What’s Up Salem Besties!

We're doing something on October 3rd.

This is our second award show.

Read all about it below. I really hope we see you there.

GENERAL ADMISSION IS FREE.

Also, I'm writing a book called How Parties Will Save the World, and I want every person in Salem to read it. Click that link and you’ll get it for $1 when it comes out.

Was this email forwarded to you by a friend?

A year ago, I started writing about the people making our city better. I figured if we highlighted the good stuff happening here, more people would show up, more businesses would invest, and Salem would start to feel like the place we all know it can be.

Then something unexpected happened.

What's Happening Salem grew to over 10,000 newsletter subscribers and 40,000 Instagram followers in just over a year. WILD!

We found a need in our community and it’s been so much fun showing up every week. So often we share a story about someone doing meaningful work, the response was the same: "I had no idea this was happening in Salem." Or "This person deserves way more recognition."

That's when I realized, social media posts aren't enough. We needed to think bigger.

Here's our situation: we don't have local news. When Portland stations mention Salem, it's almost always bad news. Meanwhile, people like George Valdez have been championing local musicians for 20+ years, Rhonda Rhodes created a mental health program that's now a national model, Nat Borchers is revitalizing downtown one building at a time, and the OCW founders are empowering women across the region.

These aren't stories you'll see on the evening news. But they're the stories that define who Salem actually is.

There are great award shows who highlight a lot of our legacy community builders, but we wanted to do something for those who were getting forgotten or didn’t quiet fit in with what was already out there.

So on October 3rd, we're doing something about it.

We're bringing together Salem at The Grand Theater for one purpose: to look four incredible community builders in the eye and say thank you. In person. In front of their peers. With the energy and celebration they've earned.

This is what the night looks like:

Picture walking into The Grand at 6 PM. You're dressed up (cocktail attire—this is a real event). There's a photo booth from Apogee Events. Wine from Parra Wine Co. Food from Chick-fil-A South and Encore. You're mingling with people who care about Salem the way you do.

At 7 PM, Jacob Espinoza and Alejandra Escobedo take the stage. DJ ZO's already set the vibe. Over the next 90 minutes, you'll hear the stories behind the headlines—the late nights, the setbacks, the moments these four people decided Salem was worth the work. Between awards, you'll see performances from Finn Joseph, Ky-Lee, and Tony Meyer.

By 8:30 PM, you'll walk out thinking differently about what's possible in this city.

I'm not just throwing an event to throw an event. I believe this could become something Salem does twice every year—a night where we pause and recognize that our city is shaped by the people who refuse to wait for permission to make it better.

Because here's what I've learned from a year of telling these stories: recognition creates momentum. When we celebrate someone doing great work, three things happen. Other people get inspired. The person being recognized keeps going. And Salem starts to believe in itself a little more.

That's the cycle we're trying to build. That's why general admission is free—because I want as many people as possible in that room on October 3rd.

(VIP tickets are $50 if you want reserved seating and access to Ghosts at the Grand, but you don't need them to be part of this.)

So who are the award winners?

​Community Booster Award Winners

A lot of you have told me that What's Happening Salem has changed how you see this city. That it's made you more optimistic about where we're headed. That it's connected you to people and places you didn't know existed.

That's exactly what this award show is designed to do, but in person, with the energy that only happens when we're together in the same room.

So get dressed up. Bring your friends. Come celebrate the people who make Salem worth celebrating.

October 3rd. The Grand Theater. 6 PM.

Let's show these community builders what Salem looks like when we show up.

Jacob

Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you soon.