FEBRUARY 27TH, 2026

9:00AM – 11:00AM

JELANI MEMORY

CHIP MILLER

$35

We’re excited to welcome back BAGELS NOT BOURBON – where Portland comes to think out loud. Hosted by The Idea Factory in the Library, this Friday morning series brings together creative thinkers, civic leaders, and cultural changemakers for honest conversations over coffee and bagels. No slides, no scripts—just bold ideas and the people building what’s next for Portland. Next up in the 2026 line up:

Jelani Memory, Founder – A Kids Co.

Chip Miller, Associate Creative Director – Portland Center Stage

Independent Doesn’t Mean Small
Scaling Culture Without Losing Soul

Join Kimiko Matsuda in conversation with Jelani Memory and Chip Miller as we explore how arts and culture organizations grow reach without sacrificing integrity.

Between A Kids Co. and Portland Center Stage, Jelani and Chip represent two distinct—but deeply aligned—approaches to independent cultural work. One rooted in publishing and education, the other in performance and design. Both values-driven. Both operating important creative businesses. And both navigating how to expand audience, influence, and impact while staying true to their core beliefs.

Together, they’ll reflect on what “scale” really means in mission-driven creative work—what gets harder, what becomes possible, and how values are protected as momentum builds. The conversation will explore how trust is earned across generations, how independent storytelling remains relevant in a crowded landscape, and why integrity is not a constraint, but a creative advantage.
This isn’t a panel or a presentation. It’s a guided, candid conversation—one that invites us to rethink how arts and culture function not just as expression, but as living systems shaping civic identity and belonging.

Expect insights on creative leadership, audience-building with intention, and why independent doesn’t have to mean small to be powerful.

We hope you will join us.

Tickets include admission to the event as well as a spread of fresh fruit, bagels & accompaniments, coffee, tea and juice.