Episode 19 of Finding Community arrives just as Hispanic Heritage Month is ending, and we are pleased to have as our guest Dr. Ruth Zúñiga. Ruth is a licensed psychologist who has won awards for her work in the community. As co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Raíces de Bienestar, Ruth works to improve and strengthen the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the Latinx community in Oregon.

Glenn chats with Ruth about her experiences growing up in rural Costa Rica, pushing up against the social norms of her evangelical Christian upbringing to eventually earn a PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology which she combines with her passion for service to the Latinx community.

Ruth speaks of the signs that have guided her path which have often come as messages from those who have supported her, whether in an Idaho college town, the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, or in Oregon where she, her husband, and daughter have called home for nearly ten years.

Transcript available: https://bit.ly/Ep19_Transcripts

Learn about Raíces de Bienestar at https://raicesdebienestar.org/

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

David Martinez joins us for Episode 18 of Finding Community. In his role as Assistant County Administrator, he is among the newest members of Washington County’s leadership team and one of the most civically engaged Latinx leaders in the region.

David shares about his life growing up in a large farmworker family in eastern Oregon, and he muses on the differences between rural and urban communities. He reveals the wisdom and empathy gained from a personal journey around identity as a Latino gay man, and how his professional life has been shaped by a strong work ethic and a commitment to being an authentic, accessible, and welcoming leader.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep18_Transcripts

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Our guest for Episode 17 of Finding Community is Jonath Colón, Director at Centro de Prosperidad, Centro Cultural's culturally-specific workforce and economic development program.

Glenn chats with Jonath about growing up in a big family in Puerto Rico, where he was grounded in the values of community and love of nature, about the generosity of people who saw his potential and gave him opportunities, and about how he helps others by passing along what he’s learned through his work at Prosperidad.

Jonath reflects on how technology is changing the job market and the workforce, and the impact of COVID on people’s values and expectations. He challenges us to see people, including ourselves, not just where we are today, but where we could be.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep17_Transcripts

Find Centro de Prosperidad at: https://www.centrocultural.org/prosperidad

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Episode 16 of Finding Community features Dave Mowry, who shares his story of living with mental illness that cost him his business, his home, and the “lost years” as a husband and father. Through the unwavering support of his wife, Dave found NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and began his journey to reclaim his life. He is now Executive Director of NAMI Washington County and a best-selling author. Dave talks about the healing power of acceptance and community, and how telling our stories can help others see themselves and know they are not alone.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep16_Transcripts

Find NAMI Washington County at: https://www.washconami.org/
Find Dave's books at: https://amzn.to/3PAUArW

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Episode 15 of Finding Community features Cindy Cosenzo, who runs a business called Just Create Community, based out of Hillsboro, Oregon. She talks with Glenn about the inspiration for her business and how her work as a teacher, connector, and amplifier is designed to help people see each other’s humanity. Cindy’s work is focused on making people feel connected, safe, kind, and appreciated, and she teaches others to do the same through her trainings, programs, and community initiatives.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep15_transcripts

Find Just Create Community at: www.justcreatecommunity.com

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Episode 14 of Finding Community features Oregon State Senator Akasha Lawrence Spence. She talks with Glenn about the influence of her ancestors, of writers like bell hooks, and the determination of our youth. Together, they discuss the power and privilege of voting, of fostering a love ethic, and how listening to understand is key to serving the community.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep14_Transcripts

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Our guest for Episode 13 of Finding Community is Sabrina Wilson, Executive Director of the Rosewood Initiative, a nonprofit that has facilitated community-led strategies in East Portland's Rosewood neighborhood since 2009. Sabrina talks about the transformational work of her community-led organization, and shares insights about the importance of place and placemaking, the impact of the built environment on a community’s health and wellness, and how connecting people is the core work of community building.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep13_Transcripts

Learn about the Rosewood Initiative: https://www.rosewoodinitiative.org/

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Episode 12 of Finding Community features Lamar Wise, a political coordinator for one of the largest labor unions in Oregon and co-founder of Washington County Ignite, a political action committee dedicated to building power for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, the LGBTQ+ community, and young people. Lamar talks about the need for political leaders who are responsive to the community and willing to advocate for transformative change, and he shares his observations on the importance of listening, love, and mentorship in both politics and life.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep12_Transcripts

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Our guest for episode Ep 11 of Finding Community is Cameron Whitten, CEO of Brown Hope, a once all-volunteer nonprofit he founded in 2018 which now boasts over a dozen staff and manages the Black Resilience Fund, Blackstreet Bakery, and a variety of other programs. Cameron talks candidly about his own journey and experiences with racism and trauma, and offers insight on healing trauma, the effects of the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the subsequent racial justice movement. He explains how Brown Hope is creating a healing community for racial justice, and he shares a powerful message of love and hope.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep11_Transcripts

Learn more about Brown Hope at www.brownhope.org

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer is Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.

Our guest for the tenth episode of Finding Community is Peter Block, a consultant, trainer, and bestselling author of several books, including “Community: The Structure of Belonging” and “The Abundant Community,” both of which offer a road map and tools to strengthen social bonds and create more resilient neighborhoods, cities, and society. Peter shares with us some insights on the conversations we can have to imagine a more habitable future; why connecting with our local communities is important; and why it is critical to shift from a focus on deficiency to one of abundance.

Transcripts available here: https://bit.ly/Ep10_Transcripts

Peter’s work is in the restoration of the common good and creating a world that reclaims our humanity from the onslaught of modernism.

To find out more, see: www.peterblock.com

Designed Learning, Inc. (www.designedlearning.com) – offers training and consulting in Flawless Consulting and Leader as Convener.

Common Good Collective (https://commongood.cc) - an initiative that makes accessible the foundational practices for restoring the common good.

Learn more about VAN and our initiatives:
https://www.visionactionnetwork.org
https://www.facebook.com/VisionActionNetwork/
https://www.instagram.com/visionactionnetwork/

This episode was produced by Glenn Montgomery for Vision Action Network. Our audio editor and music producer was Mandana Khoshnevisan. Music by Choro da Alegria. Post-production by Jenny Moore.