Carlee Wright, self-described "Community Instigator with a grand love for Salem" will speak to Salem City Club about Salem's current art, culture and entertainment scene. Carlee seems to be everywhere in Salem, looking into the nooks and crannies of the community to report on the social spirit of the city. Focusing exclusively on Salem, her beautifully produced print publication, pressplay, free for the taking at various places in Salem, offers detailed information and reporting on what to do and see here. A digital version of pressplay is available online at https://pressplaysalem.com. Our community has a lot to offer and pressplay helps us find it.
A big believer in the power of community, Carlee will share with us why she does what she does for Salem with such enthusiasm and passion. This promises to be a spirited and fun short program as we come to the end of 2025.
Speaker
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes.
She’s the founder and creative force behind Press Play Salem, the city’s go-to guide for arts, entertainment, and culture, where storytelling meets community and curiosity fuels discovery.
Carlee serves as Marketing Director for the Elsinore Theatre, is an instructor in the Visual Communications program at Chemeketa Community College and is currently pursuing her MBA at Willamette University. She also volunteers as Chair of the City of Salem’s Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board.
Since moving to Salem more than two decades ago, Carlee has immersed herself in the city’s cultural fabric. She’s danced at the World Beat Festival, helped launch Cherry City Roller Derby, co-curated TEDxSalem, and co-founded The Moxie Initiative with Brian Hart.
Beyond her roles in media and marketing, Carlee is also a textile artist transforming discarded materials - like Crown Royal bags and expired gift cards - into wearable art. Her designs challenge ideas about waste and value, sparking conversations about sustainability, creativity, and community impact.
Whether curating stories or championing the arts, Carlee’s purpose remains constant: to connect people through creativity and inspire a deeper sense of place and participation in Salem’s story.
Event Details
Doors Open at 11:30 am
Program Begins at 112:00 pm
