Critical Race Theory is Passion Thinking: A Commentary
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Steve Fair
Critical Face Theory (CRT) is an academic movement of civil rights activists who seek to critically examine the law on issues of race. Advocates of CRT believe social problems are influenced and created by society and culture because racism is inherent in skin color.
Critics of CRT say CRT elevates storytelling over absolute truth, revises history and automatically assumes white supremacy by whites. CRT dates back to the 1970s when law school professors, activists and attorneys examined why civil rights victories had stalled and in their estimation were eroding. The ‘hate crime’ legislation that has made its way into law was birthed in the CRT movement.
House Bill 1775, authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. David Bullard, will prohibit Oklahoma public schools, colleges and universities from incorporating certain messages about sex and race into any course instruction. The bill would also prohibit requiring mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling in the schools.
H.B. 1775 passed the House 70-19 and the Senate 38-9, and then went to It is the governor’s desk.
Before Stitt made his decision on the legislation, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission requested Governor Kevin Stitt veto it.
"If this bill becomes law it will have serious implications on teaching the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in schools, as well as much of the history of the U.S. which is rife with racism, sexism and discomfort," said Phil Armstrong, project director for the Commission.
Two observations:
First, racism is not an inherited trait. There is no evidence there is a racism gene. Every person is born with an inherit sin nature.
The got it from their father, who got it from his father, all the way back to Adam. That depravity/wickedness/sin can manifest itself in racism, but not every white person is a racist simply because they are white. To condemn every person as racist because of the color of their skin is the height of racism.
Second, H.B. 1775 does not stop the teaching of history. Armstrong is being intellectually dishonest with that statement. The language of H.B. 1775 doesn’t state or even infer that incidents of race riots and violence be ignored.
The bill specifically states that no teacher, administrator or other employee of a school district, charter school or virtual charter school shall require or make part of a course the following concepts: (a) one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex, (2) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, (3) an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.
“This bill will in no way stop the teaching of history or anything currently in our Oklahoma education standards, including curriculum that shows historical examples of racism or genocide. This bill simply says that teachers can’t force a student to answer that they are inherently racist or sexist or that they must feel personally responsible for things perpetrated in the past by people of a similar race or gender,” Rep. (Kevin) West said during the recent period of debate.
H.B. 1775, as signed, goes into effect immediately and requires the state Regents and the state Board of Education to implement the changes in the bill.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 1775. Oklahomans should thank the chief executive for his decision to put the law into effect.
Children should be taught critical thinking skills. CRT is passive thinking and rooted in Marxism. Oklahoma students should never be subjected to it.
NOTE: Steve Fair is conservative commentator whose essays often appear at CapitolBeatOK.com, an independent, non-partisan news organization based in Oklahoma City. Fair is Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party in the state’s Fourth Congressional District. Steve can be reached by email at [email protected]. His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.
Critical Race Theory is Passion Thinking: A Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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Pat McGuigan
Oklahoma City – When voters decided narrowly, but clearly, to expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid system to new populations, they also infused new urgency into a long-standing debate.
Namely, how to improve health care outcomes in the most vulnerable populations.
Things have changed only a little, since I dove into the Managed Care issue back in February 2018.
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) operates the Medicaid system, which has run on a fee-for-service basis.
When a provider performs a service they send a bill to OHCA and get a check in the mail. The costs of delivering care have grown over time, and there have been only a few tools available to Oklahoma to control cost growth – even as health outcomes remained less than desirable.
Despite continual spending increases, Oklahoma has not received hoped-for return (in the form of improved quality, outcomes or access) on that long-standing investment.
The system already siphons critical funding that might go to other state programs. Do we really believe there has been enough accountability within the current system serving 1 million Oklahomans, a quarter of all state residents? (When the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, a few years back, ran out of money to treat the flu epidemic, it was proof that the current system has not equipped well enough to handle this sort of stress.)
Can Oklahoma do better?
A 2018 study from the Oklahoma Association of Health Plans (OAHP) asserted that modernizing Medicaid could prevent these types of scenarios from happening in the future while serving to modernize the health care delivery system.
Entering contracts for a Managed Care system, the state can pay one lump sum to managed care organizations, or MCOs.
With voters having decided the issue expansion, implementing Managed Care provides Oklahoma with the ability to at least manage the growth of Medicaid spending, improve health outcomes, increase access and drive innovation to create a truly modernized Medicaid program.
Kaitlyn Finley, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) analyst I’ve cited previously, had another fine essay last week, entitled “Oklahoma House seeks to grow state health agency.”
She was digging into the Marcus McEntire proposal (Senate Bill 131) that would create a new chunk of bureaucracy within OHCA to invent what already exists: Managed Care models.
Stick with me on this. She wrote, “The number of Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees has grown significantly relative to the general state population over the past two decades, leading to a sharp increase in expenditures.
“With expansion coming down the pike, this would be the worst time to throw hundreds of millions of dollars towards the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement managed care. They do not have the time, infrastructure, or incentives to implement managed care effectively or efficiently.”
Taking her ever-measured approach, she pondered the recent effort to spike the chief executive’s considered program to implement the voter’s will between now and the fall, when Medicaid Expansion must take effect. She concluded: “Instead of further growing government and reinventing the managed-care wheel, the legislature should reject [Senate Bill 131] and adopt Gov. Stitt’s plan to manage Medicaid costs.”
Back to the future, y’all
Haley Faulkenberry, executive director of the OAHP, in a straight-forward commentary for The Oklahoman on Sunday, April 30, pointed out, “Medicaid managed care is a well-established and highly successful model that’s already been adopted by 40 U.S. states. These states partner with managed care organizations (MCOs) to administer Medicaid benefits because it’s the only model with the structure, tools and resources needed to address today’s complex health care needs.”
She observes, “Health care is about more than just seeing a doctor when you feel sick — everything from where you live to what you eat can have a significant effect on your long-term health and wellbeing. What’s called the fee-for-service model, the current model for administering Medicaid in Oklahoma, brings a short-term fix to these types of issues.
“This model sees each doctor visit and test ordered as a separate event, often measuring a patient’s experience by the number of services rendered. The model wasn’t created to look at health issues holistically and does not have the infrastructure or the right incentives to proactively identify and improve health outcomes at the community level.
“The Medicaid managed care model is instead built for health outcomes — focused on the unique needs of individuals and communities. MCOs take the time and resources to invest and address local health care needs.”
Continuing the Faulkenberry narrative: “MCOs can deploy locally based staff who visit every county and community to understand population health, and work with local organizations to identify where certain types of care or social services are needed most. MCOs can provide not only immediate value to patients but they also invest in measures, such as community support services, that can improve health outcomes over the long term.
“MCOs also invest in resources for providers. MCOs in Oklahoma will have dedicated provider support staff working alongside providers all across the state. This team will help doctors and hospitals manage the billing and claims processes, provide training and continued education opportunities, and share critical data and insights about the health of their patients. The state would not be able to hire and adequately manage this type of support team on its own.”
Faulkenberry noted: “Administrative costs in Medicaid managed care also support the coordination efforts necessary to make Medicaid work better for everyone in Oklahoma. An effective program to improve health outcomes for the Medicaid population and ensure Oklahoma spends its health dollars wisely, requires a strong administrative function that allows for oversight and investment in key areas.
“Managed care organizations bring the technology, innovation and expertise of the private sector and will partner closely with Oklahoma to build the more modern Medicaid program we need. Oklahoma has been ranked in the bottom of health outcomes for far too long. It’s time to deliver a modern health system that is proven and is successfully advancing health outcomes in other states across the nation.”
If it’s true that even when things change, they sort of remain the same, keep in mind how we began this humble series reporting and analyzing on the governor’s plant to implement Managed Care of Medicaid Expansion.
Managed Care and Lives Saved
Both Ray Carter of the Center for Independent Journalism and this writer have pointed out – not ad nauseam, but consistently – the pragmatic side of at least seeking to slow the growth of already-surging Medicaid expenditures, where and when possible.
But here’s the deal: Managed Care in general and the system in Florida specifically can point to good results for patients. In March, I pointed to a then-new peer-review study that found strongly positive results in combating COVID deaths for a sample of nearly 39,000 Floridians in a Managed Care program.
The analysis cited, from the American Journal of Managed Care found that Cano Health’s “population health management program reduced COVID-19 mortality by 60 percent, compared to a mirror group of Florida patients.”
That “retrospective cohort study” included 38,193 MCPs (Managed Care Patients) in the Sunshine State who were monitored, the AJMC report said, “for COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and mortality.” That cohort was “compared with a mirror group from the state of Florida.”
The abstract summary of reported results were striking: “The mean (SD) age among the MCPs was 67.9 (15.2) years, and 60 [percent] were female. Older age and hypertension were the most important factors in predicting COVID-19. Obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and congestive heart failure (CHF) were linked to higher rates of hospitalizations. Patients prescribed off-label outpatient medications had 73 [percent] lower likelihood of hospitalization (P<.05). Compared with the mirror group, MCPs had 60 [percent] lower COVID-19 mortality (P<.05).”
A trio of reporters for Read Frontier (April 30) marched through some of the point/counter-points of the Managed Care debate.
In the wrap-up of that “fact check” exercise, they reported, “Under federal law, OHCA as a state agency has restraints on which services it can pay for. Managed care companies, in contrast, have the flexibility to pay for a wider variety of preventive care treatments.”
Note: This is part of a continuing series of analyses on the debate over Managed Care of Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma. Pat McGuigan is editor of The City Sentinel newspaper and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news service.
Analysis: The more things change, the more they remain the same – Managed Care for Medicaid (Expansion, this time) in Oklahoma Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Staff Report
Oklahoma City – Gross Receipts to the Treasury jumped by more than 38 percent in April, driven by record oil and gas production tax collections along with increases in sales and income tax payments, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced Thursday (May 6) .
Collections from all sources in April total $1.49 billion, up by $413.2 million from April 2020. Some increase was expected because last April was the first full month of the pandemic and receipts were negatively impacted by a delay in the income tax filing deadline.
Even so, the increase was not from income taxes only. Every major revenue stream rose by at least double-digit percentages, including a 120 percent boost in gross production taxes on oil and natural gas and a 32 percent surge in sales and use tax receipts. Combined individual and corporate income taxes grew by 36.4 percent for the month.
“Oklahoma’s economy was hitting on all cylinders in April, especially compared to where we were a year ago,” Treasurer McDaniel said. “Consumer confidence is on the rise, reflecting growing optimism about the economy.”
The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index in April remained above growth neutral for a fifth consecutive month. The April index was set at 70.9, its highest level in 10 years. Numbers above 50 indicate economic expansion is expected during the next three to six months.
April’s gross production tax generated $133.7 million, the highest monthly total in more than a decade. Collections for the month reflect oil field production during February when natural gas prices spiked during the record cold snap and crude oil prices were on the rise.
Sales tax receipts not only exceeded collections from a year ago, but also topped those from April of 2019. Much of the increase is attributed to expenditure of federal stimulus payments, which pumped billions of dollars into the Oklahoma economy.
Combined gross receipts from the past 12 months of $13.56 billion are above collections from the previous 12 months by $342.8 million, or 2.6 percent. The growth ends a one-year contraction in 12-month receipts.
Employment picture
The March unemployment rate in Oklahoma was reported as 4.2 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s jobless rate was down by two-tenths of a percentage point from February, but up from 3.2 percent in March 2020. The U.S. unemployment rate was set at 6 percent in March.
April collections
Compared to gross receipts from April 2020, collections in April 2021 show:
Total April 2021 gross collections are $1.49 billion, up $413.2 million, or 38.3 percent.
Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $553.4 million, up by $147.5 million, or 36.4 percent.
Individual income tax collections are $414.1 million, an increase of $45.7 million, or 12.4 percent.
Corporate collections are $139.3 million, up by $101.8 million, or 272.1 percent. Large monthly variances in corporate collections are not uncommon.
Combined sales and use tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $568.1 million – up by $137.6 million, or 32 percent. Sales tax collections total $481.4 million, an increase of $113.1 million, or 30.7 percent.
Use tax receipts, collected on out-of-state purchases including internet sales, generated $86.7 million, an increase of $24.6 million, or 39.5 percent.
Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas total $133.7 million, an increase of $73 million, or 120.3 percent. Motor vehicle taxes produced $78.4 million, up by $25.5 million, or 48 percent.
Other collections composed of some 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, medical marijuana, and alcoholic beverages, produced $158.5 million – up by $29.5 million, or 22.9 percent.
The medical marijuana tax produced $6.2 million, up by $1.9 million, or 45 percent from April 2020.
Twelve-month collections
Combined gross receipts for past 12 months compared to the trailing 12 months show:
Gross revenue totals $13.56 billion. That is $342.8 million, or 2.6 percent, above collections from the previous period.
Gross income taxes generated $4.91 billion, an increase of $525.1 million, or 12 percent. Individual income tax collections total $4.17 billion, up by $313.2 million, or 8.1 percent.
Corporate collections are $736.6 million, an increase of $211.9 million, or 40.4 percent. Combined sales and use taxes generated $5.66 billion, an increase of $138.7 million, or 2.5 percent.
Gross sales tax receipts total $4.82 billion, up by $28.4 million, or 0.6 percent. Use tax collections generated $840.2 million, an increase of $110.4 million, or 15.1 percent.
Oil and gas gross production tax collections generated $645.3 million, down by $312.1 million, or 32.6 percent. Motor vehicle collections total $801.8 million, an increase of $23.6 million, or 3 percent.
Other sources generated $1.55 billion, down by $32.6 million, or 2.1 percent. Medical marijuana taxes generated $64.8 million, up by $29.3 million, or 82.4 percent.
About Gross Receipts to the Treasury: The monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report, developed by the state treasurer’s office, provides a timely and broad view of the state’s economy. It is released in conjunction with the General Revenue Fund report from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which provides information to state agencies for budgetary planning purposes. The General Revenue Fund, the state’s main operating account, receives less than half of the state’s gross receipts with the remainder paid in rebates and refunds, remitted to cities and counties, and apportioned to other state funds.
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Randy McDaniel says Gross Receipts to the Oklahoma Treasury Rise Sharply in April Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma hires Owen Canfield as Associate Director for Gift Planning5/7/2021
Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – The board of directors for the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma announced last month it has hired Owen Canfield to serve as the new associate director for gift planning.
Canfield, 61, will help lead the foundation’s mission to guide Catholics in estate planning and in making gifts through the foundation to benefit parishes, schools and ministries within the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
“Owen will bring an entirely new level of support to foster Catholic generosity throughout the archdiocese,” Executive Director Peter de Keratry said.
Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, welcomed the announcement.
“Owen and his family have been faithful, generous and dedicated Catholics for many years,” he said. “This new position provides him a chance to bring together his faith and his knowledge for the betterment of the archdiocese and the people we serve.”
Danny Stith, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, said he looked forward to Canfield’s efforts to advance the foundation’s work to “help donors make an impact on the programs and services they care most about.”
Canfield joins the foundation after a long and award-winning career in journalism. He most recently was the opinion editor for The Oklahoman newspaper where he worked for 17 years. Prior to joining The Oklahoman, he spent nearly two decades in the Oklahoma City bureau of The Associated Press.
Canfield's hiring was announced in a press release sent to The City Sentinel newspaper, the CapitolBeatOK.com news service, and other news organizations.
Canfield and his wife, Lori, have been married 36 years and are active and longtime members of the Saint Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. They have four grown children who attended Saint Eugene Catholic School and Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, and three grandchildren.
Established in 1965, the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma was incorporated as a nonprofit with a mission to procure and build endowment funds to support the ministries and entities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. With the spiritual leadership and guidance of the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, the foundation is managed by a board of directors, consisting of priests, deacons and professional lay men and women who represent various geographic areas of the archdiocese.
In carrying out its mission, the foundation provides estate planning and charitable giving information and assistance, distributes earnings on its endowed funds to designated archdiocesan entities, and furthers the development of the Catholic Church in central and western Oklahoma.
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma hires Owen Canfield as Associate Director for Gift Planning Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Oklahoma City – The Arnall Family Foundation recently hired Tina Brown to serve as program officer for its criminal justice reform initiatives. In this role, she will implement the foundation’s strategy, working with and supporting partners to find data-driven solutions to ensure a just and fair criminal justice system and decrease over-incarceration, by specifically focusing on community safety and pretrial programming within Oklahoma County.
Brown brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the criminal justice system to the foundation. Her prior work includes serving as an Assistant Municipal Counselor for the City of Oklahoma City, where she prosecuted violations of City ordinances, and was specifically assigned to the newly created Homeless Court Program.
Brown also served as an Assistant Public Defender for Oklahoma County before working as a domestic violence staff attorney for Legal Aid embedded at Palomar.
“We are proud to have someone of Tina’s caliber join the foundation,” said Sue Ann Arnall, president of the Arnall Family Foundation, in a press release to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations. “Her well-rounded experience as a public defender, prosecutor and nonprofit attorney makes her an incredible asset to our team and our efforts to create a strong and vibrant community where families thrive, and individuals are not defined by their circumstances.”
The Arnall Family Foundation has contributed over $76 million in support of programs and services aimed at helping those involved in the criminal justice system in Oklahoma County since 2015.
This includes a $38 million endowment for the Diversion Hub, which seeks to provide life-stabilizing resources while empowering individuals to reduce their encounters with the criminal justice system through enhanced support services, including case management, criminal justice navigation and coordinated communication under one roof.
About the Arnall Family Foundation: Established in 2015, the Arnall Family Foundation was founded by Sue Ann Arnall with the vision to create lasting, transformative improvements to the systems and programs that serve individuals and families involved in criminal justice and child welfare through results-driven investments.
Arnall Family Foundation announces new Criminal Justice Reform Program Officer Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Staff Report, with Pat McGuigan contributing
OKLAHOMA CITY – A range of bipartisan measures introduced this session by Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, aimed at topics from suicide prevention to better assisting victims of domestic violence, have been signed into law.
Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, thanked her colleagues and the governor for their support on the legislation.
“Each of these measures deals with issues impacting Oklahomans and their families in every part of this state, and they were passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support,” Floyd said.
“I’m deeply grateful to my co-authors, our fellow members and to Governor Stitt for getting these bills through the Legislature and in our statutes.”
Those measures now signed into law include:
• Senate Bill 16, by Floyd and Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa. As the backlog of sexual assault evidence kits across Oklahoma is being addressed, crime victims can experience trauma. S.B. 16 will give victims access to counseling services.
• Senate Bill 17, by Floyd and Bush. The legislation enhances Oklahoma’s Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) used by law enforcement investigating domestic violence crimes to identify victims at greatest risk of becoming homicide victims and identifying resources.
• Senate Bill 21, by Floyd and Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan. Makes it mandatory for teachers and staff to undergo suicide awareness and prevention training once every two years.
• Senate Bill 22, by Floyd and Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City. The measure concerns nonprofits that have leased closed school buildings to provide local services. Those nonprofits will be given the right of first refusal if a school district later decides to sell the building.
For more information on some of these measures, including more detailed comments from Floyd’s co-sponsors, visit here: https://ift.tt/3uuWZuR
Floyd’s service at the State Capitol began after the 2012 election. That year, she ran first in a crowded Democratic primary, prevailed in the subsequent runoff, and easily won the general election. After serving one term in the House (to which she was elected in 2021), Senator Floyd has served in the upper chamber since her election in 2014, and won reelection without opposition in 2018.
Senator Floyd became Minority Leader in the Oklahoma Senate in May 2018. She had previously served as chair of the Democratic Caucus.
Floyd’s work at the Capitol has garnered recognition. In 2018 (https://ift.tt/2wLUT0f ), Senator Floyd was honored with the “Guardian Award” from the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.
In 2016, (https://ift.tt/2QK2gjz ), the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) designated Floyd as a winner of the Elected Women of Excellence Award.
NOTE: The City Sentinel’s Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Suicide training for schools, law on domestic violence/assault victims and measure on nonprofit properties enacted. Senator Floyd, sponsor of the measures, thanks colleagues and governor. Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Pat McGuigan
David J. Holland, born into an Army family at Lawton in 1959, graduated from Oklahoma City’s John Marshall High School.
With a good start on life and a place to call home, the Oklahoma City University graduate (B.A. Art) faced challenges as he made his way in the world art.
Despite the loss of three-dimensional eyesight, he has emerged as a successful fine art oil painter, specializing in striking ‘Cloudscapes’ that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Some of his works are permanent features in the new Omni Oklahoma City.
Paul Kiley, director of marketing and sales, reflects that the use of local and regional themes has for many years been a staple for Omni system. During an interaction with Kiley and Mr. Holland, The City Sentinel saw multiple examples of those themes, including in the displayed works of the artist.
Growing up in a military family, he saw a lot of different places in America, and even had a sojourn in Japan. But in his home state, “Storms fascinated me. I started taking pictures of storm, looking to the west as the rays dispersed when a large cloud overtook the sun.”
In addition to time as a builder of bird-houses, he managed a gallery, worked as an instructor, and as designer and technician at a stained glass studio. A work accident led to the loss of three-dimensional sight, yet he persevered with dreams of full-time painting.
Along the way he had experiences to which many artist and writers can relate – including a presentation of 30 works at which he pinned his hopes on good sales. But, only two of his works sold that time.
He knew, with a streak of admirable pragmatism, that to achieve success, “I needed to create works people would pay to own.” With but one eye he grew determined to give layers and clarity to what knew was there.
“I had a need, a desire, a compulsion to make things three dimensional.”
Along the way, a well-known gallery and art family provided the time and assistance to reach for excellence.
Formal art studies at OCU had given him a framework and discipline for creativity, but over time he had turned to avid photography.
He began to use those photos to help him create “cloudscapes” in oil.
An important success came two years ago, with an acclaimed residency at Norman’s MainSite Contemporary Art. That time built on his networking with weather specialists
His exhibition, “The Skies Have it” propelled him to broad notice – and to a present happiness that he articulates beautifully.
“Clouds are the physical representation of Earth’s water delivery system. Lucky for me clouds are visible and storms are visually stunning. I love watching them. I love seeing their power and painting it. It’s honest. It’s majestic.”
He reflects, “I capture the beauty of clouds and storms on camera and translate their majesty onto canvas with oil paint. Each work is an intimate portrait that reveals the unique character of the sky.”
He paints full time, taking breaks to spend time in a garden full of perennials, trees, Japanese maples, Irises and hundreds of bulbs. Stepping away from the easel, he weeds, prunes, plants – and returns, refreshed, to the painter’s craft.
After his father passed away, Mr. Holland dedicated a nice compilation of reflections (some quoted above) and a collection of his art to “the memory of my father Lieutenant Colonel John J. Holland, United States Army.”
It will be a pleasure to check in, from time, on the development of Mr. Holland’s Opus.
Mr. Holland’s Opus of the Clouds – key artistic element at the Omni Oklahoma City Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Pat McGuigan
With the theme “Ignite Change,” The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) held its 2021 fundraising luncheon last month at the historic Farmers Market on the west edge of downtown Oklahoma City. It was the first post-Pandemic event at the venue.
Kris Steele, TEEM’s executive director, described his respect for those seeking “to overcome and to move forward.”
The ministry works with persons “involved in the justice system” – former inmates or those facing trial.
Gene Rainbolt, a well-known Oklahoma banker long involved with TEEM’s work, said the ministry had reinforced for him, “The value in second chances.” Several TEEM staff members shared specific examples of the hundreds of persons, formerly incarcerated, the ministry has assisted over the past year.
Derwin Romani, a former TEEM participant, remembered that when he first arrived at TEEM, seeking to craft a better future after a lengthy incarceration, “I was briefly overwhelmed” with the embracing attitudes of the agency’s staff. He had lived with frustrations arising from being asked, when the questioner already knew the answer, the question “Do you have a felony?”
He understood employment is central, the key to individual and collective futures. TEEM was “a live-saver” for him and those he loves, Romani said.
Aaron Nally is Reentry participant at The Education and Employment Ministry now working full-time, saving money and hoping to bring Higher Education within reach. Organizers shared tender videos of Shari Smith with her family. Participating in the Oklahoma County Community Sentencing Program with TEEM, she has, as her biographical note described, “a home, her sobriety, and takes pride in her relationship with her children.”
A family event kept honoree Simonique McCoy from attending the event, but hers was among the more powerful stories shared. For a long time, she had assorted barriers to employment and “found herself fighting for survival and caught in a cycle of instability.” After connecting with TEEM Pretrial Services and the Oklahoma County Bond Program, she secured employment, while working toward a degree in Forensics and Psychology.
In his keynote address, former Congressman Watts reviewed work with the Colson Prison Reform Task Force, and his efforts to advance “Second Chance” legislation. He remembered the late U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, who pioneered “Enterprise Zones” for areas of economic deprivation, which evolved into the American Community Renewal Act.
Watts offered a good word for “that great theologian, Beyonce” saying there is meaning to the theme of one set of her lyrics concerning times when a person feels on top of the world, only to wake up with the world on top.
Watts encouraged the TEEM participants, affirming, “We can’t walk your journey for you, but we can walk the journey with you.”
Quoting the Gospel of John, Chapter 8: 1-11, Watts related the story of the woman caught in adultery, brought before Jesus (although none of her male “clients” were brought forth). Watts emphasized the compassion in the Nazarene’s words, when he told those ready to kill the woman that the one without sin could cast the first stone at her.
After the potential stoners left, in dialogue with the woman, Jesus encouraged her and concluded, “Go, and sin no more.”
Watts said, “That was compassion, and truth.”
Watts summed up: “Compassion without truth is incomplete. Truth without compassion is incomplete.” He said participants at TEEM “come before us and show the wounds, the sores. They don’t give us fantasies” – they bring tears and hopes and dreams.
The TEEM luncheon concluded with the “Leadership in Transformation” Award, presented to New York-based philanthropist Christian Keesee, who grew up in Okahoma City. The founder and president of the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, Marfa Contemporary, Green Box Arts and the Brett Weston Archine, he is trustee for the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and the Kirkpatrick Foundation, legacies of his family.
The event planning committee included Pat Rooney, Cacky Poarch (also a sponsor), Jeff Struble and Donna Mitchell. Brittney Berling, development director, and other members of the TEEM staff addressed the luncheon, explained their work. “Ty” (Tyler) Fisher greeted many supporters of the ministry, guiding them to their assigned places in the packed second floor banquet area.
An array of local charitable organizations, businesses and individuals were sponsors for the annual event.
These included Tom and Judy Love, The Kirkpatrick Family Fund, BancFirst, Rainbolt Family Fund, Gene Rainbolt, Rainey Williams, Dr. Stan Basler, Ann Johnstone, Bowen Foundation, Herman Meinders, First National Bank (Rooney’s bank), Kirk Humphreys, Life.church, Jack and Khristi Gilchrist, the local professional basketball ‘Thunder,’ Pat and Marianne Rooney, Arndall Family Foundation, Bobby and Jayne Christensen, Elizabeth Stobaugh Pyle Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundaiton.
One attendee and a leading sponsor, who talked briefly with The City Sentinel, was Sue Ann Arnall of the Arnall Family Foundation. She is active in a diverse range of local efforts to improve life for all in central Oklahoma.
TEEM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which is “dedicated to breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty through education, personal development and work readiness training.” The TEEM mission summary describes “a three-pronged approach to breaking these cycles by providing individuals with education, social services, and job training and placement. By offering a hand up, we help our participants refine their skills and achieve their goals.”
The event program included a request for volunteers. Readers who are interested may contacat Nikki Sharber, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected].
Volunteer opportunities included organizing clothing closets, tutoring for GED tests, assisting in mock job interviews and job coaching, teaching prosocial activities and mentoring.
The ministry also welcomes gifts of men’s and women’s clothing, school and office supplies, hygiene items and “sharing your time and talent.”
The ministry operations from offices at 1501 N. Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma City.
For more information, telephone 405-235-5671 or visit on the web: www.teem.org .
Disclosure: Patrick B. McGuigan is a past vice-chairman of TEEM. He was a long-serving member of the Board of Directors.
TEEM Work yields “A New Beginning, A New Future” Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Sen. David Bullard said Oklahomans will not have to worry about their church being shut down during future state or national emergencies after the signing of Senate Bill 368 into law last week.
The Durant Republican is the author of the bill that prohibits any religious institution from being declared nonessential.
“Regardless of one’s faith, churches and other religious institutions are where people turn to for solace and guidance during difficult times. For many, that was taken away last year when churches in our state and around the country were unconstitutionally forced to limit their religious services,” Bullard, a Durant Republican, said.
“I’m proud of the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Stitt for upholding the U.S. Constitution and reaffirming our citizens’ freedom of religion and ensuring government doesn’t interfere with Americans’ faith.”
S.B. 368, deemed the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, prohibits any governmental entity from declaring or deeming a religious institution and any activity directly related to the institution’s discharge of its mission and purpose to be nonessential. Additionally, it prohibits the closure of such institutions for health or security purposes if those actions are greater than what is imposed on any private entity facing the same or similar health or security conditions.
Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, is the principal House author.
"Nothing is more fundamental to our rights as Americans than the ability to freely express our First Amendment rights and exercise our religion as we choose,” Hill said in a statement sent recently to CapitolBeatOK.com, The City Sentinel newspaper, and other news organizations.
“I’m grateful to have worked with Senator Bullard on this legislation to secure this freedom and to Governor Stitt in agreeing to its importance by signing it into law.”
S.B. 368 will go into effect July 1, 2021.
Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act becomes law Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK State Representative Ajay Pittman of Oklahoma City appointed to National Health Advisory Group5/2/2021
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, has accepted a nomination to join the National Council of State Legislature’s Health Equity Advisory Group.
“I am honored for the opportunity to serve. This appointment comes on the heels of many of us celebrating the awareness of Minority Health Month which is the month of April,” said Rep. Pittman.
“I now have an opportunity to continue our promotion of health equity conversations on the national level. We must engage and educate more, and having a seat at the table to represent Oklahoma is a win for all of our citizens.”
As a member of the advisory group, Pittman will help the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) by compiling resources and information on how the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of resources disproportionately affected minorities and communities of color. She previously served on the Health and Human Services Appropriations and Budget committee and currently serves on Oklahoma’s Public Health Committee for the House of Representatives.
“NCSL is an organization that helps legislatures understand and tackle issues that affect multiple states across the country,” Pittman said. “It is a tremendous honor to not only be involved in this endeavor but to also have a seat at the table so that my community’s voice can be heard.”
Pittman, who has dual citizenship as a member of the Seminole Nation, was nominated to the NCSL group by the National president Senator Benny Shendo of New Mexico, and her peers in the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, and Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. She serves as the national co-chair for Health and Human Services for NCNASL.
“NCSL and state legislatures across the country will be better served to have Rep. Pittman on this advisory group,” Speaker McCall said. “I have complete confidence that she will represent Oklahoma well.”
“I have seen first hand how health disparities have remained a constant struggle for states to address the evidence-based data regarding access and affordability,” Rep. Pittman in her statement, sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, The City Sentinel and other news organizations.
“This national committee will allow hand-selected local health committee legislators from across the United States to share best practices regarding transparency, and collaborate on healthcare solutions for underserved communities of color.”
State Representative Ajay Pittman of Oklahoma City appointed to National Health Advisory Group Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
Pat McGuiganThe dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know. Archives
September 2021
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