In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Holly McCown Harris, Health Services Director for Deschutes County, to explore the realities of providing public and behavioral health care in a rapidly growing region. Holly shares her journey from juvenile probation work in rural Texas to leading one of Central Oregon’s most […]
Video
Posted inLocal News
From Trauma to Triumph: Two Young Men Overcome Childhood Homelessness with Poise and Perseverance
After chaotic young lives, their last stop as teenagers was at J Bar J youth shelter
The annual Point in Time homeless count just wrapped up, with results expected in March. During last year’s count, on Jan. 27, 2025, 268 people under the age of 25 were reported unsheltered in Bend. Each of those young people have a history that many of us will never hear. Two young Bend men, one who just turned 18 and one in his early 20s, agreed to talk with the Source about their experience growing up without a […]
Posted inLocal News
Redemption Versus Revitalization: Bend’s ‘BottleDrop Problem’
City committees want to “explore and advance” the relocation of Bend’s BottleDrop. It’s an idea meant to stimulate investment in the Bend Central District, but would such a move disproportionally impact people experiencing homelessness and poverty?
Wide-eyed, a panhandler in the Bend Redemption Center parking lot declared that a secret shadow government in Portland runs the statewide BottleDrop recycling program as part of a nefarious plot to control the population. With such an informational murkiness encircling the BottleDrop from local to state levels, this man isn’t alone in offering crackpot theories. […]
Posted inVideo
20/40/60 — Purposely Sweating, Shivering Outside our Comfort Zones
Three Source staffers, representing ages 23, 42, and (almost) 60, get after it doing stuff we normally don’t do
Mastering adulthood isn’t about becoming really, really good at stuff. Instead, we argue that maturity centers on gracious newbie-dom — forever curious, new at something, always. With that in mind, three Source staffers, ages 23, 42 and (almost) 60 got after three athletic/therapeutic pursuits we usually don’t do. Read the full story by clicking here.
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Peter Madsen🎧
Investigative and Features Reporter for the Lay It Out Foundation
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Peter Madsen, an investigative and features reporter supported by the Lay It Out Foundation. Peter shares his journey from writing for Vice and Thrasher in New York City to becoming one of Central Oregon’s most prolific storytellers. The conversation dives into Peter’s passion […]
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Melissa Steele🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Melissa Steele, Deputy Fire Marshal of Wildfire Preparedness for Bend Fire & Rescue. Melissa brings more than two decades of experience in firefighting and prevention, including years with Cal Fire during the devastating Paradise fire, to her new role in Central Oregon. […]
Posted inPodcasts, Video
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Kat Mastrangelo🎧
Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine, a free clinic serving uninsured adults across Central Oregon. Kat shares her journey from a career in health policy and hospital administration to leading an organization that provides critical care for those who fall […]
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Greg Pereira🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Dr. Greg Pereira, the seventh president of Central Oregon Community College. Greg shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Clackamas to leading one of Oregon’s most respected colleges. His career path spans work in homeless shelters, nonprofit leadership, and higher education […]
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Todd Dunkelberg 🎧
Director of the Deschutes County Libraries
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Todd Dunkelberg, Director of the Deschutes Public Library and an unexpected TikTok sensation. Todd shares his journey from graduating in library science at the University of Texas to leading one of Oregon’s most dynamic library systems. He reflects on the evolution of […]
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break, Michael Gesme 🎧
Conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and Professor at COCC
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Michael Gesme, conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and longtime professor at COCC, as he prepares to retire after 30 years of shaping the region’s classical music scene. Michael reflects on his journey from the Midwest to Bend, the evolution of local […]