"Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land" with Marcus LeGrand and Sharon Maier-Kennelly

Carolyn Esky talks to Sharon Maier-Kennelly, Executive Director for the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, and Marcus LeGrand, COCC’s Afro-Centric Program Coordinator about the Central Oregon premiere of the film "Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land.”

To learn more about the Good Deeds Project that Marcus LeGrand mentions in this podcast, check out this Critical Conversations podcast with guest Riccardo Waites.

"Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land" with Marcus LeGrand and Sharon Maier-Kennelly
Carolyn Esky

Lena Berry and Stephanie Hunter from Redmond Collective Action

Redmond Collective Action is making waves in the small, conservative city by providing a platform for enhancing diversity. Two of its co-founders, Lena Berry and Stephanie Hunter, discuss their role and ongoing work in the organization.

Lena Berry and Stephanie Hunter from Redmond Collective Action
Harrison McKinney and David Miller

Who Gets to Live Here? The Search for Local Housing Affordability

Kellen Klein, the Executive Director of Citizens 4 Community, previews an upcoming Sisters Community Forum discussing Who Gets to Live Here? The Search for Local Housing Affordability.

Who Gets to Live Here? The Search for Local Housing Affordability
Malcom McRae

Seed to Table in Sisters, Oregon

Founder and Farm Director Audrey Tehan tells the Seed to Table story and why it's such an important part of Sisters Country. Learn how this four-acre nonprofit farm and has grown over the past 10 years to educate local school children, supply high desert food pantries, provide local produce shares to the community and operate the Sisters Farmers Market.

Seed to Table in Sisters Oregon
Malcom McRae

Redmond City Update with Councilor Clifford Evelyn

Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn talks about upcoming issues on the ballot (term limits, dispensaries, and nepotism) along with the progress the City has made on issues of public safety and services to the community. City Councilor Evelyn will again be on the ballot for his second term.

Redmond City Update with Councilor Clifford Evelyn
Jim Creel and Carolyn Esky

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery

Staley Micken, Development Director for the MountainStar Family Relief Nursery, talks about National Child Abuse Prevention Month and MountainStar’s work to protect children from abuse through education and support for children and families including the Diaper Drive and other campaigns.

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery
Malcom McRae

OHSU Survey: How Welcoming Is the Central Oregon Community

Camilla Dolhman, Community Research Project Manager at Oregon Health and Science University, talks about the development and the results of the survey to assess how welcoming Central Oregon is with the many changes happening in the area.

OHSU Survey: How Welcoming Is the Central Oregon Community
Carolyn Esky and Jacquie Elliott

Heart of Oregon Corps

Leanna Williams, Development Director for the Heart of Oregon Corps, talks about programs to connect youth ages 16-24 with training and educational opportunities to help them independently thrive.

Heart of Oregon Corps
Malcom McRae

Cultivate Bend

Board Members Kyle Krull and Paul Evers describe the efforts of Cultivate Bend, a mutual benefit trade organization, 501(c)(6), formed to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem for the natural products Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector throughout Central Oregon. Their mission is to listen and meet the specific needs of our growing population of CPG entrepreneurs, operators, and leaders at every stage and be representative of every Central Oregon community - geographic, gender, racial, ethnic, and culture. They also inform about an documentary presentation at the Tower Theater supporting regenerative farming and equity in the farming industry.

Cultivate Bend
Carolyn Esky and Jacquie Elliott

CAMP - Companion Animal Medical Project

The Companion Animal Medical Project, commonly known as CAMP, is a homegrown grassroots nonprofit here in Central Oregon that is tackling the enormous need to provide veterinary care to unhoused pets.

CAMP - Companion Animal Medical Project
Malcom McRae

The Kids Center Services Upcoming Events

Ginger Thiess-Stevens, Development Director for The Kids Center, talks about the strong community investment and support in building the organization, their specialized services that focus on identification, care and treatment of child abuse, and a fundraising event to educate the public on their services and volunteer opportunities.

The Kids Center Services Upcoming Events
Carolyn Esky and Carolyn Clontz

Part 2: Zee Clarke, Author of Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing

This final conversation with author Zee Clarke highlights the basic need of safety and code-switching. Zee Clarke's emphasis on mindfulness, meditation, and breathing strategies to overcome injustices were explored along with specific breathing techniques.

Part 2 - Zee Clarke, Author of Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing
Carolyn Esky and Jacquie Elliott

Mental Health Resources in Central Oregon

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the largest grassroots mental health organization in America. Also known as NAMI, the Alliance is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Mental Health Resources in Central Oregon
Malcom McRae

Laura Flood on Maintaining a Healthy Pelvic Floor Through Yoga and Treatment

Owner/Operator of Lotus Flower Physio, Laura Flood, talks about the importance of maintaining a woman's pelvic floor throughout life, including pregnancy and aging. The goal of her work is for women to return to a feeling of safety, connection and trust in one's body through non-traditional, whole being and highly compassionate physical therapy care.

Laura Flood on Maintaining a Healthy Pelvic Floor Through Yoga and Treatment
Carolyn Esky and Jacquie Elliott