Soorin recently planted a church in Eugene, Oregon, called OARS and continues to host Power and  Hope Conferences, workshops and teachings through media. She’s the author of Women In Jesus’ Life that has been used by churches and groups for weekly study. Her ministry continues to be featured on multiple TV platforms and radio stations around the globe and is the Keynote Speaker for the upcoming 8th Annual Central Oregon Prayer Breakfast on May 12, 2023.

Prior to joining COCC, Chesley was provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan. Her administrative and leadership experience spans 18 years and includes both two- and four-year colleges. Chesley served as interim dean of learning at Northwestern Michigan, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State (Michigan) University, dean of humanities at Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) Community College, and associate dean and dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College. As a recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Faculty Excellence Award and a past winner of the Michigan Chapter of the American Council of Education Network's Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award, Chesley is passionate about mentoring the leaders of tomorrow. 

Laurie is here to talk with us today about higher education in general, and COCC in particular.

Jon is responsible for leading the organization in accomplishing its mission to create a diversified local economy and a strong base of middle-class jobs in Central Oregon. EDCO accomplishes this by helping companies: Move. Start, and Grow. Jon’s work also includes numerous strategic initiatives to sustain and improve the business climate across Central Oregon including but not limited to education and workforce development, statewide legislative concepts and legislation, infrastructure and air service development, and business resource development. 

Jon is here to talk about EDCO overall, and his perspectives on the regional business community and economic prospects in the year ahead.

 For 25 years he has advocated for the treasure of the Northwest, the carbon free, renewable, low cost, federal hydropower system.  He has also testified three times in Washington D.C. in front of Congress about the significant delays electric utilities experience when requesting permits from federal land agencies to conduct routine maintenance and mitigate against wildfires.  Following several years of effort, federal legislation was passed to hold the federal land agencies accountable for delays.  

 He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Southern Oregon University and a Masters of Business Administration from Colorado State University. He has lived in Bend for 32 years and has been married to his wife Danelle for 38 years and has three children and three grandchildren.  

Friends of the Children is the first and only long-term professional mentoring program in the country with specialization in working with youth who have faced a lot of adversity. Rachel has dedicated her career to removing barriers for youth as they work to unlock their own futures. Friends of the Children has shown her the importance of communities rallying around their children, building systems of support, and cheering them on as they move into opportunities that wouldn’t have been attainable for them otherwise. 

So today, you’re going to learn a bit of Danny’s story, hear incredible testimonies, talk about the 4 C’s of Rock Bottom Hope, and hopefully gain a little more hope yourself for those in our community who are struggling to live life to their fullest capacity.

Jillian is passionate about community visioning and planning, and immediately upon moving to Central Oregon reached out to join the Bend 2030 (now Envision Bend) board.  She served as Board Chair and interim Executive Director before transitioning back to full-time consulting work.  She is now leading the Bend Vision Project with the NXT Consulting team. You can learn more about this at  bendvisionproject.org

This project will span 2022 into 2023 and seeks to engage as many community members in the greater Bend area as possible.  The results of this effort will include a community-drive Vision for the future of Bend, and a 5-year action plan.

Jillian has served on numerous local boards and committees, and her clients include City Club of Central Oregon, EDCO, Housing Works, Family Kitchen and Oregon Adaptive Sports.  

Eric was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Portland State University. Eric currently services on the KIDS Center Board and has served on the Visit Bend and Oregon City/County Managers' Association Boards as well as volunteered with SMART- promoting early childhood literacy.

He also serves on the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission. He has masters degrees in Public Administration and Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Previously, Nick served as Deschutes County's Planning Director and the City of Redmond Community Development and Planning Director. He also has a variety of other experiences that spans the public, private and non-profit sectors. You can find out more about him at deschutes.org/administration.

 She is the granddaughter of a woman whose family legally immigrated here from Mexico to achieve the American dream. Her most important job, she’ll tell you is a mom and a small businesswoman. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, and supported the couple as he finished medical school. Later she helped Shawn found Anesthesia Associates Northwest and they now run several medical clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

 Lori is now the Republican candidate for U.S. House Oregon Congressional District 5, which includes Central Oregon. I thought it would be valuable to hear her thoughts on the future of Oregon and the issues facing our country that need strong leadership.

The majority of Layla’s career has been in communication, including different fields from broadcast news to radio; corporate team development; the mentoring of nonprofit teams and ultimately to coaching and consulting of business owners. She has been coaching since 2007 and consulting within the construction industry since 2017.  

Layla is joining us today to talk a bit about business growth, and challenges within construction companies so it’s my pleasure to welcome her to the show. 

Erik is also the creator of two non-profits, Bend Heroes Foundation, which focuses on helping veterans in Bend.

Erik started the Bend Heroes Foundation nearly 13 years ago with his father, a Purple Heart veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, with the goal of supporting and giving back to local veterans. Over the last few years, Erik led the creation of a transitional community of 15 tiny homes for homeless veterans called the Central Oregon Veterans Village which will be our topic of discussion today.

Last year, 11,238 children spent time in the foster care in Oregon. 66.1% spent time in more than one foster home. Many were split from their siblings. ODHS works to care for children and families in crisis but is often left with few resources for volunteer and foster parent recruitment efforts. That is where Melissa and her team come in.

Prior to attending law school, Micaela worked in Alaska driving tour busses, volunteered in Nicaragua at a microcredit financing organization, and studied Spanish in Ecuador. She was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court Team and was awarded the Order of the Barristers for her outstanding trial advocacy skills. 

Micaela has worked in all facets of immigration law, starting as the Managing Attorney representing asylum seekers and unaccompanied minor in El Paso, Texas; representing companies in employment-based immigration matters; served as an Assistant Chief Counsel for the Office of the Principal Legal advisor; and has worked in Central Oregon representing families and asylum seekers for almost a decade. Her passion for immigration law comes from the joy of bringing families together and giving a voice to those whose stories need to be told.

When not working, Micaela spends as much time as possible in the outdoors with her husband, three children, and their two pups. She is an avid soccer mom, camper, hiker, and runner who enjoys all things that Central Oregon offers.

Stephanie’s focus has been on building the capacity of the organization through a continuum of services, to assure youth are prepared to be productive adults. She believes in the potential of young adults and has committed her career to support them. 

Stephanie has served on many Boards and is a state resource for legislation. She is at the table for important issues related to kids and families. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for First Story, the Oregon Alliance for Children, a member of the Governor appointed Interstate Council for Juveniles, the Oregon Youth Authority Partner’s Advisory Council, and a member of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend.

Sheriff Nelson is an active member of the community; as Sheriff of Deschutes County, he serves on the Board of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, where he holds the office of President; he’s a board member of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and past Chair, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Finance Subcommittee; serves on the Board of Oregon Accreditation Alliance as Vice Chair and is a past Secretary/Treasurer; he serves on the Board of Directors for Pilot Butte Partners and has served on the Board of Directors for the Redmond School District.

 Shane has pulled away from a demanding schedule to share a few thoughts on some important county-wide issues and on public safety.

Furnish Hope operates on a referral basis, working with over 54 community partners consisting of organizations such as churches, school programs, social service agencies and more. Once referred, Furnish Hope connects with the family to better understand their needs; the family pays nothing, and in turn, receives the gift of hope, a sense of belonging and a furnished place to call home. You can learn about the organization at www.furnishhope.com.

Megan is one of our heroes and the story of Furnish Hope is one that will inspire you.

Josh is also the Chief Operating Officer of Be Bold Street Ministries, which serves the US, Costa Rica, and Philippines, bringing the love of Christ to the streets every day. After 20 years of addiction, Christ met Josh in E Block cell 288 at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Through the grace and power of Christ, Josh has been free of addiction since January 11, 2011. He was called to go back into the darkness that Christ saved Him from and is now a certified counselor, works with the Salem Police to deescalate interactions with the homeless community, and has been with Be Bold Street Ministries since 2016.

So today, you’re going to learn a bit of Josh’s story, get some insight into the reality of life for those on the street, gain understanding of the drug, alcohol and mental illness crisis that’s growing in our state and hear some of Josh’s perspectives on what can be done to help. 

LCA is an essential connecting point for our immigrant community to ask questions, have letters translated, get help making phone calls and negotiating payment plans

LCA helps families pay their bills, file their taxes, work through legal issues, find work, improve their English, and connect to new opportunities.  It gives clients the time to be heard and understood.  It also provides volunteer opportunities that bring people together across cultures to build a more cohesive community. You can learn more about LCA at www.latinocommunityassociation.org. 

Most recently I bumped into Brad at the Bend Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards, where the Latino Community Association received the prestigious Community Stewardship Award. That led to a coffee conversation where I learned more about LCA and it became clear that everyone in our region should know about this organization. 

I believe, like me, you’re going to really enjoy learning from Brad.    

Tammy spent many years in the hospitality and real estate industries prior to her time on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. During her time in elected office, Tammy emerged as a leading voice on healthcare reform and overall health system improvement. Her leadership has been recognized by organizations throughout Oregon and nationally. The Oregon Business Association recognized her as an Oregon Statesman of the Year for her work in this area.

If we took the time to list all of Tammy’s accomplishments and all the ways she works to participate to improve our community it would fill up all our time, so let’s just say that Tammy arguably knows more about Central Oregon and what’s working, and what’s not working, than any other single person in our region. So, you are in for a treat over the next few minutes as you learn from her about the important role that COIC plays across our region. 

As indicated by the name, Pregnancy Resource Center serves as a place for free pregnancy counseling and support – whether the pregnancy is planned or unplanned.

The Pregnancy Resource Center understands that the decisions surrounding a pregnancy can lead to a wide range of emotions. When a woman suspects that she might be pregnant, or even if she’s had a positive pregnancy test, she may be needing answers and feeling pressure to make a decision quickly. Pregnancy Resource Center is there to assist her throughout her decision-making process. Its non-judgemental and confidential client advocates are trained to provide support and resources to help women in just that circumstance. 

And the service is not just for women. There are services for fathers, as well. Whether a pregnancy is planned or unplanned, the man plays an important role in the decision of whether or not to parent a child. Regardless of the relationship now or in the future, both parents should be involved in making the best possible decision for the current situation. 

So in this interview, we’ll learn a bit about the services offered at the Centers and some of the options that potential parents have, including many they may be unaware of in the stress of the moment. You can also learn more at www.prcco.org. 

 She enjoys living in Central Oregon for the natural beauty and peaceful mountains and rivers it offers. Her passion is inspiring people to do better and help her fellow humans. Tune in and learn about the impact Bethlehem Inn has in our region. 

Since opening in 2010, The Giving Plate has helped 76,000 families with a week’s worth of food – equating to 5.75 million pounds of food! You can learn more about the Giving Plate at thegivingplate.org. 

This organization has an awesome backstory and an exciting future, so let’s get right to it and discover more.

I invited Joni on the show however, not to talk about marketing, but to talk about a topic that she calls Kissed by Cancer. She’s joined by her daughter and partner in the Kissed By Cancer Project – Lauren Nelson. I’m not going to steal their thunder because they can tell their story so much better directly.

Chris is currently serving as a Board of Director with three Bend non-profit associations which are The Council on Aging, The Downtown Bend Business Association, and Family Kitchen. When he served as City Councilor  he was on the Bend Economic Advisory Board (BEDAB), Bend MPO, Landmarks Commission, Downtown Bend Business Association, Chair of the City Stewardship Committee, he was an Alternate to the Central Oregon Cities Organization (COCO), and was liaison to the Old Bend Neighborhood Association and the SW Bend Neighborhood Association. What that says to me is that Chris knows Bend.

He’s running now to become the mayor of Bend. I thought it would be valuable for us all to hear his thoughts on the future of Bend and the issues that need strong leadership.

She founded Central Oregon Veterans Ranch (COVR) in 2014 and currently serves as its Executive Director. You can learn more about the ranch at COVRanch.org. Alison taught for four years at Oregon Department of Public Safety in the Behavioral Health program, co-facilitating Veterans' Awareness for law enforcement students. She has been the recipient of the Red Cross Hero Award (2009) and the Bend Chamber of Commerce's Community Hero Award (2017). 

After losing his father in a tragic car accident when Mike was only six years old, he found the forgiveness and comfort he longed for when he accepted Christ as his personal Savior at the age of 10. By the time he was 19, the Lord had clearly called him to do the work of evangelism.   

Mike’s clear calling for evangelism ultimately led to the launch of Mike Silva Evangelism International in 1994. The Lord has gifted Mike with divine passion and incredible opportunities to bring Jesus’ hope to desperate souls in the hidden corners of the world. “We are driven,” Silva says, “to reach the forgotten cities of the world.” 

Mike has had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with millions of people in at least 35 countries of the world. In addition to his evangelistic festivals, Mike has been a featured speaker at numerous high-profile conferences, Ivy league and college campuses, and the largest men’s events and music festivals in the nation. Silva says of himself, “If God can use me, He can use anyone!” 

Mike loves to convey Biblical truth in print and broadcast media as well. He’s authored spiritual journals for the purpose of driving followers of Jesus more consistently into Bible engagement. He also wrote #1 Man: What Every Dad Desires, What Every Daughter Needs. Mike has been a guest on Moody Broadcasting Network, Focus on the Family, TBN, and NeedHim broadcasts. 

 Andi knows of what she writes, as she survived 17 years of sex trafficking by immediate and extended family members before that term even existed. In A Fragile Thread of Hope, Andi recounts her remarkable journey to healing and personal triumph, her fierce determination to rescue others like herself, and the desire to give all victims of sexual predators a genuine voice. A Fragile Thread of Hope explores the epidemic of teen homelessness and sex trafficking pervasive throughout America, even in its smaller towns. When it comes to child abuse in particular, Andi asserts, “The vast majority of homeless youth are not runaways by choice." “Someone knows. Someone always knows. It’s whether they have the compassion and courage to step up for what is right, what is necessary to save that victim.”

And after today, we’ll all know a little more – and may be changed forever. I’ve asked Andi on the show today to share her perspectives on abuse, homelessness and human trafficking in Oregon and in Central Oregon in particular.

I’ve asked Jeff on the show today to share his perspectives on the Oregon state political climate and our transition out of the state’s COVID response. Specifically, I’ve asked him to discuss the issue of homelessness in Central Oregon from the work he’s done with the Bend Humanity Coalition, which is a group of caring Bend citizens working to make our city safe and humane for the both the unhoused and the housed members of the Bend community.

Expect to learn a lot about the homeless issue that most people don't know. 

Most recently, Vance served for a couple years as the president of Promise Keepers, leading the largest annual gatherings of Christian men. His new initiative is representing the James Madison Center for Free Speech. The James Madison Center for Free Speech was founded in response to a concerted attack on political speech which is at the core of the First Amendment and is essential to our democracy. Its purpose is to promote, through educational activities, respect for the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and to defend the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association by providing legal representation to those persons and entities whose rights are threatened by government action.

This is obviously a timely topic in our current social and political climate, so expect to learn a lot as Vance explains the scope and importance of the First Amendment.