What's Happening Salem

Salem's live music history and the creative venues that made it happen

How promotion has shifted from handbills and posters to digital — and why both still matter

The state of Salem's music scene today, and why it's better than people give it credit for

The challenge of building lasting, consistent music venues in Salem

Big upcoming shows at the Salem Riverfront Amphitheater (Ice Cube & Slightly Stoopid!)

A first-time return to the stage after a decade away — and performing Oregon Homeboy live with a full band

Salem's collaborative vs. competitive music culture, then and now

Being pro-Salem, pro-development, and what it means to champion your local community

This week's sponsor: Discover Newport — a perfect 90-minute getaway for a date night on the Oregon Coast

The future of local journalism and what sets community-rooted reporters apart in the age of AI.

Salem's downtown development saga — the State and Commercial site's $5 million history, environmental hurdles, and what's next.

Local elections and how Salem Reporter is approaching candidate coverage and civic engagement.

The challenge of moderating online discourse and why moving comments off Facebook has been a win.

Building community trust through in-person events, Reddit engagement, and showing up as real people.

And much more!

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

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

From the fields to the floor: Teresa's inspiring path from migrant student to state legislator

Running a multilingual campaign and the power of meeting voters in their own language

Protecting Oregon's immigrant community amid rising fears and federal pressure

Landmark legislation Teresa championed, including paid family leave, health care for all kids, and Oregon's sanctuary law

Tackling homelessness through mental health investment, affordable housing, and wrap-around services

The broken bridge between education and employment — and how to fix it

Urban growth boundaries, affordable housing, and the real cost of building in Oregon

Why your local vote matters more than you think — and how to make sure you're registered

00:00 – Welcome to Metronome Studio

02:10 – The power of personal invitations and community events

04:30 – Kids, phones, and growing up connected

08:11 – Senate District 11: Teresa's background and motivation for running

11:00 – From migrant student to GED to college — Teresa's education journey

14:49 – Getting into politics: city council, state legislature, and beyond

20:03 – Running a multilingual campaign in 2016

22:29 – Why Teresa is running again — and what's at stake for immigrant families

27:28 – Homelessness, mental health, and the housing crisis

35:00 – Workforce development, the trades, and closing the education-to-employment gap

43:41 – Legislation Teresa is most proud of

47:46 – Health equity and access to care for all Oregon kids

49:01 – Affordable housing, urban growth boundaries, and protecting farmland

56:37 – Get out and vote — why local elections change your life

The Headwaters project and what makes it unique as a locally-driven development

Why Salem is an underrated hub and what's drawing developers here

The state of the home building industry and the camaraderie (and competition) among local builders

The growing challenges of developing new subdivisions and the permitting process

Affordable housing options and how new inventory creates opportunity for everyone

The importance of building community — in neighborhoods and in business

00:00 - Welcome & introductions at Metronome Studio

01:40 - Salem as a growing hub for new businesses

04:27 - Introducing the Headwaters project and Steve's background

14:00 - What makes a local developer different from national builders

22:00 - Newport date night & finding Salem's hidden gems

28:47 - Building community through business and the whiskey club model

33:36 - Shoutout to the Home Builders Association and city collaboration

34:47 - Camaraderie vs. competition among Salem's builders

36:58 - The housing shortage, affordability, and the path forward

38:11 - Headwaters' potential for more affordable options

The incredible feats of strength you won't believe (card tearing, frying pan rolling, and horseshoe bending!)

How Dax security robots are keeping Salem safe at Pringle Park and Salem Center Mall

The future of robotics in community safety and sidewalk assessment

The vital importance of human connection in an increasingly automated world

Technology's role in our community while maintaining person-to-person interaction

How to interact with Dax robots around Salem (hint: say hi and take a selfie!)

Her journey from county commissioner to running for Oregon governor

The challenges of navigating politics while maintaining neutrality and integrity

How local issues across Oregon communities mirror Salem's struggles

The disconnect between state leadership and local realities

Her experience on the Salem-Keizer School Board during COVID-19

The complexities of ethics complaints and political targeting

Building the Carousel Skate Center and investing in Salem's community

Personal stories of loss, grief, and finding purpose through tragedy

Her unique lived experience with homelessness and mental health systems

Why she believes her commissioner role has prepared her for the governorship

Uptown Music's journey from a tiny shop with a storage locker to Salem's community gathering space

Why open mic nights matter for young musicians who can't play bars

The Guitars for Vets program and its impact on mental health

How local retail survives (and thrives) in the Amazon era

Unforgettable instrument repair stories

Celebrating 35 years with an extended open mic event

00:00 - Live recording at Metronome introduction

05:01 - The history and evolution of Uptown Music

06:03 - Taking a community-first approach to music retail

20:04 - The challenges and rewards of running a local music shop

28:47 - Open mic nights: Creating performance opportunities for young musicians

33:04 - Guitars for Vets: Bringing music therapy to veterans

36:23 - The diversity of local musical talent in Salem

39:12 - Navigating instrument scholarships and less common instruments

40:18 - Memorable instrument repair stories

Julie's journey as a musician from age seven to performing locally

The evolution of music culture and how technology has transformed the industry

Upcoming community events, including the Paint Your Partner class at Ratchet Brewing

Salem's progress on mental health services and the new REACH pilot program

Downtown revitalization efforts and community development

Supporting veterans and addressing homelessness with compassion

The importance of meeting people where they're at during life's challenges

And much more!

00:00 - Welcome and introduction with Mayor Julie Hoy

02:18 - Julie's musical journey and early songwriting at age seven

05:08 - Musical influences and the changing landscape of the music industry

08:13 - Technology's impact on music distribution and artist income

01:43 - Paint Your Partner art class event at Ratchet Brewing (February 14th)

55:11 - Mental health resources for veterans and community support

56:15 - The REACH pilot program and psychiatric center expansion

58:09 - Julie's campaign philosophy: "Hope for today and tomorrow."