Nichols HIlls May 2019 Magazine

- Photo by Ron Vavak

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This one’s for the girls!

Contents ON THE COVER: Beauty, Brains and Grace celebrates the accomplishments of six women from different decades. From left: Seated, Jane Lerum, owner, Joullian Vineyards,criminal justice policy director for County Commissioner Kevin Calvey, 20s; Jonna Kirschner, senior vice president of economic development, Chickasaw Nation Industries, 50s; and Jane Jayroe Gamble, author, former Miss America,70s; and back row, Jan Peery, president, and CEO, YWCA OKC, 60s; Katy Boren, president and CEO, Oklahoma City’s Inovation District, 40s; and Pam Campbell, president, Junior League of Oklahoma City, and director of public affairs, OKC Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 30s.

For their profiles, see Pages 7-12.

- Photos by Ron Vavak

INSIDE:

The YWCA of OKC is celebrating its 30th anniversary of providing a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse.

The story of the Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter begins on Page4.

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YWCA of OKC celebrates 30 years

The Thelma Gaylor Emergcy Shelter opened in 2015.

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In 1989, a group of Oklahoma City ladies led by President Tycene P. Hicks and officers Dr. Helen Carter, Marty Irwin, Lela Sullivan, Patty Lutz and Juanita V. Harris bonded together to establish a place where the victims of domestic violence could have a safe haven.

Thirty years later, the YWCA OKC is still dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Jan Peery is the president and CEO of the organization and Fawn Sachleben is the board chairman.

Thanks to a $15 million capital campaign which was begun in 2012, the doors of the Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter were opened in 2015. The project increased the number of abuse victims and their families the YWCA of OKC could serve from 50 to 120, Catherine Salazar, marketing director said.

That project was led by the Campaign Cabinet Chairman’s Council consisting of Tricia Everest, Kris Frankfurt, David Hudiburg, Rita Moore, Charlotte Richels and Lela Sullivan.

She said the 27,000-square-foot facility has state-of-the-art security features with gates, cameras, etc. throughout. The YWCA’s first facility operated under the “secret” model.

The front desk at the shelter is operated 24-hours-a-day to welcome clients and conduct intake procedures. Shelter Coordinator Kim McMahon said the staff there also answers the Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and State Safeline hotlines.

See YWCA,Page 6

Catherine Armitage is the chairman and Becky Roten is the 2019 Purple Sash cochairman.

The YWCA Purple Sash Gala is always a night to remember.

Come dressed in your best black tie attire and be prepared for a delectable dinner, silent and live auctions and a high-energy runway show.

Catherine Armitage is event chairman and Becky Roten is her co-chairman. Honorary chairmen are Ben and Robbie White and Bruce and Donna Lawrence.

The event is set for June 1 at The

Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave. Check-in begins at 6 p.m., with the program to follow at 7 p.m.

Individual tickets are $300. For sponsorship information, contact Sami Grega at sgrega@ywcaokc.org or 948-1770 Leave the night knowing you helped raise valuable dollars for victims of domestic violence to receive emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy and much more.

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YWCA shelters abuse victims

The community areas at the Edith Gaylord Emergency Shelter offer a variety of amenities for clients to enjoy.

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“We are here for the availability of the client,” she said.

The shelter steps in to help with clients’ basic needs. Usually, 100 people, half of whom are adults and half of whom, are children, are seeking safety there.

“A lot of times people come in with the clothes on their back and their kids and that’s it,” McMahon said.

Each client is assigned an advocate. While most stays are 30 days, special circumstances may warrant an extension. The YWCA campus also has five transitional apartment units for those who might be having a harder time getting back on their feet.

There are single and larger double rooms at the shelter, all of which Salazar said resemble hotel rooms with private baths and safes. The shelter provides free washers and dryers, as well as three meals a day and a kitchenette for those who would like to prepare their own meals.

There is a health clinic to fulfil general health concerns, she said.

Food is not allowed in the rooms for cleanliness purposes, Salazar said. Clients are required to keep their own living spaces clean.

There are also no televisions in the rooms. But the Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter has expansive community rooms where games, books, TVs and movies can been taken advantage of.

“The goal was to encourage people to come out of their rooms and enjoy those community spaces,” Salazar said.

While at the emergency shelter, clients are required to be with their children at all times. But, the YWCA does provide four hours of childcare so parents can go to doctors appointments or even job interviews, Salazar said.

See YWCA, Page 13

The 20s Jane Hamm Lerum Owner, Joullian Vineyards Criminal Justice Policy Director for County Commissioner Kevin Calvey As an owner of Joullian, Jane is responsible for overseeing all aspects of business operations in an effort to build upon and grow the brand both nationally and internationally. In her role as policy director, she is focused on improving the Oklahoma County Jail.

She is a graduate of Duke University where she earned her bachelor of arts degree in public policy, a certificate in energy and the environment and a minor in environmental science and policy. She also holds a certificate in wine education and management from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jane serves as a board member for the Arnall Family Foundation, a member of the Duke Young Alumni Development Council and a member of the Duke AAC. In her free time, you will find her cheering on the Duke basketball team, travelling or reading a book. Jane is married to Tom Lerum, a former Air Force officer and co-owner of Joullian. They recently relocated to Oklahoma City after spending five years in Los Angeles, Calif.

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

Wear sunscreen daily. I wear sunscreen every single day of the year and have done this since I was in high school. I believe this simple daily routine has helped my skin tremendously.

How do you get everything done?

There are so many great causes to work on, but unfortunately there are only so many hours in a day. In order for me to be effective, I have to stay disciplined and focused. I have had to say no to certain opportunities in order to accomplish the task at hand. Learning to say no to things, while difficult in practice, has helped me become more effective in managing my time and achieving my objectives.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? Empowering women and promoting equality in our community is essential. The YWCA continues to pursue these goals and has made enormous headway through their various outreach programs. This organization is worthy of all of our support.

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The 30s Pam Campbell President, Junior League of Oklahoma City Director of Public Affairs, OKC Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City At the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Pam leads communications and public outreach for the Fed in Oklahoma. In 2017 and 2018, she was a Woman of the Year 50 Making a Difference honoree. A native Oklahoman, she holds bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Oklahoma and is mom to Grace, 5, and Olivia, 3, with her husband, Daniel.

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

I feel and look best when I get enough sleep. But, when I have a season when that is not possible – like right now – I use the Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener. It makes my eyes look bright and awake, and doesn’t give away that I am lacking sleep.

How do you get everything done?

Because I have many competing priorities, I try not to look at everything that needs to be done at once – that would be way too stressful. Instead, I focus on each step at the appropriate time to keep things moving and not get overwhelmed. It also helps that I am naturally a “night owl” and can work on things after the girls are asleep.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? The Junior League has partnered with the YWCA for the past 14 years and it is a great fit with our mission.

We are passionate about training and developing women leaders. Working with the YWCA lets us extend our mission to their clients. We get to encourage, empower and support them, so these women can develop their potential and confidence to start a new chapter.

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The 40s Katy Boren President & CEO, Oklahoma City’s Innovation District Katy spearheads the creation and development of the emerging Innovation District and is focused on creating a vibrant, fully-integrated community where people can live, work and play. Her goal is to develop collaboration between Oklahoma’s diverse sectors – health, energy, aerospace, tech, art and others – to foster new opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Denver, Katy pursued a law degree at the University of Oklahoma. After graduating, she served a one-year courtship for the Arizona Superior Court before returning to Oklahoma. Boren has practiced oil and gas litigation, served as the vice president of regulatory affairs for Cox Communications for the eastern half of the country, owned her own law firm and spent time as the chief of the Utilities Regulation Unit for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office.

An Oklahoma native, Boren is passionate about supporting nonprofits in Oklahoma City and has served on several boards. Currently, she sits on the boards of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership and NEOKC Renaissance. She’s been recognized as one of Oklahoma’s Ladies in the News, a Rising Star of Oklahoma and one of the Journal Record’s Woman of the Year – Fifty Make a Difference honorees. She lives in Oklahoma City with her two daughters, Stella, 11, and Tess, 9.

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

Wear sunscreen. Failing to protect your skin from sun exposure may result in far worse than dark spots and wrinkles!

How do you get everything done?

I definitely don’t. Although I try, I am not able attend all of my children’s activities. Likewise, I am not able to attend every work-related event. My house could be more organized, and I should spend more time being with friends and taking care of myself. But instead of being hard on myself for not being able to do it all, I just try to put all my effort into whatever I am doing at the time and enjoy it.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? Women’s issues are incredibly important to me, and I believe in empowering women and girls by ensuring they have opportunities and a voice. As a previous YWCA board member, I have and will continue to support the organization because I see that its programs and services provide help and hope to women who are in crisis, laying the foundation for them to begin rebuilding their lives and creating a better future.

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The 50s Jonna Kirschner Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. Appointed as Chickasaw Nation Industries Inc.'s, first-ever senior vice president of economic development, Jonna’s current role is to enhance CNI's ability to grow its economic impact by positioning its businesses to operate and thrive in the competitive market. Before joining CNI, she served as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce where she had been general counsel for over 10 years.

Jonna attended Dartmouth College and then obtained her law degree from Boston College Law School. She has practiced as a corporate attorney in several private law firms in both Oklahoma City and London, England, where she lived from 1987-1994. As a member of The Law Society, she is licensed to practice as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. She is also licensed to practice in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. In 2018 she was the recipient of the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award from the Oklahoma Bar Association. Most recently, Jonna was honored as a 2019 Byliner of the Year in the category of Law and Civic Involvement by the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Association of Women in Communications.

She is a member of various professional organizations and serves as an advisory director for REI Oklahoma New Market Investments, LLC. She is the vice president of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Israel Exchange and Sister Cities International OKC and serves on the Board of the Oklahoma Senior Follies.

She is married to Bruce Scambler and has two sons, Jay, a 2016 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and Winston, a member of the Class of 2022 at the University of Oklahoma. They are all members of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church where Jonna serves on the Stewardship Committee.

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

I am blessed with great genes from the Kauger side of my family! I remember Ruth Meyers once telling me that she always removed her make up before going to bed! I have tried to follow that routine and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I am also a big fan of hats and sleep! I rely on Lily Stone to accentuate my looks for special occasions!

How do you get everything done?

I don’t, but I try. I grew up with the motto: “ Worthy Use of Leisure Time!”

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a list maker and derive satisfaction from crossing items off my list. I keep a list by my bed for those midnight thoughts so I can write them down and go back to sleep. See beauty tip above! My family will also tell you I never sit still and am always moving, which is why I have been a yogi for the past seven years. It makes me stop and mindfully move forward.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? Jan Peery has been an incredible leader for safety, education and hope for women and men who have suffered domestic violence. When I toured the Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter, I was so touched by the impact Jan was making in the community and the need to raise resources to do so much more. As a result, I was honored to serve as the 2017 co-chairman and the 2018 chairman of Purple Sash, the major fundraiser for the OKC YWCA.

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The 60s Jan Peery President and CEO, YWCA of OKC Born in Virginia, Jan was raised in Oklahoma where she met and married her husband of 40-plus years and raised their four children. Jan graduated from OCU and started her adult career in banking. Then, recruited into the insurance world, she worked first in sales, then as a regional director. Later, Jan was lured into the world of development, which ultimately led to her recruitment to help at the YWCA. “The nonprofit world – and the work of the YWCA truly ‘claimed me,’” she said. “My faith and family (including our wonderful grandchildren) are my roots that keep me grounded.”

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

To let your beauty shine the most – smile. Combined with kindness, respect, and sincerity – a smile will highlight beauty more than any cosmetic tool can do.

How do you get everything done?

There never seems to be enough time to get everything done that I would like to do. However, since I can’t bargain with God for a few more hours in the day, I try to focus on three things: • Prioritize. It is easy to get caught up in what seems most urgent – but that can keep our day filled with “busy work” and key projects, goals, etc. can get shuffled to the bottom of the pile.

• Consider what is not only important to me in that moment, but what has the greatest impact overall. Then assess if this needs to be done by me, or is there someone else that can do this better than me. If so, let them. Delegating not only shares the load – but also gives others a chance to grow and show their talents.

• Take time to breath – even when there is so much to do you feel like you are running a marathon - breath. A refreshed mind can accomplish more.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? More than 20 years ago, I came to the YWCA to help for one month, two days a week, 6 hours a day – or a total of 48 hours!

However, what I learned has kept me there, supporting our mission and our work. Domestic violence impacts the quality of life in our community in a myriad of ways. It is an underlying systemic cause for many issues including child abuse, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, mental health – and yes, incarceration of women. It has been recognized as the major precursor for child abuse homicides – and the best predictor of juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior. The crimes of domestic violence and sexual assault will crush the lives of 1 in 4 women here and across the nation. So, the YWCA work in providing critical victim services and raising awareness in the community about the issues and available services impacts the quality of life in our community in a myriad of ways – and truly saves lives. It is easy for me to support the mission – shouldn’t everyone who wants a safer community?

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The 70s Jane Jayroe Gamble Author, former Miss America Jane is a third generation Oklahoman and a former Miss America. For 17 years she enjoyed a career as a broadcast journalist – succeeding as a prime time news anchor in Oklahoma City and Dallas Fort Worth. She also served as spokesperson for the Oklahoma Health Center and cabinet secretary of tourism for Oklahoma.

Jane has written articles for national magazines and is the author of several inspirational books, including Devote Forty Days, More Grace than Glamour (with Bob Burke), and Oklahoma III (with David Fitzgerald). Her latest book, Practice: Unleashing the Power of Faith, was released in December of 2018. Jane is the founder and director of a successful luncheon series for Oklahoma women called “Esther Women,” which is in its 15th season.

Jane is a tireless volunteer, serving her church, community, and state in many ways. Currently, she serves on the boards of Oklahoma City University, Salt and Light Leadership Training, MAPS3 Parks Subcommittee, OKC Philharmonic Board, Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Mercy Hospital’s Foundation. Five Oklahoma Governors have appointed Jane to a variety of state leadership positions.

Jane is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a masters degree from Tulsa University; she was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from OCU. Recently, she was selected to be in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. Jane has received many local and state awards including the state’s highest honor, induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007. She is married to Gerald Gamble and has one married son, two grandchildren and a sassy dog named “Maggie.”

What is your best beauty tip/secret?

Wearing sunscreen every day isn’t a glamour tip but at my age I can see the important benefits. As a young girl with very fair skin, I tried everything to tan. It was a disaster. Fortunately, I didn’t continue to pursue that detrimental habit of burn&peel in search of that golden tan. As an adult, I’ve worn sunscreen almost every day. It hasn’t kept me from having thin skin but it has prevented “some” aging and wrinkles and more importantly my skin is healthier as a result of the protection.

How do you get everything done?

I don’t get everything done. I have a daily list, a weekly list and a master list of “things to do.” If I’m really productive I have a day or two during every week that the list has more items crossed off than carried over. I’m blessed to have a strong sense of purpose in my life. I want to spend my time carefully and often I’m successful at that. I try to not sweat the small stuff that perfection demands ... like a clean car, delicious home cooked meals, the thank you notes I mean to write and the thoughtful gestures that die between my mind to my actions. I try to be clear about my priorities and not be overly concerned about the rest.

Why do you support the mission of the YWCA? I can’t imagine our city without the foundation of support that is provided by the YWCA. As a journalist, I had the opportunity to do several stories on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. These tragic circumstances create deep crises in the lives of women and children. The programs at the YWCA provide for the emergency situation and the long term healing of hundreds of women every year. Whether it’s the 24-hour Sexual Assault Crises Hotline, hospital advocacy and follow-up counseling, or the access to clothes through “My Sister’s Closet,” the YWCA provides for women who have no other place to turn to for help. The YWCA is one of the bedrocks of compassion and care in our community.

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YWCA offers victims support Several of the areas, including the dining room, offer windows so parents can watch their children on the outdoor playground or in indoor playrooms.

Parents have the opportunity to keep their children in the same school they have been attending. But, Salazar said, if that is not a safe option, Positive Tomorrows, OKC’s public school for the homeless, has bus service available for children living at the shelter.

Volunteers from the Junior League of OKC visit weekly to interact with clients in such activities as yoga.

The list of programs offered by the YWCA is long. Salazar said Parent Child Interactive Therapy is used to rebuild bonds between children and their parents.

The shelter has a business center so clients can access computers to send out resumes or conduct other business. Salazar said the YMCA offers social and economic justic programs to help overcome financial abuse.

Support groups meet once a week in the community area. The YWCA also conducts group meetings in the community so people who don’t live there can still take advantage of the services, Salazar said.

Those outside groups typically meet at Palomar Family Justice Center, which works closely with the YWCA to provide protection, hope and healing.

The rules at the shelter are simple: clients are required to enter

The rooms at the Edith Gaylord Emergency Shelter are styled after hotel rooms with private bathrooms and safes.

and leave through security measures and there is no alcohol or illegal drugs allowed. Clients are asked to let the shelter know if they would be spending the night elsewhere, like any good roommate would.

The Thelma Gaylor Emergency Shelter is not only for female victims of domestic abuse, Salazar said. While she said it is rare, men sometimes also take advantage of the YWCA’s services.

See YWCA, Page 14

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YWCA is open to all “It open for anyone experiencing intimate partner abuse.”

Statistics show that it takes a victim of domestic abuse an average of seven times to permanently leave an abusive relationship. Salazar said sometimes people leave the shelter to return to the situation.

Salazar said the shelter will thus present the client with options and help to develop a safety plan.

“We tell them to call us if things don’t go as planned,” she said.

“We can’t keep them from making that choice, but we are here to empower their choice.”

The YWCA of OKC receives its funding from government grants, foundations and private donations. The organization is a United Way Partner.

— Rose Lane

“(The Edith Gaylord Emergency Shelter) is open for anyone experiencing intimate partner abuse.”

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