Closing Central Oregon's Racial Gap in Homeownership

Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity CEO Carly Colgan talks about efforts to close the racial gap in homeownership, and the grant from Oregon Housing and Community Services to support that effort. Also discussed: the return of Women's Build Week and the launch of Habitat Happy Hours.

HUE - Hearts Unknown Education

Nicola Carpinelli, Executive Director of HUE (Hearts Unknown Education), and charter student, Aiya, discuss the ways in which art (visual and performing) helps to heal youth who are struggling with challenging mental health and self-harm issues to find a place of purpose and belonging through Creative Wellness.

Switchblade, Central Oregon's Flying Car

Sam Bousfeld, captain of the Switchblade flying car team, explains the ins and outs of designing his revolutionary flying car design. Still working in the prototype stage, Bousfeld is now building the aircraft at their base in Prineville.

Healing the Scars of Colonization with WeX Community Outreach

JE Wascupum is a part of WeX Community Outreach's POC-led workshops that seek to bridge the gaps in cultural understanding. JE takes us through their philosophy on cross-cultural dialogue and its benefits of decentering the white perspective in group observations of society. WeX is set to launch their Central and Eastern Oregon chapter this July.

Deschutes Children's Foundation

Cassi MacQueen, Executive Director for the Deschutes Children's Foundation, talks about DCF's role in bringing 22 children's services providers together under one roof across four Central Oregon campuses and how that proximity improves the quality of providing timely support to families.

Central Oregon for Socialism

Alex Zendejas and Bronwyn Riley, two founders of Central Oregon for Socialism, recount their experiences at local protests, their goal to make a positive impact on the community, and what it takes to start a grassroots movement.

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA)

Sharon Maier-Kennelly, Executive Director of the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, believes that everyone deserves good food along with a sufficient quantity of affordable, culturally preferred, nutritious food that is sustainably produced in Central Oregon. HDFFA has been in the community for nearly 15 years and offers a variety of services, events, educations, to farmers, ranchers, and the community members.

The Environmental Center's Community Innovation Fund and Climate Movement Challenge with Kavi Chokshi and Al Kolenda

The non-profit The Environmental Center seeks to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. On this episode, Kavi Chokshi, Rethink Waste Project Project Coordinator, discusses The Environmental Center’s Community Innovation Fund grants, which provide funding for individuals, businesses, or community groups for projects that reduce waste in Deschutes County. Development Manager Al Kolenda also joined us to talk about the Climate Movement Challenge, a fundraising campaign to get people to get active and move outdoors this summer while also raising money for The Environmental Center.

Central Oregon for a Free Palestine

Andrea is an organizer with Central Oregon for a Free Palestine, the group that has been demonstrating on the streets of downtown Bend. They talk about what it's like to protest in the High Desert and their part in the global movement in support of Palestine.

Protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands as a National Monument

The Owyhee Canyonlands represent the largest unprotected area in the west, and 73% of Oregonians support its protection. Ryan Houston, Executive Director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, talks about federal legislative efforts to protect it as a National Monument.

Sisters Farmers Market Opens for the 2024 season

Originally called the “Fresh on Fridays” Farmers Market,” it’d be an understatement to say that the Sisters Farmers Market is just a little one vegetable produce stand on the side of the road. Program Manager Willa Bauman talks about the big 2024 expansion of this venerable gathering place.

SCORE Assistance and Business Owners of SENDR

Kaye Kloster, SCORE Volunteer and Regional Coordinator explains SCORE services and how they help business owners through the life of their business. SENDR business owners and brothers, Ben and Drew Balzer, talk about the assistance they have received in specialty areas from SCORE volunteers as they run their business, now international.

La Pine 2045 - Building a Comprehensive Plan

City of La Pine Principal Planner, Brent Bybee, discusses the process for updating the city's Comprehensive Plan. Incorporated as a city in 2006, La Pine first filed a comprehensive plan in 2010, but it needs to be updated. The process will be driven by citizen interests. The timeline calls for adoption in 2025.

Conversation with Mary and Randy Travis: Life After a Stroke

Louise Kaplan, host of the Wednesday Point, shares her conversation with couple Mary Travis and country music star Randy Travis. Randy Travis suffered a stroke in 2010 and Mary and Randy share their inspirational story about the impact and how they are living with the challenges of aphasia. Randy and Mary Travis visited Bend at the invitation of Stroke Awareness Oregon to educate and share their story.