregon.gov.
OSU Extension Service - Canning Tips and Trends
Glenda Hyde, Associate Professor of Practice with the OSU Extension Service, talks about the most requested topics from the 2025 Deschutes County Fair - Tips and Trends for preserving foods. www.Extension.OregonState.edu
The Art Detectives Club for Kids with Bob Newhart and Wyndee King
Bob Newhart is the July Artist in Residence at the Bend Visitor Center. Gillian talked to Bob and Wyndee King about the upcoming July 11th Artwalk and the debut of the Art Detectives Club for kids, as well as their advice for unleashing creativity and how to get kids involved with art. You can learn more about Bob’s art at newhartist.com.
The Council on Aging of Central Oregon Turns 50
The Council on Aging of Central Oregon is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on June 26th. Gillian talked to Executive Director Cassie Regimbal about the celebration as well as the critical services the council provides to Central Oregon’s aging population.
Summer Food Safety and Staying Hydrated with Katie Ahern and Stephanie Russell on The OSU Extension Connection
OSU Extension Connection is a conversation with staff from the OSU Extension Service about the educational programs and research-based information that Extension provides to Central Oregon. Gillian talked to Family and Community Health Senior Instructors Stephanie Russell and Katie Ahern about summer food safety and staying hydrated. Stephanie Russell is on the SNAP-Ed State Leadership Team for Programs and Training and Katie Ahern is SNAP-Ed Deschutes County Manager. Their website - foodhero.org - has a wealth of information about food safety, health, and cooking with kids.
City Club's Conversation on Food Insecurity with Alayne Fardella
Food insecurity is a growing crisis in Central Oregon. In just six years, the need for emergency food distribution has tripled — a stark indicator of deepening challenges for local families, children, and seniors. The June 25th City Club of Central Oregon forum "Together at the Table: A Community Conversation on Food Insecurity" will explore the scope and impact of food insecurity in our region. Gillian talked to City Club Board Member Alayne Fardella about the forum. More information at cityclubco.org.
Sandra Lindsay on Be and Belong, An Open Meeting for Suicide Prevention and Support
Sandra Lindsay is the founder of Be and Belong, an open meeting providing community support for those who are struggling with suicide, who know someone that is struggling, or who have lost someone to suicide.
Caring for Drought-Stressed Trees with Jenna Deibel on The OSU Extension Connection
OSU Extension Forester Jenna Deibel talks about how to identify when our native trees are stressed and how to help them. She discusses the typical signs of drought stress and gives some insight into how juniper has spread across Central Oregon.
Electrification with Neil Baunsgard from The Environmental Center
Neil Baunsgard is Climate and Transportation Policy Manager at The Environmental Center. He visits The Point to talk about electrification - the effort to replace technologies and appliances that currently use fossil fuels with electric alternatives - and how the City of Bend is trying to reduce fossil fuel use in its buildings.
Recycling with Kavi Chokshi from The Environmental Center
Kavi Chokshi is the Rethink Waste Program Manager for The Environmental Center in Bend. He talked about America Recycles Day, how recycling is done in Central Oregon, and how reducing and reusing can help reduce waste overall.
HumanHub with huong tran from Embrace Bend and Matt Muchna from Envision Bend
huong tran from Embrace Bend and Matt Muchna from Envision Bend talk about HumanHub - a collaboration of the two organizations. They also provide details about the Community Belonging Conversation event on September 26th. More information at www.facebook.com/embracebendpage and www.envisionbend.org.
Welcoming Week with Priscilla Calleros from The Environmental Center
Priscilla Calleros - Outreach and Events Manager at The Environmental Center - talks about the organization's events for Bend's Welcoming Week and Latino Conservation Week, and also discusses the building of inclusivity in the environmental movement. She also provides some updates on the September 28th Green Building Tour. More information at www.envirocenter.org.
Mark Ransom on the 2024 Bend Roots Revival
David Miller and Mark Ransom talk about the history of Bend Roots Revival and what's in store for this year, September 13-15. Bend Roots Revival is a free, three-day music festival, celebration of Central Oregon’s local music scene, and a fundraiser for music education.
More info about Bend Roots Revival and the festival schedule can be found at bendroots.net.