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

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

In this action-packed episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Mason Reeves from the Dax robotics team and Salem's Strongest Man to discuss:

1. The incredible feats of strength you won't believe (card tearing, frying pan rolling, and horseshoe bending!)
2. How Dax security robots are keeping Salem safe at Pringle Park and Salem Center Mall
3. The future of robotics in community safety and sidewalk assessment
4. The vital importance of human connection in an increasingly automated world
5. Technology's role in our community while maintaining person-to-person interaction
6. How to interact with Dax robots around Salem (hint: say hi and take a selfie!)

Timestamps:

00:23 - Live recording introduction and meeting Salem's Strongest Man

01:26 - Tearing a deck of cards in half (incredible feat #1)

03:05 - Rolling a frying pan (incredible feat #2)

05:15 - Introducing Mason Reeves and the Dax robot

12:00 - What is a Dax robot and how does it work?

18:45 - Security applications at Pringle Park and Salem Center Mall

22:30 - Sidewalk assessment technology and community benefits

28:30 - The importance of human interaction in an automated world

29:52 - Jobs and industries least affected by automation

31:22 - How to interact with Dax around Salem

34:00 - The grand finale: bending a horseshoe into a heart!

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

In this live episode, the hosts sit down with Danielle Bethell, current Marion County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate, to discuss:

1. Her journey from county commissioner to running for Oregon governor
2. The challenges of navigating politics while maintaining neutrality and integrity
3. How local issues across Oregon communities mirror Salem's struggles
4. The disconnect between state leadership and local realities
5. Her experience on the Salem-Keizer School Board during COVID-19
6. The complexities of ethics complaints and political targeting
7. Building the Carousel Skate Center and investing in Salem's community
8. Personal stories of loss, grief, and finding purpose through tragedy
9. Her unique lived experience with homelessness and mental health systems
10. Why she believes her commissioner role has prepared her for the governorship

Timestamps:

00:00 - Pre-show conversation about MMA and local fighters

01:35 - Introduction and campaign journey discussion

02:30 - What a Salem-area governor would mean for Oregon

04:45 - The tightrope of political neutrality

06:25 - Learning to separate campaigns from governance

13:47 - Building the Carousel and community investment

43:49 - Personal stories of loss and finding focus

51:29 - Community service and involvement

1:00:45 - Ethics complaints and political targeting explained

1:06:29 - Daily Deal with Bethell: Why she's running for governor

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

In this episode, Jacob sits down with Jeff Whaley from Uptown Music to discuss how a local music shop has become the beating heart of Salem's creative community for over three decades. From teaching kids their first guitar chords to helping veterans find healing through music, Jeff shares the stories, challenges, and unexpected moments (like removing a remote control from a baritone!) that come with running Salem's beloved music hub.

Topics include:

1. Uptown Music's journey from a tiny shop with a storage locker to Salem's community gathering space
2. Why open mic nights matter for young musicians who can't play bars
3. The Guitars for Vets program and its impact on mental health
4. How local retail survives (and thrives) in the Amazon era
5. Unforgettable instrument repair stories
6. Celebrating 35 years with an extended open mic event

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 - Live recording at Metronome introduction
2. 05:01 - The history and evolution of Uptown Music
3. 06:03 - Taking a community-first approach to music retail
4. 20:04 - The challenges and rewards of running a local music shop
5. 28:47 - Open mic nights: Creating performance opportunities for young musicians
6. 33:04 - Guitars for Vets: Bringing music therapy to veterans
7. 36:23 - The diversity of local musical talent in Salem
8. 39:12 - Navigating instrument scholarships and less common instruments
9. 40:18 - Memorable instrument repair stories

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

In this episode, Jacob Espinoza and Eleanor Ryan sit down with Salem Mayor Julia Hoy to discuss:

1. Julie's journey as a musician from age seven to performing locally
2. The evolution of music culture and how technology has transformed the industry
3. Upcoming community events, including the Paint Your Partner class at Ratchet Brewing
4. Salem's progress on mental health services and the new REACH pilot program
5. Downtown revitalization efforts and community development
6. Supporting veterans and addressing homelessness with compassion
7. The importance of meeting people where they're at during life's challenges
8. And much more!

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 - Welcome and introduction with Mayor Julie Hoy
2. 02:18 - Julie's musical journey and early songwriting at age seven
3. 05:08 - Musical influences and the changing landscape of the music industry
4. 08:13 - Technology's impact on music distribution and artist income
5. 01:43 - Paint Your Partner art class event at Ratchet Brewing (February 14th)
6. 55:11 - Mental health resources for veterans and community support
7. 56:15 - The REACH pilot program and psychiatric center expansion
8. 58:09 - Julie's campaign philosophy: "Hope for today and tomorrow."

Recorded live at Metronome in Salem.

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

Jacob Espinoza sits down with Rhonda Wolf from Mid-Willamette Valley United Way to discuss:

1. The evolution of United Way from traditional fundraising to direct service provision
2. How the Community Resource Hub serves 270,000 individuals through 75+ partner organizations
3. The warehouse that distributes $17 million worth of goods annually (and the surprising items they receive!)
4. Affordable housing cottages for seniors at $500/month and plans for 15 additional units
5. The critical need for a new warehouse space to expand emergency preparedness and community support
6. How you can get involved through volunteering or supporting their legislative funding efforts

Timestamps:

00:01 - Introduction and Awesome 3000 emcee announcement

03:07 - What does United Way actually do? Understanding their role in Salem

04:37 - How nonprofits can access United Way support

06:12 - The Community Resource Hub program serving thousands

07:12 - From a conference room to 33,000 square feet: The warehouse growth story

09:10 - How the warehouse partnership model works with local organizations

09:46 - Surprising donations: From engagement rings to computer monitors

12:16 - Serving 270,000 individuals through 75+ organizations

12:49 - The urgent need for a new warehouse facility

15:26 - United Way's ability to pivot during emergencies (wildfires, pandemic)

16:13 - Funding plans and how the community can help

17:45 - Volunteer opportunities at the warehouse

18:15 - Supporting the warehouse move through community advocacy

20:53 - Senior housing cottages: Building community for $500/month

21:48 - 15 new affordable housing units coming in fall 2025

24:06 - Why United Way's financial efficiency (92% to programs) matters