October 20, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OKLAHOMA CITIZENS TO LEARN COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES

Citizens Academy Instructs Newly Selected Participants on Community Development Tactics

Twenty-six individuals from nineteen communities across the state recently learned of their acceptance into the Oklahoma Community Institute (OCI) Citizens Academy. 

Citizens Academy Chairman Jeff Johnson describes the academy as, "A hands-on learning experience that is designed to empower and equip the everyday citizen to initiate and enact positive change within their own community."

The participants chosen for this year's academy are Ann Miller - Ada, Kathleen Earnest and Charlotte Hadwiger - Alva, Shaunda Webb - Atoka, Dennis Caler - Clinton, Brian Renz - Del City, Stacy McNeiland - Edmond, Stephanie Wnetrzak - Enid, Kelly Rice - Grove, Justin Haid and Kristy Philippe - Guymon, Willard Brown and Trapper Heglin - Hobart, Harolynn Wofford - Hugo, Angela Ulsaker - Kingfisher, Anita Arnold, Amy Draper, Jamie Smith, Sue Thurston and Alba Weaver - Oklahoma City, Eddy Red Eagle - Pawhuska, Ricky Edwards - Pawnee, Chris Carr - Tulsa, Heath Eubanks and Callie Sullivan - Vian and Tiffini Lyda - Weatherford.

The academy's first session will take place Wednesday and Thursday, November 5 and 6, in Ponca City.  The program runs from November to April 2009, with one session per month in a different community of Oklahoma.  The host locations include Alva, Stillwater, Ardmore, Midwest City and Oklahoma City.

Each session focuses on various topics relevant to community development.  This year, the Citizens Academy topics will include community leadership, effective community teams, community assessment and planning, economic development and tourism, community renewal and state government.

"Whether dealing with issues such as economic prosperity, quality of life or countless other challenges that face many of today's Oklahoma communities, our goal as an Academy is to educate motivated citizens by teaching them how to identify the strengths and weaknesses that exist within their communities," Johnson said.  "We want to introduce our participants to a vast assortment of resources that will assist them with creating positive change and model proven strategies for bringing this positive change to fruition."

The Oklahoma Citizens Academy is sponsored by the Oklahoma Community Institute.  Oklahoma Community Institute is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that has been helping build leaders and their Oklahoma communities since 1995.  OCI specializes in community-wide strategic planning, the Citizens Academy leadership program and the annual Conversations on Community Renewal Conference.  A major contributor to the Citizens Academy is Oklahoma Natural Gas.  In addition, the financial support from the Community Institute's other corporate partner, OG&E, has helped make this program a reality.

For more information about the Citizens Academy or the other programs offered by OCI, please contact Amy Draper at adraper@ocionline.org or (405)208-8882.

###