Bend Language Institute

Christina Cappy, founder of the Bend Language Institute, tells us about her learning center and how we can sign up for language classes.

Bend Language Institute
Carolyn Esky & Claire Merydith

COCC's 2025 Season of Nonviolence

COCC's Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series Coordinator, Charlotte Gilbride, and the Dean of Equity and Well-Being, Christy Walker, talk about the 2025 Season of Nonviolence presentations, the history of the Chandler Lecture Series, and the state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Central Oregon Community College.

COCC's 2025 Season of Nonviolence
Malcom McRae

Betsy Warriner, Connect Central Oregon, Volunteer Opportunities on the MLK Day of Service

Betsy Warriner, representing Connect Central Oregon, talks about the value of volunteering to connect with the community. She also talks about ways community members can sign up for participation in the MLK Day of Service and the types of volunteer opportunities available.

Betsy Warriner, Connect Central Oregon, Volunteer Opportunities on the MLK Day of Service
Carolyn Esky

Big Brothers Big Sisters - The State of Mentorship in 2025

Jenn Davis, Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, talks about the ongoing need for male mentors, with some boys waiting up to a year to be matched. She talks about the measurable benefits of a mentoring relationship, what it takes to become a mentor, and how BBBSCO works the parent and mentor for maximum benefit to the child.

Big Brothers Big Sisters - The State of Mentorship in 2025
Malcom McRae

Owner of Organized and Really Living Julie Fagan offers ideas for organizing your home and life

Julie Fagan, owner of Organized and Really Living, talks about personal strategies that can help one to live comfortably through organization. She offers suggestions and tools to align behaviors with the organization of possessions, building on what is most important to the individual.

Owner of Organized and Really Living Julie Fagan offers ideas for organizing your home and life
Carolyn Esky

KPOV Past, Present, Future and New Year Wants

Walking down the KPOV memory lane with Ted Schoenborn, Mike Ficher, and Chuckaroo the Buckaroo about the beginning of the station 20 years ago, along with a brief conversation with Executive Director of KPOV, Linda Orcelletto, about KPOV and what's in store for the future.

KPOV Past, Present, Future and New Year Wants
Carolyn Esky

The Hunger Prevention Coalition - Funding nonprofits that provide nutritious food to neighbors in need.

Robin Popp, Executive Director of the Hunger Prevention Coalition explains their role in supporting the direct-to-consumer nonprofits that provide fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy to those with food insecurity in Central Oregon.

The Hunger Prevention Coalition - Funding nonprofits that provide nutritious food to neighbors in ne
Malcom McRae

Shepherd's House Ministries - Grace Changes Everything

Shepherd's House Executive Director Curt Floski, and Low Barrier Services Director John Lodise explain the services provided through the Lighthouse Navigation Center, the Redmond Center, Project S.H.A.R.E. and the mobile shower truck.

Shepherd's House Ministries - Grace Changes Everything
Malcom McRae

Comedian Anthony Poponi

Anthony Poponi is a local comedian, motivational speaker, author, and self-proclaimed expert in human happiness.

Comedian Anthony Poponi
Louise Kaplan and Carolyn Clontz

Handling Grief During the Holidays with Sarah Peterson from Clear Mourning

Grief is universal and support, understanding, and counseling can help someone in the grieving process. We talked to Sarah Peterson, founder of the nonprofit Clear Mourning, about dealing with grief not only during the holidays but throughout the year. Information on the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and available services in Central Oregon are also covered.

Handling Grief During the Holidays with Sarah Peterson from Clear Mourning
Claire Merydith and Carolyn Esky

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.

Electrification with Neil Baunsgard from The Environmental Center
Gillian Hodgen

Jingle Store and Santa's Plate - Outreach Programs of The Giving Plate

Ranae Staley, Executive Director of The Giving Plate, talks about the upcoming Jingle Store for kids in need, and Santa's Plate for families. She also talks about their efforts to provide food without stigma even as the number of families in need is growing exponentially while donations of food and money are dropping quickly.

Jingle Store and Santa's Plate - Outreach Programs of The Giving Plate
Malcom McRae

Latino Community Association Offers Services to Immigrants and Empowers Families

Lucia Barragan, Development Manager for the Latino Community Association (LCA), and Patricia Pizarro, an immigration attorney with LCA, talk about services available to the Latino Community through their organization, including legal representation on immigration issues. They also discussed their sold-out luncheon focusing on empowering families and supporting the Central Oregon immigrant population.

Latino Community Association Offers Services to Immigrants and Empowers Families
Carolyn Esky and Claire Merydith

The Transition Out of Safe Parking

Rick Russell, Executive Director of Mountain View Community Development, and Keith Wilson, a recent graduate of the Safe Parking Program, talk about Safe Parking and about living in an RV. This edition of the Wednesday Point was hosted by Louise Kaplan and Carolyn Esky.

The Transition Out Of Safe Parking
Louise Kaplan and Carolyn Esky

Bethlehem Inn - Transforming lives for 25 years

Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn, discusses 25 years of transforming lives through shelter, help and hope toward the vision of ending homelessness in Central Oregon - even if it must be done one person at a time.

Bethlehem Inn - Transforming lives for 25 years
Malcom McRae

J Bar J Ranch - Improving the Lives of Runaway and Homeless Youth

Eliza Wilson, Director of Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs at J Bar J Ranch, provides a full overview of the comprehensive services that help stabilize at-risk youth and provide them the opportunity to have positive agency over their lives.

J Bar J Ranch - Improving the Lives of Runaway and Homeless Youth
Malcom McRae

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance - Supporting Local Farmers and Ranchers

The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance helps feed the Central Oregon community by connecting farmers and ranchers with community businesses and citizens. A recent three-year grant from the US Department of Agriculture and will be used to enhance community connections and promote the sustainability of the farming/ranching community.

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance - Supporting Local Farmers and Ranchers
Carolyn Esky

Family Access Network - Advocates in Schools

Kai Myers, Stewardship Coordinator for the Family Access Network, talks about the outreach, programs and services provided to underserved students and families through school-based advocates.

Family Access Network - Advocates in Schools
Malcom McRae