Building Belonging, One Story at a Time

Community doesn’t just happen—it’s built through intention, presence, and the stories we choose to tell.In this episode of The Story Seat, we sit down with Jacob Espinoza, the founder of What’s Happening Salem, to explore how he transformed local storytelling into a thriving media platform rooted in connection and trust.From his background in music, journalism, and civic work to building an audience of tens of thousands without relying on noise or controversy, Jacob shares what it really takes to show up for a city—and why intentional gatherings might be more powerful than we think.This is a conversation about community, creativity, and the simple—but often overlooked—idea that belonging is something we can actively create.