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. 

Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 10 years of VISIONS on December 1, 2020, virtually.

The Visions Awards honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve. These men and women are thoughtful, passionate, tenacious, and creative in seeking out solutions to problems that affect change. They inspire others with their conviction and drive, give a voice to those without, and act with the highest integrity to provide Oklahomans with resources otherwise not available. Visions recognizes these great men and women as passionate champions of service to Oklahoma.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the event, we will spotlight each of the honorees.

Michael Brose has been serving as the Chief Empowerment Officer at Mental Health Association of Oklahoma (MHA-OK) since 1993 and plans to retire in December 2020.

Under his leadership, MHA-OK has grown from five to 180 employees. Their programing provides housing, mental health education, support groups, pro bono counseling, mental health screening and referral, suicide prevention, peer-to-peer recovery services, employment placement and support, integrated mobile medical intervention, criminal justice advocacy, and more.

When they first started providing housing, they had eleven beds in the Walker Hall Living Center. Their Housing First model has grown to provide access to safe, decent and affordable housing with 133 units Oklahoma City and 1,433 units in Tulsa. The housing is available to individuals who have experienced mental illness, homelessness, substance use and justice involvement.

Throughout his career, Michael has not only taught and mentored social work practicum students, he has empowered them to advocate for change when the system has failed those who experience mental health issues or homelessness.

Because of his dedication to social work, Michael was inducted to Oral Roberts University’s Social Work Hall of Fame, as well as the University of Oklahoma’s Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work Hall of Fame.

Michael is being honored with the Pat Potts Visionary Award. Named in honor of the founder of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, this award will go 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.

Past honorees include Pam Newby, Miki Farris, Albert Gray, Rodney Bivens, Lauren Branch, Danny Cavett, Kevin Evans, Joanna Trimble Smith and Jean Winfrey.

For more information about Visions 2020, visit: https://oklahomacenterfornonprofits.site-ym.com/page/Visions

 

Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 10 years of VISIONS on December 1, 2020, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Visions Awards honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve. These men and women are thoughtful, passionate, tenacious, and creative in seeking out solutions to problems that affect change. They inspire others with their conviction and drive, give a voice to those without, and act with the highest integrity to provide Oklahomans with resources otherwise not available. Visions recognizes these great men and women as passionate champions of service to Oklahoma.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the event, we will spotlight each of the honorees.

Lance Lang has been serving as the Chief Hope Dealer at Hope is Alive Ministries (HIA) in Oklahoma City since 2012, when he founded the nonprofit. HIA’s mission “is to radically change the lives of drug addicts, alcoholics and those that love them.”

Lance saw a need and found his calling after he received treatment for his own struggles. As he was immersed in the Oklahoma recovery community, he found there was not much structure for newly sober individuals.

HIA is an eighteen-month, three-phase program for men and women that focuses on mental, spiritual, physical, emotional and financial health for newly sober individuals.

HIA has grown to support 174 individuals in eighteen homes across three states: Oklahoma, Kansas and North Carolina.  Though their program provides housing for the individual, HIA prides themselves in supporting the family unit as a whole. Over 1,000 families have utilized the HIA program, with a 100% success rate, according to their website.

“Many people have been and will continue to be positively impacted because of Lance’s decision to live out his calling and help those struggling with addiction,” said Blake Wieland, graduate and director of development, HIA. “I know, because I am one of them.”

Lance is being honored with the Rodney Bivens Innovation Award. This award goes to a visionary leader(s) or volunteer(s) in the charitable sector who has 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 program that changes lives.

The honoree will 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.

Past honorees include Christy Counts, Bob Ross, Tim McLaughlin, Jennifer Abney, Desiree Doherty and Christie Luther.

For more information about Visions 2020 visit: https://oklahomacenterfornonprofits.site-ym.com/page/Visions

by Linh Sasser

Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 10 years of VISIONS on December 1, 2020, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Visions Awards honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve. These men and women are thoughtful, passionate, tenacious and creative in seeking out solutions to problems that affect change. They inspire others with their conviction and drive, give a voice to those without and act with the highest integrity to provide Oklahomans with resources otherwise not available. Visions recognizes these great men and women as passionate champions of service to Oklahoma.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the event, we will spotlight each of the honorees.

Maria Rosales-Lambert, bilingual forensic interview and program director, Oklahoma Interviewing Services, Inc. (OIS), is being honored with the Inasmuch Special Recognition Award.

This award goes to a nonprofit employee that has exhibited excellence throughout the past year. It could be any nonprofit practitioner who has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the everyday work of a charitable organization. This employee has demonstrated a dedication to mission above and beyond his or her call to duty, changed lives of those they serve and shown leadership to peers. Sometimes working with limited resources in difficult circumstances, the recipient of the Special Recognition Award is a selfless and tireless employee that exemplifies service to community and constituents. Wherever possible, this is a person that isn’t regularly recognized for their service, so that we may honor those everyday heroes that make Oklahoma and our citizens thrive.

Maria has worked tirelessly traveling to rural areas of Oklahoma to work with children whose families do not have the means to access child advocacy centers. Maria also understood this was a hardship on law enforcement agencies that have limited personnel. In 2016, Maria and OIS developed the mobile forensic interviewing unit.

The mobile forensic interviewing unit is child friendly, culturally sensitive and allows a fully functional forensic interviewing unit to be on site within 24 hours anywhere in the state of Oklahoma. The unit assists local law enforcement by providing a team of specially trained forensic interviewers and a family advocate while working with children. In addition, it allows the child to be interviewed in a place where they feel comfortable and safe, instead of having to enter the courthouse to testify.

Since the unit has been in operation, OIS has provided over 714 interviews and driven over 67,320 miles. OIS continues to build relationships across the state and hopes to add another mobile forensic unit to their team to meet the increasing demand.

In addition to her work with OIS, Maria has served as a faculty member with ChildFirst/Finding Words Oklahoma, DHS and Oklahoma Commission on Children & Youth. She has worked with C.A.R.T. House, served as a patrol officer with Fort Smith Police Department and as an immigration accredited representative. She has served on the boards for Rural American Ministries, Catholic Charities and Oklahoma CASA State Association.

Maria has trained for the National Children’s Advocacy Center, Oklahoma Child Abuse Training & Coordination, and the American Professional Society on Child Abuse. Her work has led her to not only work with children in Oklahoma, but also to train professionals in Canada and Guatemala to work with children who have been maltreated.

Past honorees who have received the Special Recognition Award include Pat McKinstry, A. Jaye Johnson, Nina Daylor, Sharon Gallagher, Shannon Luper, Anne Roberts and Paula Gates.

For more information about Visions 2020, visit: https://oklahomacenterfornonprofits.site-ym.com/page/Visions

Over the next few weeks, as we spotlight the 2019 Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) Visions honorees, we are spotlighting a nonprofit meaningful to each of the honorees.

Bill Citty, 2019 Visions President’s Award recipient, was instrumental in the development of Palomar: Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, and currently serves on their advisory council. In December 2015, Citty, along with the rest of the Palomar strategic planning committee, met with 120 service providers and survivors of domestic violence to learn about the barriers that keep survivors from receiving services. Six committees were formed from professionals and leaders of 47 diverse service agencies. A little over a year later, on February 2, 2017, Palomar held its grand opening.

Palomar, located at 11th and Hudson in midtown Oklahoma City, houses 28 agencies, allowing survivors to go to one location for needed services instead of going to multiple locations, when transportation is often a barrier for those in need of services.

One of the first barriers a survivor may face is knowing where to go to for services and feeling safe while doing so. When the Palomar website is first accessed from a browser, a pop-up appears on the screen letting the viewer know they can press the “exit” button if their sense of safety is at risk. The button will redirect the user to their browser’s default home page.

When a survivor is ready to receive help, they are welcome to go to Palomar at any time during business hours. When they arrive, the survivor will have a one-on-one session with a Client Navigator, who guides and connects them to the agencies from whom they will receive services.

Palomar understands, through hearing from survivors and agency workers, when a survivor arrives in need or services, they are not always an individual and they may have children or pets who are in need of services as well. Palomar offers the Rainbow Fleets for children of all ages, while their guardian receives services. In addition, Palomar partners with the Oklahoma Humane Society to provide foster care services for the pets of survivors.

Thus far in 2019, the OK Humane Society Animal Advocacy Program at Palomar has served 140 human clients and 262 animals. Other agencies and services housed at Palomar include: Department of Human Services, Young Women’s Christian Association, Oklahoma Humane Society, Oklahoma City Police Department, Family Builders, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, etc.

“Getting to utilize the Animal Advocacy Program (AAP) immediately relieved so much anxiety,” said a Palomar client. “I was struggling with leaving my spouse and finding a place for all of these pets we’d adopted as a family. Rehoming them felt like a punch in the gut after everything else we were losing. The relief that the AAP gave by sheltering our family members while we regroup has been immeasurable.”

To learn more about Palomar’s services, visit their website: www.palomarokc.org