It wasn't what she'd planned on.

In fact, the thought really didn't even enter her mind, until that trip to Portland.

And even afterward -- after the trip was over and she'd done the research -- she still wasn't keen on the idea.

But Mary Francis believes in community.

She's big on diversity.

And she likes to hear other voices.

So the self-described hippie-turned-community-activist decided to roll up her sleeves and give the project a shot.

And now, she's trying to build a radio station -- from the ground up.

"I have a friend in Houston," she said. "We met in Portland at a Unitarian General Assembly and got to talking. She realized she'd heard me on her local radio station doing a commentary about the trial of a soldier who refused to go to Iraq."

That conversation proved to be a pivotal one.

"Later that summer, I met another friend who told me the Federal Communications Commission was taking applications for a new public station."

One conversation led to another and soon Francis was considering trying to start a progressive, public radio station in Norman.

"I wrestled with the idea for about a week," she said. "Then I finally said OK."

Since then Francis has hired an attorney, found an engineer, raised money and filed an application with the FCC -- all for a dream that she really hadn't planned on.

A dream to fight, what she believes, is an ever-growing increase of right-wing religious broadcasters.