During Leslie Osborn’s 10-year legislative tenure, she authored a public-private partnership to move women from incarceration to the Women in Recovery program. She was the first woman to chair the House Judiciary Committee and first Republican female to chair the House Appropriations and Budget Committee.
Her efforts to improve quality of life for women were recognized by the Oklahoma Commission on the
– Brenda Jones Barwick, APR, Jones PR
March is just around the corner, and you know what that means – spring cleaning. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Make a system.
Getting organized is as easy as A-B-C … and D. This prioritization system can be easily incorporated into any household.
2. Reuse and recycle.
Give that old nightstand or lamp new life, with a fun DIY project.
3. Donate to Goodwill.
Take a look at your items, and make a pile for donations. Donating gently used items you no longer need allows other families the opportunity to shop at an affordable price.
St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, and Oklahoma is ready for the green-tinged festivities. Oklahoma City residents can celebrate and meet new friends at Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl.
Those seeking a family-friendly option can head to St. Joseph Catholic School in Enid. The school’s event features authentic Irish food and beer, live music, trivia and prizes.
Finally, Tulsa natives can stretch their legs at the 37th annual St. Patrick’s Day Run, presented by RunnersWorld Tulsa. The event includes a one-mile fun run, Special Olympics run and a 5K. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Oklahoma and Tulsa Running Club.
– Andrew Aston, Jones PR
Parents across America continue to worry about the apps their children and teens download. Here are two apps that can give parents peace of mind.
• Allows parents to monitor a device discretely.
• Scans all recorded data and highlights items deemed to be risky.
• Makes recorded data available for parental review at any time.
• Allows parents to set time limits on apps.
• Gives parents the ability to block apps entirely or override all restrictions temporarily, for a “free play” period.
• Includes a pause button parents can press on their own smartphones. The button “pauses” their kids’ devices remotely.
Oklahoma natives Tim Todd and Levi Wilson are giving residents of tornado-prone areas the security they need to sleep at night. The co-founders of Life Lift Systems appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” to pitch their telescoping storm shelter beds that can withstand the force of an EF5 tornado.
According to Todd and Wilson, the beds provide security from tornadoes, earthquakes and home invasions without taking up valuable space inside the home. The entrepreneurs ignited a bidding war between the sharks and received a $550,000 investment in 25 percent of their company, from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban!
– Andrew Aston, Jones PR
The Redbud Classic, currently celebrating 37 years of fun, fitness and philanthropy, has become an Oklahoma City tradition that hundreds of participants look forward to each year. The 2019 Redbud Classic runs from April 6-7.
Each year, Redbud donates race proceeds to a local nonprofit. This year, proceeds will benefit Teach for America – Oklahoma City, a program known for developing and supporting a network of leaders who strengthen and enhance opportunities for schoolchildren.
Redbud has a variety of events including cycling, running, walking and a stroller derby. Registration is open now and will increase in price after April 1.
The Wellness Now coalition presents the ninth annual Open Streets OKC on Sunday, April 7, from noon to 4 p.m. The event takes place along NW 23rd Street from Robinson to Western avenues. Open Streets is a fun health and wellness project sponsored by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, Oklahoma’s Credit Union and the Substance Use Prevention Alliance.
Streets will close to vehicle traffic, allowing for biking, walking, skating and dancing on NW 23rd. The afternoon features physical, fun activities sponsored by local businesses and local food trucks offering healthy choices. Learn more at http://www.openstreetsokc.com/.
In the past year, the Oklahoma Governor’s International Team welcomed visits from the British Ambassador, U.S. Trade and Development Director, Consul Generals from 10 nations and international journalists for the first time in 25 years.
The team’s partners, Oklahoma Business Roundtable and Oklahoma Department of Commerce, help make these dignitary visits possible. I recently passed the chair gavel to 2019 Chair Doug Price, Director of Global Learning at Tulsa Community College, who will continue the team’s mission of supporting a global-focused Oklahoma through business, education, culture, government and diplomacy.
Thank you, Governor Stitt, for embracing the team’s mission.
– Brenda Jones Barwick, APR, Jones PR
Every 39 seconds, an adult dies of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease doesn’t just happen to older adults. It’s happening more frequently to younger adults, and conditions that lead to heart disease are commonly occurring at younger ages.
February is Heart Month, the perfect time to learn about risks for heart disease and steps one can take now to help the heart in the future. The My Heart program at the OKC-County Health Department helps individuals between the ages of 25 and 60 improve their heart health.
Read more info here: occhd.org/myheart.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is encouraging motor vehicle safety through the use of seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “of the 37,461 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, 48 percent were not wearing seat belts.”
In Oklahoma, drivers and passengers are required by law to use seat belts. All children under age 12 are also required to use seat belts and weight-appropriate car seats.
Buckling up is the most proactive way to protect yourself before an accident. Ensure you and your passengers are properly secured before hitting the roads by buckling up.
When I lived in Arlington, Virginia, I really enjoyed traveling. Arlington was in a prime location near an international airport and was central to other cities on the coast.
Since moving back to Oklahoma, a landlocked state, I’ve realized traveling is a bit more expensive. However, I’ve learned some tips and tricks to make it a little more affordable:
1. Research – Seattle will be more expensive than Dallas.
2. Hopper or Southwest – cheap flights are always available.
3. Airbnb – fun and affordable.
4. Granola bars and fruit – great for snacks or breakfast.
5. Public transportation – sometimes intimidating but worth it.
Pathways has 122 students, ranging from four weeks to five years old. Often, we’re asked what kind of “early learning” babies and toddlers are engaged in.
Studies from multiple universities prove that access to early education builds the essential neural pathways that develop the skill of learning in children. By providing an enriching, hands-on environment of books, art and social play, we help their brains grow and adapt for a lifetime of learning.
Early education centers like Pathways that utilize nationally recognized, evidence-based curricula with multi-sensory experiences help students effectively work in groups and communicate with peers.
From drinks and eats, to education and roads, let’s see what piqued the interest of The Oklahoma 100’s readers in 2018.
Here are the past year’s top stories:
2. “Oklahoma’s Most Legendary Outlaws”
3. “The Club Special: Oklahoma’s Summer Export”
4. “Gilcrease Expressway construction moving forward”
5. “Boutique investment bank serves Oklahoma businesses”
6. “Oklahoma’s first legal brew: Progress beer”
7. “‘Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered’ exhibition”
8. “Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® supports education”
9. “Shipping container apartment complex opening in OKC”
10. “Local OKC mom puts hundreds of meals on Oklahoma dinner tables”
– Brenda Jones Barwick, APR, Jones PR