Ray’s Call for Community, Opportunity, and a Chance to Come Home Hey Willamette Valley, This isn’t easy to write, but here goes: I’m Ray, and I’m sending you a message from 1,000 miles away in the Las Vegas desert—a *literal* cry for help. Four years ago, I left everything on the East Coast to chase dreams of cannabis entrepreneurship, music, and film in **your valleys, rivers, and cities**. From Eugene to Vancouver, WA, I poured my heart (and savings) into Oregon. I believed in its promise. But let’s keep it real: Oregon tested me. As a Black entrepreneur in his 40s with a felony record, I faced invisible walls. I started businesses that never caught fire. I struggled to find partners in a place that felt insular, despite its progressive reputation. I burned through thousands on motel stays, feeling more isolated with every passing month. Then, in 2021, I landed in Las Vegas—a place where skin color *matters less*, but where my spirit has been slowly drying up. I’ve fought hard her...
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