We sit down with Oregon innovators in front of an audience. Louis Picker is the associate director of the OHSU vaccine and gene therapy institute, and closing in on an AIDS vaccine. Denise Peña is a community justice manager in Multnomah County and was recently recognized for her work on the “case companion” tool, designed as a online portal for victims to navigate the criminal justice system. Portland State University student Alex Dassise created a toy in his business innovation program — and then a whole company — tailored to meet the specific needs of autistic kids. Kelly Sue DeConnick has written a wide range range of comics in her career. She may or may not be the coolest woman in comics, but she’s certainly been pushing the envelope of feminist writing in this medium with “Bitch Planet,” among others, and her recently concluded run writing “Captain Marvel,” on which a forthcoming movie is based. And Natalie Reitman-White with the Organically Grown Company is at the forefront of transforming the structure of a for-profit business. OGC is now owned not by shareholders but by a “perpetual purpose trust.”
Dave Miller talks with each guest one-on-one, about what drives them and why they’re so passionate about their work.