Mar 31, 2026 Community Agency Review Commission

BUSINESS WILL BE THE CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE MANY MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY THE 13TH, 2026.

I, I AM MARSHA INGERSOL.

I AM THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION.

I AM RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

I'VE BEEN AN EDMOND RESIDENT FOR 26 YEARS, AND ON THIS COMMISSION FOR FOUR.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVIDING THE NEEDED SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR EDMOND RESIDENTS.

AS NOTED IN YOUR APPLICATION, THE NEEDS ARE GROWING.

WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YOUR APPLICATIONS AND FUNDING REQUEST, AND TODAY IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO US.

BEFORE WE MAKE OUR FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS COMMISSION MEMBERS MAY ASK YOU QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO YOUR APPLICATION.

EACH AGENCY WILL HAVE THREE TO FIVE MINUTES MAXIMUM.

AND PLEASE BE COGNIZANT OF YOUR TIME AND KEEP YOUR COMMENTS BRIEF.

INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND YOUR AGENCY, AND YOU CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR APPLICATION, WHICH YOU FEEL MAY BE HELPFUL FOR US IN OUR EVALUATION.

IF YOU ARE A FUNDED AGENCY, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT YOUR AGENCY, YOUR AGENCY MADE, THAT YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF.

AND IF YOU ARE A NEW AGENCY, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY.

WHY DID YOU SUBMIT A FUNDING REQUEST? AND WHAT WILL YOU ADD TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EDMOND RESIDENTS? AGAIN, I ASK YOU, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS BRIEF.

OUR FIRST ORDER OF

[2. Consideration of Approval of Meeting Minutes: January 13, 2026.]

UM, THE COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THOSE MINUTES.

I JUST SAW THE MISSPELLING OF SIMON BAKER'S NAME ON THE ABSENT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? WELL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES

[00:05:01]

THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN, UM, APPROVED AS AMENDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? SO THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH THAT, UH, ADDITIONAL CORRECTION.

ARE YOU GONNA HANDLE NUMBER THREE? I HAVE IT A PRESENTATION AS WELL.

CHRISTY,

[3. Discussion and Presentation of Community Agency Review Commission (CARC) Funding Workshop]

AND THEN AGAIN, TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE NOW A PRESENTATION FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES EVENING COMMISSION, UH, CHRISTY BATTERSON, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

AT YOUR LAST MEETING IN JANUARY, YOU ALL ASKED FOR A BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW OF NEEDS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO EMILY MASHBURN HERE OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, UM, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY OTHER TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE ALSO HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING, WHAT AGENCIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED, EITHER WITH CLARK FUNDING OR OTHER FEDERAL CITY FUNDED, UH, UH, PROGRAMS AND WHAT THEY'RE, UH, PROVIDING.

AND ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW OF OUR NEW COALITION, UM, AND NEW CARE CONNECTION CALLED EDMOND CONNECT.

UM, WE HAVE HAD GOOD ATTENDANCE WITH THAT SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT IN SEPTEMBER.

UM, AND SO WE TALK ABOUT THESE TOPICS MONTHLY, UM, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THEM AS WELL.

FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS AS I GO ALONG WITH THIS.

SO WE JUST PUT SOME FUNDING PRIORITIES.

THESE ARE ONES THAT ARE IN YOUR ORDINANCE THAT YOU DECIDE, UH, FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, THEY'RE ONES THAT ARE ALSO PART OF A STRATEGIC PLAN.

UH, THE COUNCIL SETS AND OR PART OF WHAT, UM, THOSE AGENCIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED HAVE BEEN PROVIDING AND PROMOTING.

UM, AS YOU SEE, A LOT OF IT IS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES.

UM, OTHER PROGRAMMING, UM, PROMOTING SAFETY, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO RECENTLY WITH OUR EDMOND CONNECT, WE PUT OUT A POLL, UM, OF THOSE NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROVIDING, UH, SERVICES, UH, THROUGHOUT EDMOND AND ASK THEM WHAT RESOURCES THAT THEY THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OVERALL, IT'S, IT'S 48% IS HOUSING.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE NEED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND I CAN ATTEST, AND I THINK EMILY CAN ATTEST TO, WE GET A NUMEROUS CALLS DAILY OF NEEDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME.

UM, THAT'S SET RENT PER SE.

UH, THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE BETWEEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND ALSO TRANSPORTATION.

UM, WE DID A POINT IN TIME CON, UH, COUNT THIS YEAR IN JANUARY.

I DON'T THINK WE HAD DONE IT WHEN WE MET IN JANUARY JUST YET.

AND THAT'S THE, UH, UM, TIME OF COUNTING ONCE A YEAR IN JANUARY.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS THE COLDEST PART OF THE YEAR WHERE WE COUNT THE UNHOUSED.

I WILL SAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, SINCE I'VE BEEN COUNTING THE LAST SIX YEARS, WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT EVERYBODY THAT WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THAT HAD SHELTER OVERNIGHT, PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD THAT WEEK.

THAT'S WHEN WE HAD THOSE SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

SO EVERYBODY THAT WE MET, WE ALWAYS ASK, WHERE DID YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT? WE ONLY HAD ONE MEMBER THAT WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THAT DID SLEPT OUTSIDE.

THE REST OF THEM HAD EITHER FOUND, UM, WERE COUCH SURFING HOTEL, UM, OR STAYING AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE.

SOME WERE EVEN STAYING WITH A, UM, AN EMPLOYER'S HOUSE.

UM, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY HAD FOUND SHELTER.

UM, WE ASKED THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

THEIR NUMBER ONE WAS IDS.

UM, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR ID TO GET THEIR BENEFITS, UM, OUTSIDE OF HOUSING, WHICH WAS THE OBVIOUS OF COURSE.

UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT, WE ARE ALMOST AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN POPULATION.

UM, SO 90, JUST UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND AT 99, 20 2% OF OUR POPULATIONS OVER THE AGE OF 60 26 IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

AND WE HAVE AROUND 5,500 VETERANS.

UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POVERTY LEVELS, UM, THAT'S ONLY 8% OF, UM, EDMOND'S RESIDENTS.

UM, AND THAT IS BASED ON THOSE POVERTY STANDARDS THAT ARE SET BY LIKE, UM, USDA, WHICH IS THAT UNDER, RIGHT UNDER 15,000 ISH.

UM, THAT'S THAT POVERTY LEVEL FOR THE METRO AREA.

UM, WE HAVE NEARLY 10,000 EDMOND RESIDENTS THAT EARN LESS THAN 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

AND THOSE ARE BASED ON HUD INCOME STANDARDS.

SO, WHICH A FAMILY OF FOUR THAT'S LESS THAN $78,000, 9% OF EDMOND RESIDENTS DO NOT HEALTH, DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND AROUND 6% ARE ON FOOD, UH, FOOD STAMPS OR SNAP BEING THAT HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE

[00:10:01]

NEED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

UM, IT'S, IT'S THE COST BURDEN, HOUSING COST BURDEN.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT IS 30% YOUR HOUSING COSTS.

THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM YOUR RENTAL MORTGAGE PAYMENT, YOUR UTILITY COSTS, YOUR INSURANCE, YOUR TAXES.

SO IF YOU'RE OVER 30% OF YOUR EXPENDABLE INCOME, IF YOU'RE OVER THAT 30%, YOU ARE HOUSING BURDENED OR HOUSING COST BURDENED.

AND SO, UH, AROUND 18, 18% OF OUR HOMEOWNERS ARE HOUSING COST BURDEN.

AND 48% OF OUR RENTERS ARE MEDIAN HOUSING COSTS FOR RENT IS AROUND $1,200.

UM, OUR AVERAGE HOME PRICE IS ALMOST UP $400,000.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, UH, WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR HOUSING SUPPLY.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

UH, WE DID A HOUSING ASSESSMENT.

WE NEED AROUND 9,000 UNITS TOTAL IN THE, OVER, IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AND THAT ASSESSMENT WAS DONE IN 23.

UM, AND WE DO ON AVERAGE ADD ABOUT 500 UNITS, UM, DEPENDING, YOU KNOW, SINGLE, SINGLE FAMILY TOWN, HOME DUPLEX, ET CETERA, UM, A YEAR.

UM, BUT THEY NEED TO BE, UH, VARYING SIZES, VARYING PRICE POINTS.

UM, WE HAVE AN AGING, UM, POPULATION, AND SO PEOPLE WANNA AGE IN PLACE.

UH, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR SOME OF THAT TODAY FROM SOME OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO WE NEED TO FREE UP SMALLER HOMES FOR PEOPLE TO DOWNSIZE, WHICH IN THEORY OPENS UP THOSE HOMES FOR OTHER FAMILIES.

UM, BUT IT'S JUST, AND THEN WE ALSO, WE HAVE AN OLDER HOUSING STOCK.

UM, WE HAVE IN CDBG WORLD, UM, WE'VE SEEN AN UPTAKE IN REHABS ON HOMES THAT ARE, UH, WERE BUILT IN THE SIXTIES, SEVENTIES THAT WERE STARTING TO HAVE TO DO MAINTENANCE ON.

UM, AND SO THERE'S A, UH, INCREASE, UM, OR PRESERVING THAT AFFORDABILITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD, PROUD ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.

UM, WE WON A, UH, SAMHSA GRANT.

UH, WE'RE IN YEAR TWO, UH, OF A MULTI-YEAR MILLION DOLLAR GRANT, BUT IT'S CALLED SYSTEM OF CARE.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY BUILDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY WITH OUR YOUTH, AGES THREE TO 21.

UM, AND SO YOU CAN SEE JUST NOT ONLY WITH OUR SYSTEM OF CARE GRANTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. SO THE COMBINED EFFORT, UM, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE, UH, OVER 500, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UM, RANGING FROM THAT ZERO TO 21.

UM, AND SO, UM, AND I THINK THIS IS GREAT FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR.

WE WON IT IN, UH, THE FALL OF 24.

WE REALLY DIDN'T START PROVIDING SERVICES UNTIL MARCH OF 25.

SO FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER, THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS OR LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO TOUCH OVER 500, UM, STUDENTS.

AND I COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT MY TEAM.

MEM TEAM, TEAM MEMBERS THAT I HAVE ON STAFF THAT OVERSEE OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS ALL OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

UM, NORTH CARE, EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EDMOND FAMILY COUNSELING, AND OTHERS THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR FROM TODAY.

AGAIN, AREA THE NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INCREASED WORKFORCE.

UM, THERE ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS.

UH, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEER SUPPORT.

UM, WE NEED INTENSIVE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, UH, PROVIDERS THAT ACCEPT SOONERCARE, UH, IN A VARIETY.

UM, IT'S NOT, MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL, UM, LIKE A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

UM, AND SO, UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT VARIETY OF CARE.

ALSO, WE ARE SEEING AN UPTAKE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITH OUR YOUTH.

WE WORK REALLY CLOSE WITH OUR JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.

UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN UPTAKE OF, UH, OF YOUTH MEMBERS GOING THROUGH THAT COURT.

UM, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING KIDDOS THAT ARE COMING BACK THROUGH AGAIN EVEN AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.

UM, SO WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME PREVENTION, UM, STARTING AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT, UM, PROGRAMMING.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AGAIN, I, I'LL SAY IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT, WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT OUR, OUR PARTNERS, OUR NONPROFITS, OUR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE IT'S THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN'T DO.

UM, WE ARE AT CAPACITY AS WELL.

UM, AND SO IT'S A GREAT TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS, UM, WITH ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN CARRY OUT THOSE SERVICES.

NUMBER ONE OF MY GOALS THIS YEAR IS TO PROVIDE, AND IT'S ALSO A STRATEGIC GOAL, UM, IS TO, TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY STRENGTHENING, PROMOTING ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL AGENCIES, UM, HAVING, UM, BEING PREPARED.

WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE OUR COMMUNITY RISK, BEING PREPARED FOR A DISASTER AHEAD OF TIME.

SO BEING PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF BEING REACTIVE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A REACTION AFTER WHAT, RIGHTLY SO AFTER A DISASTER.

I'M GONNA KNOCK ON WOOD SINCE WE HAVE SEVERE WEATHER COMING IN.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, BEING, IF WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY RESILIENT, THAT RECOVERY IS GONNA BE THAT MUCH FASTER

[00:15:01]

AND EASIER DOWN THE ROAD.

UM, AGAIN, COLLABORATION.

I APPLAUD ALL OUR NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY OF WHAT THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND SO, UM, AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL SAY IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

YOU'LL ALWAYS HEAR ME SAY IT.

UM, AND THEN ENGAGING.

WE'RE DO, WE'RE STARTING, UH, TO CREATE OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, UH, MY STAFF IN SOME INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS AND SOME OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATING THOSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING WHERE WE CAN GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, MEET FACE TO FACE WITH THOSE MEMBERS, SEE WHAT THEY NEED, GET THEM THE RESOURCES, DOING THE FOLLOW UP, AND THEN CONTINUING THE FOLLOW UP.

UM, THOSE THAT WORK WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, THEY KNOW IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOLLOW UP.

UM, AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE STAY ON, ON TRACK AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND THEN JUST BUILDING THAT SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, UM, DON'T GET DAY-TO-DAY FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION.

AND SO THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL.

SO, AGAIN, I DUNNO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER EMILY, OR I CAN ANSWER 'EM.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE SOME OTHER STAFF MEMBERS HERE TOO THAT CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

NO, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.

AS WE WERE REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS, WE SAW A LOT OF AGENCIES WHO ARE WANTING TO SERVE THESE POPULATIONS, SO IT MAKES US FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, HEARING OUR PRESENTATIONS AND MAKING OUR FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

I THINK WE'RE ALL IN TUNE TO, UM, THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE GONNA START,

[4. Discussion and Presentation of Community Agencies FY 2026-2027 Budget Requests from: Boys Ranch Town Character Council of Edmond Edmond Family Counseling Edmond Fine Arts Institute Edmond Historic Preservation Trust Edmond Land Conservancy Edmond Mobile Meals Edmond Public Schools Foundation Edmond Round Up Club Edmond YMCA Family Therapy Clinic Folds of Honor Fostering Sweet Dreams Heartline HOPE Center of Edmond Lilyfield Ministries of Jesus Mission 143 Neighborhood Housing Services Oasis Clubhouse Oklahoma Project Woman Peaceful Family Solutions Project 66 Turning Point Ministries U R Special Ministries UCO Endeavor Games Willow Ranch ]

UM, WITH BOYS WRENCH TOWN.

NO.

HOW ABOUT NOW? OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUSH THIS ONE.

ANOTHER YOUNG MAN FOR WHATEVER TRAUMA THAT HE'S HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

I'M BJ DRUMMOND.

I'M WITH BOYS RANCH TOWN IN OKLAHOMA.

BAPTIST HOMES FOR CHILDREN, BOYS RANCH TOWN HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1953.

UM, OUR MISSION IS TO SHOW AND SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

UH, THE WAY THAT WE GET TO DO THAT, UM, IS THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES.

UH, I COULD TALK PROBABLY FOR AN HOUR ABOUT HOW THAT'D GO.

SO NARROW IT DOWN IN THREE TO FIVE MINUTES WOULD BE, UM, WE HELP COMMUNITY, UH, HELP KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY BRINGING THEM IN, UH, GIVING THEM A SAFE PLACE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT, SHOWING THEM THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT STRUGGLING TO, UH, HAVE A MEAL TO BE BOUNCING AROUND, SURFING FROM COUCH TO COUCH.

AND, UH, THAT THEY'RE JUST GENERALLY TAKEN CARE OF WHERE THEY CAN BE A BOY AT THIS POINT.

UM, WE DO OFFER AND REALLY PUSH, UH, TRADE INDUSTRY.

SO WE WANT THAT YOUNG MAN WHEN THEY LEAVE OUR CAMPUS TO, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN SOMEHOW.

WE DO THAT THROUGH WELDING, THROUGH CATTLE, UM, THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND THINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, THE GRANT THAT I WAS ASKING FOR TODAY WAS TO HELP OUT WITH MATTRESSES.

UM, WHEN YOU GET TO THINKING ABOUT IT, WHEN A YOUNG MAN COMES TO US, HE'S MOST LIKELY BEEN BOUNCING AROUND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, FROM CROWD SURFING AS YOU WILL.

UH, AND WE, THIS IS OUR FIRST HURDLE WE HAVE TO GET OVER, IS THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT, BRINGING THEM IN AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, YOU HAVE A BED HERE.

AND, UM, YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE CARED FOR AT THAT POINT.

AND A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT WE GET, THEY HAVE BASICALLY THEIR CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK, AND THEN MAYBE A WALMART SACK FULL OF CLOTHES.

THAT'S IT.

AND, UH, SO WE HAVE A LOT TO OVERCOME IN THAT.

UM, SO THERE IS A LOT OF, UH, AWARENESS ON THEIR PART OF WONDERING, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE GONNA MAKE IT AND JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND YOU, YOU DO HAVE A BED HERE.

UH, THAT'S, UH, KIND OF WHAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR THIS YEAR IS, IS NEW, NEW FURNISHINGS ON THAT SIDE.

WE DID GET A, A DONOR TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, HELP OUT WITH ALL NEW BEDS, BUT NOT THE MATTRESSES.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

SO HOW MANY RESIDENTS DO YOU HAVE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW? UM, WITH THE COLLEGE AND CAREER AND THE 18 AND UNDER, WE'RE PROBABLY SITTING AT, IT VARIES WEEK TO WEEK.

UM, I'D SAY ABOUT 42.

AND THAT IS THE CAPACITY OF YOUR FACILITY? THE CAPACITY OF THE FACILITY IS GOING TO BE CLOSER TO 50.

CAPACITY IS KIND OF A WEIRD THING WITH US.

UM, WE TALK ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT.

CAPACITY CAN VARY A LITTLE BIT.

UM, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A BED THERE, SOMETIMES A YOUNG MAN CAN'T BE WITH

[00:20:01]

SO WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE HOWEVER HIS NEEDS MAY BE.

SO HE MAY HAVE A SINGLE ROOM AT THAT POINT.

SO THAT'S WHY I SAY KIND OF A FLOATING.

ANY COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, HOW THE BOYS, MOST OF THEM END UP AT YOUR FACILITY.

WHAT ARE THEIR, WHAT ORIGIN STORIES? FOR THE MOST PART, THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE.

UM, MOST OF THEM ARE ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE DO HAVE A FEW LOCAL KIDS.

UM, THEY COME THROUGH US THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS ONLINE.

THERE IS A CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, BEING THAT WHERE WE'RE LOCATED, WE'RE RIGHT ON 35, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT 44 AND 40 RIGHT THERE.

SO WE DO HAVE TO, UH, BASICALLY WATCH OUT WHO'S RUNAWAYS, WHO'S NOT.

'CAUSE THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, MATTER OF MINUTES TYPE THING.

UM, SO THAT IS THE DOWNFALL WITH THAT.

BUT THE BOYS THAT WE GET, UM, I KIND OF PUT IT LIKE THIS WHEN I TALK TO DONORS AND, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE RANCH.

UM, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE LEAGUE, I HAD, UH, A TEAMMATE OF MINE THAT HIS PARENTS LITERALLY COULDN'T, COULDN'T FEED HIM ANYMORE.

AND IT WASN'T ANY FAULT TO THE YOUNG MAN.

THEY JUST, THEY JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

AND THEY GET HIM OVER TO THE COACH THAT DAY.

UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS PART OF LIFE AND IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF THING GOING ON.

BUT, BUT THIS IS A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUNG MEN, LIKE, LIKE THAT, UM, THAT WE SEE.

BUT, UH, BUT YEAH, THEY COME THROUGH US MOST OF THE TIME.

CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, UH, WE A LOT, LOT OF CONTACTS FROM COACHES SAYING, HEY, I GOT THIS YOUNG MAN THAT I, I KNOW HE IS NOT EATING WELL.

I KNOW HE'S, YOU KNOW, COUCH SURFING OR LESS OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE GOING ON THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

WE JUST TRY TO HELP WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HOW LONG DO THEY TYPICALLY STAY WITH YOUR PROGRAM? IS THERE LIKE A GRADUATION TYPE OF THING? OR THEY GET A JOB AND MOVE OUT OR? WELL, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

SO WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IS THROUGH THE REQUIREMENTS, THROUGH DHS, WE CAN ONLY KEEP 'EM ON THE CAMPUS SIDE UNTIL THEY'RE GRADUATED OR 18.

UM, SO WE HAVE FIVE SENIORS THIS YEAR AND, AND THEY'RE ALL DOING EXTREMELY WELL.

THEY'RE GRADUATING, BUT THEY'RE GRADUATING TO OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM.

SO THIS KIND OF, THEIR LAUNCH IN LIFE, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A JOB, THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE THAT ATTEMPT TO, TO, UH, BECOME A YOUNG ADULT.

UM, WE WILL LET THEM STAY ON CAMPUS, BUT NOT ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.

UM, AND THEN THAT'S, THEY, THEY DO HAVE, UH, A MENTOR THERE THAT GOES THROUGH SOME CLASSES, SOME FINANCIAL CLASSES WITH THEM, UM, SOME HOME UPKEEP CLASSES WITH THEM JUST, JUST TO KIND OF HELP 'EM GET LAUNCHED IN LIFE.

BUT YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.

ANY OTHER? YES, MA'AM.

UH, ARE THESE BOYS AND YOUNG MEN, DID, HAVE THEY LOST, LIKE THE PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN SEVERED OR LIKE, HOW DOES THAT WORK? EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

UM, WE HAVE SEEN THAT A LITTLE BIT.

UM, MOST OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH, THEY DON'T HAVE A PARENT OR, OR THEIR, THEIR CARETAKER.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, IF IT'S A GRANDPARENT OR AUNT AND UNCLE, THEY JUST CAN'T TAKE CARE OF 'EM ANYMORE.

UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT GRANDPARENTS ARE JUST TOO OLD AND, AND HEALTH REASONS WHY THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THEM.

UH, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE 75, 80 YEARS OLD, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH A 10, 12-YEAR-OLD, THAT'S, IT'S TOUGH AT TIMES.

AND HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED TOO, THAT CAN BE STRESSFUL IN THAT FAMILY.

YEAH, EVERY CASE IS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

SO YOU ASKED FOR A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S FUNDING? YES MA'AM.

SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH LAST YEAR'S FUNDING? LAST YEAR'S FUNDING, WE ASKED FOR 5,000.

WE WERE GRANTED 2,500.

IT WAS JUST TO GO TO THE GENERAL BUDGET TO HELP OUT WITH, UH, ELECTRIC BILLS, GAS BILLS, UM, JUST DAILY ORDINARY BUDGET NEEDS.

UM, THIS ONE WAS TO BUY ALL NEW MATTRESSES ACROSS THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 32 BEDS GETTING REPLACED.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

THANK YOU BOTH.

NO, THANK YOU.

CHARACTER COUNSEL.

DID YOU SAY CHARACTER COUNSEL?

[00:25:13]

I AM TARA FAIR, AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE CHARACTER COUNCIL SINCE IT'S, UM, CONCEPTION IN 2003.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO OUR REQUEST.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE CHARACTER COUNCIL OF EDMOND PROMOTES, UH, CHARACTER.

WE ACTUALLY TRY TO PROMOTE CHARACTER, RECOGNIZE CHARACTER AND SUPPORT CHARACTER THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

WE DO THAT IN SEVERAL WAYS.

UM, WE HAVE THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THIS YEAR TOTALING OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO 15.

AND SO WE ARE GROWING AND THE INITIATIVES AND THINGS WE'RE DOING ARE GROWING AS WELL.

UM, THIS YEAR WE'VE ASKED FOR $6,000 AND SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE, UH, TRY TO PROMOTE CHARACTER IN OUR COMMUNITY IS WE HAVE THE CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER RECOGNITIONS.

UM, WE HAVE SEVEN TO DATE.

THIS IS WHERE CITIZENS ACTUALLY NOMINATE OTHER CITIZENS, UM, THAT ARE, UM, SHOWING EXEMPLARY CHARACTER IN THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE, OF THE MONTH.

THOSE WORDS COME OUT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE OR, UH, LIFE AND LEISURE, THEY PLEDGE THOSE AND WE GET THOSE NOMINATIONS FROM ONE CITIZEN RECOMMENDING ANOTHER CITIZEN.

WE ALSO HAVE A FAIRLY NEW PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UM, CHARACTER IN ACTION WHERE WE ARE BEEN ABLE TO START RECOGNIZING BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY OF EDMOND.

AND WE HAVE RECOGNIZED, I THINK A TOTAL OF SEVEN THIS YEAR, UM, FOR THE CHARACTER THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION AND THEIR BUSINESSES.

UM, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST INITIATIVES, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IS OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

WE AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR TO SENIORS IN EDMOND.

LAST YEAR WE AWARDED FOUR $1,500 SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO EITHER INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS WE'RE GIVING OR ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 31 APPLICANTS IN, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

THEIR DUE DATE IS TODAY.

WE FIGURE PROBABLY GIVE MAIL A LITTLE TIME.

WE'LL HAVE A FEW MORE COMING IN.

UH, WE WILL BE MEETING, BE MEETING ON APRIL, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S THE 13TH TO, TO LOOK AT THAT.

WE HAVE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THREE, UM, CITIZENS FROM THE COMMUNITY OF EDMOND.

UM, AND THEY USE A RUBRIC TO SCORE THOSE AND, AND DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO GET THOSE.

SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO SUPPORT ALL THE, THE PROJECT REQUESTS FROM BOTH BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS FOR TRAINING AS WELL AS CURRICULUM, WHATEVER THEY MAY NEED TO PROMOTE CHARACTER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE STARTED IS WITH THE EDMOND MUSEUM, AND ONE OF 'EM IS OUR TRUNKS, TRUNKS ABOUT CHARACTER SO THAT THEY CAN CHECK THOSE OUT AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THOSE BETTER.

AND THOSE TRUNKS ARE, UM, BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT CHARACTER IN HISTORY.

AND SO THEY'RE, THAT'S KIND OF A, A NEW GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY, WE HAD, UH, A CITIZEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ASKED US TO CONSIDER HAVING A JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHARACTER.

YOU KNOW, HE FEELS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DON'T GET RECOGNIZED.

SO WE HAVE JUST STARTED TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO START LOOKING AT POSSIBLY PROVIDING THAT.

UM, WE HAVE, WHAT WE DON'T WANNA DO IS WE DON'T WANNA OVERSTEP THE BOUNDS OF ALL THE GREAT CHARACTER PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT PRETTY CAREFULLY AS WE GO THROUGH.

BUT WE ARE EXCITED, WE ARE GROWING AND WE ARE DOING SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS.

AND SO, UM, THERE YOU ARE.

AND I WOULD TAKE QUESTIONS.

COULD YOU SPEAK TO, UM, THE STEPS YOU'VE TAKEN AND MIGHT BE TAKING IN THE FUTURE TO RAISE FUNDS FROM AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS OTHER THAN CARDS? YES.

WE, WE DO, UM, TRY TO DO SOME FUNDRAISERS.

UM, WE HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF DONATIONS AS WELL.

UM, BUT WE, I DON'T THINK WE GO OUT THERE AND PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, BEG FOR MONEY , BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO PROBABLY, UM, TRY TO SEEK MORE FUNDS FROM OTHER PLACES.

YOU SAID 31 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR, IS THAT YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW, NOW WE THEIR DUE THEIR DUE DATES TODAY.

SO I ANTICIPATE WHEN WE GO TO THE POST OFFICE NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE MORE.

IS THAT A GROWTH OR THAT IS A GROWTH, YES.

EVERY YEAR WE'RE GROWING.

WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE APPLICANTS AND WE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE PROGRAM, UH, WE STARTED WITH A THOUSAND DOLLARS SCHOLARSHIPS.

OUR SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR WENT TO, UM, LEMME SEE IF I HAVE, I THINK I WROTE THAT DOWN.

UM, OUR SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR WENT TO ONE, THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, NOTRE DAME, BRIGHAM YOUNG, AND UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SO SOME REALLY GREAT UNIVERSITIES.

UM, WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WITH THE ECONOMY, LIKE IT IS THAT THE SCHOLARSHIPS NEED, NEED TO INCREASE IN MONEY OR WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER MORE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS.

ARE YOU DECIDING BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER, MORE OR GREATER AMOUNT? UM,

[00:30:01]

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH FUNDING WE GET, HONESTLY, TO BE REAL HONEST.

FAIR ENOUGH.

IF IS THAT, IF THAT'S FAIR.

I MEAN, , I WAS REVIEWING THE APPLICATION, UM, CRITERIA.

SO IT'S AN ESSAY ABOUT CHARACTER.

IT IS.

AND UM, LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.

IS IT BASED ON GPA OR S-A-T-A-C-T SCORES? IT IS NOT.

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NEED BASED EITHER IT'S CHARACTER BASED.

NO, IT'S NOT.

IT IS TOTALLY CHARACTER BASED AND THEIR ESSAYS ARE SPECIFICALLY DRIVEN TO THAT WHOLE CHARACTER BASED.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THOUGHT.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CHARACTER CRITERIA THAT YOU PUBLISH THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? THEIR, THEIR APPLICATION A ACTUALLY IN THEIR ESSAY ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY LISTS OUT.

I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE APPLICATION.

I DIDN'T.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT ACTUALLY LISTS OUT THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF CERTAIN WAYS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, EXCELLED AND GROWN AND GIVEN BACK TO A COMMUNITY THROUGH CHARACTER.

AND THERE'S A RUBRIC.

I MEAN, THERE'S A DIFFERENT RUBRIC AND THEY'RE SCORED.

UM, THERE'S EIGHT OF US THIS YEAR THAT WILL COME TOGETHER.

AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US IF YOU ALL WANT TO SCORE, UH, ESSAYS.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME.

SO BASICALLY IT'S LIKE THIS FOR CHARACTER BUILD FOR THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S GOOD CHARACTER .

TRULY.

HOW, HOW MUCH DID YOU RECEIVE LAST YEAR? I'M SORRY.

WE RECEIVED $2,000 FROM Y'ALL LAST YEAR.

SOMEWHERE I SAW SIX.

YOU'RE REQUESTING SIX.

WE'RE REQUESTING SIX.

DID YOU SAY THE INCREASE WOULD JUST SUPPORT MORE SCHOLARSHIPS? IT COULD INCREASE MORE SCHOLARSHIPS, BUT IT COULD ALSO GO TO HELPING US FUND THOSE, UH, PROJECT REQUESTS FROM SCHOOLS ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRAINING AND INITIATING MORE CHARACTER WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS IMPROVING SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE OUT THERE, LIKE THE TRUNK CHECKOUT PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, TO IMPROVE THOSE TRUNKS TO MAKE 'EM BETTER.

NO MORE QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER? WE'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU TARA.

EDMUND FAMILY COUNSELING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES.

UM, MY NAME IS SHEILA STANNET.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDMOND FAMILY COUNSELING.

EDMOND FAMILY COUNSELING IS THE COMMUNITY'S YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

UH, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.

WE LOOK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS SUCH AS THE CITY OF EDMOND LOCAL CHURCHES TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES AND CO UH, MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES SEVEN UPON GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, OUR GRANT REQUEST TODAY, UM, IS FOCUSED ON OUR SCHOOL-BASED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TWO SCHOOL-BASED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS. ONE IS A THIRD GRADE PROGRAM CALLED COMM ACADEMY.

IT USE TRUST-BASED RELATIONAL INTERVENTION STRATEGIES AND TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SELF-REGULATE IN THE CLASSROOM SO THEY CAN PERFORM AT A HIGHER ACADEMIC LEVEL, UM, AND SCHOOLS WILL, UM, BE ABLE TO SEE A REDUCTION IN BEHAVIORS IN THE CLASSROOM.

OUR OTHER PROGRAM, FIFTH GRADE LIFE SKILLS BOOTCAMP, IS BASED ON BOTIN LIFE SKILLS.

UM, IT IS A, UH, HIGHLY RESEARCHED PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS, IS ALSO BEEN PROVEN TO DECREASE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UM, HELP WITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES AND UM, UH, AND, AND HELP WITH COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

AND SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR THOSE TWO PROGRAMS CURRENTLY.

UM, THE FUNDING WE HAVE RECEIVED FOR OUR SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS IS THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF JUVENILE AFFAIRS.

AS A A STATE RUN DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE A CEILING ON WHAT THEY WILL FUND.

THEY WILL ONLY FUND UP TO 14 STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IN EDMOND, OUR CLASS SIZES ARE LARGER THAN THE 14.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING IS TO PAY FOR THOSE STUDENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO PTOS, UM, AND, UH, AND STRAP SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING THROUGH FUNDING ISSUES TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRE CLASSROOM SETTING.

SO YOUR REQUEST IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN LAST YEAR? UH, YES MA'AM, IT IS.

UM, IT IS LAURA ON TWO REASONS.

ONE, WE HAVE BEEN SO, UM, GRACIOUSLY HONORED BY THE CITY OF EDMOND TO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FOR OUR SYSTEMS OF CARE GRANT THAT SUPPORTS OUR MENTAL

[00:35:01]

WE ALSO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING AND WE RAISED OVER $70,000 THIS YEAR TO HELP SUPPORT SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT FUNDING WAS GOING TOWARDS SOME OF THE FUNDING IN THE PAST CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES, OFFSETTING COUNSELING SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR FUNDING FROM THE COMMISSION FOR.

AND SO, UM, UH, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND BY WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE, SURE THAT, UM, THAT AS NEEDS GROW, THAT THE COMMISSION IS ABLE TO NOT ONLY MEET OUR NEEDS, BUT MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY.

EXCELLENT.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE SOME PACKETS ABOUT THE PROGRAMS. I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T BRING ENOUGH.

BUT INSIDE THE PACKET, UM, YOU WILL HAVE THE CURRICULUM OF THE PROGRAM, THE LETTER THAT GOES HOME TO PARENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, IN THE STUDENT'S OWN WORDS, HOW THESE PROGRAMS HAVE IMPACTED THE STUDENTS.

SO I WILL PROVIDE THESE OVER HERE.

ONCE AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH COPIES, BUT I WILL LEAVE THOSE FOR YOU.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN, PLEASE REACH OUT.

UM, AND IF YOU WOULD EVER LIKE TO JOIN ME AT A SCHOOL, UM, TYPICALLY I'M IN SCHOOLS WEEKLY.

UH, PLEASE REACH OUT.

I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE YOU TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT COMMISSION DOLLARS DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SHEILA, ARE, UM, IS YOUR PROGRAM AT ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN EDMOND OR JUST CERTAIN ONES? UM, WE, WE TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN EDMOND, BUT, UH, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW JUST DUE TO STAFFING, WE HAVE TO DO FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS, UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN, LIKE, WE'RE GETTING READY TO ROLL INTO TESTING, SO WE DON'T HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THESE STUDENTS 'CAUSE THEY'RE TESTING GRADES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND SO WE DO OUR BEST TO, TO REACH ALL SCHOOLS, UM, AND AT LEAST PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL, IF NOT BOTH PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL.

UM, GOING FORWARD, AS WE ADD SCHOOLS LIKE POST OAK, WE WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDING TO EXPAND STAFF, UM, TO COVER THOSE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SHEILA.

THE EDMOND FINE ARTS INSTITUTE.

FOR MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME THROUGH.

THANK YOU GUYS.

MY NAME IS SHANNON PRICE.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE EDMOND FINE ARTS INSTITUTE, AND THIS IS OUR 41ST YEAR PROVIDING ARTS AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDMOND.

UM, THE CORE OF OUR MISSION EXISTS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE HIGH QUALITY ARTS FOR ALL AGES.

WE IMPACT ABOUT 55,000 EDMOND RESIDENTS EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S ABOUT 56% OF OUR POPULATION.

89% OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE ARE EDMOND RESIDENTS, BUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR CART FUNDING GOES DIRECTLY BACK TO EDMOND CITIZENS.

LAST YEAR, WE DELIVERED OVER 1800 CLASSES, CAMPS, AND PROGRAMS. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE HAD ABOUT OVER 95 HOURS OF SUBSIDIZED INSTRUCTION EVERY WEEK LED BY ONE OF OUR 46 1 OR MORE OF OUR 46 PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS.

AND THIS IS NOT OCCASIONAL PROGRAMMING.

IT'S CONSISTENT HIGH IMPACT COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

OUR BIGGEST PRIORITY HAS BEEN REMOVING BARRIERS.

30% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND THROUGH CLARK FUNDING THIS FISCAL YEAR 12, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST, UM, MANY STUDENTS THERE, $12,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP THAT'S BEEN AWARDED TO FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS. BUT ONE THING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT US, WE DON'T JUST OPERATE OUT OF ONE BUILDING.

WE HAVE, UH, INTEGRATED OURSELVES ACROSS EDMOND AND WE ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED INTO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THIS IS OUR 24TH YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WE, WE REACH 1600 PRE-K FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH PLAYFUL DRAMATICS, WHICH IS A LITER LITERACY COMMUNICATION AND SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.

UM, IT SUPPORTS AC ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THIS IS ONE OF, UH, THE GREATEST PROGRAMS THEATER, UH, LANGUAGE ACTING, IMPROV BASED FOR KIDS LEARNING HOW TO READ.

AND SO IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL, WHICH WE HAVE EXTENDED IT INTO A NEW PROGRAM CALLED CREATIVE BEGINNINGS THAT WE DO IN OUR BUILDING.

SO IT'S A PARENT AND CHILD GUIDED PROGRAM.

AND THIS YEAR WE, WE DO IT EVERY MONTH SO FAR.

AND WE STARTED IN OCTOBER MORE THAN A FREE PROGRAM

[00:40:01]

AND NOT ONLY DO THEY GET PARENTS GET TO LEARN HOW TO READ TO THEIR CHILDREN AND REALLY ACTIVATE THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND READING, BUT THEY GO HOME WITH THINGS THAT THEY CAN, THE BOOKS THAT THEIR STORY, THE STORY BOOKS, THE COSTUMES, THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY CAN READ A STORY AND THEN IMPROV IT BACK.

AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN CREATED FOR THE TEACHERS THAT ARE TEACHING IT, BUT ALSO FOR THE PARENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCING IT.

UM, BUT PROGRAMS LIKE THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

THE OTHER THING IS WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH UCO.

SO ALL ART EDUCATION STUDENTS HAVE TO DO THEIR FIRST OBSERVATION IN OUR BUILDING, BUT PROFESSORS USE OUR GALLERY TO TEACH ASPIRING ARTISTS HOW TO CURATE THEIR FIRST EXHIBIT AND NEW.

THIS YEAR WE STARTED A PROGRAM CALLED FRAMING THE FUTURE THAT PROVIDES MONTHLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ARTIST PANELS HELP EDUCATE AND ASSIST EMERGING ARTISTS IN BUILDING THEIR BUSINESS.

UH, AT PEPPER'S RANCH EVERY WEEK WE HAVE A LICENSED THERAPIST THAT USES WEEKLY ART BASED SESSIONS AS THERAPY FOR FOSTER CHILDREN.

AND YOUR CREATIVE SIDE IS A SERVICE THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING, UM, AT RISK TEENS THROUGH THE EDMOND JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.

AND ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT APPROACHED US AND THEY ASKED US, UM, IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE THE ART PROGRAMMING IN THAT BEAUTIFUL, UNDERUTILIZED FACILITY.

THEY HAVE THREE AMAZING ART ROOMS, AND THEY SAID, YOU GUYS ARE THE ART PROFESSIONALS.

WHY ARE WE TRYING TO DO THIS WHEN YOU GUYS NEED MORE SPACE? AND I SAID, YES, YES, WE'LL DO IT.

SO WE STARTED THIS SPRING AND WE HAVE FOUR CLASSES THAT ARE KIND OF A PILOT PROGRAM, FOUR CLASSES THAT, CLAY CLASSES THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE.

BUT, UM, IT IS ALSO INTRODUCING US TO A LOT OF NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THAT PART, JUST FROM BEING IN THAT FACILITY, BUT ALSO IN THAT PART OF EDMOND.

SO OUR COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM MEET AND REACH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY WOULD NEVER WALK THROUGH OUR FRONT DOORS.

UM, AND SO WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO REALLY DOCUMENT THE DEMAND THAT FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 3,800 PEOPLE THAT WERE ON A WAIT LIST.

UM, SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO EXPAND OUR MISSION AND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT WITH THE CITY OF EDMOND AND WITH THE MAC AND MAKE PERFECT SENSE.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO EXPAND AND GROW HOW WITH WHATEVER WE ARE PROVIDED.

UH, CART FUNDING IS USED MOSTLY FOR CONSUMABLE ARC SUPPLIES THAT SERVE OVER EIGHT, WELL, 8,800 STUDENTS THAT COME THROUGH OUR DOORS EVERY YEAR.

30% OF IT GOES TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS, 16% GOES TOWARDS OUR YOUTH CHORUS.

OUR ART AND SCHOOL PROGRAM RECEIVES 15% AND 1% IS ARTIST THERAPY.

SO THIS FUNDING REPRESENTS LESS THAN 10% OF OUR BUDGET, BUT ALLOWS US TO KEEP PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE, AND COMMUNITY CENTERED.

SO CART FUNDING ISN'T JUST ABOUT SUPPORTING AN ARTS ORGANIZATION.

IT SUPPORTS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL WELLNESS, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

SO THE CITY'S INVESTMENT HAS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE HIGH QUALITY AND HIGH DEMAND PROGRAMMING, TWO THOUSANDS OF EDMUND RESIDENTS.

AND ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR BELIEF IN HOW ARTS CAN SHAPE A COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK EDMOND IS REALLY SPECIAL IN THE WAY THAT IT DOES THAT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

WHERE DID YOU SAY THOSE NEW ROOMS WERE THAT YOU GOT TO TAKE OVER AT THE, AT THE MAC? OH YEAH, THEY'RE OUT AT THE MAC, UHHUH .

AND YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT THOSE, THEY GOT, THEY HAVE THREE AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL ART ROOMS AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF DOING SPORADIC PROGRAMMING, BUT THEY ALSO ARE A PARKS DEPARTMENT.

AND THEY SAID, THAT'S NOT OUR EXPERTISE, BUT THIS IS YOURS.

WOULD YOU WANT TO USE THIS SPACE? IT WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

AND YES, WE DO.

AND WE ARE SEEING HOW IT'S GOING WITH THIS SESSION OF STUDENTS.

AND AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES, BECAUSE IN THE SUMMER WE HAVE SO MANY CAMPS, ALL OF OUR DAYTIME ADULT CLASSES, WE CAN'T HAVE THEM AT ALL.

SO WE'RE THINKING WE CAN HAVE OUR ADULTS CLASSES GOING ON OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING LIKE WE DO DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.

I DIDN'T BRING IT UP HERE, BUT I HAVE SOME GIFTS FOR YOU, SOME LITTLE TOTE BAGS, SO I'LL LEAVE THEM OVER THERE SO YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR EDMUND FINE ARTS TOTE BAGS AROUND TOWN.

THANK YOU GUYS.

WE HAD ONLY TWO STOPLIGHTS IN ENTIRE TOWN, SO I'VE SEEN A LITTLE CHANGE, BUT THE EDMOND, UH, TRUST IS A CITY MUNICIPAL INDENTURE.

THE EDMUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST.

I AM JAMES CROWDER WITH THE EDMOND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST.

I CAME TO EDMOND IN 1961 WHEN

[00:45:01]

SO WE'RE A QUASI CITY, AND YET WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING FROM THE CITY EXCEPT THROUGH THIS COMMISSION.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND, UH, PROMOTE HERITAGE SITES IN AND AROUND EDMOND AND, UH, PROBABLY MOST OF YOUR FAMILIAR WITH OUR TERRITORIAL SCHOOLHOUSE, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE, UH, REHABILITATE AND USE.

AND MOST, UH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND A STUDENT IN EDMOND THAT HASN'T BEEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM, UH, AT THE TERRITORIAL SCHOOLHOUSE.

IT'S LOTS OF, LOTS OF FUN AND VERY EDUCATIONAL.

WE'VE ALSO SET ASIDE FOUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN EDMOND AND HAVE THOSE SIGN TOPPERS, IF YOU'LL SEE ON THE STREET SIGNS.

UH, WE'RE PUSHING, UH, CENTENNIAL HOMES IN EDMOND.

IF A HOUSE IS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT HOUSE AND SOMEBODY'S BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OF THAT HOUSE SINCE WE'RE LOSING SO MANY OF OUR, UH, UH, BUILDINGS, HOMES, AND FACILITIES IN EDMOND THAT ARE HISTORIC.

UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, UH, ENGAGED IN TRYING TO GET OUR TWO DOWNTOWN CORE BLOCKS ON THE NATIONAL, UH, REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

IT IS NOT EASY, UH, TO GET IT THROUGH ALL THE WICKETS AND, UH, SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, UH, TOMORROW WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SESSIONS WITH, UH, EDMUND WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, TAKING THEM ON TOURS OF OUR TWO BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN AND EXPLAINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH OF THOSE BUILDINGS THAT ALL THAT, UH, HERITAGE PART OF EDMOND NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AND SAVED.

SO, UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, UH, OUR REQUEST FOR FUNDING IS 5,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE GOT A VERY NICE, UH, UH, GRANT FROM THE OLSON FAMILY FOUNDATION, WHICH WE'VE DONE USED TO REPAIR THE SCHOOL HOUSE, WHICH, UH, SOME WOULD SAY THE SCHOOL HOUSE IS OVERUSED BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH THERE.

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FLOORING AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO WORK ON THE ANNEX, UH, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THAT.

SO THAT OLSON FAMILY FUNDING IS GOING, UH, FOR THE SCHOOL HOUSE ENTIRELY.

UH, SO MONEY, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE COMMISSION, UH, WILL GO FOR OUR OTHER PROJECTS OR OTHER QUESTIONS I COULD ANSWER.

UM, I MAY BE MISREMEMBERING.

I THINK LAST YEAR YOU ASKED FOR MONEY TO IMPROVE SECURITY.

UM, WAS THAT PROJECT COMPLETED OR THAT, UH, WE HAD, WE SHIFTED ON THAT.

UH, WE FOUND THE, UH, THE SECURITY THAT WE FIRST WANTED AND A FENCING WAS WAY BEYOND OUR MEANS.

WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE INSTALLED SOME CAMERAS AND, UH, THE CAMERAS REPORT TO ONE OF OUR, UH, VOLUNTEER MEMBERS, UH, THAT WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THAT THEMSELVES AND, AND, AND CALL.

WE DO STILL HAVE A, A BRINKMAN SECURITY IF THERE'S A DOOR OPENING OR A WINDOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND AGAIN, THEY REPORT TO OUR, ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO, UH, TAKE ACTION AFTER THAT.

SO THE BIG PICTURE, UH, THAT I MENTIONED LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT UNDERTAKE FOR COST REASONS.

YOU SAID THE, YOU REPLACED THE FLOORS AND THEN NOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THE ANNEX.

IS THERE ANY MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THE SCHOOLHOUSE FOR THE MOMENT? AFTER THE, UH, CONSTANTLY, UH, UH, WE PAINT ABOUT EVERY SEVEN YEARS.

UH, UH, THE FLOORING WAS THE BIG PROBLEM.

THIS IS THE THIRD, THE SCHOOLHOUSE WAS OPEN IN 2007.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE FLOORING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

UH, AND, AND, UH, I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT, UH, TELL ME THAT MOISTURE AND, UH, UH, CONDENSATION CAUSES ALL THOSE PROBLEMS. SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL LAST A LITTLE LONGER.

THIS TIME.

WE DID UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF, OF FLOORING THIS TIME.

UH, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT THE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR FOR SECURITY, DID YOU USE THOSE FOR THE CAMERAS THAT YOU PURCHASED? THE, THE CAMERAS PART OF THE FUNDING, IT WAS NOT LINE BY LINE BUDGETED.

PART OF THE MONEY WENT FOR THOSE CAMERAS.

HAVE THE SATURDAY, UH, SCHOOL MOM THAT'S THERE.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP, WHAT DID THE REST OF THE MONEY GO FOR? UH, JUST TO OPERATE THE SCHOOLHOUSE, TO KEEP THE, UH, SCHOOL PROGRAMS GOING.

THE ACCOUNTING FIRM, THE INSURANCE, UM, HVAC OPERATION IS, UH, WELL OVER, UH, TWO THIRD, UH, THREE FIFTHS OF OUR INCOME AS A, OF THE APPROPRIATION THAT WE RECEIVED.

SO MAINTENANCE IS THE BIG ISSUE.

WE DO HAVE, UH, THE ONLY EMPLOYEES WE HAVE, WE

[00:50:01]

SHE'S A WORKING ON HER MASTER'S IN MUSEUM STUDIES AT UCO.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE CLEANING LADY THAT'S CONSTANTLY THERE.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS VOLUNTEER.

AND I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY YOU WERE REQUESTING 20,005? 5 25, YEAH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE EDMUND LAND CONSERVATORY CONSERVANCY.

HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU HAD FROM DONATIONS LAST YEAR OR HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE IT WAS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR? UH, IT WAS FROM ABOUT 300 TO 2,500 OR SO.

I'M DEREK SMITHY.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF YOUR EDMOND LAND CONSERVANCY.

UH, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE, UM, AUTHORIZED SOME FUNDS LAST YEAR THROUGH THIS PROCESS, GOT ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE COMING BACK TO YOU FOR AN ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO KIND OF FULFILL THE MISSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN ARDUOUSLY AND SERIOUSLY PURSUING FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES TO SET ASIDE AND PRESERVE NATURAL LANDS IN THE CITY OF EDMOND AREA.

IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY AND SET ASIDE LANDS IN CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

I THINK MOST OF US WOULD AGREE, AT LEAST ANECDOTALLY, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES EDMOND SPECIAL IS NATURAL AREAS, WHETHER IT'S ER PARK OR MITCH PARK, OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AWAY FROM AN OUT OF OUR HOUSE AND INTO NATURE JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SEE THE BIRDS AND ENJOY THE WORLD THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.

BUT THAT'S GETTING MORE DIFFICULT.

UM, EDMOND LANDS ARE BECOME HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MODIFIED IN SOME WAY, AND WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO IDENTIFY THOSE AND WORK IN A VOLUNTEER BASIS WITH THOSE LANDOWNERS THAT ARE WILLING TO PUT THAT LAND IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND PROTECT IT IN PERPETUITY IN THAT STATE.

UH, WE'VE RECENTLY, THE MOST RECENT SUCCESS PROJECT WAS TO PRESERVE JUST SOUTH OF HAVER PARK.

UH, THAT 22 ACRES WAS PURCHASED BY THE CITY OF EDMOND, AND THEY PARTNERED WITH US TO SET THAT ASIDE AS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO KEEP THAT A NATURAL AREA AND AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH CITY STAFF ON REMOVING NON-NATIVE VEGETATION.

USED TO BE A FARM AND ACTUALLY AN ORCHARD.

SO REMOVE, REMOVING, UH, FOUNDATION PLANTINGS FROM THE OLD HOUSE, UH, AND SOME OTHER NON-NATIVE VEGETATION AND REINTRODUCING A NATIVE VEGETATION TO MAKE IT A NATURAL AREA AND BUILDING A BRIDGE FROM HAER PARK INTO THE PRESERVE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN AREA WHERE HAER PARK, IN ESSENCE IS PEOPLE FIRST, NATURE SECOND, BUT THE PRESERVE WOULD BE NATURE FIRST AND PEOPLE SECOND.

AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WE'VE BEEN LABORING IN THE SHADOWS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE WE FACE IS NAME RECOGNITION.

NO ONE KNOWS WE EXIST AND WE'RE TRYING REALLY, REALLY HARD TO GET OUR NAME OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S THIS YEAR THROUGH THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE OR MAILING CAMPAIGNS, OR GIVING TUESDAY OR FINALLY GETTING A TWO DECADE OLD WEBSITE UP TO MODERN SNUFF.

WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL THOSE THINGS TO TRY TO GET OUR SOCIAL NETWORKING FOOTPRINT ENHANCED SO THAT WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY REACH THE CITIZENS OF EDMOND TO PROTECT NATIVE LANDS.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

IN YOUR, UM, APPLICATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING MONUMENTAL CHANGES IN DONATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST, UM, IN 2025, BUT YOU DID SEE YOU DID EXPERIENCE A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN DONATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST.

SO COULD YOU JUST SPEAK MORE TO LIKE THE EXTENT OF THE DONATIONS YOU RECEIVED? DO A DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO CARC FUNDING? WELL, I'LL PROHIBIT IT TO, WELL, PARTLY TO CARC FUNDING JONATHAN, BUT PARTLY BECAUSE WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL IN ASKING.

UM, IT'S AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ASK, AND WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE RETICENT TO ASK FOR HELP.

UH, WE'RE A VOLUNTEER LED ORGANIZATION, AND SO WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT.

WE DID PASS A BYLAW WHERE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR LAND CONSERVANCY ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A DONATION TO LAND CONSERVATION AND THE CONSERVANCY.

SO THAT HELPED WE ACT.

WE WERE INVOLVED IN THE GIVING TUESDAY PROGRAM AND THAT BROUGHT IN A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS AS A FIRST SHOT.

SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

SO, AND THEN A COUPLE OTHER SMALL DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS.

UM, IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND WE'RE A LITTLE BIT EXCITED.

UH, A LADY CONTACTED US, US FROM NORTH OF CRESCENT, INTERESTED IN PUTTING HER LAND IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AND SHE FOUND US AND WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HER A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF OUR STRIKE ZONE UP NORTH OF CRESCENT, BUT WE POINTED HER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE WORD OUT.

IT JUST TAKES TIME AND IT'S, UH, IT'S A CRAWL, NOT LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

DO YOU KNOW, UM,

[00:55:01]

I, I'M PRETTY PLEASED WITH THAT.

I MEAN, I, SO CART FUNDS WERE USED TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR OUTREACH CAMPAIGN AND YOU STATED THAT, UM, AND IT IS GROWING.

YOU'VE UPDATED YOUR WEBSITE.

BUT YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT HIRING A MEDIA CONSULTING FIRM TO HELP WITH YOU.

WE DID DO THAT.

WE HIRED AN EDMUND FIRM CALLED MODERN SOMETHING.

UM, UH, MALE AND FEMALE, MAN AND WOMAN, HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM TO HELP US WITH THAT, TO MODERNIZE OUR LOGO.

UH, WE LOOK FORWARD, WE ACTUALLY USE THEM TO HELP US, UM, COME UP WITH AN IDEA OF BEING IN THE EDMUND LIBERTY FEST PARADE, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A KID DRESSED UP LIKE A WOODPECKER AND A ADULT DRESSED UP LIKE A TREE.

UH, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

UH, BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE NOT ABOVE MAKING FOOLS OF OURSELVES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE EDMUND COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO MORE OF.

WE DID A LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TOO LAST YEAR, BUT THAT DIDN'T YIELD MUCH TURNAROUND MUCH INTEREST.

SO THIS REQUEST AGAIN, IS TO BE USED FOR YOUR OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WHAT DO, DO YOU ANTICIPATE DOING WITH IT? WILL THE MONIES BE USED TO HELP PAY FOR YOUR MEDIA FIRM MEDIA FUNDING? UM, THE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.

ALL OUTREACH COSTS MONEY, WHETHER IT'S FOR SEEDLINGS TO GIVE AWAY TO PEOPLE WORK, THE UCO EARTH DAY FESTIVAL COMING UP THIS MONTH, UH, THOSE TAKE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BANNERS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TABLE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NAME TAG.

UH, SO THERE ARE CERTAIN MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FINANCIALLY PUT UPON US WHEN WE DO THOSE THINGS.

BUT IF YOU DO THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE A YEAR, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO DO A, A TRAINING PROGRAM ON HOW TO MANAGE EXISTING LANDS SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ENHANCING THEIR LANDS FOR WILDLIFE MAY ULTIMATELY BE INTERESTED IN SETTING THAT ASIDE AS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

ALL THOSE THINGS TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, UH, A LOT OF TIME AND A LITTLE BIT OF COORDINATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

EDMOND MOBILE MEALS.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF LITTLE HANDOUTS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.

RECOMMEND $4 PER MEAL IF THEY CAN DO THAT.

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND WANNA FIRST THANK THIS COMMITTEE FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

UM, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PART OF THIS SAFETY NET THAT PROVIDES SERVICES AND CULTURE AND OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKES IT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND EDMOND MOBILE MEALS IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT FOR 52 YEARS.

WE'LL CELEBRATE OUR 52ND ANNIVERSARY IN APRIL, AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, JUST WANNA HIT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.

WE'RE THE MEALS ON MEALS PROGRAM FOR THE EDMOND COMMUNITY.

WE, UM, WE ADDRESS HUNGER AND, UH, FOOD INSECURITY IN EDMOND'S, HOME BOUND AND DISABLED RESIDENTS.

WE ALSO PROVIDE A CONGREGATE MEAL AT THE EDMOND SENIOR CENTER, SO OUR FOCUS IS ON FOOD AND FOOD INSECURITY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, SENIORS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE COUNTRY.

SOME OF THOSE HANDOUTS WILL ILLUSTRATE THAT ON BOTH A NATIONAL LEVEL AND A STATE LEVEL.

UM, AS CHRISTIE MENTIONED EARLIER, OVER 20% OF EDMOND'S POPULATION IS CURRENTLY 60 OR OLDER.

AND, UH, WE ARE READY AND ABLE TO SERVE THOSE FOLKS.

UM, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE SERVED ALMOST 95,000 MEALS LAST YEAR IN EDMOND.

UM, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR, AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THAT.

WE'VE SERVED ALMOST 1.4 MILLION MEALS JUST HERE IN EDMOND SINCE FOUNDING IN 1974.

AND, UM, WE SERVE AN AVERAGE OF 300 HOME DELIVERED MEALS EACH WEEKDAY COVERING A HUNDRED SQUARE MILES OF EDMOND ONLY.

WE SERVE ONLY THE EDMOND COMMUNITY IN ZIP CODES, AND WE PROVIDE ABOUT 60 TO 65 MEALS EACH WEEKDAY OVER AT THE EDMOND SENIOR CENTER.

WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE EVERY RESIDENT WHO NEEDED OUR SERVICE LAST YEAR WITHOUT ANY WAIT LIST.

THAT'S OUR PRIMARY GOAL.

WE NEVER WANT ANYONE TO GO HUNGRY REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR THEIR SERVICE.

ALMOST HALF OF OUR CLIENTS ARE NOW UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TOWARDS THE COST OF THEIR MEALS AND THE AVERAGE AMOUNT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TOWARDS THE COST OF THEIR MEALS, WE

[01:00:01]

UM, THE AVERAGE WE COLLECT IS ABOUT $2 AND 60 CENTS PER MEAL.

SO, UM, MANY, WE KNOW SENIORS ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPENSES THAT THEY HAVE TO TRADE OFF.

UM, SO WE NEVER WANT ANYONE TO GO HUNGRY REGARDLESS OF, UH, WHAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE FOR THEIR MEALS.

LAST YEAR, ONE OF OUR BIG, UM, BIG POINTS OF PRIDE IS THAT WE STARTED A MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL PROGRAM.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON OUR WISHLIST FOR A LONG TIME.

UM, OVER 95% OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65 HAVE AT LEAST ONE CHRONIC HEALTH ILLNESS OR, UM, DISEASE THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

PRIMARILY THE ONE WE FOCUS ON IS DIABETES.

SO WE NOW SERVE AN OPTION FOR OUR CLIENTS TO ENROLL TO RECEIVE A DIABETIC FRIENDLY MEAL.

WE HAVE ABOUT 10% OF OUR CLIENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THAT DIABETIC FRIENDLY MEAL, AND IT'S NOT, UM, WHAT YOU MIGHT PICTURE A DIABETIC FRIENDLY MEAL TO LOOK AND TASTE LIKE.

IT'S, UM, ALSO CHEF CURATED BY OUR CHEFS.

THEY ARE DELICIOUS AND APPEALING AND OUR CLIENTS ARE REALLY ENJOYING THEM.

UM, WE EXPANDED SOME BOUNDARIES TO THE NORTH.

WE'RE DELIVERING, UM, NORTH OF WATERLOO ROAD ON THE NORTH SIDE.

UM, IT'S IN LOGAN COUNTY, BUT STILL PART OF EDMOND.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE STILL HAVE 19 DELIVERY ROUTES, BUT PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE'LL ADD THAT 20TH DELIVERY ROUTE DEPENDING ON, UM, THOSE CLIENTS.

UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 370 ACTIVE CLIENTS, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ACTIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IS WHY WE SERVE ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 300.

WE, UM, HAVE BEEN PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS ROOM, NAMELY THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT FIGHT HUNGER.

UM, THE HOPE CENTER AND PROJECT 66, WE PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL GROCERIES TO HOME BOUND SENIORS WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET THEIR GROCERIES FOR THEMSELVES.

WE DO THAT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOPE CENTER AND, UM, DURING THE, UH, FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE AND THE SNAP FREEZE BACK IN THE FALL.

UM, WE COLLABORATED TO REACH OUT EVEN FURTHER, UM, TO CLI OUR CLIENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT NEED THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.

AND, UM, WE SERVED, I WANNA SAY ABOUT 25 OR 30 ADDITIONAL CLIENTS GROCERIES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO THAT COLLABORATION IS KEY.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH PROJECT 66 TO HELP THEM WITH SOME MEAL DELIVERIES FOR GROCERIES FOR SOME OF THEIR IDENTIFIED CLIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO COME TO THE FACILITY AND PICK UP THEIR, UM, THEIR GROCERIES.

SO WE ARE, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING, UM, WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HONORED TO DO SO.

UM, ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR ME? I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON.

ABOUT ONE 4.4 MILLION MEALS.

, DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? UM, RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS USE THEM.

UM, , MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE AGING OUT THEMSELVES.

SOME OF THEM ARE GOING STRAIGHT FROM BEING A VOLUNTEER, DELIVERING MEALS OR PREPARING MEALS IN THE KITCHEN TO BEING MEAL RECIPIENTS THEMSELVES.

UM, ESPECIALLY IF THEMSELVES OR, OR THEIR SPOUSE OR THEIR, SOMEONE THAT THEY'RE CARING FOR BECOMES HOME BOUND BECAUSE OF A CHRONIC ILLNESS OR A SERIOUS ILLNESS.

BUT, UM, WE HAVE AN AMAZING, AMAZING GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS RIGHT NOW.

OUR ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ARE AT 457.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH 19 DELIVERY ROUTES A DAY AND PREPARING ALMOST 400 MEALS A DAY, WE CAN USE ALL HANDS ON DECK .

ANY OTHER AND I COMMEND YOU ON THAT MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL.

LEVERAGE OVER 160,000 AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO FUND 307 PROJECTS, CREATING 28,000 STUDENT EXPERIENCES.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT.

WE, WE LOVE THAT WE CAN OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THE EDMUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION.

HI, I AM ANITA NASH, AND I WORK FOR THE EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION.

AND ON BEHALF OF OTHER TEACHERS, YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US FUNDING IN THE PAST AND THEY HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENCE GETTING CLASSROOM SUPPLIES THANKS TO THOSE FUNDS.

UM, WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY IS MONEY FOR CLASSROOM SUPPORT THROUGH DONORS CHOOSE.

AND SINCE WE'VE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, THIS PLATFORM, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.

I'VE BEEN THE ONE THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE IT AND OVERSEE IT.

UH, SINCE THE BEGINNING.

IN 2021 TO 2025, WE'VE HAD $370,000 INVESTED, PUTTING AT 1.9 MILLION BACK INTO CLASSROOMS. AND WITH THAT, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER $470,000, 470,000 STUDENT EXPERIENCES BY FUNDING 31,000 PROJECTS.

UM, WITH THE FUNDS THAT YOU ALL GAVE US LAST YEAR, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PUT IN 43,000, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO

[01:05:01]

AND THIS IS ONE THING I WANT TO SHARE.

THERE WAS A TEACHER THAT RECENTLY CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, I TUTOR EVERY SUMMER AND I TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND I USE THEM FOR BASIC CLASSROOM SUPPLIES.

AND SHE SAID, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND TAKE MY FAMILY ON A VACATION.

AND I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S POWERFUL.

THESE TEACHERS QUIETLY DO THEIR OWN MONEY, THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND THEIR OWN TIME SO THAT EDMOND SCHOOLS CAN HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION QUESTIONS.

UH, IN YOUR APPLICATION, YOU SAID IT WAS I THINK LIKE A FOUR TO ONE RATIO OF RETURN.

IS THAT THROUGH MATCHING OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, WITH DONORS CHOOSE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MATCH DAYS, AND SO THERE ARE, LIKE THE GATES FOUNDATION, THE LOFT, THEY WILL, EVEN ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, THEY WILL TAKE FUNDS AND THEY'LL SAY THEY'LL GIVE YOU A ONE-TO-ONE MATCH.

AND SO WE TRY ON THOSE DAYS TO MAXIMIZE THOSE FUNDS.

AND THEN WE EVEN HAVE OTHER DONORS THAT SET A CRITERIA AND WE TRY TO MAXIMIZE THEIR FUNDS WITH CART FUNDS AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF THAT.

AND THAT HAS BEEN SO FAR, OUR ROI ON THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE EDMUND ROUNDUP CLUB.

AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTH THIS, STRENGTHEN OUR ADVERTISING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR HISTORICAL ARCHIVES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I AM KIMBERLY BENNY GRAY WITH THE EDMUND ROUNDUP CLUB, AND WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1941.

THIS IS 85 YEARS FOR US IN THE EDMUND COMMUNITY, 60 YEARS IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE WERE LOCATED WHERE KICKING BIRD GOLF COURSE IS TODAY.

THAT'S JUST A FUN FACT.

UH, WE'VE HELD AN ANNUAL SANCTIONED RODEO FOR OVER 56 YEARS.

LAST YEAR WE HAD CONTESTANTS FROM 11 STATES, 129 TOWNS WITH 250 ENTRIES FOR THAT WEEKEND ALONE.

LAST YEAR, WE ALSO CELEBRATED 30 YEARS FOR OUR JUNIOR RODEO SERIES.

STARTING IN APRIL, WE HELD 14 RODEOS.

AND LAST YEAR WE AVERAGED 191 CONTESTANTS FROM 34 TOWNS, AVERAGING 280 ENTRIES PER EVENING.

THESE CONTESTANTS ARE ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND LAST YEAR OUR YOUNGEST ONE WAS 13 MONTHS OLD THAT PARTICIPATED.

THE EDMUND ROUNDUP CLUB HAD THE HONOR TO BE THE FEATURE EXHIBIT AT THE EDMOND HISTORY MUSEUM LAST YEAR, AND IT RAN FROM APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER TITLED, THIS AIN'T OUR FIRST RODEO.

THE MUSEUM HOSTED A REUNION ON JUNE 21ST TO CELEBRATE ALL ERAS.

WE WERE PROUD TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE SIXTIES, FIFTIES COME AND JOIN US THAT DAY.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

I PROVIDED SOME PICTURES IN THE PACKET AS WELL FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT.

IT WAS JUST NICE TO NOT ONLY BRING THOSE PAST PEOPLE, BUT CURRENT MEMBERS.

AND THEN WE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO OUR FAMILY AS WELL.

K OCTOBER, WE HAD WORKED HARD TO ORGANIZE A FALL PLAY DAY, HOPING TO INVITE THE EDMOND COMMUNITY TO COME ON BOARD TO ENJOY KIND OF A RODEO EXPERIENCE, HANDS-ON FLAG, RACE, RESCUE, RACE STICK, HORSE BARREL RACING AND ROPING COSTUME CONTESTS, HORSES, TRAILER TREATING AND ALL OF THAT.

HOWEVER, WHEN THAT WE CAME, THE, THE WEATHER DIDN'T COOPERATE WITH US, SO WE ENDED UP CANCELING.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE PEN PENCILED THAT IN FOR 2026.

IN ADDITION, LAST YEAR TO THE 16 RODEOS WE HAD, WE HELD 12 BARREL RACING AND POLE EXHIBITION NIGHTS AND COORDINATED WITH THE T MOUNTED SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION TO BECOME ONE OF THEIR PRACTICE LOCATIONS WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF ALL OF THEIR MEMBERS.

THEN BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE EDMUND ROUNDUP CLUB IN NOVEMBER, WE WERE THE CHOSEN LOCATION FOR A FILM CREW, NEW COMMERCIAL MATERIAL FOR TRAVEL.

OKAY, THIS CONTENT WILL BE COMING OUT IN 2026, ACTUALLY STARTING THIS MONTH, AND SEVERAL COMMERCIALS THAT YOU'LL SEE ON TV

[01:10:01]

THIS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR US AS WE STRIVE TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR EVERYONE TO LOOK BACK ON ALL THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES THAT WE'VE CREATED AT THE EDMUND ROUNDUP CLUB.

AND IT'S ALL ITS EVENTS THROUGH THE YEARS.

IN THE LAST YEAR, WE CONTRACTED THROUGH EDMOND, OR I MEAN THE RODEO SPORTS NETWORK.

I'M SORRY.

UH, THEY WERE BASED OUT OF LOUISIANA FOR ONLINE RODEO ENTRIES.

THIS IS THE SAME SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT'S USED BY THE PROFESSIONALS I-P-R-A-P-R-C-A, AS WELL AS THE OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH RODEO ASSOCIATIONS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

WE LAUNCHED AN ONLINE MERCHANDISE STORE AND BRANDED ITEMS, INTRODUCED THE OPTION OF A CREDIT CARD, WHICH IS A NEW THING FOR US ON OUR GATED MISSIONS AS WELL AS CONCESSIONS.

AND JUST IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, WE'VE GIVEN OUR WEBSITE A COMPLETELY NEW UPDATED LOOK CONVERTED BOTH OUR MEMBERSHIPS FROM NOT ONLY PAPER FORM, BUT AN ONLINE AS WELL.

UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ROUNDUP CLUB AND JUNIOR RODEO ASSOCIATIONS.

ALL OF OUR STATE AND OUR SUCCESS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE AMAZING SUPPORT OF OUR CITY OF EDMOND.

YOU ALL ARE SPONSORS, ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS.

WE'RE TRULY BLESSED AND WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.

UM, COULD YOU SPEAK MORE TO, UM, UM, WHERE THESE FUNDS WILL BE GOING THIS YEAR AND, UH, ARE THEY, ARE THEY GOING TO A GENERAL, UH, FUND OR THERE SPECIFIC, UM, ASKS AND COULD YOU SPEC ALSO SPEAK TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH, UM, THE FUNDS GO TO EDMOND BENEFIT EDMOND RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR? YES.

SO EACH YEAR WE PUT ON THAT ANNUAL EXCHANGES RODEO THAT BRINGS IN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

WE PAY A STOCK CONTRACTOR.

AND THAT STOCK CONTRACTOR, UM, PRIOR TO LAST YEAR HAD NOT RAISED HIS FEES FOR US SPECIFICALLY FOR 15 YEARS.

AND THEN WITH THAT CAME THE INCREASE LAST YEAR.

SO THOSE FEES GO DIRECTLY TO PAY HIM TO BRING IN HIS PEOPLE AND TO PUT ON THE RODEO.

IS THIS A RODEO THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH LIBERTY FEST? IT IS.

WE DO ADVERTISE WITH LIBERTY FEST.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 30 YEARS THANK YOU.

WITH THE YOUTH RODEO.

THIS ROOM AND PART OF THIS GROUP, BUT WE PARTNER WITH 80 DIFFERENT GROUP, UH, GROUPS HERE IN THE CITY TO EITHER PROVIDE SHARED SERVICES, SHARED PROGRAMMING OR SHARED STAFF.

YOU KNOW, WHEN, JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE, YOU KNOW, UM, THE ARENA IS NAMED AFTER MY FATHER.

IT'S THE CARL BENNY ARENA.

AND IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION, IT WAS BUILT IN 66 AND EVERY POST OUT THERE WAS HAND DUG BY VOLUNTEERS AND THEY LAID EVERY PIECE OF PIPE BY HAND AT THAT ARENA.

AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE ADMIN COMMUNITY MY WHOLE LIFE AND TO GIVE BACK WHATEVER WE CAN.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.

THE EDMOND YMCA.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

MY NAME'S CHRIS BERRY.

I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE EDMUND YMCAS.

UH, EXCITED TO BE HERE.

TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE Y IN THE COMMUNITY, THE Y'S MISSION IS TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

AND WE DO THAT WITH OUR FOCUS AREAS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMING AROUND OUR PACKAGE TO SHOW OUR IMPACT.

IN 2025, HERE IN EDMOND, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE SERVED ABOUT 36,000 PEOPLE.

THAT COMES OUT TO ABOUT 10,000 KIDS PLAYING Y SPORTS.

OVER 3000 VOLUNTEERS.

WE PROVIDED $263,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EXCUSE ME.

AND THEN WE HAD 919 KIDS IN STRUCTURED CHILDCARE.

SO WHETHER THAT'S BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDED OUR TWO LOCATIONS HERE IN EDMOND, WE SEE ALMOST 500,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE WISE EVERY YEAR COMING IN TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE ALSO TAKE PRIDE IN IS OUR PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE HERE IN

[01:15:01]

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS, UH, ASKED THIS YEAR IS MIRACLE LEAGUE PROGRAM OUT AT MITCH PARK.

SO WE HAVE AN INCLUSIVE SPORTS PROGRAM WITH BASEBALL IN THE SUMMER, UH, SPRING AND FALL.

AND THEN WE DO A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BASKETBALL, SUMMER AND WINTER, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YMCA THUNDER BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

ONE OF THE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IS OUR WEEKEND FEEDING PROGRAM.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP JERRY VALDEZ, OUR ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE IN EDMOND, JUST TO SHARE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM THAT SHE STARTED IN 2019.

AND SHE MAY NOT BRAG ABOUT IT, BUT THEY HAVE NOT MISSED A SINGLE SATURDAY SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2019 THROUGH PANDEMIC SNOW, TORNADO WATCHES, INCLEMENT WEATHER.

THEY'RE OUT THERE SERVING THOSE KIDS.

SO JERRY, SO I'LL BRAG A LITTLE.

I I ONLY HAVE ONE FLYER, SO I THOUGHT IF I JUST PASS IT AROUND, IT'S REALLY A LIVE VIEW.

OUR FLYER SHOWS, UM, OUR VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION ON SATURDAYS.

AND UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY HOLD DEEP IN MY HEART.

THE YMCA HAS THREE FOCUS AREAS.

UM, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT IS THE PART THAT WE'RE NURTURING AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN WITH OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE EVEN IN EDMOND THAT ARE UNDERSERVED.

AND THAT'S HOW THIS PROGRAM REALLY WAS ESTABLISHED.

UM, IT SHOWS ON THE FLYER WHERE WE DO THAT PROGRAM.

IT'S IN COFFEE CREEK APARTMENTS.

AND IF I HAD MY WISH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE.

I KNOW THAT THE NEED IS THERE, ONE OUTTA SIX.

UM, CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM, SO WE WANNA PROVIDE A WEEKEND MEAL FOR THEM.

AND LIKE HE SAID, EVERY SATURDAY WE ARE THERE AND, UM, WE PROVIDE THESE MEALS FOR THEM AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING FED.

IT IS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR STORIES, GRANDPARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT COME OUT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

IT REALLY HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

I HAVE SEEN, UH, THE LITTLE ONES GROW UP AND THEY ARE NOW IN COLLEGE.

SO THAT'S REALLY FASCINATING AND, UH, JUST AWESOME FOR ME TO SEE.

IT'S THAT COMMUNITY, UH, TOUCH THAT WE ARE THERE IN LIVE IN PERSON.

UM, SO I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDS THAT WE DO RECEIVE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO A WORTHY CAUSE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY VOLUNTEERS THAT DO HELP US AND OUR STAFF AND OUR TEAM.

SO, UM, AS OF I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT SINCE UH, NOVEMBER TO LAST WEEKEND, WE HAVE SERVED, UM, OVER 1200 MEALS SINCE NOVEMBER TO NOW.

AND SO I AM VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM.

WE'RE IN OUR EIGHTH YEAR.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

THIS ASK FOR THIS YEAR IS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S AMOUNT.

UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FUNDS STAY HERE IN EDMOND.

WE ALSO, AT THE Y ANYTHING DONATED DOES NOT GO TO PAY ANY OVERHEAD OF THE BUILDING, THE STAFF SALARIES, ELECTRICITY, BILLS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT GOING BACK TO THE SCHOLARSHIP ORDER PROGRAMS IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO REQUIRE THOSE FINANCIAL AID, UH, RECIPIENTS TO APPLY EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY RENEW, DEMONSTRATING A NEED AND THAT THEY STILL CURRENTLY LIVE HERE IN THE CITY OF EDMOND.

SO YOU WILL BE USING SOME OF THE FUNDS FOR THE WEEKEND FOOD PROGRAM.

IT'LL BE PART OF THAT WEEKEND FEEDING PROGRAM.

AND SO OUR ASK FOR KARK IS THAT THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE REQUESTING WOULD OFFSET THOSE FUNDS.

GOOD.

ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU GUYS.

THE FAMILY THERAPY CLINIC.

HELLO? I'M SHORTER THAN HE IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE MOVED IT OR NOT.

THANK YOU .

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS OUR FIRST PRESENTATION AND ASK.

UM, SO MY NAME IS DR.

JESSICA CALLS AND I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY'S MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY PROGRAM.

AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CLINIC THAT IS A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT IS THE FAMILY THERAPY CLINIC.

AND SO WHAT WE DO THROUGH THAT CLINIC IS IT IS AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, LOW COST.

IT IS A SLIDING SCALE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE HIGHEST RATE THAT IS CHARGED IS $75.

AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THAT'S STILL ABOUT HALF OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS RIGHT NOW.

AND SO OUR INCREMENTS ARE 25, 50, 70 $5 AND THERE'S A 35 AS WELL DEPENDING ON REPORTED ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

[01:20:01]

OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR, WE'RE IN OUR FOURTH YEAR AND THE THIRD YEAR OF THE CLINIC SPECIFICALLY.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS THAT WE ARE NEEDING MORE AND MORE, NOT ONLY OFFSETS FOR INCOME, BUT WE HAVE FOLKS COMING IN THAT EVEN BEYOND THEIR SLIDING SCALE RATE ARE NEEDING A DISCOUNT ON TOP OF THAT.

AND FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT BIWEEKLY AND MONTHLY SERVICES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD WHATEVER THEIR RATE MIGHT BE ON A WEEKLY SERVICE.

WE DO NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY BASED OFF OF THEIR INCOME.

AND SO IF SOMEONE'S COMING IN AND THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE GONNA DO BIWEEKLY, AND WE FIND OUT PRETTY QUICKLY THAT THEY'RE DOING BIWEEKLY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF FINANCES, THEN WE WILL OFFER TO CUT THAT RATE IN HALF IF THEY'RE WILLING AND ABLE TO COME WEEKLY BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

UM, WE SERVE INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, FAMILIES, UM, YOUTH, ALL AGES.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO THREE UP TO EIGHTIES AND NINETIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT, UM, OC IS THAT WE GET TO HAVE A TRUE COMMUNITY CLINIC.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER.

SO WE ACTUALLY SERVE VERY FEW STUDENTS.

WE ARE PREDOMINANTLY A COMMUNITY CLINIC.

WE HAVE ANYWHERE, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR, ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 40 PROVIDERS.

SO WHAT THIS WILL DO WILL INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO SERVE EDMOND RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT WILL HELP SUSTAIN, UM, THROUGH THOSE OFFSETS.

AND THAT MIGHT BE THROUGH, UM, THE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY.

UM, IF THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY'RE AT OTHER PLACES GETTING OTHER HOURS AND EXPERIENCES.

UM, IT CAN ALSO, WE'VE BUILT IN TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS THAT OUR CLINIC DIRECTOR WOULD BE ABLE WOULD HAVE TO PUT TOWARDS MANAGING THIS AND MANAGING WHATEVER INCREASED VOLUME.

UM, AND JUST MANAGING THE CLINIC OF, UH, A DIRECTOR OF 30 PROVIDERS.

SO, UM, I'M READY FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL ALSO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING IN MY NOTES TOO.

SO YOUR BUDGET NOW IS AROUND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE PROGRAM AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR 45,000.

SO I'M A LITTLE, UM, JUST CLARIFY FOR ME WHAT THAT, HOW THAT WOULD EXPAND THE PROGRAM MM-HMM .

IS IT JUST OFFSETTING COSTS SO THAT YOUR CURRENT NUMBER OF CLIENTS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO AFFORD, UM, OR NOT THE SAME CLIENTS, BUT THE CAPACITY IS THE SAME, BUT MORE PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO STAY? YES.

OR IS IT TO ADD MORE THERAPISTS, MORE TIME SLOTS, MORE CLIENTS? MM-HMM .

SO I WOULD SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE NATURAL INCREASE IN VOLUME AS PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN ABLE TO USE THEIR INSURANCES OR, UM, WE EVEN GET REFERRALS FROM PLACES LIKE EDMOND FAMILY BECAUSE THEY'RE AT CAPACITY WITH WHAT THEY CAN DO.

AND WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES ON TOP OF THAT.

AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE INCREASING.

WE'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY LONG ENOUGH THAT OUR NATURAL VOLUME IS INCREASING, SO IT HELPS SUPPORT THAT.

UM, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, UM, OUR ABILITY FOR, FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW HAVING TO GO TO DIFFERENT OFFSITES AND EITHER GET DIFFERENT CLINICAL EXPERIENCES OR MAY EVEN BE LIMITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

WE COULD USE THIS TO INCREASE GA SHIPS AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO SUPPORT THE NATURAL VOLUME THAT WE'RE SEEING ANYWAYS.

ABOUT HALF OF OUR CLIENTS ARE EDMOND RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW, AND AROUND 80% OF THOSE ARE ON SOME SORT OF REDUCTION OR DISCOUNT.

UM, AND MANY OF WHOM WE COULD IDENTIFY AS EVEN DOING A DOUBLE DISCOUNT WHERE IT'S LIKE THEY'RE ALREADY DISCOUNTED FROM THE TOP RATE AND THEN THEY'RE NEEDING A DISCOUNT ON TOP OF THAT.

MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE ACTUALLY BEING SEEN BELOW OPERATIONAL COSTS.

AND SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT TO EVEN GET US UP TO OPERATIONAL COSTS, SO THANK YOU.

WE ARE SELF-SUSTAINING, SO THIS DOESN'T HURT US IF IT GETS DENIED, BUT AT SOME POINT WE FORESEE HAVING TO SAY WE'RE, WE CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE HERE OR THERE OR IN THIS WAY, AND WE WOULDN'T WANNA HAVE TO DO THAT IF WE CAN AVOID IT.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR BUDGET, UM, LIKE $33,000 WOULD GO TO OFFSET THE, UM, WOULD BE TO HELP PAY FOR THE ADMIN RESIDENTS WHO ARE, WHO ARE, UM, GOING TO YOUR, UM, CLINIC.

AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S OVER $10,000 THAT'S TO PAY A GRANTS, UH, MANAGER TO ENSURE GRANT COMPLIANCE, UM, UH, BE THIS BEING THE GRANT.

WE FIRST, SO OUR CLINIC DIRECTOR AND IF YOU, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CLINICS IN THE COMMUNITY DOING THE WORK THAT IT'S DOING.

SO, UM, THE, THE MONTHLY REPORTING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE ON ACCURATELY AND ETHICALLY DETERMINING WHO IS USING THIS AND IN WHAT WAY THAT WOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU GUYS.

UM, AND FOR AN HOURLY RATE FOR OUR CLINIC DIRECTOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ACROSS IF WE GET THIS KIND OF VOLUME AND THIS AMOUNT.

UM, THAT WAS YES, WHAT THAT'S FOR.

[01:25:04]

UM, AND THAT'S EVEN THINKING ABOUT STUDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE CLINICAL ASPECT FULL TIME.

UM, AND SO OUR CLINIC DIRECTOR IS CURRENTLY ONLY HALFTIME.

UH, SHE IS HALFTIME FACULTY MEMBER.

AND WE'RE WITH OR WITHOUT THIS AT THE POINT WHERE SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO DO MORE CLINICAL ASPECTS AND LESS FACULTY ASPECTS.

AND SO WITH THIS, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT HER ABILITY TO DO THE CLINICAL SIDE OF THIS WELL.

SO WE WANTED TO BUILD THAT IN SO THAT THIS IS STEWARDED.

WELL, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA RESTATE IT JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

SO YOU'RE, THE FUNDS ARE GOING TOWARDS SUBSIDIZING THESE, UH, SERVICES FOR EDMOND, UH, RESIDENTS MM-HMM .

BY, UM, HELPING YOU RETAIN MORE OF THE STUDENT PRACTITIONERS THAT ARE, THAT COULD BE GOING ELSEWHERE FOR OTHER, OTHER EXPERIENCES.

IS THAT A GOOD SUMMARY? UH, YES, THAT'S FAIR.

WE ARE ALREADY, JUST TO GIVE YOU A, A REAL IMMEDIATE DATA POINT, UM, USUALLY WE HAVE ONE COHORT GRADUATING AND ANOTHER COHORT ONBOARDING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

UM, AND SO A LOT OF TIMES THE COHORT THAT'S GRADUATING GETS TO, UM, TALK WITH OUR CLIENTS ABOUT, HEY, IF YOU WANNA STAY ON, WE CAN TRANSFER YOU TO A FIRST YEAR.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS DO THAT.

WE HAVE SOME CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE WE'VE OPENED.

UM, THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THEY LOVE THE FACILITY AND SO THEY'RE OKAY TRANSFERRING.

UM, OUR FIRST YEARS ARE ALMOST ALREADY FULL.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT CAN WE SUPPORT EVEN THE CLIENTS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE WITH A NEW PROVIDER UP TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DO A WAIT LIST.

UM, AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THAT AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE EITHER SAYING THIS TIME AND DAY IS FULL.

UM, OR YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A PROVIDER AVAILABLE AND THIS WOULD GO TOWARDS SUPPORTING, UM, THOSE BARRIERS THAT WE FORESEE HAPPENING PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO THANK YOU.

WHAT KIND OF PROVIDERS, LICENSED PROVIDERS ARE WORKING THERE? UM, I KNOW THEY'RE IN SCHOOL, BUT WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THE LICENSE THEY'RE PURSUING? YES, SO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.

SO THEY ARE STUDENT THERAPISTS AND THEY'RE HEAVILY SUPERVISED.

SO OUR CORE FACULTY MEMBERS ARE ALL LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, MOST OF WHOM ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SUPERVISORS.

AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY'RE STATE SUPERVISORS IF THEY'RE ADJUNCT.

OUR CORE FACULTY ARE ALL NATIONALLY APPROVED SUPERVISORS.

MUCH OF THE CLINICAL WORK IS DONE IS SUPERVISED ALIVE.

AND SO LIKE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN CLINIC NIGHT WITH A SUPERVISOR THAT IS WATCHING THEM AND THEY EVEN TAKE, UM, IN THE BEGINNING THEY TAKE BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SESSION.

THEY ARE HEAVILY SUPERVISED WITH A LOT OF FEEDBACK.

UM, YES.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

AND IS THAT THE SUPERVISION REQUIRED FOR THEIR LICENSURE? YES.

ONCE THEY, YEAH.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY EXCLUSION CRITERIA BASED ON LIKE RELIGION, ANY IDENTITIES OR? NO, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THAT.

SO WE ARE ON OCS CAMPUS, UM, BUT WE SERVE ANY AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SO IT IS TRULY UP TO THE CLIENT.

UM, PART OF OUR INTAKE PROCESS IS THEIR PREFERENCES.

AND SO WE ASK NATURALLY, UM, THEIR LEVEL OF RELIGIOSITY AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO THEIR TREATMENT AND MATCH THEM WITH A PROVIDER FOR WHATEVER LEVEL THAT THEY WANT.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOLKS THAT COME THAT ARE, UM, ANTI THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND WE SERVE THEM WELL AND HAVE GREAT RETENTION.

SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

FOES OF HONOR.

SO WE KNOW IT'S BEING USED FOR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

MY NAME IS BRANDON BAKER.

I'M WITH FOLDS OF HONOR.

UM, WE'VE GOT A SHEET THAT'S BEING PASSED AROUND THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU THAT'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT IN THE APPLICATION.

UM, SO FOLDS OF HONOR IS AN OKLAHOMA BASED NONPROFIT.

WE'RE BASED IN OWOSSO, OKLAHOMA.

UM, WE'RE A NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION, BUT WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL CHAPTERS.

SO I RUN THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER.

I LIVE AND WORK HERE IN EDMOND, UH, IS WHERE I'M BASED.

I'VE LIVED IN EDMOND FOR 25 YEARS.

UM, SO FOLDS OF HONOR, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF FALLEN AND DISABLED MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

EACH SCHOLARSHIP IS UP TO $5,000 FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

UH, WE, WE FUND ANY FORM OF ACCREDITED EDUCATION.

SO THE MONEY GOES TO THE INSTITUTION ON THE APPLICANT'S BEHALF, UH, NOT DIRECTLY TO THEM.

[01:30:01]

AND THAT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM K THROUGH 12 PRIVATE SCHOOL, CULINARY SCHOOL, TECHNICAL TRADE SCHOOL, TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING, TWO YEAR, FOUR YEAR YEAR UNIVERSITIES, UH, AND ADVANCED GRADUATE DEGREES.

UM, SO OUR TAGLINE SAYS IT BEST, UH, WE HONOR THEIR SACRIFICE, UH, BY EDUCATING THEIR LEGACY.

SO, UM, NATIONWIDE, WE HAVE, UH, THE, WE ACTUALLY JUST CLOSED TODAY OUR APPLICATIONS FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR THAT COMING FALL.

UH, AND EVERY YEAR WE RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS.

WE'LL HAVE 25,000 ACROSS THE NATION THIS YEAR, UP FROM 22,000 LAST YEAR.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO EDMOND? SO IN OKLAHOMA, WE'RE THE SIXTH LARGEST STATE BY NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS THAT RECEIVE FOLDS OF HONOR SCHOLARSHIPS IN OKLAHOMA.

LAST YEAR WE HAD 396 RECIPIENTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY FUND.

UH, WE DID HAVE ANOTHER 187 THAT WE GAVE PARTIAL STIPENDS TO THAT WE WERE JUST NOT ABLE TO FULLY FUND THEIR REQUEST.

UM, SO EDMOND EDMOND IS THE LARGEST OF ALL THE CITIES ACROSS OKLAHOMA IN NUMBER OF APPLICANTS AND NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS.

SO WE HAD 43 LAST YEAR THAT WE FUNDED TO A TOTAL OF $205,000.

UH, AND SO THEY WERE RESIDENTS OF EDMOND.

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.

I DID GIVE YOU SOME BASIC NUMBERS OF A FEW SCHOOLS RIGHT HERE IN EDMOND.

UH, BUT THESE WERE RESIDENTS THAT MAYBE THEY WENT OFF TO COLLEGE IN ANOTHER STATE OR, UH, THEY WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

UH, NOT IN EDMOND, UH, BUT WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER ALSO HERE IN EDMOND AS WELL.

UH, BUT REALLY THE KEY NUMBER IS DOWN HERE IN RED.

UH, WE ALSO HAD 17 EDMOND RESIDENTS THAT WENT UNFUNDED LAST YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN.

UM, SO EACH ONE OF THOSE IS UP TO $5,000.

UH, SO THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO FULLY FUND AS MANY REQUESTS AS WE CAN.

UH, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR SECOND PAGE THERE, IT WILL SHOW YOU THE FAMILY THAT WE FUNDED LAST YEAR WAS AN EDMUND, UH, RESIDENT FAMILY.

UH, A COUPLE OF SISTERS THAT ATTEND UCO.

UH, SO ALL OF THE $10,000 THAT WE WERE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, UH, WAS FUNDED TO THEM.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A RESTRICTED DONATION.

YOU ALL WANT THE MONEY TO GO TO EDMOND RESIDENCE.

SO WE DO THAT AS A RESTRICTED DONATION IN OUR SYSTEM.

SO THE MONEY THAT WE RAISE, WE KNOW GOES TO EDMOND RESIDENCE.

SO AT THAT POINT, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

FOSTERING SWEET DREAMS. HELLO AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES RATHER FROM THE BOARD OR JUST PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCES.

SO, HELLO, UM, I AM CHRISTY PAYNE.

I AM THE FOUNDER AND THE PRESIDENT ON THE BOARD FOR FOSTERING SWEET DREAMS. WE ARE A NONPROFIT HERE IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR OKLAHOMA'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

UM, I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT, BUT I'M GONNA NARROW IT DOWN TO MAYBE FOUR.

UM, THIS MONTH MARKS US BEING A DECADE OLD, SO THAT'S HUGE FOR US.

WE'RE 10 YEARS OLD.

WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING ALL MONTH.

UM, THAT'S SUPER EXCITING WHEN WE WERE JUST A LITTLE TINY NONPROFIT THAT STARTED OUT WITH A $1,200 CHECK.

MOST OF YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD THAT STORY.

UH, THE SECOND THING I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND SHE'S HERE TODAY, IS WE WERE ABLE TO BRING, UM, ANGIE ON CLEMONS ASSOCIATES.

MOST OF YOU GUYS KNOW HER TO HELP US TO BRING IN MORE GRANTS AND MORE FUNDS FOR FOSTERING SWEET DREAMS. SO SHE IS CONTRACTED THROUGH US.

OKAY, SO, UH, ANOTHER EXCITEMENT FOR FOSTERING SWEET DREAMS IS THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUGAL WITH OUR MONEY.

WE ARE VERY WISE WITH OUR MONEY.

SO OUR ASK IS LESS THAN 10% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET AS YOU ALL HAVE THE PAPERWORK THERE.

AND WE'RE ALSO NOT HOUSE POOR.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY, VERY SMART AND FRUGAL WITH OUR MONEY, AND WE OPERATE OUT OF EDMOND AND WE HAVE EXTREMELY GREAT RENT.

WE'VE CONSTANTLY SEEK THAT.

WE HAVE HAD TO MOVE AROUND A FEW TIMES TO KEEP THAT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

UM, I JUST GOT RAISED THIS YEAR TO, UH, 2300 A MONTH.

SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S REALLY WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

WE STILL, HOWEVER, WANT TO PURCHASE OUR OWN BUILDING EVENTUALLY, AND WE HAVE A FUND SET ASIDE FOR THAT, AND THAT WILL ALSO BE IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

SO WITH

[01:35:01]

THAT BEING SAID, ANY QUESTIONS COME ON, .

I KNOW THERE'S QUESTIONS.

THERE'S JUST A TREND THAT IF SO, NONE OF THE NEW APPLICANTS SHOULD BE NERVOUS, BUT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS YEAR OVER YEAR, AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.

SO YES, WE'VE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL TO EDMOND.

WE'RE ABLE TO STAY IN EDMOND BECAUSE OF EDMOND.

WE LIKE TO SAY THAT.

UM, AND IT HELPS US WITH OUR OPERATING BUDGET QUITE A BIT.

AND WE GET TO, UH, THE ONE THING I THINK SOME OF YOU KNOW AND SOME OF YOU DON'T.

ONE OF OUR REQUIREMENTS HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS IS THAT OUR, UM, OUR RECIPIENTS COME TO US TO PICK UP.

AND SO WE HAVE SERVED 68 OF THE 77 COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA WITH BEDS AND LARGE TANGIBLE ITEMS. UM, BUT THE ONE THING, THEIR SKIN IN THE GAME, RATHER IT'S A CASEWORKER OR A PARENT OR A GRANDPARENT OR AN AUNT, UNCLE OR A TEACHER, IS FOR THEM TO COME HERE.

AND SO THEY COME AND THEY DO A PICKUP ON ONE OF OUR PICKUP DAYS.

UM, A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT INDIAN TRIBES COME, UH, WITH TRAILERS AND TRUCKS TO GET THE BEDS FOR THE CHILDREN THEY'RE PICKING UP.

AND UH, IT'S JUST A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE INTO EDMOND AND WE'RE VERY, UH, PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE THAT ALSO BRINGS MORE RESOURCES TO EDMOND.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

HEARTLINE.

HI, I'M BETH BURKE.

I AM WITH HEARTLINE 2 1 1.

AND, UH, YOU GUYS FUNDED US LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE CHANGES IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND THINGS, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN A REAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND YOUR DONATION HAS ALLOWED US TO EXPAND OUR STAFFING BY ONE PERSON.

WE'RE HOPING TO GROW IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, THIS YEAR.

AND SO, UM, IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH 2 1 1, WHAT WE ARE IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE IN NEED AND THE AGENCIES LIKE THIS THAT PROVIDE THE, THE DIRECT SERVICE.

AND SO FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY HAVE NEVER NEEDED A FOOD PANTRY BEFORE OR NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT.

AND SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN SO THEY CAN CALL US.

WE HAVE 18,000 RESOURCES IN OUR DATABASE, AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH AN AGENCY THAT'S CLOSE TO THEM THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICE THEY'RE NEEDING.

AND SO, UM, YOU ASK FOR US TO TELL YOU SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IN THE LAST YEAR, UM, OUR WAIT TIMES HAVE INCREASED IT.

PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO STAY ON THE PHONE UP TO FIVE MINUTES TO GET AN ANSWER SOMETIMES, BUT EVERY SINGLE CALL WAS ANSWERED AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON DID NOT FEEL RUSHED.

WE HAVE NO TIME LIMITS ON HOW LONG WE TALKED TO SOMEBODY.

WE WANT TO HEAR THEIR STORY, HOW THEY ENDED UP THERE, AND WE'RE NOT BEING NOSY, BUT WE WANNA KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO FOCUSED ON HAVING TO FEED THEIR KIDS AND NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO BUY THAT FOOD THAT THEY CAN'T THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY LOST THEIR JOB AND THEIR CAR WAS REPOSSESSED.

AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE, WE WANNA KNOW SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OTHER RESOURCES BEYOND THAT FOOD PANTRY.

AND SO, UM, SO WE, WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD UNITED WAY PARTNER, AND UM, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO US THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE TALK TO FEELS A LITTLE BIT MORE HOPEFUL AT THE END OF THAT CALL.

SO, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

YOU GUYS ARE MAKING THIS EASY ON ME.

OH.

SO HOW DOES, HOW DOES IT BENEFIT EDMOND SPECIFICALLY? SO, UM, WE TAKE, WE TOOK JUST A LITTLE UNDER 5,000 CALLS FROM EDMOND IN THE LAST YEAR.

UM, I'VE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE, UM, EDMOND CONNECT AND SO I'VE BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON SENIORS, THE SENIOR GROWTH IN EDMOND.

I LIVE IN EDMOND.

AND SO, UM, I LOVE COMING TO THOSE MEETINGS 'CAUSE I GET TO GO HOME EARLY.

UM, BUT SO, UH, SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE HELP EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.

OUR TECHNICALLY HEARTLINES COUNTIES ARE CENTRAL AND WESTERN PART OF THE STATE, BUT WE CONTRACT WITH EASTERN OKLAHOMA TO HANDLE THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND SO, UM, SO WE HELP EDMOND BY NUMBER ONE, KNOWING WHAT RESOURCES ARE HERE,

[01:40:01]

WORKING WITH THE AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION'S CORRECT.

AND BY ALLOWING THE PERSON TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, THERE'S SOME RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT IN EDMOND.

AND SO WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THAT RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE.

THEY MAY JUST HAVE TO TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT FURTHER SOUTH TO GET THAT RESOURCE.

UM, SOMEBODY NEEDING AN ID.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO WAIT AROUND UNTIL ANOTHER AGENCY CAN PROVIDE THAT THEY'RE AGENT AN AN AGENCY IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT.

IT'S NOT AN EASY TREK, BUT WE ALSO CAN, CAN GIVE THEM INFORMATION ON, ON TRANSPORTATION, ON HOW TO GET THERE.

SO EVERY ONE OF OUR RESOURCES IN THE METRO, IN ADDITION TO THE DESCRIPTION OF, OF WHAT SERVICES PROVIDED AND THE ELIGIBILITY AND HOW THEY GO ABOUT OBTAINING THAT, SIGNING UP FOR THAT RESOURCE IS THE BUS NUMBER.

AND SO, UM, SO PEOPLE, PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY GET THAT RESOURCE WHAT BUS THEY NEED TO TAKE TO GET TO THAT LOCATION.

SO ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

HAVE A MOTION.

I WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE A BIOLOGICAL BREAK.

, DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

THE PATIENT WILL COME BACK TO ORDER AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE HOPE CENTER.

IT'S NICE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING OUR APPLICATION.

UM, HOPE CENTER IS A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY.

WE HELP WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, RENT, AND UTILITIES.

THIS IS OUR 42ND YEAR TO BE PROVIDING SERVICES TO EDMOND.

ALL THE CLIENTS THAT WE SEE ARE EDMOND OR OUR ARCADIA RESIDENTS, UH, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT THEY LIVE IN THAT ZIP CODE AREA.

THIS YEAR WE, UH, HAVE ASKED FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP PAY FOR RENT.

LAST YEAR WE SAW THAT, UM, 53% OF THE CASH PAYMENTS WE MADE FOR RENT AND UTILITIES WENT FOR RENT.

SO WE'VE GOT AN INCREASING NEED.

PEOPLE ARE STILL FALLING BEHIND IN THEIR JOBS, THEY'RE UNDEREMPLOYED.

AND SO WE SEE THAT NEED TO, UH, ASSIST A LITTLE MORE WITH RENTAL PAYMENTS.

LAST YEAR WE, OUR GRANT WAS FOR $80,000 FOR FOOD.

I THINK WE SPENT THAT ALL IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.

WE, UH, $80,000 PROVIDED FOOD FOR 3,200 INDIVIDUALS AND WE ACTUALLY HAD, UH, 18,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVED LAST YEAR.

SO, UH, FOOD IS AN, IS AN ONGOING NEED, BUT IT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND AND, AND, UH, MAKE SOME OTHER ARRANGEMENTS AND, AND HELP WITH FOOD.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT LAST YEAR WE DID NOT HAVE TO, UH, DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE.

OUR FOOD PACKAGE INCLUDES FRESH ITEMS LIKE MILK, EGGS, CHEESE, IT'S GOT BUTTER, UM, FROZEN HAMBURGER AND FROZEN CHICKEN.

AND SO WE WERE VERY PROUD THAT LAST YEAR WE DID NOT HAVE TO REDUCE ANY OF THAT OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE COULD SERVE PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WANNA SHIFT THIS YEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT AS PEOPLE REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH RENT, THAT WE CAN MEET THAT NEED FOR THEM AND, UH, PREVENT THEIR EVICTION BECAUSE EVICTION IS, UH, ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF, OF THEIR HOU HOME, ONCE THEY'RE EVICTED, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO RENT.

SO WE WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THAT.

THAT IN A NUTSHELL, AS WHAT WE DO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO LAST YEAR IT WAS, YOU ASKED FOR MONEY FOR FOOD, BUT YOU FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR YOU CAN STILL MEET THOSE NEEDS, FOOD NEEDS, BUT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE EVICTION? YES.

WE WERE, UH, LAST YEAR WE WERE, WE STILL HAD SOME, UM, CDBG GRANT MONEY MM-HMM THAT WE HAD, UH, RECEIVED FOR EVICTION PREVENTION.

SO WE STILL HAD THAT MONEY THAT WE WERE HELPING PEOPLE WITH.

AND THE FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR LAST YEAR WAS, TOOK A PRIORITY BECAUSE WE DID HAVE MORE PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE.

AND THEN WITH, UM, SOME OF THE CHANGES IN FEDERAL BENEFITS, WE NEEDED IT MORE LAST YEAR.

OR ARE YOU PAYING PARTIAL OR HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? I KNOW SOME NONPROFITS DO THAT.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SO HOW ARE YOU PAYING FULL RENT

[01:45:01]

SO IT'S TYPICALLY, IT'S PARTIAL AND, AND WE KIND OF ROUGHLY LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHOSE RENT WE PAID LAST YEAR AND TAKE WHAT WE'VE GOT BUDGETED AND WHAT WE RECEIVE IN GRANTS AND JUST KIND OF DIVIDE THAT OUT INTO, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES OUT TO $600 PER HOUSEHOLD.

SO THAT'S OUR STARTING POINT.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED THAT MUCH, BUT, AND THEN WE HAVE OTHERS WHO, UM, MAYBE DUE TO ILLNESS WOULD NEED MORE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE BALANCE IT.

IS IT A ONE TIME THING OR CAN THEY COME BACK FOR ASSISTANCE? TYPICALLY IT'S ONCE PER YEAR.

HOW DO THEY QUALIFY FOR THAT ASSISTANCE? THEY, LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN AN EDMOND OR ARCADIA ZIP CODE.

WE ASK THEM TO PROVIDE A LEASE SO WE CAN SEE WHO LIVES IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

WE ALSO WANT TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A LATE NOTICE OR A REAL EVICTION NOTICE.

A LOT OF TIMES, UM, OUR CLIENTS WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE THAT SAYS EVICTION NOTICE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THEM.

IT'S MORE OF A DEMAND FROM THE LANDLORD.

INSTEAD, IF WE DETERMINE THAT WE CAN HELP THEM, WE ALWAYS WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY, IF THEY OWE A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ALL THAT WE CAN HELP THEM WITH IS SAY, SEVEN 50, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE FULL AMOUNT IS PAID SO THEY, THEIR SKIN IN THE GAME WOULD BE THAT ADDITIONAL TWO 50.

WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD.

IF IN IT'S APARTMENT, OF COURSE IT'LL GO TO AN APARTMENT.

IF IT'S A, A INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER, WE VERIFY THEIR OWNERSHIP WITH, WE CHECK, UH, COUNTY PROPERTY RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING THE, THE REAL PROPERTY OWNER AND, UH, THAT IT GETS DIRECTLY TO THEM.

ARE YOU FINDING THAT LANDLORDS ARE RECEPTIVE TO THAT MODEL OR DO THEY LIKE, OR ARE YOU RUNNING THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY ARE.

THERE ARE SOME THAT DON'T BECAUSE WE ALSO REQUIRE THAT THEY GIVE US A W NINE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.

UH, SOME OF THEM RESIST THAT SIGNIFICANTLY .

SURE, SURE.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

DO YOU WORK ALONGSIDE ANY OTHER OF THE, UM, LIKE PROJECT 66 OR ANYBODY ELSE? WITH FOOD? WITH FOOD? UM, WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT MODEL, SO I, I MEAN WE, WE COOPERATE SOME, BUT AS FAR AS THE FOOD, I WOULD SAY, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU SAY OUR MODEL IS JUST DIFFERENT, THE WAY WE GIVE PEOPLE A PREPACKAGED FOOD ORDER, AND I KNOW THEIRS IS A, UM, CLIENT CHOICE.

OURS, WE WORKED WITH OUR WIC DIETICIANS WHO DESIGNED OUR PACKAGE.

SO EVERYTHING IN OUR PACKAGES, UH, TO THE DIETICIAN STANDARD.

SO IT'S THE SAME EVERY TIME YOU COME, YOU WOULD GET THE SAME PACKAGE.

ANY OTHER? THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU LILYFIELD.

I'M HOLLY TOWERS WITH LILYFIELD.

I RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF YOU FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.

I WANNA START OUT BY SAYING THAT APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

WE WEAR BLUE FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.

SO I'M WEARING MY BLUE TODAY TO REMIND US ALL THAT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO HELP RESOURCE FAMILIES TO REDUCE THE INSTANCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, HOPEFULLY TO ERADICATE IT COMPLETELY.

UH, OUR PROGRAM, WE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT LILY FIELD.

WE ARE, UH, A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SOME VULNERABILITY AROUND THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICALLY IN EDMOND, WE'RE OPERATING A CLINICAL COUNSELING PROGRAM THAT IS PRIMARILY GEARED TOWARDS FAMILIES THAT EITHER HAVE HAD FOSTER CHILDREN, HAVE CHILDREN THAT THEY'VE ADOPTED, OR IN SOME CASES GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, FA FAMILIES THAT HAVE TAKEN GUARDIANSHIP, ANY, ANY OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE CHILDREN HAVE HAVE GONE IN BETWEEN HOMES FOR WHATEVER REASON.

WE KNOW, UM, THAT THESE CHILDREN HAVE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NEEDS.

WHAT WE FIND THEY MOST, MOSTLY THEY HAVE SENIOR CARE.

YOU SAW THAT ON THE, UM, SLIDE ABOUT THE NEEDS.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND SOONER CARE PROVIDERS BECAUSE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE SO LOW.

SO I'M A CLINICIAN.

WHEN I CAME TO LILLY FIELD, I DECIDED THAT WE WOULD, UM, LAUNCH A COUNSELING PROGRAM AND WE WOULD RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE MOST HIGH QUALITY CLINICAL COUNSELING SERVICES NEEDED FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN.

IT'S ABOUT $130 PER CLINICAL HOUR THAT IT COSTS US SOONER CARE IF A CHILD

[01:50:01]

HAS SOONER CARE.

WE GET REIMBURSED ANYWHERE FROM 68 TO $73, UM, AT CLINICAL HOUR FOR THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO RAISE THE, THE REST OF THAT MONEY.

ALL OF OUR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE DO HAVE, UH, SOONER CARE.

SO THAT'S HELPFUL, BUT IT DOESN'T COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF SERVING THAT FAMILY.

MOST PROVIDERS HAVE A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF SOONER CARE CLIENTS THEY WILL TAKE, WHICH MEANS OUR FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES LIVING IN EDMOND HAVE A HARD TIME ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES.

LILY FIELD HAS NO CAP.

ALMOST EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS IS A SENIOR CARE CLIENT OR UNINSURED.

AND, UH, WE DO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE.

PEOPLE CAN PAY AS LITTLE AS ZERO TO COME AND SEE US.

AND, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT SERVICE.

SO IN OUR EDMOND OFFICE, WHICH IS OUR, UH, FIRST OFFICE THAT WE EVER HAD IS A, A NINTH.

AND, UM, WE'RE AT, UH, 15TH AND 15TH AND RANKIN RIGHT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, WE SEE A VARIETY OF FAMILIES.

WE HAVE FOUR CLINICIANS WORKING THERE.

I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CLINICIAN THIS YEAR IN OUR ADMIN OFFICE.

UM, WE FILL THOSE SPOTS ALMOST AS SOON AS WE ADD THAT CLINICIAN.

WE HAVE HAD A WAITING LIST AS LONG AS NINE MONTHS.

THAT'S NOT JUST LILY FILLED, THAT'S EVERYBODY.

IT JUST TELLS YOU THE NEED.

BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF OUR CLINICIAN, WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT WAITING LIST, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T NEED AN AFTERSCHOOL OR EVENING SLOT.

THAT'S THE HARDEST BECAUSE THEY'RE A CLINICIAN ONLY HAS SO MANY HOURS THAT THEY CAN SEE, UH, CLIENTS.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER NICHE THAT WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE, OUR CLINICIANS ARE, UM, SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE DONE INFANT MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND THEY'RE ALL SORT, THEY ALL HAVE DONE THE CHILD AND PARENT PSYCHOTHERAPY MODEL, WHICH IS THE ONLY EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL FOR CLINICAL INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE.

AND SO WE ARE SERVING ESPECIALLY THOSE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE THOSE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN REALLY TRYING TO MEET THOSE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS VERY EARLY ON.

SO HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM YOU.

OVERALL AFFLUENCE, THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS REMAIN UNINSURED AND OKLAHOMA CONTINUES TO RANK AMONG THE HIGHEST FOR THOSE UNINSURED RATES, EVEN LOCALLY.

SO WHAT POPULATION OF EDMOND RESIDENTS WOULD YOU SAY WAS SERVED? WE SERVE A LOT OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.

UM, NOT, NOT EXCLUSIVELY, OF COURSE WE DON'T.

WE, WE SERVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE OTHER KINDS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCES IN THEIR PAST.

BUT WE ARE SERVING MANY, MANY FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 6,000 KIDS IN FOSTER CARE RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE NUMBER'S BEEN AS HIGH AS 13,000.

AND DURING MY CAREER OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, UM, KIDS THAT EXIT CARE, MANY OF THEM, ABOUT 25% ARE ADOPTED.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EDMOND FAMILIES WHO HAVE OPENED THEIR HOMES TO ADOPTION.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE FAMILIES IS ONCE THAT ADOPTION IS FINALIZED, THE SERVICES ARE GONE.

AND THOSE KIDS BRING ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES INTO THE HOME WITH THEM.

SO WE SERVE A LOT OF POST ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND ACTIVE FOSTER FAMILIES.

UM, RIGHT HERE IN THE EVAN COMMUNITY, ABOUT TWO IN ABOUT ONE IN 50 CHILDREN HAVE, HAVE ADOPTION AS ARE ADOPTED.

SO THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING STATISTIC FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THAT MEANS IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH TWO FOURTH GRADE CLASSROOMS, THERE'S LIKELY ONE CHILD IN, IN THAT COHORT THAT WAS ADOPTED.

SO PRETTY COMMON.

HMM.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MINISTRIES OF JESUS.

HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TODAY.

MY NAME IS KATIE MOORE AND I'M THE GRANT AND IMPACT STORY WRITER WITH MINISTRIES OF JESUS.

SO I HOPE TODAY TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE OUR 26 27 CLARK FUNDING REQUEST AND HOW THIS INVESTMENT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT UNINSURED AND FINANCIAL FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE UND RESIDENTS MINISTRIES OF JESUS HAS SERVED CENTRAL OKLAHOMA SINCE 2001.

THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

IN DOING SO, WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING WHOLE PERSON CARE TO UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS WHO FALL WITHIN 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE, BUT IT IS DEEPLY INTENTIONAL.

WE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS BY DEMONSTRATING HIS LOVE THROUGH COMPASSIONATE CARE, ADDRESSING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS TOGETHER NOT IN ISOLATION.

ALL OF OUR SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, COUNSELING, AND RECOVERY, ARE DELIVERED UNDER ONE ROOF RIGHT HERE IN EDMOND WITH ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY CARE PROVIDED THROUGH STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

OUR PRIMARY POPULATION INCLUDES UNINSURED ADULTS THAT AGE THAT RAGE WITH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 65, WHO ARE OFTEN INELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID OR EMPLOYER SPONSORED INSURANCE.

IMPORTANTLY, EDMOND RESIDENTS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT AND DOCUMENTED PORTION OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE.

34% OF OUR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PATIENTS ARE EDMOND RESIDENTS AND 27% OF OUR COUNSELING CLIENTS AND 75% OF OUR RECOVERY RECOVERY PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO RESIDENTS OF EDMOND RESIDENCY IS VERIFIED AND TRACKED BOTH AT INTAKE AND THROUGHOUT A PATIENT'S CARE.

DESPITE EDMOND'S

[01:55:01]

SINCE THIS DATA CONFIRMS MEANINGFUL GAPS IN COVERAGE, WHICH SIGNALS A CONTINUED NEED FOR CHARITABLE CARE, OUR $60,600 REQUEST DIRECTLY SUPPORTS CORE PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL LEADERSHIP ENSURING THAT SERVICES REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND OF A HIGH QUALITY.

SO TO BREAK IT DOWN, WE ARE REQUESTING $24,000 FROM MEDICAL PATIENT CARE.

THIS WILL COVER SPECIALTY CARE, DIAGNOSTICS, IMAGING, MEDICATION, AND SURGERY FEES.

$10,000 OF OUR ASK WILL GO TOWARD OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S SALARY TO SUSTAIN CLINICAL OVERSIGHT.

SHE IS OUR ONLY PAID DOCTOR ON STAFF.

$3,600 WOULD BE FOR DENTAL PATIENT CARE FOR ADVANCED PROCEDURES NOT AVAILABLE IN-HOUSE.

$8,000 WILL GO TOWARD OUR DENTAL CLINIC DIRECTOR'S LEADERSHIP.

HE IS OUR ONLY PAID DENTIST ON STAFF.

AND THEN $15,000 WILL GO TOWARDS COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIPS, PROVIDING FREE LICENSED COUNSELING FOR UNINSURED EDMOND RESIDENTS.

AND THEN THIS YEAR IT ALSO INCLUDES NEW SUPPORT FOR BOYS RANCH TOWN YOUTH IN EDMOND THAT WE SEE FREE OF CHARGE.

THESE FUNDS REMOVE COST BARRIERS SO THAT CARE DECISIONS ARE BASED ON MEDICAL NEED AND NOT FINANCIAL ABILITY.

OUR CURRENT CAR FUNDING ALREADY PRODUCES MEASURABLE RESULTS IN THIS CURRENT GRANT CYCLE, 59% OF OUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO SUPPORT MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR EDMOND RESIDENTS.

FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED LIFE CHANGING INTERVENTIONS, INCLUDING A VISION SAVING SURGERY FOR AN ADMIN RESIDENT THAT WAS FACING BLINDNESS, BUT HELPED COVER THE SURGERY CENTER FEES, BOTH DOCTORS OR ADMIN OPHTHALMOLOGISTS THAT DONATED THEIR SERVICES FOR FREE.

MOJ LEVERAGES EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIPS, FREE LABS DONATED MRIS AND CT SCANS, REDUCED RATES, SPECIALTY CARE, ENSURING THAT EVERY DOLLAR IS MULTIPLIED IN CLOSING.

MINISTRIES OF JESUS ADVANCES EDMOND'S VISION FOR A HEALTHY, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY ENSURING UNINSURED NEIGHBORS RECEIVE TIMELY, COORDINATED AND COMPASSIONATE CARE.

THIS FUNDING IS NOT JUST ASSISTANT, IT'S A BRIDGE TO HEALING, STABILITY, AND HOPE FOR EDMOND RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

YOU GUYS ARE HELPING US MAKE A BIG IMPACT.

SO ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRAT, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 25 YEARS.

AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

FOOD HELP OR, UM, ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

MISSION 1 43.

HELLO, MY NAME'S LAUREN MILLER AND I AM THE FOUNDER DIRECTOR.

ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW OF MISSION 1 4 3.

WE ARE A MINISTRY BASED OUT OF NEW COVENANT CHURCH THAT EXISTS TO, UM, HELP THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED OR THOSE THAT ARE FACING EVICTION.

UH, WHAT STARTED ALL OF THIS, I'VE GROWN UP IN EDMOND.

I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I WAS, UM, A GRADUATE OF EDMUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BOTH MY KIDS ARE AS ARE IN EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.

UM, I SAW A NEED, I SAW A NEED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND MET A MAN THAT WAS UNHOUSED LIVING AT THE DOG PARK OVER ON 33RD AND AND BOULEVARD.

AND HE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIRECTION OR ANY FAMILY OR ANY FRIENDS ADVOCATING FOR HIM.

SO WE STEPPED IN.

I WALKED THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS STARTING WITH NO IDENTIFICATION ALL THE WAY TO HOUSING.

HE'S A SENIOR, SO HE ENDED UP IN ASSISTED LIVING AND THEN IN NURSING CARE AFTERWARDS.

BUT AS I WALKED THROUGH THAT, I REALIZED THAT THERE WERE NOT SINGLE ENTITIES WITHIN EDMOND THAT WERE SERVING THE UNHOUSED BEGINNING TO END.

AND SO WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, I'VE MADE A LOT OF CONNECTIONS.

UM, HOMELESS ALLIANCE IS ONE THAT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER, I HAVE WORKED BETWEEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND EDMOND.

I RECENTLY IN THE LAST MONTH WENT ON STAFF WITH NEW COVENANT AND NOW MY FOCUS WILL BE SOLELY IN EDMOND MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE WILL BE WORKING SOLELY WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

AND ABOUT 90 IS WHAT WE'RE WE'RE GUESSING IN EDMOND AS WELL AS FAMILIES WITHIN EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO ARE CONSIDERED UNHOUSED THROUGH MCKINNEY BENTO.

UH, WE STEP IN WITH HOTEL ROOMS. WE STEP IN WITH HELP WITH, UM, FIRST MONTH'S RENT AND DEPOSITS.

AND WE REALLY DO THE WRAPAROUND ADVOCACY OF GETTING UBERS TO PLACES IF THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, HELPING WALKING THEM THROUGH HOW TO RECEIVE BENEFITS AS WELL AS, UM, JUST CARING FOR THEM AND GIVING THEM COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY AREN'T DOING THIS ALONE.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING I SEE IS THAT WE DON'T TREAT CLIENTS WITH, UM, WITH A ONE TRANSACTION TYPE OF THING.

WE'RE WALKING 'EM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE'RE WALKING ALONGSIDE THEM AFTER AS WELL, SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE'RE PROVIDING LONG-TERM STABILITY AND THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO COME BACK TO ALL OF THESE ENTITIES FOR RENTAL HELP OR

[02:00:01]

ANY QUESTIONS? SO YOUR REQUEST IS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR YES.

SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ENTITIES IN EDMOND, THEY'RE PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT VERY RARELY ARE THEY COVERING THE ENTIRE AMOUNT THAT'S NECESSARY TO AVOID EVICTION.

SO WE WILL WORK WITH OTHER, UM, FAITH-BASED ENTITIES, HOPE CENTER AND WE WILL REQUIRE THAT PROMISE TO PAY AS WELL.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL COVER A PARTIAL AMOUNT OF THAT EVICTION OF WORKING ALONGSIDE OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN ADMIN TO COME UP WITH THAT FULL AMOUNT.

'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, AS WE KNOW WITH COST OF LIVING HERE, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT EVICTION NOTICES OF UPWARDS OF $1,500 AND THERE'S NOT AN ENTITY I'VE MET HERE THAT CAN COVER THAT WHOLE AMOUNT FOR INDIVIDUALS, UH, BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO HIGH.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR ELIGIBILITY ARE, HAVE YOU FILED FOR TAX INCOME TAX EXEMPTION WITH THE IRS? SO WE RUN UNDER THE 5 0 1 C3 OF NEW COVENANT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT HAS SOLELY BEEN, I, THIS WAS NEVER A PLAN OF MINE.

THIS WAS NEVER A GOAL TO HAVE A NONPROFIT BY ANY MEANS.

BUT I HAVE THE STAFF THROUGH NEW COVENANT AND THEY HAVE USED THEIR BUDGET TO HIRE ME PART-TIME.

I USE ALL OF THEIR ACCOUNTING.

THE BOARD LOOKS AT ALL OF OUR ITEMS AS WELL.

AND THEN, UH, WE ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO THEY'RE YOUR FISCAL SPONSOR? YES.

YOU ARE WELCOME.

, YOU ALLUDED TO THIS A SECOND AGO THAT YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THE THINGS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A LOT AND I WONDER IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO NOT DO ALL OF THE THINGS.

YES, I DO.

UM, SO I AM LITERALLY LESS THAN ONE MONTH IN BEING ON STAFF.

MY HOPE IS THAT THIS MONEY WILL ALLOW ME TO, UH, WE WILL STILL USE THIS FOR EVICTIONS, BUT IT WILL OPEN UP SOME FUNDING FOR A PART-TIME SOCIAL WORKER.

AND I ALSO HAVE A FEW OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE OFFERING A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, UM, MAYBE FOR GRANT WRITING AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS BECAUSE I AM NOT PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED IN THIS AT ALL.

UM, I HAVE KIND OF LEARNED AS I'VE GONE AND IT'S BEEN VERY POWERFUL, BUT IT'S TIME NOW AFTER RAISING, I PERSONALLY RAISED ABOUT $120,000 OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

UM, AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE INTO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PROFESSIONAL AS WELL.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, SORRY.

UM, I NOTICED ON YOUR APPLICATION A LOT OF YOUR COLLABORATIONS ARE WITH OKLAHOMA CITY.

CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO YOUR SERVICE TO EDMOND SPECIFICALLY? YES.

SO THAT'S NEW FOR ME.

UM, I HAVE JOINED THOSE CONNECT MEETINGS.

I SPOKE AT THE, UM, CONNECT MEETING LAST, LAST WEEK AS WELL.

AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE IN EDMOND.

UM, I, I GET REQUESTS FROM HOMELESS ALLIANCE SOMETIMES OF IN, OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN EDMOND AND THEY CAN'T BE SERVED IF THEY ARE LIVING OUTSIDE IN EDMOND, THEY NEED TO BE IN OKLAHOMA CITY CITY LIMITS.

SO THERE'S A PLAN AS TO HOW WE CAN GROW THAT, UM, CAPABILITY IN EDMOND AND I, I REALLY PLAN TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU GUYS USE A HOUSING FIRST MODEL OR BECAUSE YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH, YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE HAVE THEM DO SOBRIETY? NO, NO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MODEL OTHER THAN WE WANT TO GET THEM HOUSED FIRST, AND SO WE PUT THEM IN HOTELS.

THAT'S BEEN THE, THE EASIEST WAY TO KIND OF GAIN CREDIBILITY WITH THE CLIENTS AS WELL.

THEY, THEY TEND TO OPEN UP QUICKER, SO WE HOUSE THEM AND THEN WE WORK ON A PLAN, BUT WE NEVER REQUIRE THEM TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SAY, YES, THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO A HOTEL.

NO OTHER QUESTION.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT.

WHOLLY OWN HERE IN EDMOND, UH, THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I'M KATRINA WASHINGTON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, OKLAHOMA.

WE ARE IN OUR 45TH YEAR THIS YEAR.

UM, AND SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, UM, IS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, INITIATIVES.

SO WE PROVIDE, UH, HOUSING COUNSELING.

UH, WE USUALLY DO TWO SESSIONS, UH, EVERY MONTH, ONE IN PERSON AND A VIRTUAL, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME DOWN FROM AS FAR AS, UH, TULSA TO ATTEND OUR HOME EDUCATION AT SEMINARS.

AND WE GET THEM FROM ALL OVER.

WE ACTUALLY COVER THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE DO BUDGET COUNSELING, UH, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES.

UH, WE ACTUALLY DO, UH, QUITE A BIT OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

UH, WE DO NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, ACQUISITION REHAB.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE DEVELOPED OVER 180 UNITS, UH, ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, ABOUT 18, UH, PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN

[02:05:01]

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 70 UNITS THAT WE, UM, MANAGE.

WE DO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT WE MANAGE.

WE HAVE A, UM, CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY, UH, CITY OF NORMAN, UH, AND SEVERAL OTHER ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE CREATED.

UM, PARTICULARLY COMING OUT OF COVID.

WE SAW THE NEED.

A LOT OF OUR, UM, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BUYERS, UM, ARE STRUGGLING TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN HOMES.

WE HEARD A LOT OF THE STATISTICS EARLIER, AND THAT IS PARTLY WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, GET SOME FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE A LOT OF THESE UNDERSERVED BUYERS.

UM, ABOUT 26% OF OUR CLIENTELE ARE EDMOND BUYERS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR SERVICES.

UM, PART OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ASSIST OUR HOME OWNERSHIP DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE A LOT OF THESE CLIENTS.

WE ARE SEEING A, SEEING A GROWING NEED, SOME OF IT A LITTLE BIT DISTURBING.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF, UH, THAT ALREADY TODAY WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH, UM, TAXES, UH, INSURANCE.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THESE, UM, ANECDOTES ALREADY.

UH, PROBABLY IN THE NEWS AND PROBABLY MAYBE SEEING YOUR INSURANCE RISE.

UM, PEOPLE ARE SEEING ABOUT A 30%, PARTICULARLY HERE IN EDMOND, UH, INCREASE IN IN INSURANCE.

SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF OUR SENIORS COME IN FOR SERVICES.

WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE LITERALLY LOSE THEIR HOMES.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PREVENT HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS.

PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FOR FORECLOSURE PREVENTION BECAUSE THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO MAKE THEIR HOUSE PAYMENTS.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE THIS FUND WITH, UH, WITH THIS FUND WITH 50,000, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS.

UH, HELP PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN EDMOND OR STAY IN EDMOND, RETAIN THEIR HOMES, EITHER, UM, UP TO $5,000 TO EITHER, UH, ADD TO THE ROBUST DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT ALREADY EXIST, OR FOR SOME OF THE SENIORS AND LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, BE ABLE TO, UM, MAYBE HELP ASSIST THEM WITH A YEAR OF, UH, EITHER THEIR TAXES OR THEIR INSURANCE TO PAY THAT.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO QUALIFY BASED ON THEIR INCOME GUIDELINES.

JUST LIKE THEY WOULD FOR SOME OF THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE QUALIFICATIONS CURRENTLY.

SO WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY WOULD APPLY WITH OUR AGENCY FOR DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS, THERE ARE STRICT GUIDELINES ON HOW THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT.

WE LOOK AT THEIR INCOME GUIDELINES, THEY WOULD COME IN AND MAKE THEIR APPLICATION.

IT WOULD BE THE SAME QUALIFICATION THAT WE USE FOR, FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS.

AND I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

GIVEN THE, THE LIST OF SERVICES THAT YOU WANNA PROVIDE, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ASKED IS EFFICIENT ENOUGH? UM, HAVE YOU DONE ANY, LIKE, RESEARCH ON YOUR CURRENT CLIENTELE, THAT INCIDENT ADMIN THAT YOU, THAT FUELED THAT PARTICULAR ASK? OR, UM, HOW DID YOU COME TO THAT NUMBER, I GUESS? UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE, UM, IF THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE, BUT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AT LEAST, I DON'T KNOW, UM, 15 TO 20 TO START TO KIND OF MAYBE, YOU KNOW, GET, TEST THE WATER, SO TO SPEAK, AND BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD, UM, FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO, I THINK IF WE CAN KEEP, LET ME, LET ME START OVER.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION PROPERLY, TO LOOK AT THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TAXES FOR ONE YEAR, WE'RE THINKING, UM, IF WE CAN COVER, LIKE, WE JUST HEARD $3,000 FOR ONE PERSON ON A TAX FOR LIKE A SENIOR OR EVEN FOR INSURANCE, LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE COST TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ASSISTANCE AND TO COVER 20 TO 25 PEOPLE.

THAT IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER.

SO YOUR CLIENTS ARE PRIMARILY HOMEOWNERS CORRECT.

OR SEEKING TO PURCHASE.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO USE UP TO $5,000 TO SUPPLEMENT , BUT WE'RE SEEING THE GROWING NEED, UM, OF THE CRISIS OF TAXES AND INSURANCE WE WOULD LIKE TO POSSIBLY SHIFT, BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DPA PROGRAMS CURRENTLY, WE WOULD MORE LIKE TO SHIFT TO HELP THE ASSISTANCE WITH THE SENIORS AND LOW TO MODERATE TO SAVE THEM AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FROM THEM LOSING THEIR HOMES.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

COULD YOU TELL ME AGAIN, HOW DOES THIS, HOW WOULD THIS MONEY BENEFIT CITIZENS OF EDMOND AND THE EDMOND COMMUNITY? AGAIN, IT WOULD BE EDMOND RESIDENTS THAT WOULD RECEIVE THE

[02:10:01]

FUNDS WE DO RECEIVE.

UM, LIKE I SAID, 26% OF OUR CLIENTELE ARE EDMOND RESIDENTS, AND WE WOULD QUALIFY BASED ON THEM LIVING.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THAT THEY CURRENTLY OWN THEIR HOME IN EDMOND.

DO YOU HAVE AN EDMOND OFFICE? WE DO NOT.

WE'RE LOCATED, UH, AT 40TH AND CLASSEN, BUT OUR OFFICE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED.

SO OUR PRIMARY ZIP CODES THAT WE SERVE, EDMOND IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

SO NO, WE, BUT WE DO GET CLIENTELE.

I SAID WE GET PEOPLE THAT COME AS FAR AS TULSA TO ATTEND OUR HOME EDUCATION EVERY MONTH.

WE SERVE THE ENTIRE STATE.

BUT NO, WE DO NOT, WE DO REGULARLY DO CLASSES IN, UH, IN EVENTS IN EDMOND.

SO OUR, OUR, UH, HUDSON CERTIFIED COUNSELORS DO COME INTO EDMOND REGULARLY TO DO EVENTS AND, UH, ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING.

BUT NO, WE DO NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL OFFICE.

I LIVE IN EDMOND, BUT NO, WE DO NOT.

WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OASIS CLUBHOUSE.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, YOU GUYS HEARD FROM US LAST YEAR, SO I WON'T GO INTO DEEP DIVE DESCRIPTION OF OUR WHOLE PROGRAM, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN FUNDING THIS YEAR.

SO THE CLUBHOUSE ITSELF IS A PLACE FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO COME DURING THE DAY, BUILD A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND WORK TOWARDS THEIR PERSONAL GOALS.

AND A GOAL THAT IS IDENTIFIED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR OUR MEMBERS IS EMPLOYMENT.

SO YOU GUYS HAVE FUNDED, UM, OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS, UM, HELPING MEMBERS, ONE, A SECURE, SECURE JOB IN THE ADMIN COMMUNITY.

BUT TWO, UM, SOMETIMES THE BARRIER IS I DON'T HAVE NON-SLIP SHOES AND I JUST GOT A NEW JOB AT A RESTAURANT, OR SOMETIMES IT'S, I DON'T HAVE AN ID OR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

SO WE'VE GOTTEN TO WALK SIDE BY SIDE WITH MEMBERS TO HELP THEM WITH THOSE THINGS.

BUT, UM, OUR BIGGEST PIECE HAS BEEN OUR TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WHICH OUR PROGRAM, UM, WE SECURE A JOB IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN WE PLACE MEMBERS IN THAT JOB.

AND THEN WE PROVIDE VERY ONE-ON-ONE, UM, JOB SUPPORT THROUGH THAT AS WELL AS IF THE MEMBER IS SICK, WE GO IN AND FILL IN FOR FREE.

SO WE ARE VERY CLOSE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE YMCA AND MITCH PARK.

UM, WE GOT A BOARD INTERN, REGGIE JORDAN THROUGH THE, UM, LEADERSHIP ADMIN PROGRAM.

AND SO HE'S CONNECTED US WITH THE YMCA.

UM, WE HAVE A POSITION WHERE OUR MEMBER WILL GREET EVERYONE WHO'S COMING IN, THEY SCAN THEIR CARD, MAKE SURE THE GREEN CHECK MARK COMES UP ON THE SCREEN, AND, UM, AS WELL AS DOING CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY FOR CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY AND THINGS AS WELL.

SO IT'S ALLOWING US TO, AGAIN, GET THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AND BACK TO WORK, UM, ASSISTANCE DOING SO.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO LAST YEAR, PART OF YOUR REQUEST WAS FOR A VEHICLE MM-HMM .

SO DID YOU GET A VEHICLE? SO WE HAVE A VEHICLE NOW AND WE HAVE JUST HAD TO BE CREATIVE.

SO WE HAVE A 15 PASSENGER VAN THAT WE HELP, UM, GET MEMBERS TO AND FROM PLACES.

WE ALSO HAVE, UM, UTILIZED CITYLINK.

SO WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO AREN'T AS MOBILE AND THEY, CITYLINK HAS A DOOR TO DOOR.

SO WE HELP PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THAT.

UM, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BARRIER.

UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK, SO.

SERVICE OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, IT PROBABLY VARIES A LOT BASED ON THE PERSON, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF SUPPORT, UH, OR ASSISTANCE YOU PROVIDE TO PEOPLE AS THEY'RE GETTING BACK INTO EMPLOYMENT? YEAH, SO IT REALLY DEPENDS.

UM, WE DO A LOT OF RESUME WRITING WITH MEMBERS.

WE, UM, DO A LOT OF MOCK INTERVIEWS AS WELL, KIND OF THAT NERVOUSNESS OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

SO WE'VE GOT A SPACE AND SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS EVEN WILL VOLUNTEER TO COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, BE THE, BE THE PERSON THEY DON'T SEE EVERY DAY KIND OF THING.

UM, BUT ALSO THE CARC FUNDS HAVE REALLY HELPED US IN TERMS OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN REALLY BIG.

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, RENEWING THEIR ID OR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

UM, AND THEN SOMETIMES JUST THOSE LIKE SIMPLE THINGS YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF, AGAIN, NON-SLIP SHOES FOR THOSE MEMBERS GOING BACK TO WORK AND FOOD

[02:15:01]

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN.

HI, I AM KELLY LYNCH.

I AM THE CLINICAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN.

OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN IS A NONPROFIT THAT PAYS FOR UNINSURED OKLAHOMANS TO RECEIVE BREAST HEALTH.

WE PAY FOR MAMMOGRAMS ALL THE WAY THROUGH SURGERY IF NEEDED.

UM, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF INTERESTING TO SHARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS AROUND BREAST HEALTH THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

UM, BUT IN OKLAHOMA WE ARE RANKED NUMBER TWO IN BREAST CANCER DEATH, AND WE ARE RANKED 47TH IN SCREENINGS.

AND THOSE TWO THINGS CORRELATE.

UM, SO EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS TO INSURANCE ARE NOT GOING AND GETTING THEIR SCREENINGS.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT THOSE THAT ARE UNINSURED HAVE THE ACCESS AND THE ABILITY TO GO.

UM, WE ARE PROUD PARTNERS WITH MINISTRIES OF JESUS.

UM, JUST LAST YEAR THEY ISSUED OVER A HUNDRED OF OUR VOUCHERS TO THEIR PATIENTS.

UM, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THREE OTHER CLINICS IN EDMOND, AND THEN WE PARTNER WITH THE OU BREAST HEALTH CENTER AND THE INTEGRIS BREAST HEALTH CENTER HERE IN EDMOND.

AND THAT'S KIND OF IT.

SO THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING WILL BE USED FOR VOUCHERS FOR, FOR EDMOND RE RESIDENTS MM-HMM .

AND SO WITH THAT, ABOUT $8,000 WOULD PAY FOR ABOUT 35 PATIENTS.

IN GENERAL, OUR AVERAGE COST IS $230 PER PATIENT THAT WE SEE, UM, BECAUSE IT VARIES.

UH, LAST YEAR, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR WE HELPED OVER 5,000, UM, PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND OUT OF THAT 41 WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

SO THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GOT THAT THEY JUST HAD TO GO HAVE A SCREENING MAMMOGRAM.

AND THAT WAS THAT SMALL COST.

AND THEN THE AVERAGE, THE COST WENT UP A LITTLE WITH BIOPSIES AND ULTRASOUNDS AND DIAGNOSTICS AND SURGERY.

SO YES.

HOW DO WOMEN HEAR ABOUT THE VOUCHERS? HOW CAN THEY FIND OUT ABOUT? SO WE, I AM THE ONE WHO'S KIND OF OUT AND ABOUT.

AND SO I DO A LOT OF HEALTH FAIRS, NETWORKING.

UM, I'VE ACTUALLY DONE, UH, PARENTING GROUPS FOR LILYFIELD.

I'VE COME OUT AND SPOKE WITH THEM.

UM, I HAVE VISITED FOOD PANTRIES.

I FEEL LIKE, UM, TO ME THE PATIENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE ARE BEING SERVED BY OTHERS AS WELL.

AND SO IT'S, TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NETWORK AND FIND OUT.

UM, AND SO I'VE BEEN A PART OF DIFFERENT NETWORKING GROUPS IN EDMOND, UM, JUST SHARING THAT INFORMATION.

SO YEAH.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU WORK WITH CLINIC PARTNER CLINICS MM-HMM .

IN EDMOND.

YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE, BUT WE DO NOT, SO WE DO NOT, WE ARE NOT A HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION.

UM, SO THE WAY IT KIND OF WORKS FOR US IS IF A PATIENT WERE TO CALL ME AND THEY WERE ASKING IF THEY LIVE, AND I USUALLY SAY, WHERE DO YOU LIVE IN OKLAHOMA? AND IF THEY TOLD ME EDMOND, I WOULD SAY, HERE'S THE CLINICS WE WORK WITH IN THE EDMOND AREA.

UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND GIVE THEM A CALL, TELL 'EM THAT YOU WORK, TALK TO OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN, UM, AND THEY WILL HAVE YOU COME IN AND GET QUALIFIED BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE FOLLOWED BY A PROVIDER.

UM, OUR OFFICE, WE, OUR MAIN OFFICE IS IN THE TULSA AREA, BUT THERE'S MYSELF AND MY COWORKER THAT WE LIVE OUT OF IN OKLAHOMA CITY, IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA.

AND THEN WE, I TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SO THE, THE, THE PARTNER CLINICS ACTUALLY WILL SCREEN, I GUESS MM-HMM .

AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CLIENT IS ELIGIBLE.

AND YOU GIVE IT TO THEM WHENEVER YOU CHECK IN, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR INSURANCE CARD, THEY KNOW THE OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN IS GONNA PAY THAT BILL.

AND THEN THEY'LL CONTACT YOU.

NO, THE CLIENT CONTACTS YOU.

NO.

WHO CONTACTS YOU? THE, THE, THE PARTNER CLINIC HAS OUR VOUCHERS AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ISSUE THEM.

AND SO ALL WE DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THAT PATIENT DOESN'T GET A BILL.

SO SINCE WE PARTNER, SO WE PARTNER WITH LET'S SAY OU.

UM, SO IF I WAS A PATIENT AT MINISTRIES OF JESUS, I WENT IN, I QUALIFY, UH, FOR A OKLAHOMA PROJECT, WOMEN VOUCHER, THEY CAN ISSUE MY VOUCHER.

IT'S, I TELL PEOPLE IT'S LIKE THINKING ABOUT, IT'S YOUR INSURANCE CARD.

SO WHEN YOU GO TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM, YOU TAKE THIS PIECE OF PAPER

[02:20:01]

AND SO WE, WE KIND OF EMPOWER OUR CLINICS TO ISSUE THE VOUCHERS TO THEIR PATIENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PATIENT CONTACT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION.

UM, AND THE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AS WELL IS THAT WE ARE A VERY LOW BARRIER ON HOW TO QUALIFY, UM, HOW TO BE UNINSURED.

UM, WE GO BY THE INCOME GUIDELINES, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE YOUR INCOME.

SO WE DON'T MAKE PAY PEOPLE BRING IN, YOU KNOW, TONS OF PAPERWORK OR TAX FORMS OR PAY STUBS.

UM, I ALWAYS SAY WE TRUST THE PROCESS, UM, BECAUSE TO ME, UM, THE PATIENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING ARE HOURLY EMPLOYEES.

THEIR HOURS FLUCTUATE.

UM, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA.

SO THE CLINICS HAVE YOUR VOUCHERS? YES.

SO THEY'RE ISSUED, SO LIKE MINISTRIES OF JESUS.

SO SINCE THEY GAVE OUT OVER A HUNDRED COUPONS LAST YEAR, OR OUR VOUCHERS, THEY HAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY.

THEY KNOW I WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE UPDATES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEY GET THE, THE VOUCHER, BUT WE KIND OF EMPOWER THEM.

PLUS A LOT OF THE CLINICS THAT WE WORK WITH JUST THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE FREE CLINICS.

AND SO THEY WORK, THEY'RE OPEN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR A SUNDAY MORNING OR A WEDNESDAY, YOU KNOW, AND SO THEY JUST HAVE VARIED TIMES.

AND SO WE KINDA LET MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE GOT THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY NEED WHILE THEY'RE OPEN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU.

UM, SO, UH, AS I WAS RE REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATION, I ALSO, UH, I WOULDN'T SAY SNO, BUT I DID A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH.

I PULLED UP YOUR ANNUAL REPORT MM-HMM .

WHICH LOOKS SUPERB BY THE WAY.

SO , I THINK VALERIE DID THAT.

SHE'S THE MONEY LADY.

I'M MUST LET A OLD LADY.

I LOVE IT.

UM, BUT I JUST, I JUST HAD A, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT A QUESTION.

UM, IT BROKE DOWN YOUR INCOME BY SOURCES, BUT ALSO BROKE DOWN YOUR INCOME BY AREA.

UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, DID DO YOU RECEIVE DONATIONS FROM THE EDMOND AREA OR DID YOU OR DO YOU GUYS JUST LUMP 'EM INSIDE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY? I THINK WE DO IT BY OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

UM, GOTCHA.

PEACEFUL FAMILY SOLUTIONS.

AND HONESTLY, THE ONLY, A LOT OF OUR MONEY STRICTLY GRANTS, SO I THINK THE OTHER FUNDER ACTUALLY THE ONLY OTHER ED RESTRICTIVE FUNDS.

GOTCHA.

SO THE REST WERE PULLING FROM WHATEVER IS GOTCHA.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I DID BRING JUST A LITTLE HANDOUT I'M GONNA GIVE Y'ALL SO YOU CAN GET A SEAT.

HEY THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR.

MY NAME IS LISA REED AND I AM THE CEO OF PEACEFUL FAMILY OKLAHOMA.

WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE AND ONE OF THE FEW IN THE NATION THAT IS BUILT JUST FOR KIDS WHEN ADDICTION IS A PART OF THEIR FAMILY'S STORY.

WE WERE ACTUALLY CREATED BY AN EDMUND GRANDPA WHO FOUND HIMSELF WITH CUSTODY OF HIS GRANDKIDS, WHO NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS BECAUSE OF ADDICTION IN THEIR FAMILY, AND FOUND THAT THEIR NEEDS WERE MORE COMPLEX THAN THINGS THAT WERE NECESSARILY AVAILABLE TO THEM.

UM, HE FOUND A CURRICULUM FOR THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, UM, BROUGHT THAT HERE.

AND WE, UM, IN 20, FROM 2014 TO 2022, SERVED ABOUT A HUNDRED KIDS.

AND THEN WITH Y'ALL'S SUPPORT, AND BY US LISTENING, EXCUSE ME, TO THE VOICES OF THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE, WE HAVE GROWN TO REACH, UM, THIS LAST YEAR, UM, OVER 1300 KIDS.

SO, UM, OUR SERVICES ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT FREE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION IS FRAUGHT WITH STIGMA AND SHAME.

AND OUR FAMILIES DO NOT NEED ANY ADDITIONAL BARRIERS LIKE COST FOR US TO GET THEM THROUGH THE DOOR AND TO SUPPORT THE KIDDOS WHO NEED OUR HELP.

UM, CHILDREN WHO ARE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION IN THEIR FAMILIES ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THEMSELVES WITHOUT INTERVENTION.

SO PEACEFUL FAMILY OKLAHOMA IS THAT INTERVENTION.

YOU INVITED US, MARSHA, TO SHARE, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROUD OF FROM THIS LAST GRANT, OR WHICH ALSO TURNS OUT TO BE MY FAVORITE STORY.

AND YOU GUYS GIMME A NEW AUDIENCE TO SHARE THAT WITH BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING IT.

BUT, UM, THIS IS BOTH SOMETHING THAT WAS INCREDIBLE THAT HAPPENED THAT WE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON, BUT ALSO AN EXAMPLE

[02:25:01]

OF HOW WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS THAT YOU ALL GAVE US.

SO WHEN WE ARE IN SCHOOLS, WE KNOW THAT STATISTICALLY IT'S ABOUT ONE IN FOUR KIDS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION.

SO THAT, UM, FOCUS IS REALLY PAIRED ON EDUCATION AND PREVENTION.

BUT THEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE IN OUR THERAPEUTIC GROUP, PEER-TO-PEER PROGRAMS, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR KIDS ARE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION.

AND SO THAT'S GEARED TOWARDS THAT TRAUMA AND FORM SUPPORTIVE PEER-TO-PEER, UM, WORK THAT WE DO WITH THEM.

AND SO, UM, THE EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ASKED US, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS, UM, AT BOULEVARD, UM, AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SETTINGS? AND WE SAID, SO OKAY, IF A REGULAR CLASSROOM OR IF A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM IS ONE IN FOUR KIDS, ABOUT HOW MANY, LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF KIDS DO YOU THINK IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SETTINGS ARE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION IN THEIR FAMILIES? WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SAID? ALL OF THEM A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND SO THAT MADE US REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY WERE ASKING OF US WAS THAT WE NEEDED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS TO GO THROUGH OUR CAMP PROGRAM TO GO THROUGH OUR MORE INTENSIVE PROGRAM.

UM, BUT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THAT.

AND WE ALSO WANNA DO IT RESPONSIBLY BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING PREVENTION SERVICES THAT COULD BE, UM, TRIGGERING, UM, TRAUMA EXPERIENCES WITH KIDS AND THEN NOT PROVIDING THEM WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.

AND SO WE SAID NOT YET, UM, UNTIL THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE AFFAIRS SAID, HEY, WE'VE GOT SOME FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE BACK ON OCTOBER 1ST.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD DO IN 30 DAYS FOR $50,000? AND WE WERE LIKE, UM, YES, WE ACTUALLY DO WITH THE SUPPORT OF AT WHICH THEY REQUIRED A MATCH FROM THE CITY OF EDMOND AND WITH YOUR ALL'S THE OJA GRANT, WE COULD ACTUALLY CARRY OUT A PILOT PROJECT AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE, BETWEEN WHAT IS THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM AND THE CAMPS AND THEN WHAT COMES BETWEEN FOR A, A, A GROUP OF KIDDOS WHO HAVE REALLY COMPLEX CONCENTRATED NEEDS.

AND, UM, SO WE WENT BACK TO BOULEVARD AND SAID, OKAY, YOU GUYS WENT IN ON THIS.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, YES, .

AND WE WERE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED.

UM, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DEDICATED GROUP OF EDUCATORS THAT WE HAD, UM, THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH.

SO WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS, UM, WE HAVE A GROUP OF OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

YES, WE'VE HAD DRAMATIC INCREASES IN OUR OUTPUT OF WHO WE'VE SERVED FROM A HUNDRED TO 1300.

BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS, ARE THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE WALKING AWAY WITH WHAT WILL GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BREAK THAT GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF ADDICTION? I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY INTERRUPT.

I'M STILL WORKING ON TRAUMA INFORMED UM, LANGUAGE.

SO INTERRUPT THAT CYCLE OF ADDICTION.

AND FOR US, WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION AS A DISEASE, RECOGNIZING AND ACCESSING SAFE SUPPORTS, UM, ADAPTIVE COPING SKILLS, HEALTH PROMOTING CHOICES, WHICH ARE, IS ALIGNED 100% WITH THE ACADEMIC HEALTH STANDARDS, RESILIENCE AND EMPOWERMENT, AND THEN HOPE, WHICH WE USE THE CHILDREN'S HOPE SKILL AND MEASURE THAT.

AND SO HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THAT, UM, WITH THE 30 DAYS AND THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS.

AND OUR TEAM SAID, OKAY, WE GOTTA PUT A NEW OUTCOME MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT IN PLACE.

AND I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE TIME, SO WE'RE GOING TO USE OUR BIG OUTCOME MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT, AND I NEED YOU ALL TO PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT GONNA BE GAINS IN EVERY AREA.

AND THAT'S VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR US BECAUSE WE WILL KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE BEEFED UP, WHAT MAYBE ISN'T REALISTIC IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE CAN HAVE WITH THESE KIDDOS.

AND SO, UM, I WANT YOU TO BRACE YOURSELVES THAT 'CAUSE THEY, THEY WANNA SEE THAT THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE GOT THE NUMBERS AND WE HAD GAINS IN ALL BUT ONE OF THE SIX AREAS.

UM, I WAS SHOCKED BY THAT BECAUSE, AND WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY EXPECT THAT WE WENT AND NOT EXPECTING THAT WE WOULD SEE GAINS.

SO, SO TO SEE THAT WITH OUR FIRST TRY, UM, WITH APPLYING, UM, OUR VALUES AND OUR PRINCIPLES, UM, AND THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT WORK THAT WE DID SEE GAINS NOW, UM, ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE HAD A LOSS ACTUALLY IS IN, UM, IDENTIFYING SAFE PEOPLE.

SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND WE TALK THROUGH LIKE, WHAT DOES A SAFE PERSON LOOK LIKE? AND YOU GET A NEW DEFINITION FOR THAT AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM, DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE REDEFINED? SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PRACTICES AND SUPPORT AND INFORMATION THAT KIDS NEED.

SAME THING WITH ADAPTIVE COPING SKILLS.

IF YOU FIGURE OUT HOW YOUR BODY RESPONDS TO BREATHING OR,

[02:30:01]

UM, FIDGETS OR WHATEVER, IT'S NOT ONE AND DONE.

YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE THOSE SKILLS AND LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THEM IN TIMES OF CONFLICT AND CHALLENGES IN ORDER FOR THAT, UM, TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAP INTO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.

WE DID END UP GETTING 10 KIDS, UM, LAST MONTH.

NO, THAT WAS THIS MONTH TO, UM, TWO OUR CAMPS PROGRAM.

SO 10 OF OUR BOULEVARD KIDDOS CAME THROUGH AND OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS AT BOULEVARD ARE ASKING, WHEN'S THE NEXT ONE? AND SO WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PIPELINE.

WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH KIDDOS WHO, UM, ABSOLUTELY NEED US.

AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL, UM, THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SUCH BIG SUPPORTERS AND THAT WHEN WE WERE FACED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, EXPAND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SAY, YEAH, WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT AND WE CAN SAY YES TO YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

PROJECT 66.

HI EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS NEIL TATE.

I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT PROJECT 66 FOOD AND RESOURCE CENTER.

UM, SO I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF.

WE'RE A FOOD PANTRY ASKING FOR MONEY FOR FOOD.

UH, AND SO A LOT OF OUR, UM, SO MUCH OF OUR FOOD, WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROCERY STORES HERE IN EDMOND.

OVER HALF OF OUR FOOD IS DONATED.

SO WE TRY TO BE VERY EFFICIENT, UM, WITH OUR DOLLARS AND WHAT WE DO END UP NEEDING TO SPEND.

SO OF THE, OF THE EIGHT GROCERY STORES WE PICK UP FROM, UH, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THE, THE CHALLENGE IS WE HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER WHAT THAT FOOD IS THAT COMES TO US.

AND SO WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOME DAYS IT'S FOUR PALLETS OF BUTTERNUT SQUASH.

IN FACT, WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH THAT.

AND SO, UM, SO WE'RE REALLY, UM, REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE AND, UM, FUNDING FROM FROM THIS COMMISSION THAT ALLOWS US TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT IS COMING IN THAT'S DONATED WITH WHAT WE KNOW THAT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE ON OUR SHELVES.

UH, AND SO SINCE WE'RE A CLIENT CHOICE FOOD PANTRY, WE'RE SET UP LIKE A GROCERY STORE.

WE'RE ABOUT 12,000 SQUARE FEET WITH WAREHOUSE SPACE AND INTAKE SPACE.

UH, WE HAVE SHELVING, WE HAVE FREEZERS, FRIDGES, JUST LIKE A GROCERY STORE FOR CLIENTS TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT SELECTION OF HEALTHY FOOD.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY COMES IN AND THAT, UM, ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.

ONE QUICK THING ABOUT, UM, SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF LAST YEAR, UM, WE STARTED, YOU'VE YOU'VE HEARD OF A RECURRING THEME ABOUT SENIORS WHO ARE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT AND WE'VE NOTICED THAT, UM, SOMETIMES SENIORS SHOP A LITTLE SLOWER, NEED A LITTLE MORE ASSISTANCE.

AND SO WE'VE DECIDED TO OPEN A CERTAIN DAY OUT OF THE MONTH WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED SENIORS, UM, WHO WILL COME IN JUST ON THAT DAY.

UM, SOME SENIOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES WILL EVEN BUS, UM, BUS AND SOME RESIDENTS, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, THEY CAN SHOP AT A LITTLE SLOWER PACE WITH ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION AND, UM, AND GET WHAT THEY NEED.

THE OTHER THING I'M REALLY PROUD OF, UM, IS THE WAY THAT, UM, OUR FOOD PANTRY AND A LOT OF THE OTHER AGENCIES IN THIS ROOM STEPPED UP DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.

WHEN WE SAW FEDERAL EMPLOYEES GOING SIX WEEKS WITHOUT PAYCHECKS AND SNAP RECIPIENTS NOT GETTING THOSE FUNDS, UH, WE SAW A HUGE, HUGE NEED FOR FOOD.

UM, AND I, I'M REALLY PROUD OF HOW PROJECT 66 ROSE TO THAT CHALLENGE AND, UM, AND WAS ABLE TO, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER NEEDED A FOOD PANTRY BEFORE.

AND SO I'M PROUD, UM, THAT PROJECT 66 AS AN EDMOND, UM, TO MEET, TO FILL THE NEED, UM, FOR FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS US.

HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

SO, UM, YOU ASKED FOR THE SAME REQUESTS FROM LAST YEAR, GIVEN THE IMPENDING ECONOMIC CRISIS, YOU GUYS DIDN'T WANT TO DO AN INCREASE OR REQUEST AN INCREASE? NOT THAT I WOULDN'T SPEND ANY MORE MONEY, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS .

SURE, YEAH.

WE'D LOVE TO DO AN INCREASE.

UM, YEAH, WE, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A FAIR AMOUNT, UH, AND THAT WE'RE NOT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND WE'RE NOT TOO RELIANT ON ONE FUNDING SOURCE.

UH, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU SEE OUR, OUR FOOD SPENDING BUDGET IN THERE.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A A PORTION OF WHAT, OF WHAT WE WILL END UP SPENDING THIS YEAR.

AND YOU ALL, YOU ALL GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW, FOOD PRICES ARE RISING AND SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HELPFUL.

UM, BUT YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE OVERRELIANT, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT MONEY LEFT OVER, WE CAN CERTAINLY SPEND IT .

GOOD KNOW .

TO SPEND 167,000 THIS YEAR, RIGHT? YEAH.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT YOU EXPECT TO SPEND THIS YEAR ON FOOD OVERALL, LIKE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, LIKE YOU SAID, UH, YOU EXPECT

[02:35:01]

THAT, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH LAST YEAR'S NUMBER OF WHAT WE ENDED UP SPENDING.

AND SO THE INCREASE IN LIKE COST OF FOOD HASN'T, UM, AFFECTED LIKE HOW MUCH YOU'RE SPENDING LIKE IT, OR I KNOW YOU GET 'EM THROUGH THE, UM, YOU PURCHASE FOOD THROUGH REGIONAL FOOD BANKS AND OTHER GROCERY STORES MM-HMM .

SO I GUESS YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND, UM, FOOD THAT'S STILL PRICED AT, UM, WHAT YOU WERE PAYING BEFORE BELOW MARKET.

AND IT, SOME OF OUR PARTNERS, LIKE THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT AT STEPPING UP.

THEY'LL, THEY'LL IDENTIFY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SEE WHERE THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FOOD COMING IN THAT'S DONATED OR THROUGH OUR USDA, UM, FOOD PROGRAM AND THEY'VE STEPPED UP, UM, EVEN JUST THIS, THIS FIRST QUARTER, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE US A LOT MORE FOOD AT NO COST THAN NORMAL 'CAUSE WE'RE USUALLY PURCHASING FROM THEM.

UM, YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.

HELLO, MY NAME IS APRIL JOLLY.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TURNING POINT MINISTRIES AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

I KNOW A FEW OF YOU ARE MAYBE NEW, BUT, UM, THIS, THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN HUGELY IMPACTFUL TO US.

WHAT WE DO IS WE BUILD WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS AT A TIME FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED TO LIVE IN EDMOND, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN EDMOND.

EVERYBODY FROM PARAPROFESSIONALS IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO TEACHERS, VETERANS, CITY WORKERS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS BUILDING THAT LIVE IN OUR HOUSES BECAUSE EDMOND IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, BUT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE AND WE NEED ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE HERE.

SO JUST A QUICK RECAP OF OUR PROGRAM FAMILIES, UM, APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE TO PUT IN 200 VOLUNTEER HOURS WITHIN OUR PROCESS OF BUILDING OUR HOMES.

OBVIOUSLY WE USE LICENSED AND CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS TO BUILD THE HOMES, BUT THEY WILL DO THINGS LIKE CAULKING AND CLEANING AND PAINTING.

AND WE TEACH THEM HOW TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES.

HOW DO YOU UNCLOG A DISHWASHER, UH, A GARBAGE DISPOSAL? HOW DO YOU HANDLE A TOILET? BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, RENTERS AND THEY HAVE SOMEONE ELSE COME AND FIX THEIR THINGS FOR THEM.

AND SO WE WANT THEM TO BE GOOD HOMEOWNERS.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HOME BUYER'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH DAVE RAMSEY'S FINANCIAL PIECE.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN ON THEIR OWN.

IT COSTS US ABOUT $200,000 TO BUILD A HOUSE.

WE SELL IT FOR $145,000.

WE WORK REALLY HARD WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND OTHERS TO GET THEM GRANT FUNDING FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

SO HOPEFULLY THEIR LOANS ARE ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR SO TO KEEP THEIR COSTS OF LIVING LOW.

WE WANT THEIR MORTGAGE TO BE AT OR BELOW THEIR COST OF RENT.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT KIDS WHO GREW UP IN PERMANENT HOUSING HAVE AN 85% HIGHER CHANCE OF GRADUATING COLLEGE THAN KIDS WHO DON'T.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE REALLY WANNA SEE THE KIDS IN EDMOND HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.

I MEAN, WE SAW THE STATISTIC THAT, THAT, UH, CHRISTIE PUT OUT AT THE BEGINNING.

WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EDMOND.

UM, SO WE HAVE A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WERE GRACIOUSLY GIVEN THE GLAND FOR LAST YEAR AT 33RD.

AND BRYANT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH THERE.

THE LAND USED TO BE OWNED BY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

UM, THEY SOLD IT AT A PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S CHANGED HANDS A FEW TIMES AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO US.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER FIVE ACRES.

SO WE'VE SPENT THE LAST YEAR, UM, WORKING ON FINISHING HERITAGE VILLAGE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT LAST TIME.

WE'VE COMPLETELY FINISHED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL THE HOUSES ARE SOLD AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN SPENDING OUR TIME THIS YEAR WORKING ON ENGINEERING PLANS.

WE HAVE THOSE DONE.

AND I APOLOGIZE, I HAD SURGERY RIGHT AS THIS GRANT WAS WAS DUE AND I DID NOT GET ALL THE SUPPLEMENTALS.

SO YOU GUYS WILL HAVE THAT IN YOUR INBOXES.

SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT OUR PLANS LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERYTHING IS CURRENTLY SITTING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND WE HAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL ON MOST EVERYTHING.

I THINK COMMENT PERIOD ENDS APRIL 12TH MAYBE FOR THAT, SOMETHING AROUND THAT TIMEFRAME.

AND SO WE'LL GET THAT BACK AND MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT THEY WANT US TO MAKE.

AND THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH SUBMITTING OUR FINAL PERMIT.

OUR HOPE IS TO BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND BY JUNE 1ST ON THE LAND.

UM, SO THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROVIDING IS, IS LITERALLY GONNA BE FOR ME TO MOVE DIRT, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

I TOLD MY KIDS THEY COULD DO THAT JOB IF THEY WANTED AND GET OUT THERE WITH SOME SHOVELS AND THEY DID NOT THINK THAT WAS A VERY FUNNY JOKE.

SO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MOVE DIRTS WHAT IT'S

[02:40:01]

GONNA COST ME.

SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, I HAD SOME CURIOSITY.

UM, HAVE YOU GUYS EXPLORED LIKE, OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MODELS LIKE, UM, THE PREFABBED HOMES OR THE BOXED HOMES OR ANY OF THOSE? YES.

I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THAT FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, JUST KIND OF DOING SOME OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE CAN PUT ABOUT 18 TO 19 HOUSES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE AREA WHERE THERE'S SEWER LINE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MOVE THAT OR NOT, BUT WE KNOW WE CAN GET 18 HOUSES ON THIS FIVE ACRE PERIOD.

I MEAN, PERIOD.

THIS, I'M STILL CLEARLY RECOVERING FROM MY HIGH POWERED MEDICATION, I GUESS.

UM, SO FROM THIS, FROM THIS FIVE ACRES OF LAND, WE CAN PUT ABOUT 18 HOMES ON IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IS COULD WE MAKE THEM MORE AFFORDABLE IF WE DID MORE OF A PREFAB CONSTRUCTION? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED IT TO STICK WITHIN THE ED ADMIN AESTHETIC.

WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT'S ADJACENT TO SMILING HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE NEIGHBORS ARE HAPPY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE HOMES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN NEAR THEM AND THAT IT FITS THAT.

SO WE, I, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OPTIONS OUT THERE.

IN FACT, THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT CONTACTED ME ABOUT A 3D PRINTED HOMES AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE PRETTY INTERESTING.

SO I'M EXPLORING ALL THE OPTIONS.

, THANK YOU.

I ALSO WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T EVEN FORMALLY OPENED OUR APPLICATION.

WE HAVE 18 HOMES AND I HAVE, I HAVE, UH, 91 APPLICANTS FOR OUR HOMES.

FOR YOUR NEW DEVELOPMENT.

WITHOUT IT BEING OF, WITHOUT IT BEING OFFICIALLY OPENED OR EVEN BUILT.

ANY OTHER? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO, AND I ANTICIPATE WHEN I POST THE NEW APPLICATION, I WILL HAVE, WE'LL PROBABLY TURN AWAY THREE OR 400 FAMILIES THAT WANT HOMES.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.

DOES WHEN THEY APPLY, DO THEY HAVE TO ALREADY LIVE IN EDMOND OR THEY JUST WANT TO, THEY DO HAVE TO LIVE IN EDMOND.

THEY, OR THEY HAVE TO WORK IN EDMOND AND NEED TO RELOCATE HERE.

BEFORE WORK.

WE HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A TEACHER WHO WAS WORKING IN EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THEN IN THE EVENINGS SHE WAS GOING AND SHE WAS WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DID THAT, BUT SHE, UM, SHE LIVED IN YUKON AND SHE WAS HAVING TO COMMUTE AND HER, SHE HAD A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND SHE WAS HAVING TO LEAVE THAT CHILD AT HOME IN AN APARTMENT WHEN SHE WAS COMING INTO WORK.

AND SO SHE, SHE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE HERE SO THAT SHE COULD BE CLOSER TO HER CHILD WHILE SHE WAS WORKING.

BUT WE DON'T, UM, YOU, YOU CAN'T, YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO BE AN EDMOND TO, TO APPLY.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH HUD GUIDELINES.

THERE'S SOME RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.

WE'RE ALLOWED TO BACKGROUND CHECK, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE DO THAT AS WELL.

'CAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE BUILDING SAFE COMMUNITIES.

'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE MOMS THAT LIVE THERE.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT WE ALSO PUT A HOME COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TOGETHER AND TEACH THEM HOW TO RUN IT.

AND THEN WE, UM, WE PAY TO HAVE ALL THE LAWNS MOWED AND THE IRRIGATION DONE AND EVERYTHING SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND IT CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK NICE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE WORKING NO JOBS, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO MOW YOUR LAWN, BUT DEFINITELY NOT IF YOU'RE WORKING A FEW.

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, DO THEY GET LIKE A BREAK IN PROPERTY TAXES THROUGH THE CITY OF EDMOND AND ARE THEY REQUIRED TO LIVE THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THEY'RE REQUIRED TO LIVE THERE? WE PUT A, A SECONDARY LIEN ON THEIR PROPERTY WHERE THEY HAVE TO LIVE THERE A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.

UM, OR IF THEY NEED TO SELL IT, LIKE WE HAD A MILITARY PERSON THAT WAS LIVING THERE.

HE GOT, UH, RELOCATED AND THEY NEEDED TO SELL UNDER THAT TIME.

THEY HAVE TO REIMBURSE US THE COST BETWEEN THE SALE PRICE AND OUR COST TO BUILD, WHICH IS ABOUT 50,000 JUST AS AN INCENTIVE NOT TO FLIP IT.

'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S A GOOD DEAL TO BUY $145,000 HOUSE, UM, THAT THEY APPRAISED FOR LIKE TWO 50.

SO THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF EQUITY WHEN THEY PURCHASE.

UM, AS FAR AS THE, WAIT, WHAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION? THE PROPERTY TAXES? NO, THEY DON'T GET ANY KIND OF, ANY KIND OF DISCOUNT.

SO YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR US TO BRING UP.

CHRISTIE .

THE OTHER THING WE DID DO IS WE PUT, UM, WE PUT WELLS IN AND WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT IN THIS ONE FOR THEM.

UM, THEY'RE STILL ON CITY OF EDMOND WATER, BUT IT CONTROLS THEIR IRRIGATION COSTS FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE REALLY BEAUTIFUL LAWNS BUT NOT HAVE QUITE AS MUCH OF AN EXPENSE THAT GOES WITH IT.

SO WE'RE TRYING, AND WE PUT IT HIGH EFFICIENCY.

I MEAN, WE WANNA KEEP, WE WANNA KEEP 'EM IN THESE HOUSES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR GOAL.

RIGHT.

[02:45:02]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU ARE SPECIAL.

THANK YOU FOR WADING THROUGH .

NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ALPHABETICAL ORDER THING HERE, .

JOANNE, ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ALWAYS HAS HUGS AND KIND WORDS FOR THE CHILDREN AS THEY EXIT THE BUILDING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF YOUR SPECIAL MINISTRIES.

MY NAME IS DUSTY SOMERVILLE AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UR SPECIAL AND WHY HAVING THIS FUNDING IS, UH, SO IMPORTANT TO OUR MISSION.

UH, WE SAW IN CHRISTIE'S, UH, PRESENTATION THAT, UH, THE FIRST THING ON HER SLIDE WAS SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITY.

AND OUR CHARITY GOES RIGHT TO THAT ISSUE IN TERMS OF THE WEALTHY CHILDREN AND THE NOT SO WEALTHY CHILDREN GO INTO THE SAME SCHOOL.

AND WHAT, HOW THAT AFFECTS 'EM.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND.

WE'RE A LEGACY, UH, EDMOND CHARITY.

IT'S BEEN SERVING EDMOND SINCE 1993.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, A LONG TIME UNTIL I HEARD SOME OF THESE OTHER CHARITIES HAVE BEEN BEEN AROUND FOR LIKE 85 YEARS.

AND IT'S LIKE, OH, OKAY, WE'RE JUST CHILDREN IN THIS THING.

UM, WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING CARC FUNDS IN THE CITY OF EDMOND SUPPORT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND, UH, I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, YOU ARE SPECIAL EITHER FROM PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS OR IN THE PACKAGE THAT I JUST GAVE YOU.

SO I'M NOT GONNA, UH, BELABOR OUR, OUR, UH, HISTORY WITH YOU.

BUT, UH, FOR 33 YEARS WE'VE BEEN SERVING CHILDREN, UM, THREE THROUGH NINE WHO EITHER LIVE IN OR GO TO EDMOND SCHOOLS.

THAT'S OUR CRITERIA.

UM, DURING THREE DISTRIBUTIONS A YEAR, WE CURRENTLY SERVE 350 TO 500 CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY GUIDELINES.

OUR MISSION IS FOCUSED ON THE CHILDREN OF EDMOND.

ALTHOUGH WE GIVE OUT CLOTHES, OUR MISSION IS REALLY ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM, YOUR SPECIAL CLOTHES DISADVANTAGE AND AT-RISK CHILDREN.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE REALLY ABOUT.

WE'RE REALLY ABOUT THEM GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND FEELING COMFORTABLE IN THE CLOTHES THAT THEY'RE WEARING AMONG THEIR PEERS, UH, TO PREVENT BULLYING AND TO ENHANCE THEIR DIGNITY AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.

THESE CHILDREN OFTEN GET HAND-ME-DOWN CLOTHES, UH, BUT WE ONLY PROVIDE NEW AND HANDMADE CLOTHING, UH, THAT THEY GET TO CHOOSE THEMSELVES, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME AND DO THIS.

UH, OF COURSE THE BOYS LOVE THE BRAND NAME ATHLETIC SHOES, AND THE GIRLS LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL ONE OF A KIND MADE SEAMSTRESS DRESSES.

BUT THE IMPACT OF HAVING THESE CLOTHES IS REAL.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST FABRIC.

IT'S A BOOST IN THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, A SENSE OF NORMALCY AND A REMINDER THAT SOMEONE CARES.

OUR CHILDREN LEAVE OUR DISTRIBUTIONS FEELING THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL THANKS TO EDMUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE ENJOYED THIS STABILITY OF A SINGLE FACILITY.

UH, THIS CAME AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME FOR US.

WE LOST SOME GOVERNMENT FUNDING LAST YEAR DUE A REINTERPRETATION OF CRITERIA.

SO WE NEEDED TO LOOK WAYS, LOOK FOR WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AND, UH, NOT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCT.

ELIMINATING PAID STAFF, RENT AND UTILITIES FROM OUR BUDGET HAS MADE US, HAS ALLOWED US TO, TO BRIDGE THAT FUNDING GAP.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN EVER WITH OUR SHOPPING, LOOKING FOR TOP QUALITY CLOTHING AT BUDGET PRICES.

ALTHOUGH THE INCREASE IN CLOTHING PRICES HAS MADE THAT A BIT OF A CHALLENGE, THERE ARE WAYS TO GO OUT THERE AND SHOP THE SALES AND GO TO THE, UH, DISCOUNT PLACES TO GET WHAT WE NEED.

LAST YEAR WE HEARD FROM YOU ALL THAT YOU WANTED TO SEE HOW WE COULD INCREASE OUR IMPACT AND INCREASE OUR SERVICES.

SO I'VE GOT A FEW STORIES ABOUT THAT HERE FOR YOU TODAY.

UM, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP OUR PROGRAM FRESH AND RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF ADD-ONS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TO OUR PROGRAM AT LITTLE OR NO COST, BUT THAT'S KIND OF A LONG LIST AND I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT THAT, UH, IF YOU'RE MORE INTERESTED.

BUT LAST YEAR I TALKED ABOUT THE QUILT PROGRAM, UH, AND THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.

UH, LAST, WE, WE'VE GIVEN 'EM OUT IN THE WINTERTIME AND WHAT WE DID WAS IF THEY GOT ONE LAST WINTER, THEY DIDN'T GET ONE THIS WINTER.

AND WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY ALTERNATE THAT EVERY OTHER YEAR LIKE THAT.

SO EVERYBODY CAN GET A QUILT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A STACK OF QUILTS SITTING AT HOME THAT THEY DON'T REALLY NEED.

UH, THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR CHILDREN ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THEIR BLANKETS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

IN A WORLD OF FEW POSSESSIONS, OWNING A PERSONAL QUILT PROVIDES WARMTH, SECURITY, AND PROVED HEALTH, AND A FEELING OF SAFETY THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

AND WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN SOME GREAT FEEDBACK FROM OUR CHILDREN.

HERE'S A FEW EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT KIDS HAVE SAID TO US.

I'M WARMER AT NIGHT, SLEEPING BETTER AND NOT SICK AS OFTEN.

I DON'T HAVE TO MISS AS MUCH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO REPORT GRA BETTER GRADES TO GRANDMA

[02:50:01]

BUT THAT'S THE INFLUENCE AND THE IMPACT THAT'S MAKING ON THEIR LIVES.

UM, ANOTHER ONE, I'M DOING BETTER AT SPORTS.

I'M MORE ACTIVE ON THE PLAYGROUND WITH MY NEW SHOES THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND NOT DUCT TAPED TOGETHER.

ANOTHER COMMENT.

MY TEACHER LIKES ME MORE BECAUSE MY DRESS IS PRETTY FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH.

SO WE JUST FINISHED OUR SPRING DISTRIBUTION THIS PAST WEEKEND AND SERVED A TOTAL OF 341 CHILDREN LAST YEAR.

WE PROVIDED OVER 1,250 SETS OF CLOTHING TO EDMUND CHILDREN.

AND WE'VE, WE SEEM TO BE STABILIZING IN THAT NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO INCREASE AND WE TRY AS HARD AS WE CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.

UH, BUT PRETTY MUCH OUR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN STABLE HERE.

NOW POST COVID.

BEFORE I GO, I WANNA MENTION TWO MORE THINGS FIRST, AND THANKS COREY FOR MENTIONING THIS LAST YEAR.

AN INVESTMENT IN SELF-ESTEEM OF THESE CHILDREN IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.

ONE OF OUR, IF WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UM, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE WE'VE REDUCED BULLYING IN SCHOOLS, THAT'S A WIN.

BUT EVEN ON A GREATER SCALE, ONE OF OUR BILINGUAL VOLUNTEERS THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CLIENTS AS A CHILD, IS NOW A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A 4.03 GPA, I THINK I OVERHEARD HER SAY AT DISTRIBUTION.

SHE WORKS EVERY SHIFT SHE CAN AT DISTRIBUTION, AND NOW SHE'S GONNA BE APPLYING TO IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS IN THE FALL.

AND SHE JUST ASKED ME TO WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR HER.

I THINK SHE'S GONNA BE VERY COMPETITIVE.

SECOND, WE CONTRI WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT SENIOR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR MEANING IN THEIR LIVES.

I KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF EDMOND OBJECTIVES HERE TO ADDRESS OUR SENIORS WITH PROGRAMS. BUT WE'VE GOTTEN PEOPLE FROM THE SENIOR CENTER WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A PURPOSE IN THEIR LIFE WHO'VE COME IN TO VOLUNTEER FOR UR SPECIAL.

OTHER LADY LOST HER HUSBAND AND HER HU AND HER, UM, DAUGHTER SAID, HEY, THIS LOOKS LIKE AN INTERESTING MATCH.

SHE WAS A SEAMSTRESS, SO SHE CAME AND SHE LOVES MAKING THOSE QUILTS FOR US.

AND SHE ALSO DOES A LOT OF DRESSES FOR OUR CHILDREN AS WELL.

SO OUR PROGRAM EXPANDS FAR BEYOND JUST THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF WHO WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS HERE WITH THE CHILDREN OF EDMOND.

AS WE FACE INCREASING DEMANDS AND COSTS, YOUR SUPPORT IS MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER.

FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF EDMOND IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP US MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EDMOND CHILDREN.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

COULD YOU SPEAK MORE? UM, COULD YOU SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT LED THE, THE LOSS OF THAT GRANT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU SAID A REINTERPRETATION OF CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.

UM, .

I I THINK THAT MIGHT BE, UH, UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

SO I, I COULD, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT THAT IF YOU'D PREFER.

I CAN SPEAK TO IT.

JONATHAN.

THE FEDERAL REGULATION DIDN'T COVER CLOTHING.

THEY CONSIDER IT A DIRECT RECIPIENT TYPE OF I ITEM.

AND SO OUR HEAD OFFICE TOLD US WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM RESOURCES ANY LONGER.

SO WHEN WE DID OUR NEW FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATION PLAN, WE COULDN'T ACCEPT THEIR APPLICATION FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.

FORTUNATELY, WE MADE UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE.

ANYTHING ELSE? NO.

THANK YOU AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR WHI UCO ENDEAVOR.

, YOU'RE UP.

YOU'RE UP.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

MY NAME IS LEAH PEMBERTON AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING UCO ENDEAVOR GAMES.

UM, OUR, THE GRANT THAT YOU GUYS GIVE US, WE USE REALLY TO, UM, INVEST DIRECTLY BACK INTO EDMOND.

UH, WE, OUR WHOLE EVENT IS HERE IN EDMOND.

WE DON'T EVER LOOK OUTSIDE EDMOND IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.

UM, SO WE ARE USING THE GRANT THAT YOU GAVE US FOR THIS YEAR TO RENT EDMOND FACILITIES.

SO EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UH, THE, WE USE THE Y UH, AT MITCH PARK WE USE.

UM, AND THIS YEAR WE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, TAKING ALL OF OUR KIND OF PARTIES THAT WE DO FOR OUR ATHLETES OUT INTO THE EDMOND COMMUNITY.

SO WE WILL BE GOING OUT TO ARCTIC EDGE AND DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A WINTER GAMES FLARE WITH SLED HOCKEY AND CURLING, WHICH I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

UM, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO, IF PELICAN BAY IS DONE, GOING TO BE RENTING OUT PELICAN BAY.

WE ARE USING, UM, MITCH PARK AS A BACKUP, UH, FOR A PIZZA AND POOL PARTY FOR OUR ATHLETES.

AND, UM, TYPICALLY WE WOULD DO THESE

[02:55:01]

THINGS ON UCO CAMPUS.

WE'VE LISTENED TO OUR ATHLETES.

THEY WANT US TO KIND OF MIX IT UP AND WE LIKE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO COME TOGETHER FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO TALK, FOR ATHLETES TO HANG OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

AND WE HAVE SO MANY FUN THINGS HERE IN EDMOND.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE ACTUALLY BE USING THIS MODEL FOR A FEW YEARS.

UM, I TALKED TO VISIT EDMOND.

I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO EVENTUALLY, UM, DO SOMETHING OUT AT THE NEW UNCOMMON GROUND PARK MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

UM, 'CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOME COOL SPACES THAT WE COULD RENT.

UM, WE ALSO USE THE GRANT TO PAY FOR, UM, EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND BUS DRIVERS.

SO WE ARE JUST, WE'RE CONTINUALLY REINVESTING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE MORE FUN THINGS FOR OUR ATHLETES.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ED, UH, THE UC ENDEAVOR GAMES IS FOR ATHLETES WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

WE HAVE ABOUT 250 ATHLETES FROM ALL ACROSS THE US THAT COME TO EDMOND TO OKLAHOMA.

UH, THIS WILL BE OUR 27TH YEAR.

UM, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR 20 YEARS, WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY.

UH, BUT THEY COME FROM ALL OVER.

EDMOND HAS A REPUTATION OF BEING VERY WELCOMING TO ATHLETES WITH, UH, DISABILITIES.

UH, VERY ACCOMMODATING IN OUR HOTEL SPACES AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO PART OF THAT IS HAVING OUR OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC TRAINING SITE, UM, YEAR ROUND.

OUR, YOU KNOW, ATHLETES ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME LIVING HERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY WELCOMING TO ATHLETES THAT MAYBE DON'T LOOK JUST LIKE THEM.

SO, UM, I DID SEND, UM, A LINK TO OUR 2025 ENDEAVOR GAMES VIDEO TO EMILY, SO THAT WAY SHE COULD SHARE IT OUT WITH YOU GUYS.

UH, JUST SO YOU HAVE A VISUAL REP REPRESENTATION OF, UM, WHAT WE DO.

BUT WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU GUYS HAVE FOR ME? I KNOW, UH, OUR APPLICATION, IT DOES SAY THAT WE ARE PART OF THE UCO FOUNDATION.

SO ALL OF OUR FUNDING, UM, IS FUNDRAISED.

SO EVERYTHING WE DO, UH, UCO PAYS FOR OUR SALARIES, WHICH IS AMAZING.

BUT EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT, UM, EVERYTHING WE DO FOR OUR ATHLETES, WE ARE OUT THERE, UM, RAISING FUNDS FOR THEM THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, OUR VOLUNTEER BASE IS LARGELY FROM THE EDMOND AREA.

WE HAVE EDMOND ROTARY, UH, LEADERSHIP, EDMOND ALUMNI.

WE HAVE, UH, EDMOND BOARD OF REALTORS.

ALL OF THESE GROUPS REACH OUT TO US EVERY YEAR AND THEY TAKE CERTAIN SPORTS THAT THEY LOVE.

SO THEY KIND OF HAVE THEM EARMARKED FOR THEMSELVES, .

BUT A LOT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS DO COME FROM THE EDMOND COMMUNITY.

QUESTIONS? NO.

I APPRECIATE BEING CONSIDERED.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

OF COURSE.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WILLOW RANCH.

I LIKE THE WRINKLING.

THAT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

UM, WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO GET TO COME AND TALK.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THESE LANEY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

MY WEBSITE.

BEEN, UM, FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILLOW RANCH ON OUR WEBSITE.

UM, I'M A LONG TIME EDMOND RESIDENT.

I'VE LIVED HERE FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.

I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

UM, I TAUGHT FIRST GRADE FOR MANY YEARS, THIRD GRADE AND FIFTH GRADE HERE IN EDMOND.

MY CHILDREN ALL WENT THROUGH EDMOND SCHOOLS.

UM, I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS AND I'M A NEWBIE.

WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN 2020, SO THIS IS ALL VERY NEW TO ME, SO I'M VERY NERVOUS.

SO FORGIVE ME, .

UM, I HAVE MY WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT ME, SO I'M SO GRATEFUL.

UH, WILLOW RANCH IS, UM, WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 2020.

WE DO EQUINE ASSISTED COUNSELING, EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING, AND EQUINE ASSISTED, UH, TEAM LEADERSHIP GROUPS.

WE PROMOTE HOPE, HEALING AND WELLNESS FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES, AND VETERANS.

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT IS IN THIS ROOM THAT PRESENTED TODAY.

I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH.

I PARTICIPATED IN EDMOND ROUNDUP AS A CHILD.

MY FOSTER CHILDREN WENT TO YMCA CAMPS, UM, MEALS ON WHEELS.

IT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY TO THOSE CHILDREN.

UM, SO I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO BE IN THIS ROOM.

UM, THE REASON WILLOW RANCH WAS FOUNDED IN 2009, MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RHABDOMYOSARCOMA.

I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, UM, HAD AN EXCELLENT COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT.

UM, SADLY WE LOST MY DAUGHTER IN 2011.

UM, AT THE AGE OF 18, SHE DID WALK.

SHE GRADUATED FROM EDMOND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

THE COMMUNITY WAS FABULOUS IN SUPPORTING US THROUGH THAT.

THROUGHOUT HER ILLNESS, UH, JESSICA VOLUNTEERED AT A PLACE CALLED REASON TO BELIEVE,

[03:00:01]

WHICH WAS IN GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA.

SADLY, THEY'VE DISSOLVED DUE TO FUNDING.

UM, WHEN SHE WAS WITH THE HORSES, SHE WOULD TELL ME, MOM, IT GIVES ME SOMETHING ELSE.

IT GIVES ME PEACE, IT GIVES ME STRENGTH, A SENSE OF BELONGING.

I CAN BE MYSELF.

I'M NOT A PATIENT.

SHE GOT TO HELP PEOPLE.

SHE BECAME AN EQUINE SPECIALIST.

JESSICA LEFT BEHIND A POEM AND IT WAS TITLED MEET ME BY THE WILLOW TREE.

THE LAST LINE OF THE POEM IS, AND THE NEXT TIME WE FINALLY MEET THE WILLOW TREE IS WHERE I WILL BE.

THAT IS WHERE THE NAME WILLOW RANCH COMES FROM.

AND A REMINDER OF A PLACE OF PEACE CONNECTION.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HOPE TO CREATE FOR OTHERS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS AFTER WE LOST HER, I SEARCHED FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE COMMUNITY.

SOMEONE I COULD PARTNER WITH, COLLABORATE WITH SOMETHING.

UM, AND SADLY, THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IN 2017, AFTER RETURNING TO SCHOOL TO BE A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND THEN LATER BECOMING A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, MY HUSBAND AND I, UM, OH, SIDE NOTE.

I WORKED AT MINISTRIES OF JESUS AS A COUNSELOR FOR SEVEN YEARS IN THAT TIME.

AND DURING THAT TIME, BEING IN A ROOM WITH WALLS AND ONE WINDOW, I SAW THE NEED FOR NATURE AND ANIMALS IN MY THERAPY.

I KNEW AS A CHILD WITH A PONY IN FOUR H THAT HORSES HAD AN IMPACT ON MY WELLNESS AND MY WELLBEING WHEN MY PARENTS DIVORCED AS A CHILD.

SO, UM, NOW I KNOW THE SCIENCE AND THE RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF THAT.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A TOUR.

ANY ONE OF YOU, ALL OF YOU, WE COULD DO A LEADERSHIP GROUP.

IT WOULD BE SUPER FUN.

SO WILLOW RANCH PROVIDES EQUINE ASSISTED COUNSELING, EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING GROUPS, FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS, GRIEF SESSIONS, LEADERSHIP AND TEAL TEAM BUILDING EXPERIENCES.

WHAT MAKES THIS WORK IS HORSES ARE PARTNERS.

THEY'RE NOT TOOLS.

THEY GIVE A NON-JUDGMENTAL FEEDBACK TO THE CLIENT.

THE CLIENT LEARNS FROM THEIR BEHAVIOR.

IT'S EXPERIENTIAL.

IT'S NOT JUST TALK BASED.

IT BUILDS TRUST, BOUNDARIES AND EMOTIONAL REGULATIONS.

SOMETHING THAT CANNOT HAPPEN IN THE FOUR WALLS.

WHEN THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO THE HORSE, IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GAIN AWARENESS AND HEALING IN WAYS THAT OFTEN ACTS THEY CANNOT ACCESS OTHERWISE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT INDICATES WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BRAIN AS THIS TAKES PLACE.

THERE'S A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE IN FIVE ADULTS AND ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN FACE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

ONE IN FOUR VETERANS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.

17 VETERANS DIE PER DAY ACCORDING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH VETERAN ASSOCIATION.

OKLAHOMA ONLY HAS 13 PROVIDERS PER 100,000 PROVIDERS ACCORDING TO THE, UH, NAMI INSTITUTE.

BUT THE NEED IS GROWING.

AND SO IS THE OPPORTUNITY AFTER THE LOSS OF COFFEE CREEK RIDING CENTER, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HOPE TO INCORPORATE INTO WILLOW RANCH ONE DAY.

UM, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THIS TYPE OF CARE FOLLOWED ON MODELS OUT OF TEXAS EQUEST.

UM, THEY OPERATE HIPAA THERAPY, EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING GROUPS, AND EQUINE ASSISTED COUNSELING.

AND THAT WAS A VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO THE EDMUND COMMUNITY.

AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT DRIVING DOWN COFFEE CREEK ROAD, IF YOU'RE FROM EDMOND, IT'S REALLY SAD.

I KNOW JOY PERSONALLY, AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

I TRIED TO PARTNER WITH HER, BUT, UM, SHE WAS DISSOLVING AT THAT TIME.

SO WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS.

WE'VE HAD STUDENTS FROM OU, UCO AND OSU COME OUT TO VOLUNTEER, DO INTERNSHIPS.

WE HAVE OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE HELPING CARRY OUT OUR MISSION.

OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE.

WE WANNA REDUCE SUFFERING.

WE WANT TO RESTORE CONNECTION, AND WE WANT TO PRO PROMOTE, PROMOTE HOPE AND WELLNESS, ONE RELATIONSHIP ALONG OUR HERD AT A TIME IN MANY WAYS, WILLOW RANCH IS THAT PLACE THAT JESSICA WROTE ABOUT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME FIND HOPE, HEALING, CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER US FOR THIS GRANT.

I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME OUT FOR A TOUR AND, UM, I THINK I ACCIDENTALLY SKIPPED THE PART THAT TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND THE NUMBERS WE SERVE.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GONNA GO RIGHT BACK TO THAT REALLY QUICK.

FORGOT TO START MY TIMER.

SORRY.

I'M USUALLY VERY TIMELY TEACHING FIRST GRADE WILL DO THAT TO YOU.

YOU HAVE, YOU CANNOT MISS PE.

LIKE THEY WON'T CARE.

SO I MEAN, THE TEACHER WON'T CARE.

I CARE.

UM, SO LET ME LOOK REAL QUICK.

I'M SO SORRY.

WHERE IS MY NUMBER? OH, OKAY.

HERE IT IS.

SO LAST YEAR WILLOW RANCH SERVED OVER 164 CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES, AND VETERANS.

MORE THAN 70% OF THOSE ARE FROM THE EDMOND COMMUNITY.

IF CHOSEN OR FUNDS

[03:05:01]

WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES AND VETERANS AND GROUP CARE TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR OUR CLIENTS.

ANY QUESTIONS? OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER, UH, OPPORTUNITY OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FOR A TOUR? I, I WAS FAMILIAR WITH COFFEE CREEK, SO I WAS VERY GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY, UM, THAT YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE? YES.

UM, EQUEST IN TEXAS HAS A PROGRAM, IT HAS A $3 MILLION BUDGET BECAUSE THE STATE FUNDS THIS PROGRAM.

UM, BUT THEY DO OPERATE HIPPOTHERAPY LEARNING AND COUNSELING.

SO IT IS POSSIBLE, YES.

I JUST HOPE TO ESTABLISH IT WITHIN THE NEXT RETIREMENT YEARS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU SAID THE FUNDS WOULD GO TO SAFETY.

WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THAT IS TO ENSURE SAFETY, SO THAT'S FOR OUR PROGRAMS AS STATED IN THE APPLICATION.

BUT SAFETY RE ENSURES, UM, CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.

UM, EACH ONE OF THEM GOES THROUGH TRAININGS.

EACH ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE, SINCE WE'RE COUNSELING CENTER, HAS A BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO THAT IS TO OPERATE PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE OPERATING CURRENTLY.

INTERESTING.

UM, WELL THANK YOU FOR APPLYING.

I, YES.

THANK YOU FOR, UM, MY SISTER IS A CERTIFIED EQUINE, OR WHAT IS IT? EQUINE FACILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPIST.

OH, EXCELLENT.

IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

WONDERFUL.

AND PART OF YOUR SMALL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE DOING THIS WORK I LOVE.

SO I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOUR SISTER TO COME TOUR.

YEAH, YEAH.

UM, AND I ASKED HER IF SHE KNEW ABOUT YOU.

AND SHE LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE AND SAID, LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS.

SO SHE'S IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, BUT NOT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

I DO OPERATE MY PRIVATE PRACTICE ON WEDNESDAYS.

SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, WELL, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE MORE RELATED TO GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, NOT BECAUSE I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

UM, I NOTICED IN YOUR WEBSITE YOU HAVE 28 PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM, UM, AND ONE PLACE IN YOUR BUDGET.

IT SAID IT WAS $39,000 FOR AN ANNUAL BUDGET AND ONE PLACE SAID 80 SOMETHING.

WHAT IS YOUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET? I, WELL, LAST YEAR OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WAS THE 39,000.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE 80, I'M NOT, I WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOR THAT.

UM, NO ONE RECEIVES A PAYCHECK EXCEPT OUR GRANT WRITER.

WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS, SO WE'RE 100% VOLUNTEERS.

UM, IF THAT HELPS.

THE BUDGET PRIMARILY, HOW ARE YOU OPERATING IF THAT WE'RE NOT, SO ARE YOUR THERAPIST? WE'RE A NEW NON-PROFIT.

WE ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST DAY BY DAY GRATEFUL.

SO YOU'RE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST? MM-HMM .

AND LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL, THEY'RE WORKING FOR FREE.

RUNNING OUR VETERANS PROGRAMS AND RUNNING OUR ADOLESCENT PROGRAMS. OKAY.

AND THEN WHAT, UM, WHAT ARE MOST OF YOUR REFERRAL SOURCES? I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH MANY OF YOUR PARTNERS LISTED.

GENESIS PROJECT THREE F, VETERANS GENESIS PROJECT JUST DISSOLVED.

SADLY, THEY'RE A HOME FOR BOYS AT THE LEVEL FOUR TRAUMA.

AND SO THEY WERE COMING OUT AND DOING GROUPS AND WE HAD SO MANY SWEET SUCCESSES WITH THOSE BOYS, SO IT JUST DEVASTATED ALL OF US THAT THEY WEREN'T.

AND I OFFERED FOR THEM TO COME TO OUR BOYS GROUP BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE OR OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT WILLOW RANCH TO BE DOING, IS SERVING THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT.

UM, BUT WE DO, MOST OF OUR, UH, REFERRALS COME FROM EITHER, UM, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OR, UM, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, UM, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COUNSELING WORLD HERE IN EDMOND, UM, EDUCATORS.

I'VE SPOKE AT THE EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE JUST LEARNING ABOUT WHAT DOES NETWORKING LOOK LIKE AND HOW DOES THIS WORK TOGETHER? AND CURRENTLY WE'RE AT MAX CAPACITY WITH VOLUNTEERS.

SO I KNOW TO SUSTAIN AND NOT DO WHAT WILL, UM, OTHER NONPROFITS HAVE DONE AS FAR AS DISSOLVING.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET FUNDS TO HIRE A DEVELOPMENTAL DIRECTOR THAT CAN HELP ME WITH THOSE THINGS BUSINESS WISE.

UM, SO WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN THE NEW GROWTH AND IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS , SO WE FEEL REALLY PROUD OF THOSE FIVE YEARS .

WELL, AND MAYBE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE SERENDIPITOUS PART ABOUT BEING LAST TO PRESENT IS YOU GOTTA LEARN ABOUT OTHER, THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MM-HMM .

OH, I REALLY ENJOYED THAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CONNECT WITH AND NETWORK WITH.

SO.

AND WE HAVE ALL LEARNED THAT LIFE IS VERY CYCLICAL.

LIKE THERE IS A BEGINNING, THERE IS AN END, END.

AND SO IT'S THE JOURNEY.

AND SO WE'RE ON THAT RIGHT NOW, , WHICH IS GREAT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

[03:10:01]

GOD LOVE YOU.

I HOPE ALL OF YOUR MEETINGS DON'T LAST THIS LONG.

, WE DECIDED WE'RE GONNA BE CALLED A WILLOW RANCH NEXT YEAR.

SMART .

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DO A HAT DRAW WHEN THE ORDER NEXT YEAR.

NOT REALLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

DO THE COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE'LL BE MEETING AGAIN ON THURSDAY TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH OUR FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE AT THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OUT THERE FROM CITIZENS? NO.

[6. Comments from the Community Agency Review Commission Chair and Members.]

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND DOING A YEOMAN'S JOB.

AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK WHEN YOU SEE THE NEEDS AND YOU SEE HOW WONDERFUL ALL OF THE AGENCIES ARE AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.

SO YOU HAVE REALLY TASKED US.

WE WILL SAY THAT MADAM CHAIR.

I JUST ASK THAT THE COM, UH, COMMISSION SEND MYSELF AND EMILY YOUR SCORE SHEETS SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER FOR THURSDAY'S MEETING.