Indy Idea Hub

08/21/2026

What a great night celebrating our Latino-owned businesses! We were not there to introduce Latino entrepreneurship to Independence…it has been here for generations. We were there to recognize and celebrate it.

Thank you to Nancy Ayala and Cristian Mendez Garcia for sharing your stories, Vidal Pena for providing the history of the Community Fiesta, and Erubiel Valladares for translating. A big congratulations Western Oregon University for being the first public, four-year university in the state to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution. And a huge thank you to Amy Christensen for your help organizing the event, and all of our volunteers behind the scenes who helped keep things running smoothly.

And especially,thank you to our businesses for the jobs you’ve created, culture and traditions you’ve shared, for investing in this community, and for helping make Independence the community it is today.

06/23/2026

🚀 Got a future inventor, builder, creator, or problem-solver at home?

This July, middle school students can participate in a FREE iINVENT Summer Camp in Independence!

Led by Oregon State University students, campers will:
🔬 Explore STEM and exciting career pathways
💡 Solve real-world challenges
🤝 Build teamwork, leadership, and communication skills

📅 July 20–24
📍 Indy Commons, Independence

👧🧒 For students entering grades 6–8
The best part? It’s completely FREE.

Summer spots fill quickly, so don't wait!
👉 Register here: https://beav.es/x6C

Tag a parent, grandparent, or friend who has a middle school student who would love this opportunity.

06/18/2026

We start tomorrow at 5:30 pm - are you joining us?

Ever had an idea you know could make money…
but you don’t know where to start?

Or maybe you did start… and then got stuck?

👉 You’re exactly who this is for.

Introducing Side Hustle Summer Camp 🌲
This is not a lecture series.
This is a build something real experience.
In just 3 sessions, you’ll go from:

“I have an idea…”
to
“I actually have something real.”

We’ll help you:
✔ Get clear on your idea
✔ Turn it into something you can sell
✔ Take real steps to make money
✔ Build momentum without burnout

✨ Fun, campy vibes (badges + treats included)
🛠️ Real tools, real progress, no fluff

Whether you’re starting from scratch or already dabbling, you’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a plan!

05/21/2026

Meet the speakers of Fail Fest 👏

These entrepreneurs are doing something most business owners rarely do publicly - talk about the real stuff:

➡️ mistakes
➡️ pivots
➡️ bad ideas
➡️ lessons learned the hard way
➡️ moments they almost gave up
➡️ and what happened next

Join us for an evening of candid stories, laughter, resilience, and honest conversation as our speakers share the ups and downs behind building a business.

Featuring:
Joseph Allen & Karen Saul with Andante Vineyard
Eden Olsen with Lucky Crow Farm
John Bracken with Crush Wine Tours

🎟 Tickets are FREE, but RSVP is appreciated:
https://FailFest2026.eventbrite.com

Grab your ticket, invite a friend, and come celebrate the messy middle of building something worthwhile.

Innovation can’t exist without failure, so why not celebrate it?

05/15/2026

Success stories are fun to tell.

But the real stories? Those usually involve mistakes, pivots, bad ideas, near disasters, awkward moments, and figuring things out the hard way.

That’s exactly why we created Fail Fest.

Entrepreneurs will take the stage to share honest stories about failure, setbacks, and the lessons that ultimately helped shape their businesses and careers. No polished “perfect entrepreneur” narratives — just real people talking candidly about what didn’t work, what they learned, and what happened next.

If you’ve ever:
wondered if you’re the only one struggling
had an idea flop
made a bad business decision
questioned whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship
or learned more from failure than success…
…this event is for you.

And honestly? These conversations are often far more valuable than the highlight reel.
We’re excited to welcome:
Joseph Allen & Karen Saul with Andante Vineyard
Eden Olsen with Lucky Crow Farm
John Bracken with Crush Wine Tours

🎟 RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fail-fest-tickets-1988116021539?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come laugh a little, learn a lot, and be reminded that thriving businesses are usually built on a pile of lessons learned the hard way.

05/04/2026

Shop local this weekend for mom!

04/01/2026

You don’t have to leave your community to build your career.

We’re bringing FREE tech training opportunities to our region - and we want you to know about them.

These programs are beginner-friendly, flexible, and designed for real life.

Join us for an upcoming Hub Talk to learn how it all works.