Daughters of the American Revolution leader reflects on the 250th anniversary of this country

Daughters of the American Revolution leader reflects on the 250th anniversary of this country

In just a few weeks, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its independence.   As we approach this historic milestone, “Think Out Loud” hears from guests whose life experiences and personal histories illuminate different aspects of what it means to be an American.    Jill Gentry is the recently installed State Regent of the Oregon State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Gentry is an army veteran and worked for the National Security Agency for over 30 years before retiring to Bend and becoming involved in the DAR. Her mother and grandmother were also active DAR members. We talk to Gentry about her life of service and how she thinks about this country on its 250th anniversary.

Portland punk rock nonprofit Volume Bomb launches UnMuted program to highlight queer and female-led bands

The punk organization Volume Bomb [https://www.volumebomb.com/] has been around in one form or another for the last 10 years. It’s been organizing and promoting local punk bands ever since it began — with one neighborhood block party. Volume Bomb’s mission has gradually evolved since then, says co-founder Jason Rocksmore. Last year, they incorporated as a 501(c)(3) to better fulfill their goals of supporting local punk bands. The nonprofit aims to not only organize shows, but also to pay the musicians.   This weekend, Volume Bomb is launching its newest program called UnMuted, highlighting queer and female-led punk bands. Some of those Unmuted bands will be performing this weekend at the first annual Pride at Full Volume [https://www.facebook.com/VolumeBomb/posts/pfbid02D5PimUTF3H4PZHkskfLVyCZCdfjDXfPq4AAkXmkYH9mvkpdEn98cQGdQ1R6G7ZyKl] show in downtown Portland. Rocksmore joins us, along with UnMuted program director Jamie Lynne Powell-Herbold, to share more about how the organization has grown and what they hope the next 10 years bring.

Woodburn gets national recognition with All-American Cities Award

The National Civic League has announced the 10 recipients of its prestigious All-American City award [https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Announcing-the-2026-All-America-Cities-.html?soid=1114995572316&aid=7phaGrC_dbc]. Woodburn was the smallest of the 10 cities from around the country to receive this honor, and the only one on the west coast. The winning cities were chosen by a panel of judges based on how they demonstrated “innovation, civic engagement, and inclusive collaboration.” Woodburn Mayor Frank Lonergan joins us to share details of the award and what it means to the community.

New co-working space for artists opens in Sunriver

Centrally Oregon [https://centrallyoregon.com/] is a co-working space for artists, writers and other professionals which opened earlier this month in Sunriver. The Bulletin [https://bendbulletin.com/2026/06/24/centrally-oregon-opens-in-sunriver/] previously reported on its opening and owner Stephanie Gregory’s vision for it. Located inside a 1,400-square-foot warehouse, members have access to dedicated desks, an art studio space and workshops Gregory currently teaches on writing, printmaking, watercolor and more.    Gregory says she created the business because of her own experiences with working remotely and as a writer and artist in southern Deschutes County who often struggled to find local venues to teach her writing workshops. She joins us to share why she thinks her new space is needed in the region and her future plans for it. Kristine Thomas, the executive director of the Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce and an aspiring mystery writer who has taken writing workshops taught by Gregory, also joins us for this discussion.

Chinook Indian Nation Chairman Tony Johnson reflects on 250th anniversary of American independence

As we approach the 250th anniversary [https://ictnews.org/tag/america-250/] of American independence, “Think Out Loud” has been hearing from guests whose life experiences and personal histories illuminate different aspects of what it means to be an American.   We’ll continue that conversation with Tony Johnson, the chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation [https://chinooknation.org/]. The nation represents five tribes [https://chinooknation.org/who-we-are/] whose ancestral homelands surround the mouth of the Columbia River in present-day Oregon and Southwest Washington.   The nation received federal recognition in 2001, only to have it rescinded 18 months later. Johnson joins us to talk about the ongoing fight for recognition [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/25/chinook-indian-nation-supreme-court-petition/] and the nuances of being Indigenous in the U.S.