OICA Encourages Our Nation's Governors To Expand Civics Education

For those of us at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), it is Heroes Ball Week! Our annual gala will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the OKC Farmers’ Public Market. We are excited to honor the champions which our board selected for their work. We are also equally enthusiastic about our Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award finalists. Each year, we take nominations from the public for their favorite child advocates of the year in both the individual and organization categories. Those nominations are narrowed by our board; the finalists are placed into a competition, and a public vote determines the winner. Voting closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday just two hours before the Heroes Ball begins. Attendees at the gala will have one final opportunity to cast a paper ballot for their choice. Our team will tabulate the votes, add them to the online voting, currently with more than 13,000 votes, and we will announce the winner at the end of the gala. This year, our finalists are, for the individual category: Lou Carmichael of Variety Care; Michele DeBerry, Ed.D. of the Oklahoma Autism Network; Meghan Hollingsworth of Pioneer Library System; Trisha Koelsch of Calm Waters; Maci Shoemaker at Cordell Memorial Hospital; and Julie Sisler, Ph.D. of Bethesda, Inc. For the organizational award: Bethesda, Inc.; Hearts for Hearing; New World Comics Superhero School; Oklahoma CASA; Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement; Parent Promise; and Urban Bridge. You can go to https://tinyurl.com/ARPCAVidsVote and watch videos submitted by the nominees to learn more about them, then vote for your favorite before the online deadline Saturday. This is the 10th Heroes Ball, our primary fundraiser for the mission of OICA. Most know us for our work at the state and nation’s capitols to promote better policies for youth. We also run Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® program, hold a year-long leadership development program called Advocacy Boot Camp for adults (with a youth program hopefully kicking off next summer for high school sophomores), and we travel the state train organization members how to be effective advocates on policy issues. We strive to live up to the billing of “the voice for Oklahoma’s children” on policy solutions. I appreciate each person who has given of their time or donated to the organization to help us achieve our mission. Through our work, we come across many individuals who truly care about others and dedicate their lives to improving Oklahoma. Recently, we lost three of those individuals who are part of the “Capitol Family.” Two former lawmakers and a retired legislative assistant each passed, and I want to express my deepest condolences to their families and those they held dear. Rep. Bill Paulk served as Oklahoma Labor Commissioner and state representative during his years of service. He championed many causes tied to workers’ rights and labor laws, including allowing me to work with him on promoting the need for more student nurses in schools. Bill was a gentle soul and will be missed. Rep. Calvin Anthony represented Stillwater as a mayor and a state representative. I met him in 1992 when he decided to run for the Legislature. His was the first campaign on which I volunteered for a full election. He was one of the kindest men I knew, and he was “Loyal and True” to Oklahoma State throughout his entire life. Pat Paddleford became my adopted “work mom” at the Oklahoma Capitol when I was first hired in 1994. She worked with Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Glover through his entire time at the Capitol. When he retired, she became my legislative assistant when I was elected to succeed him; she also worked for Rep. Dan Sullivan and Sen. A.J. Griffin. She remained one of my “adopted moms” long after leaving the Capitol. I will miss each of them, as will those who knew them.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) will celebrate our 10th Annual Heroes Ball on Saturday, July 25. This fundraising gala recognizes and celebrates Oklahoma’s champions for children, and we would be honored for you to join us for this very special evening which honors some of Oklahoma’s best champions for children. This year, we are thrilled to present our Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Clara Luper, and to the members of her Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council for their peaceful protests that changed the nation. The Katz Drug Store sit in occurred in August 1958 with the mission to end segregation in Oklahoma City. That effort began a series of non-violent sit-ins across six years until Oklahoma City was no longer segregated. The movement spurred change nationwide. Marilyn Luper, Joyce Henderson, and Joyce Jackson, who as youngsters participated in the sit-in, will participate in a discussion that will serve as the Heroes Ball’s keynote address. All the living members of the NAACP Youth Council have been invited so we can recognize their accomplishments. Kate Barnard, for whom the award is named, was Oklahoma’s first female statewide elected official, serving as the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections. She is regarded as the foremost child advocate of her time. The Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate Award will go to Carmelita Skeeter, the CEO of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC). The award’s namesake, Jay Scott Brown, was an OICA Board Chairman who passed in 2022 following a career of service to the organization and other youth programs, including the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth. Carmelita Skeeter began her career at IHCRC in 1976 when she helped survey residents to assess health needs of the local urban Indian population. She was hired as one of IHCRC’s original four employees, becoming CEO in 1989. Carmelita’s dedication to improve the lives for the First Americans population is the focus of her professional life over 50 years of service. The Organizational Advocate Award will go to Pivot, A Turning Point for Youth, honoring their work on behalf of children who are homeless, disconnected, or otherwise at risk. Pivot has provided programs and services for the Oklahoma City community for more than 50 years, with a focus on youth services, counseling, educational and vocational services, prevention, intervention, and diversion services. The Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award, named after the former Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator, will go to Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn. Commissioner Osborn previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for 10 years, becoming chair of the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee. As Labor Commissioner, she protected child labor laws in Oklahoma and elevated social issues important to youth. Commissioner Osborn will term out of office in January 2027. The Laura Boyd Public Servant Award will be presented to former U.S. Senator, the late Fred Harris. Former state Rep. Laura Boyd, Ph.D., served the Norman area from 1992 to 1998, when she became the first female nominated for governor by one of the primary political parties in Oklahoma. She owns and is the CEO of Policy and Performance Consultants, Inc. and is regarded as a national expert in improving the quality of life for children at risk. Senator Harris served in the Oklahoma Senate before a distinguished career in the U.S. Senate. He ran for President of the United States in 1972 and 1976. A strong leader in the civil rights movement, Harris publicly supported desegregation and the rights of Indigenous Americans. Harris served as a board member for New Mexico Voices for Children, a counterpart organization to OICA, until his passing in 2024. The Heroes Ball Masters of Ceremonies will be Haley Hetrick from News 9 and Joleen Chaney, current OICA Board Member and former anchor for KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4. For more information about the ball and ticket information, go to: https://www.oica.org/events

YOUR VOTE COUNTS panelists (from left) Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, Scott Mitchell, Your Vote Counts host, and former state Rep. Colby Schwartz, take a moment on the show’s set before taping the segment which aired on Sunday, July 5, 2026, on Oklahoma City’s News 9 and Tulsa’s News on 6. – Courtesy Photo I was honored to serve as a panelist on Your Vote Counts alongside former Rep. Colby Schwartz and moderated by my friend Scott Mitchell. The segment regularly airs on the Oklahoma City and Tulsa CBS stations Sunday mornings around 7:45 a.m. I often have been a back-up when one of the regular panelists could not be on air. We discussed health care issues, our nation’s 250th birthday celebration, and what it is like on the campaign trail. Campaigns are often stressful and can lead to unsafe conditions. I have personally had friends who have been in automobile wrecks on the trail due to dozing off after long hours and sleepless nights. Tempers can flare internally when things are not going well. The physical toll the hours and miles can put on a body are also significant as there are parades to walk, doors to knock, and events to attend. Sometimes campaigns do not even make it to filing when not enough voter support is attainable. Often those candidates are the most balanced; moderates who are unable to successfully reach the “base vote” of their party. That base is voters who almost always stick with their party and show up every time the polls are open. They are further to the polarizing side, being more passionate and partisan than moderates in the two main parties. We see in both political parties, the MAGA wing of the Republican Party and the Democratic Socialist sect of the Democratic Party, messages appealing to their bases. Meanwhile, those who are moderates within the parties often are disillusioned, and those moderate voters often choose not to cast ballots. George Washington warned about parties being divisive for our nation, and we see it played out through campaign commercials which electrify the base. Even though I belong to a political party, I tend to agree with him that parties, and especially the extreme bases within, should not dictate policy solely. All voices should be heard. While we have come a very long way, we still have a long way to go as we create that “more perfect Union” the Constitution seeks. As this great experiment in democracy established by our Founding Fathers 250 years ago continues, many of whom even then violently disagreed with each other, I hope politicians can find ways to work together over the objections of those who believe in “my way or the highway.” Finding consensus, when neither side gets everything and both sides get something, often leads to the most rational solution. I mentioned that the two of us on the Your Vote Counts panel, a Democrat and a Republican who served together in the Oklahoma Legislature, had worked together before that on a race nearly 30 years ago. It was for a candidate who was like family to me and who I believed would do a great job if elected, even though he was not registered in my party of choice. Years later, when I ran, he supported me even though he was an elected official in the other party. We later authored a bill together during an economic downturn which would have provided the ability for local schools to collect more tax revenue locally should those voters choose to increase support for their school district. We need to move away from this feeling that you must hate those in the other party. We are a vast nation with almost 350 million stories shaping each American’s world view, while ours is a state with 4 million unique Oklahomans. As with the votes in elections, and with the decisions in legislative bodies, school boards, and city councils, the majority decides the solutions. “Decisions are made by those who show up,” as the fictional President Bartlet said in The West Wing. Be one of those who make the decisions by showing up to vote. You can watch the Your Vote Counts segment at: https://www.news9.com/Your-vote-counts-okc/your-vote-counts-reflecting-on-america-250-and-beyond

As we approach the Independence Day holiday, I wanted to share some important information so you can be prepared for the upcoming festivities celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday. Even though we are in a wet period, fires can still break out, much like what we see in states to the west of us. As always, thank you to the men and women with our professional and volunteer fire departments across the state as they help keep us safe every day. Oklahoma’s new “Rockets’ Red Glare Act,” passed by the Oklahoma Legislature this past session, expands fireworks sales in some parts of the state, but existing bans remain in effect in many municipalities. If you have questions regarding your community, call your local city hall and ask about what, if any, fireworks are legal in your city or town. As with all laws, actions which can cause harm to others are usually the impetus for creating statutory requirements. With this act, lawmakers chose to expand the right to shoot fireworks by lessening specific requirements, but the expanded right must also be balanced with responsibility. Those enjoying fireworks should use common sense by not risking property damage by shooting fireworks during a burn ban, dry season, or in locations close to buildings. One of the most significant changes under Senate Bill 1948 is the legalization of bottle rockets, an item which was prohibited in 1981 due to droughts the state faced and the greater likelihood of wildfires. Also, the new law states that no county shall prohibit private outdoor consumer fireworks for a noncommercial purpose, provided that such display is located on private property, that no county burn ban is in effect under state law, and there are no red flag fire warnings in effect. In short, there can be no sustained winds greater than twenty (20) miles per hour, the relative humidity must be higher than 25%, and the 10-hour dead fuel (woody materials up to an inch in diameter along with forest litter) is above 9% moisture. People lighting fireworks under conditions established by this new law shall notify the local responding fire department first. In 2025, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 15 fireworks-related deaths, most involving misuse and device misfire/malfunctions. An estimated 13,000 people were injured by fireworks last year, with an estimated 1,300 emergency room-treated injuries involving sparklers. The 15- to 24-year-old age group accounted for the largest share of reported injuries. The most frequently injured body parts were hands and fingers (35%) and head, face, and ears (22%). Burns were the most common injury, making up 38% of all emergency room visits. Here are some suggestions to help you stay safe during this holiday with CPSC’s Fireworks Safety Tips: • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt some metals. • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. • Make sure fireworks are legal in your area and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use. • Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. • Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. • Follow all instructions and warnings on fireworks and never hold them in hand unless instructions specify to do so. Also, dogs have exceptional hearing and are often frightened by fireworks. More pups run away on the Fourth of July than any other day. Even indoors, they can cause damage by trying to escape the noise. Please ensure that your pets are wearing a collar and are microchipped in case they get away. I hope you have a safe celebration with these tips on this very special Fourth of July! 

Primary Election Day has come and gone for Oklahoma. Tuesday’s primary results led to many interesting developments. Of 25 legislative primary races with at least three candidates, 15 are headed for the Aug. 25 runoff. Only one incumbent, Sen. Dusty Deevers of Senate District 32, lost, while three other incumbent lawmakers moved to a runoff. There also will be a runoff for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate, which will be the only statewide Runoff Election. Congratulations to those candidates who won their respective races or advanced to a Runoff Election. The General Election will be November 3. There are nearly 2,420,000 registered voters in Oklahoma, but 26% voted on June 16. Our state is not alone in voter apathy or disillusionment from negative campaigns as Texas, which saw a record turnout in their own primaries in March, still only had 24% of registered voters go to the polls. In Texas’ recent Runoff Election, just 10% of their 18.7 million voters showed up. Oklahoma will likely see a similar drop in our own runoffs due to fewer races. The total turnout for the vote on raising the minimum wage, State Question 832, was 630,085 votes, with 281,171 voting for the proposition, and 348,914 voting against it. The turnout numbers are even worse when you look at the gubernatorial votes cast. Among registered Democrats, only 172,366 votes were cast, while only 402,917 Republicans voted in their primary; just 575,283 primary votes cast for a voter’s pick for governor. Comparing the state question and the governor races, 54,802 more people voted on State Question 832 than voted for a candidate for governor. Most of that number likely were independent voters and registered Libertarians who had no Primary Elections this year. Independent turnout was expected to be less than normal because independent voters could only vote on the state question and were not allowed to vote in either of the party primaries this year. Crunching the numbers and presuming loosely that Democratic and independent voters generally supported raising the minimum wage, while Republicans and Libertarians largely opposed it, we can deduce that at least 54,000 Republicans voted in favor of raising the minimum wage. Chances are many independent voters opposed the state question, which would indicate even more Republicans voted for the wage increase. This suggests there is a bipartisan desire among Oklahomans to raise the minimum wage – but not the way this state question would have done it. The trigger to automatically raise the wage beyond $15 by tying it to the consumer price index was just too much for many Oklahomans per reports. Opponents also were concerned that high school students and adult workers would have received the same minimum wage, agricultural workers would see a similar pay bump, and the jump from $7.25 per hour to $15 was over three years. Now, the question is, “What’s next?” Many Republican lawmakers expressed concern over these opposition points, but would a different proposal fare better in a GOP-controlled Legislature with such across-party-lines support? If a plan came forward with a different process, such as no automatic trigger, a smaller ceiling than $15, a clause that would allow employers to pay minors at a lower pay scale, a clause for an agricultural exemption, or a slower schedule for raising the minimum wage – such as two years between pay jumps – would that generate greater support? Would these provisions give lawmakers leeway to adopt a different minimum wage increase? Regardless, 55.38% of the one-fourth of eligible voters who showed up to the polls last Tuesday made the decision for four million Oklahomans that this proposal was unacceptable. It remains to be seen what the next step will be, but this conversation is likely not over as the proponents proclaimed they will go back to the drawing board with a different plan. Time will tell what happens next with a minimum wage adjustment. 

As the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) works to improve the quality of life for children, data drives our efforts. The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) is dedicated to improving conditions for children across our nation. AECF was established in 1948 by Jim Casey (the founder of UPS) and his siblings to honor their mother, who kept the family together through hardship following the death of their father. The work of AECF over the past 37 years has created the annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book, showing where states either improved or worsened in child wellbeing. In Oklahoma, the KIDS COUNT® partner is our friends at the Oklahoma Policy Institute . AECF just released their latest report; it shows that Oklahoma continues to lag in child wellbeing. The data AECF collected placed Oklahoma in the bottom 10 of the 50 states. With rank of 44th, we move up two spots from last year’s ranking of 46 th , but that is nothing to cheer about. You can see the document at https://www.aecf.org/interactive/databook The scores track indicators from 2019 to 2024 in four categories: Economic Well-Being; Education; Family and Community; and Health. Each category has four sub-points. Data provided by each state are compiled and ranked. For the first time since its inception, states now receive a comprehensive score (from 0 to 1,000) in the Data Book along with a ranking. This year, the nation scored 547 in overall child well-being; state scores ranging from 271 in Mississippi to 838 in New Hampshire. Oklahoma received an overall score of 425, which was 122 points below the national average. Under Economic Well-Being, the areas examined are: Children Living in Poverty; Children Whose Parents Lack Secure Employment; Children Living in Households with a High Housing Cost Burden; and, Teens Not in School and Not Working. For Education, the topics are: Young Children (Ages 3 and 4) Not in School; Fourth Graders Not Proficient in Reading; Eighth Graders Not Proficient in Math; and, High School Graduates Not Graduating on Time. Within Family and Community, the data examined were: Children in Single-Parent Families; Children in Families Where the Household Head Lacks a High School Diploma; Children Living in High-Poverty Areas; and, Teen Births per 1,000. The Health categories are: Low Birth-Weight Babies; Children without Health Insurance; Child and Teen Deaths per 100,000; and, Children and Teens Ages 10 to 17 who are Overweight or Obese. For the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, Oklahoma tied with Texas for 44th for child wellbeing, with only Nevada, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi ranking lower. Oklahoma’s individual rankings within the major categories are: 30th in Economic Well-Being, 37th in Health, 43rd in Family and Community, and 48th in Education. The state ranked 40th or below in seven of 16 indicators: Percent of children in poverty, which for a family of two adults and two children was below $30,900 in 2023 (19%, ranked 42nd). Percent of 4th graders who scored below proficient reading level (77%, ranked 48th). Percent of 8th graders who scored below proficient math level (83%, ranked 49th). Percent of high school students not graduating on time (18%, ranked 41st). Children without health insurance (9%, ranked 46th). Child and teen death rate (35 deaths per 100,000 children ages 1 to 19, ranked 40th). Teen birth rate (20 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, ranked 45th). Since 2019, Oklahoma improved in seven of the 16 categories, worsened in another seven, and remained stable in two. Four of those seven were under “Education.” With the emphasis on education by our Legislature this year, I believe we will see gains in coming years. Mississippi’s education reforms, which we emulated, moved them to 16 th in education. Still, they were so poor in every other ranking, they fell below Oklahoma’s total rank. Working with lawmakers and showing data makes improvement possible here. Our profound thanks go to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for helping OICA make the case for improved child well-being!

Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby and Lt. Gov. Chris Anoatubby Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, issued the following statement on the news that Gov. Bill Anotubby of The Chickasaw Nation will retire later this month: “There are few public servants in history with the record of leadership and achievement earned by Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby. Having known and worked with Governor Anoatubby for more than two decades, both in my capacity as elected official and with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, I can say that there has not been another public servant more dedicated to serving both his Nation and the state of Oklahoma. “Through Governor Anoatubby’s vision, the positive impact made by the Chickasaw Nation span not only their Nation’s boundaries, but the entire state, across America, and through trading partners around the world. Triumphs such as the First Americans Museum, world-class resorts, billions of dollars of economic impact, and thousands of jobs created for people of the Chickasaw Nation and non-tribal Oklahomans are a testament to his inspirational leadership. “Governor Anoatubby’s wise guidance has had a far-reaching impact well beyond the reservation boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation. We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy are grateful for his unswerving support for our programs and all the children of Oklahoma through the good done by the team he has built over his 47 years of elective service. “Gov. Bill Anoatubby has been a true friend to all Oklahomans, and I wish him well in his retirement. Congratulations are also in order to Lt. Gov. Chris Anoatubby as he assumes leadership over The Chickasaw Nation and carries on his family’s legacy of in service to his people and all who benefit from the Nation.” 

Unfortunately, if trends hold true, only a fraction of registered voters will cast their ballots in Oklahoma’s upcoming Primary Election on June 16. This is partly due to apathy or forgetfulness, but also from the negativity of campaign ads which suppress voter turnout due to frustration. With a smaller turnout, fewer Oklahomans decide who will become their party’s nominees in November’s General Election. I sum it up like this for those who feel their vote does not count: if someone chooses not to vote, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, ensuring their voice is silent because of their absence. In Oklahoma non-presidential elections like this one, Ballotpedia shows registered voters went to the polls at the rate of 39.6% in 2022, 42.1% in 2018, 30% in 2014, and 39.1% in 2010. These paltry percentages are for General Elections in November when more people vote than in Primary Elections like the one coming up. In party primaries, only those registered as Republican or Democrat can vote to select nominees for the November election. The fact that not every person has a fiery Primary Election in their area or even a choice for their nominee when only one candidate files drives voter participation down. To the south of us, nearly one in four registered voters in Texas cast a ballot in their high-profile March primaries with almost 4.5 million ballots cast, a high-water mark for midterm elections in the state’s recent history. Will we see the same result next week with our own high-profile elections? Roughly, there are four million Oklahoma residents, and about three million are eligible to register to vote; the rest are under 18, convicted felons yet to have their voting right restored, or are not legal residents. Of those eligible, just over two million will take the time to register. To be a registered voter in our state, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Oklahoma resident, and at least 18 years old. If you meet the age requirement of 17 ½ to pre-register, this ensures you can vote on Election Day even if you turn 18 within the cut-off period for registration prior to elections. If there is a question regarding your registration, such as your last name not matching on your driver’s license and voter registration – as often happens when people get married – you have the right to cast a provisional ballot so, once confirmed, your vote will count. A reminder: Oklahoma has a voter identification law, so please take an unexpired official form of government ID with you. This year, there is a state question on the Primary ballot for which every registered voter statewide may cast a ballot. This is regarding a minimum wage increase and will likely drive more Oklahomans than usual to vote. This 2026 Primary Election has a similar set up as the 2018 Primary, when there were heavily contested Republican races and a state question on the ballot. Voters showed up that year at a rate of 43.57%, with 848,100 voters casting ballots for gubernatorial candidates, while 892,758 voted on the medical marijuana question; 44,658 more votes were cast on the question. If we flip the data, 56.43% of eligible registered voters did not vote in the 2018 Primary. Instead, they left it up to those who did turn out. Again, the self-fulfilling prophecy of their votes not counting because they did not show up. Please vote on June 16 or vote early at your county election board. Vote for the candidates who you believe will best serve our state. Also, assess what is best for our state with increasing the minimum wage. We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy ask that as you consider candidates and the minimum wage increase, and the impact each will have on the lives of children. This Primary Election is far too important to let someone make the decision for you by not voting.

Each summer, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) holds its annual Heroes Ball to celebrate the state’s “Champions for Children.” Among the awards presented are two chosen by the people: The Anne Roberts People’s Choice Awards for Child Advocacy. The award is named in honor of Anne Roberts, OICA’s longest serving CEO; it recognizes outstanding service to Oklahoma’s children by an individual and an organization, as nominated and voted on by Oklahomans. The process began with nominations, which were open to the public. Following the nomination period, the OICA Board of Directors narrowed the list to a select few to put forward for an online public vote by Oklahomans. The finalists for this year’s Anne Roberts People’s Choice Awards for Child Advocacy in the Organization category are: · Bethesda, Inc. · Hearts for Hearing · New World Comics Superhero School · Oklahoma Court Appointed Special Advocates · Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement · Parent Promise · Urban Bridge In the Individual category, the finalists are: · Lou Carmichael of Variety Care · Michele DeBerry, Ed.D. of the Oklahoma Autism Network · Meghan Hollingsworth of Pioneer Library System · Trisha Koelsch of Calm Waters · Maci Shoemaker of Cordell Memorial Hospital · Julie Sisler, Ph.D., of Bethesda, Inc. Online voting is underway and is available through OICA’s website at https://oica.org or by going directly to https://tinyurl.com/26ARPCAVote . Winners will be announced at OICA’s Heroes Ball, to be held this year at the historic Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market. “This award is fully in the hands of those interested in child advocacy in the state of Oklahoma,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “The list of previous winners reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Oklahoma Child Advocates.” Previous winners of the Anne Roberts People’s Choice Organizational Award are: · 2017 – Whiz Kids Oklahoma. · 2018 – Peppers Ranch. · 2019 – Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care. · 2020 – Diabetes Solutions of Oklahoma. · 2021 – SoonerStart. · 2022 – Fostering Connections. · 2023 – Sara’s Project. · 2024 – The Anna’s House Foundation. · 2025 – M&R Doyle Holdings, Inc. Those individuals who have won the Anne Roberts People’s Choice Individual Award are: · 2017 – Brenda Lene’. · 2018 – Cody Inman. · 2019 – Judy Payne. · 2020 – Ryan Abernathy. · 2021 – Melissa Ahlgrim. · 2022 – Amber Cuyler. · 2023 – Alethea Satterwhite. · 2024 – Mary Beth Talley. · 2025 – Sarah Soell Tickets to the Heroes Ball are available and selling fast. They can be purchased at https://www.oica.org/events .