Washington's Douglas County PUD is building a green hydrogen producing facility on the Columbia River. PIO Meaghan Vibbert explains how and why producing this fuel in this way is good for our climate future.

Part 2 of a conversation with UW's Mark Hallenbeck, transportation expert on our present and future transportation challenges.

Joe Bomar interviews Trenton Quiocho, curator of the new exhibit at Tacoma Art Museum, GATHER: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists, which runs March 26 - September 4, 2022.

Joe Bomar interviews local historian Erin Lasley about the history of McChord Air Force Base (now part of JBLM).

Joe Bomar interviews Kathi Rennaker, Director of Marketing for Brown & Haley Candy Co., and self-appointed B&H historian.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Wanda Thompson conducted by dindria barrow on June 3, 2023. In this interview, Wanda shares her life’s journey from being born in a small rural town in Florida to being crowned Miss Hilltop, from starting her own modeling agency to working for the Department of Corrections, from being an arts commissioner to being a recognized local leader in multiple fields. Education was the key to her many successes, and she credits her family in helping her discover the love of stories, listening to them, reading them, writing them, and teaching them to others. As her mom used to say, “Everybody has a story to tell.”

Christina Butcher is a freelance writer, podcaster and veteran from Chaparral, New Mexico. She has a passion for storytelling and community involvement, and her debut poetry collection, Still Clutching Maps, was published in May 2017. She holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from New Mexico State University and a certificate in storytelling and content strategy from Washington State University. She lives and writes in Tacoma, Washington.

Glenn Buttkus is a lifelong actor and poet who has contibuted to Live at the Auricle at B Sharp Coffeehouse.

Judith Cullen is a local artist with over 25 years of experience in theater and opera. In 2013 she began writing short fiction, essays and poetry - opening whole new horizons for this incurably creative soul. Visit her at jdcstoryteller.blogspot.com.

Kristine Harper is a hometown pet sitter, activist, and City of Tacoma employee.

William Hassert has hosted open mics in Tacoma and continues to write poetry about injustice.

Sandy was born in central Wisconsin and has resided in Tacoma, WA since 1989. "To my understanding, the heart of art is communication, and the heart of communication is connection; it is my belief that any connection worth troubling oneself to make, in its most valuable manifestation, is born of love."

William Kupinse is Associate Professor of English at the University of Puget Sound and was Tacoma's first Poet Laureate from 2008-2009. Kupinse has recently collaborated with composer Greg Youtz and mezzo-soprano Erin Calata to produce a CD of ten poem-songs titled Poetry Above the Roar.

Dawn was involved in the restoration of the Pantages Theater and efforts to save The Murray Morgan Bridge.

Elijah Muied is a spoken word artist, writer, and producer. He has been featured at many events in Seattle as well as being casted in Slam Town, Voice of the Americas, and Projectiles.

Kellie is a lifelong educator and activist for access and equity. She embraces poetry and spoken word.

Lucas Smiraldo, the 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate, developed and wrote this piece for City Club in response to a presentation by the chief engineers of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The work subsequently was integrated into a spoken word drama of seventeen movements titled "Voice of the Americas". Composer Wrick Wolff created a soundscape behind each piece for the final cd and live theater performance.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Kyle Jolibois conducted by dindria barrow on August 17, 2022. In this interview, Kyle tells us about his birth and how he is connected to the grittiness of Tacoma. To paraphrase him, "Tacomans are fighters and survivalists no matter who is in control of the city." Kyle’s story is about resilience and speaking truth to power. He leads his life with a direct and realistic view about our environment and our social/political issues. Kyle is open about his views, his sobriety goals, and his physical disability. His strength is his voice and his desire to stand up for what is right.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Janice Kampbell conducted by dindria barrow on August 25, 2022. In this interview, Janice tells the story of how her parents met each other after World War II in rural Michigan on a blind date. Farming and the military were a part of her parents’ lives and Janice grew up a child of a military pilot and a nurse. Her family moved to a variety of locations in the United States. Janice became a nurse like her mother and retired after 43 years. Janice is a Pierce County Master Gardener and shares her first encounter with planting seeds into frozen dirt with a spoon. Janice concludes her oral history by sharing the history of the Tacoma Urban Land Trust (2010) also previously known as the Guadalupe Land Trust located on Hilltop, Tacoma. The Tacoma Urban Land Trust's website is https://www.tult.org

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Anita Latch conducted by dindria barrow on August 30, 2022. In this interview, Anita outlines the places she calls home using artwork that her daughter created of locations Anita has lived in. Her grandparents had a farm near Traverse City, Torch Lake, Michigan. She watched trains pass by in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She lived in a ground floor apartment in Nerburgh, New York after living in Wallkill near Woodstock. Anita’s dad drove the family on Interstate 80 in a Super 88 to McChord Air Force Base and Spanaway, Washington. She remembers listening to a transistor radio in the back of the car during the trip. Anita left home at 15 years old and hitchhiked to Grants Pass, Oregon. She went to college in Redlands, California and then learned silversmithing in Jerome, Arizona. Anita also spent time in Tahiti when her daughter was young. She moved around often between her homes. Anita is a traveler, a journalist, a teacher, a political advocate, and an artist with many life stories. She has been a Precinct Committee Officer and has served on the Tacoma Civil Service Board. “Democracy is not a spectator sport!” Anita declares towards the end of her interview, “so, get involved in voting for each election.” Her openness and honesty are palpable in this oral history and there is some strong language and adult content.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Tom Stenger conducted by dindria barrow on October 20, 2022. In this interview, Tom Stenger shares his family history going back four generations in Tacoma. Tom is a third generation Stadium High School alumnus and received his law degree from the University of Washington. Tom discusses his early years, working as a janitor in college at the University of Puget Sound, and his time serving on the Tacoma City Council. Tom has lived in Tacoma all of his life and, specifically, in the Hilltop neighborhood since buying a house in 1985. Tom has been interested in history ever since he was 14 years old and is the living co-founder of the Tacoma Historical Society.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Freddie Mae Barnett conducted by dindria barrow on January 28, 2023. In this interview, Mrs. Barnett shares her life story with us. She tells us of her upbringing in Athens, Georgia, and military travels with her husband. Mrs. Barnett was active in the military community and in Tacoma. She is a past president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the Washington State Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Regional Association of Colored Women’s Clubs which are all affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

Oral history interview with previous Tacoma resident Larry Duncan conducted by dindria barrow on November 29, 2022. In this interview, Larry shares his experience in one of Tacoma’s East Side neighborhoods, Salishan. Larry illustrates how his racial identity has been a mystery and how he has tried to piece it together like a complex puzzle. An intriguing person that appeared in his life twice showed up first as a person who made kites. Could this be a person who is somehow related to his birth parents? As he continues to learn about himself, Larry's dream is to be the best dad and husband possible for his family.

Oral history interview of Gene Ankli conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Bethany Du Toit conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.

Oral history interview of Michael Lafrenier conducted by dindria barrow on January 21, 2023, as part of the Archiving North End Communities event located at the Wheelock library branch.