Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!

In this episode, Jacob sits down with David Neely, founder of Better Together Supports — a Salem-based in-home care agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — for a wide-ranging conversation about community, purpose, and what it really means to show up for others.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The personal journey that led David from growing up alongside foster kids and juvenile hall students to founding his own IDD care agency
• What it's truly like to work as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) — and why the community is far more joyful and resilient than most people expect
• The national DSP shortage crisis and what it means for Oregon families waiting for care
• How faith, family, and a friend's unexpected generosity gave Better Together Supports its start
• The value of healthy competition in the care industry — and how raising the bar benefits everyone
• Building a business rooted in community, not ego — and why David refuses to leave Oregon even when it gets hard
• Reflections on hip-hop, aging, relevance, and what artists like André 3000 can teach us about purpose
• The origins of What's Happening Salem and how music, journalism, and a passion for community came together

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Hydration, Coke Zero, and the food industry's engineering of addiction
• 06:20 – Kids, parenting, Lord of the Rings, and the joy of reading
• 18:03 – Introduction to Better Together Supports and the IDD community
• 19:08 – David's origin story: growing up with foster kids and special ed classrooms
• 22:00 – What draws people to DSP work — and what keeps them there
• 24:00 – The "It Takes a Village" philosophy behind Better Together Supports
• 30:00 – Navigating language, inclusion, and the fear of saying the wrong thing
• 33:40 – Starting the agency: an MBA, a leap of faith, and a friend who believed first
• 37:00 – Why David is committed to staying in Oregon no matter the business climate
• 42:00 – Hip-hop, André 3000, and finding relevance as you age
• 45:30 – Old friendships, Salem's music scene, and the road to What's Happening Salem
• 59:25 – How What's Happening Salem grew from music events to a 40,000-follower media brand
• 1:01:30 – Expanding the model: What's Happening Media and teaching others to build community

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!

In this episode, recorded live at Metronome Studio, host Jacob Espinoza sits down with Teresa Alonso León — former Oregon state legislator and current candidate for Senate District 11 — to discuss her remarkable journey from migrant farmworker to lawmaker, and her vision for the communities she hopes to serve.

In this episode, we cover:

1. From the fields to the floor: Teresa's inspiring path from migrant student to state legislator
2. Running a multilingual campaign and the power of meeting voters in their own language
3. Protecting Oregon's immigrant community amid rising fears and federal pressure
4. Landmark legislation Teresa championed, including paid family leave, health care for all kids, and Oregon's sanctuary law
5. Tackling homelessness through mental health investment, affordable housing, and wrap-around services
6. The broken bridge between education and employment — and how to fix it
7. Urban growth boundaries, affordable housing, and the real cost of building in Oregon
8. Why your local vote matters more than you think — and how to make sure you're registered

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Welcome to Metronome Studio
2. 02:10 – The power of personal invitations and community events
3. 04:30 – Kids, phones, and growing up connected
4. 08:11 – Senate District 11: Teresa's background and motivation for running
5. 11:00 – From migrant student to GED to college — Teresa's education journey
6. 14:49 – Getting into politics: city council, state legislature, and beyond
7. 20:03 – Running a multilingual campaign in 2016
8. 22:29 – Why Teresa is running again — and what's at stake for immigrant families
9. 27:28 – Homelessness, mental health, and the housing crisis
10. 35:00 – Workforce development, the trades, and closing the education-to-employment gap
11. 43:41 – Legislation Teresa is most proud of
12. 47:46 – Health equity and access to care for all Oregon kids
13. 49:01 – Affordable housing, urban growth boundaries, and protecting farmland
14. 56:37 – Get out and vote — why local elections change your life

Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Harley from Banner Homes to discuss the exciting Headwaters development project — a large-scale subdivision that stands out because it's being built by a local developer using all local contractors. We dig into what that means for Salem's economy and community, the challenges facing the housing market today, and why keeping investment local matters.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The Headwaters project and what makes it unique as a locally-driven development
2. Why Salem is an underrated hub and what's drawing developers here
3. The state of the home building industry and the camaraderie (and competition) among local builders
4. The growing challenges of developing new subdivisions and the permitting process
5. Affordable housing options and how new inventory creates opportunity for everyone
6. The importance of building community — in neighborhoods and in business

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 - Welcome & introductions at Metronome Studio
2. 01:40 - Salem as a growing hub for new businesses
3. 04:27 - Introducing the Headwaters project and Steve's background
4. 14:00 - What makes a local developer different from national builders
5. 22:00 - Newport date night & finding Salem's hidden gems
6. 28:47 - Building community through business and the whiskey club model
7. 33:36 - Shoutout to the Home Builders Association and city collaboration
8. 34:47 - Camaraderie vs. competition among Salem's builders
9. 36:58 - The housing shortage, affordability, and the path forward
10. 38:11 - Headwaters' potential for more affordable options