Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 11 years of Visions Awards (Visions) on November 30, 2021, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Visions honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve.

Rayna Forgotson O’Connor and Whitley O’Connor, co-founders, Curbside Chronicle, will be honored with the Rodney Bivens Innovation Award. The award is given to visionary leaders or volunteers in the charitable sector who have burst on the scene with a new dynamic and innovative idea that inspired groundbreaking changes, bringing newfound success to the mission of an organization or pioneering, exciting programs that change lives. The honorees receive a $10,000 award thanks to a generous contribution from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in honor of Rodney Bivens’ lifetime achievements with the Regional Food Bank.

“The idea Whitley brought to Oklahoma City as a college student was quite insightful,” said Darlene Wallace, Visions honoree nominator. “He shared his idea with Rayna and together they co-founded Curbside Chronicle to give people experiencing homelessness work, so they could get housing. Next they opened a snow cone stand, followed by Curbside Flowers.”

Curbside Chronical has helped hundreds of individuals end their experience with homelessness. The magazine has won state, regional and international journalism awards. The Society of Professional Journalism honored the publication as Best Magazine in Oklahoma for three years.

Sasquatch Shaved Ice, a snow cone stand, and Curbside Flowers, a full-services flower shop, provide employment, job skills training and life skills development. Sasquatch Shaved Ice serves youth who are transition-age. Curbside Flowers offers extended employment opportunities to Curbside vendors, breaking down barriers to traditional employment – developing time and money management, as well as social skills. These programs enable Curbside Vendors to earn enough money to obtain housing, ending their experiences with homelessness.

Both Rayna and Whitley are proud Oklahomans. Rayna grew up in Norman where she attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in marketing and minoring in nonprofit business. Whitley attended Vanderbilt University, majoring in human and organizational development and sociology. In addition to their work, Rayna services as the Ward 6 representative on the Citizens Committee for Community and is a member of Leadership Oklahoma’s LOYAL Class XI, while Whitley serves on the University of Central Oklahoma’s Institutional Review Board.

“It’s an honor for us to be receiving this award, but it’s an honor we share credit for with so many people,” said Rayna and Whitley. “A lot of people don’t realize that Curbside was launched by two college kids. But without visionaries like Dan Straughan, Debby Hampton, David Rainbolt and the Inasmuch Foundation taking meetings with us from the very beginning, we would have never gotten Curbside Chronicle outside of our dorm rooms.”

To learn more about the 2021 Visions Awards, visit the OKCNP Visions Award Page: https://okcnp.org/Visions. 

Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 11 years of Visions Awards (Visions) on November 30, 2021, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Visions honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve.

Dr. Bob Blackburn, executive director, Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), will be honored with the Pat Potts Visionary Award. The award is named in honor of the founder of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. This award goes to an individual executive leader who, through focus, tenacity and leadership, has inspired the success of a singular organization in carrying out its charitable mission.

“What I admire most is his ethical leadership and grasp of complex issues facing our state,” said Deena Fisher, vice president, board of directors, OHS. “He is a visionary, always planning ahead on the growth and progress of the OHS to promote Oklahoma culture, history, people and ideas.”

Bob, a native Oklahoman, grew up in Edmond and graduated from Putnam City High School. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, prior to attending Oklahoma State University, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D.

Bob published his first book in graduate school and has since written and co-authored over 20 books, has had his works published in journals, written screen plays and has appeared as a historical expert across various media, including the History Channel.

Bob’s career at OHS began in 1980 as the editor of the Chronicles of Oklahoma. In 1990 he became the deputy director, and then executive director in 1999. In addition to his work at OHS, Bob has been a member of the National Park Service Planning Team, consultant to the Chickasaw Nation, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards and commissions.

He has been honored with a special award from Governor Henry Bellmon (1998) for Outstanding Service to the State and as Newsmaker of the Year (2006) from the Oklahoma City Gridiron Club.

“In addition, his vision is beyond just the Oklahoma Historical Society,” said Deena. “His vision includes the growth, progress and success of the state he loves – the state of Oklahoma. Therefore, I believe it is the right time that this great servant leader, with his great knowledge and ability to communicate, is included among the great leaders recognized and honored proudly through the OKCNP Visions Awards honoring executive leadership in Oklahoma.”

To learn more about the 2021 Visions Awards, visit the OKCNP Visions Award Page: https://okcnp.org/Visions. 

It is difficult to ignore the divisiveness in our country. It is almost palpable. Its wounds puncture headlines. Institutions that once stood as pillars of compromise and collaboration have been violated by the throws of partisan politics. In the middle of it all, we are left weakened by division. Ending this discord lies in embracing our common humanity through service – something the nonprofit sector models daily.

Oklahoma’s charitable sector is as vast and as diverse as our state’s demographics. Its causes range from food insecurity to mental illness to animal welfare and everything in between. No one is out of its reach or outside its capacity. If someone (or something in some insistences) is in need, a nonprofit is ready and willing to help. There are no contingences on political party, race, creed or religion. We help others without question or expectation. We serve in the spirit of service by looking past labels and seeing that which binds us – our shared human experience. By focusing on our similarities, we are better able to relate, to understand and to help others.

One of the most remarkable things about Oklahoma’s nonprofit community is its ability to rally around a common goal. When COVID-19 swept across the nation, sector leaders dropped whatever alliances they might have held and united to help. Coming together to address the needs of others can instantly erase divisions. The importance of charity supersedes any political or social label, thus we become servants of the greater good, moving towards a common goal.

If we are going to successfully recover from the economic, social, emotional and mental impacts of COVID-19, we must – as Oklahomans and as Americans – abandon the rhetoric that emphasizes our differences and focus on what brings us together. Nonprofits have proven time and time again that this is not only possible, it is the only way forward. 

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, OKCNP is celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Youth Villages is a finalist in the Youth category.

“We are honored to be a finalist for the OKCNP ONE Awards,” said Erica Robinson, assistant state director, Youth Villages. “We love serving kids and families, and partnering with other like-minded organizations. It means a lot to be recognized for the work we do in the community.”

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages’ mission is to “help children and families live successfully.” The organization serves more than 520 youth from birth to 21 years old, every year. Employees service the 33 counties surrounding the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas.

Partnering with the Department of Human Services, Youth Villages works with youth who experience emotional, mental and behavioral issues, and are involved in the child welfare services. Through partnerships, the organization works to prevent young people from being removed from homes and reuniting those who are have been separated from their families.

“Thanks to Youth Villages, our family has a bright future ahead of us,” said an unnamed client, Youth Villages. “Youth Villages was the missing puzzle piece to our family back together.”

Youth Villages believes a stable family and a strong support system help children succeed. The organization has become a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health.

Their in-home service, Intercept, utilizes evidence-models that offer individualized programs to meet the needs of each child and families, in hopes that the child may remain in the home. Specialist meet with families an average of three times per week and offer 24/7 crisis support.

LifeSet, Youth Villages' community-based program, works with current and former foster children ages 17.5 to 21. It prepares them for life outside of the foster care system. LifeSet provides specialists to meet with participants at least once a week and provides them with 24/7 crisis support.

“LifeSet has allowed me to network and make connections with other youth, similar to me and from completely different walks of life,” said a former client, Youth Villages. “The program has given me tremendous support and guidance and has kept me motivated in reaching my goals.”

To learn more about Youth Villages visit their website: https://www.youthvillages.org/about-us/locations/oklahoma/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://www.okcnp.org/page/one-awards.

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, OKCNP is celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Western Plains Youth & Family Services (WPYFS) is a finalist in the Youth category.

“It is an honor for WPYFS to be named a finalist for this prestigious award,” said Kevin Evans, executive director, WPYFS. “The recognition that comes with being a finalist is a credit to our staff, board for directors, and the children and families that we serve. The stipend that comes with being a finalist will allow our agency to strengthen the services that we provide. We thank OKCNP for creating this award.”

Founded in 1978, WPYFS mission is “to provide quality community based education, preventative counseling, shelter and health home services to individuals in need, designed to enrich the lives of children, youth and families.”

Their service area includes, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Texas and Woodward counties with more than 30 towns and settles, and 23 school systems. The impact of WPYFS reaches beyond northwest Oklahoma to include the entire state, as the Emergency Youth Shelter and Northwest Oklahoma Juvenile Detention Center receives youth from all corners of Oklahoma.

WPYFS provides a mental health services to children from birth to 17-years-old. Services include a 24/7 mobile crisis unit, rehabilitation, counseling, crisis intervention, community education and development.

In addition, the organization has an 8-bed juvenile detention center, whose premise is to not use detention as a form of punishment, but as a stepping stone to a productive life.

WPYFS and the work it does is greatly needed in northwest Oklahoma as it serves as the only mental health services provider in the region. WPYFS reports its service community has more than 62,000 people. Limited staff means there is one provider for every 5,427 people in Beaver County and one provider to every 299 people in Woodard County.

To learn more about Western Plains Youth & Family Services, Inc. visit their website: https://wpyfs.org/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://www.okcnp.org/page/one-awards.

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, OKCNP is celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services (Wings of Hope) is a finalist in the Transformation category.

Founded in 1979, concerned citizens in Stillwater saw the need to offer solutions to domestic violence and sexual assault victims. They established Stillwater Domestic Violence Services, which is now operating as Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services.

Wings of Hope has expanded from Stillwater to include all of Payne County as well as Lincoln, Logan, Pawnee and Noble counties. Its mission is “to break the generational cycle of violence by providing safety, hope and empowerment.” The organization calls for social change through community awareness and client advocacy.

“Wings of Hope helped us see hope and a light at the end of the tunnel, a support system of safety,” said an unnamed client. “Coming here I was finally able to breathe and relax. I didn’t realize how much my children and I were affected until we spoke to the staff and counselors. They all have been huge in helping us make the next steps in our lives while providing a sage and homey place to live.”

In their 2019-2020 fiscal year, Wings of Hope provided services to 1,136 people, 174 of which were women and children who needed a safe place to stay. More than 200 women and 120 men also received mental health therapy, and 57 kids received trauma-focused mental health therapy.

Not only does Wings of Hope serve those in their communities, they serve domestic violence survivors and clients of the YMCA in Oklahoma City and DVIS in Tulsa.

“Life before Wings of Hope was stressful,” said an unnamed client B. “I was walking on eggshells, drowning, surviving. My children’s lives and mine were ok, but we were not living to a normal extent. We weren’t living, but surviving. For me it was a dark hole.”

Wings of Hope finds success in their mission though its state-of-the-art, 9-family-suite, shelter facility with a 24/7 crisis line that was initially funded by the Donald Q. Reynolds Foundation. Programs include advocacy, counseling, children’s programming, Legal Aid, parenting and perpetrator intervention classes, community education and outreach, trained sexual assault response and support, and consultation services.

Wings of Hope has developed relationships with law enforcement, civic and community groups, schools, businesses, other nonprofits, and state and national coalitions.

To learn more about Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services, visit their website: https://wingsofhopeok.com/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://www.okcnp.org/page/one-awards.

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, OKCNP is celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Wings Special Needs Community (Wings) is a finalist in the Self-Sufficiency category.

“As a finalist, we are humbled knowing our strategic planning and passion to carry out our work has been recognized,” said Cheri Weaver, executive director, Wings. “We would like to thank our board of directors for their wisdom and leadership. With deep appreciation for their contagious enthusiasm, our hard working staff and many volunteers who expand the capacity of our staff make our programs excellent.”

Wings was founded in 2004 by families that were concerned about what their children with developmental disabilities would do after high school graduation and beyond.

 Wings’ mission is “to enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through social, vocational and residential programs guided by the principles of the Bible.”

Serving 166 member ranging in age from 19 to 63 years old, Wings programs include a day program where members can choose from volunteer opportunities or life skill classes like health, culinary arts, and computer skills. The organization also hosts a monthly social club where members get together for dinner and dancing.

“Wings feels like home, sweet home baby,” said Brendon, Wings’ client. “It is a perfect place to be together as a family. I love doing health and wellness because I get to use the cardio machines, do basketball drills and walk around the track.”

Volunteer opportunities include assembling hygiene packs, emergency supply kits and backpacks filled with school supplies, all of which are distributed through partner nonprofits. Members also have the opportunity to volunteer onsite at Oklahoma City metro area nonprofits.

“Wings provides essential services to the most vulnerable population in Oklahoma City,” said Kim Garret, CEO and founder of Palomar, a Wings’ partner organization. “We couldn’t do this critical work without them and are so thankful for their partnership.”

Last year, Wings member volunteers built a transition room for life skills classes. The transition room looks and feels like a fully-equipped apartment with kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom.

Wings’ programs allow their members to grow their independence while enhancing their social skills and empowering them to connect with their peers and celebrate their unique gifts.

To learn more about Wings Special Needs Community, visit their website:  https://wingsok.org/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://www.okcnp.org/page/one-awards.

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) will host the 2021 Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24, 2021, in Tulsa, with limited attendance. The event will be livestreamed on OKCNP’s website as well. Leading up to the event, OKCNP is celebrating the 21 Oklahoma nonprofit finalists in seven categories. Ada Homeless Services (AHS) is a finalist in the Self-Sufficiency category.

“As a relatively small rural nonprofit, it is a great honor to be recognized as a 2021 ONE Awards finalist, alongside so many wonderful Oklahoma organizations,” said Sarah Frye, executive director, AHS. “Thank you for seeing value in the work AHS is doing, and stay tuned, we have much more work yet to do.”

Founded in 2003, AHS’s mission is “to ensure everyone can come home.” The organization serves a thousand people who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness in Pontotoc County.

AHS takes a Housing First Approach, providing permanent house and stabilization services, as well eviction prevention. The nonprofit housed 59 households and worked to prevent 188 evictions in 2020.

“AHS is so much more than their name implies,” said one former client. “When I walked through their doors, I wasn’t expecting much. To my surprise they not only agreed to help me get out of a dangerous situation, they also gave me hope. And when you are where I was, hope is huge!”

AHS’s Rapid Rehousing program is intensive and fast-moving, typically taking three months to ensure basic necessities such as housing and food. Then case managers work in tandem with community partners to find clients employment, establish budgets, and address substance abuse issues, to name a few.

AHS is committed to working with individuals regardless of their prior criminal history, sexual orientation, experiences with substance abuse, mental health status, credit, etc. The organization believes that every person deserves a home.

“My family of three, soon to be four, were not technically homeless, but were living in an extremely unsafe, sub-par environment when we reached out to AHS,” said the Coffell Family via Google Review. “Their job didn’t stop with finding us a home. They made sure we would be happy and comfortable in our home.”

To learn more about Ada Homeless Services, visit their website: https://www.adahomelessservices.org/.

The ONE Awards is dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits statewide. The ONE Awards also serves as the primary fundraising event for OKCNP. Proceeds from the ONE Awards enable OKCNP to serve communities throughout Oklahoma.

To learn more about the OKCNP ONE Awards or to watch the event, visit: https://www.okcnp.org/page/one-awards.