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adahub COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
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MARCH 2018
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4 Care Cottage provides needed calm in storm of child abuse
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10 Relay for Life brings fight against cancer home
6 Cover Story: Byng Elementary teacher's passion earns honors
A PUBLICATION OF OKIE ICON MEDIA © COPYRIGHT 2018
11 Creative writing festival triples its authors pool 13 years after formation
8 Vlad's Fault, rock band
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The rooms of Care Cottage – like the safari-themed exam room – have designs to help relax children who arrive to undergo investigations into possible abuse and neglect cases.
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
Care Cottage provides needed calm in storm of child abuse By Sunnie Dawn Smith
W
hile it is tragic that some children deal with abuse and neglect, it is unfortunately a very real occurrence. When a child faces abuse, it is important that they have a way to tell their story and get the help they need without incurring further trauma. This is one of the reasons the Care Cottage was founded. Before the 2000s, children who experienced abuse or neglect in the area had few streamlined processes to help them. Each part of the puzzle – such as law enforcement and child welfare – would work independently from one another. This would make it difficult to put all the information together and help the children get the help and justice that they deserved. However, legislation was passed in the early 2000s set mandates for joint investigations of abuse by multidisciplinary teams. In 2002, Gwen Gjovig – executive director of the Care Cottage – and several others decided to put together their own team named the Child Abuse Response Effort, or CARE, team. The legislation stated that there needed to be a minimum of six agencies involved in an investigation, consisting of the Department of Human Services, law enforcement, district attorney’s office, medical examiners, mental health professionals and a Child Advocacy Center. Gjovig said the CARE team started doing their joint investigations in 2003 and were able to help children in a better, more streamlined manner, while also securing more prosecutions and convictions of abusers. They would all meet once a month to staff the abuse cases in Pontotoc County, but they needed more room, Gjovig said. This is one of the reasons why they built the Care Cottage in 2005. 4 • www.adahub.com
They secured a loan from Vision Bank, and the Chickasaw Nation offered to pay their balloon payment every year. Now, instead of having the minimum number of required members and agencies, they incorporate 12 agencies and 37 team members. “It’s really exciting when we all come together to staff cases because no one knows all of the pieces of the story,” Gjovig said. “But when we all come together, we can share our information and help figure out what is going on.” The Care Cottage helps unravel the confusion that can sometimes surround abuse cases. Even more so, it provides a safe place for children to tell their story. A child facing abuse before the Care Cottage’s existence would have to talk to five different people on average. The child would have to talk to police officers, child welfare workers, counselors and lawyers with each discussion taking place at different places, Gjovig said. Perhaps they would have multiple medical exams. As time passed and the child went from place to place, the experience not only could become more traumatic but the story could also change, which could make convictions even more difficult. Furthermore, many of the people involved might not have the appropriate training to deal with situations of child abuse and might not ask the right kinds of questions, leading to inadmissible evidence. However, the Care Cottage allows children to come to one single place where everything is handled. The Care Cottage has a nice, homey feel to it, Gjovig said. Everything is child-friendly – with comfortable couches, dollhouse, toys, stuffed animals and childsized table and chairs. The bathroom is decorated in a whimsical
Couldn’t decide on a nam
undersea motif, and the medical exam room has a safari theme. When a child arrives, the forensic interviewer comes out into the living room and plays with the children, making sure they are comfortable so the children don’t feel they are talking to a complete stranger, Gjovig said. When they do the interview, all the other members of the team are watching from the observation room as children tell their stories. If a medical exam is necessary, the medical interviewer does the same thing and first makes sure the children are comfortable with them. Then, they take the kids into the exam room and do a full checkup. This helps them document the children’s health and wellbeing, but it is also less traumatic than just focusing on areas of abuse. Everything is documented and if authorities do determine that the children have been abused physically or sexually, then they share the findings with a doctor at the Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center for peer review to help them hold up in court. After the children have been seen, Care Cottage program coordinator Lita Matthews makes sure that team members follow up regularly with the children and their situation to help provide any necessary victim advocacy. In some cases, they will continue to help people years after the perpetrators have been sent to prison, Matthew said. They care deeply about these children, and that care does not lessen as the children turn into an adult. Because their facility is still a little small for their needs, the Care Cottage leaders are planning on building a larger facility and could use donations to help fund the project. Anyone interested in donating money can stop by or mail a check to the Care Cottage at 514 W. 10th St. They are also in need of pillows, blankets and new stuffed animals to give to the children to help make a traumatic time a little less difficult.
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Byng Elementary teacher’s passion earns honors from peers By Sunnie Dawn Smith
W
hen Carrie Boyd was in first grade, she decided she wanted to be a teacher. Her father had just been diagnosed with brain cancer, and her parents weren’t around much due to his treatment, which was successful. He lived another 23 years before passing away two years ago. During treatment, she had to live with her grandparents, and while she loved them, she had never spent any real amount of time away from her parents. Boyd said she felt like her life was crumbling around her. Her solace was at school. It was her teachers – one in particular – who provided some sense of normalcy for the young girl. Glenda Lillard taught first grade at Francis Elementary School and was particularly caring and made a tremendous difference in Boyd’s life, which subsequently impacted the lives of all of Boyd’s future students. “Mrs. Lillard was always so positive, but she also had very high standards,” Boyd said. “For instance, I made (perfect scores) on all my spelling tests, and she would keep track of it. She made a big deal out of it, and knowing she was in my corner made all the difference in the world.” Boyd went on to graduate from Byng High School in 2001 and then received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from East Central University in 2005. While she knew she wanted to be a classroom educator, Boyd said she didn’t know which age group she wanted to teach. As she learned more about it, she decided that elementary was the age group she had the most passion for and would be able to help the most. After graduation, Boyd taught at Wanette Elementary School for eight years before returning to Byng four years ago. In particular, she teaches sixth-grade English Language Arts. She is responsible for teaching her students grammar, creative writ6 • www.adahub.com
Teacher Carrie Boyd looks to pass on her passion for reading to her students at Byng Elementary School, where she was named Teacher of the Year along with earning Professional Oklahoma Educators merit awards.
PHOTO BY ANGELA MARTIN
ing and literature. She said she wanted to do this subject because she has always loved reading, and she wanted to inspire her students to love reading as well. “I don’t believe any kid hates to read,” Boyd said. “They just haven’t found the right book yet.”
When she was a child – and even now as an adult – Boyd said she can fully immerse herself in a book. She becomes a part of the story, and the characters become her friends. She wants her students to discover this same passion for books that she has. Teaching literature also allows Boyd to have an impact on her students’ lives beyond the standard curriculum. “Through reading … I can teach my students how to be good people, how to have empathy and how to be kind,” Boyd said. Her favorite genre is historical fiction, because even though her students might not know that much about history, they can learn about it through literature. For instance, if they want to learn about the Holocaust then
they can read a book and place themselves in the shoes of those characters, Boyd said. They can feel what it is like to be hated and hunted, and it can also give them a chance to look for the people who were not merely bystanders and stood up for what is good. “It is so rewarding to watch my students and see those lights come on and then watch them apply these lessons to their own lives,” Boyd said. With her great passion for her work, it is no wonder that Boyd has recently received some honors. She – along with several other teachers at Byng – were recently nominated for Professional Oklahoma Educators merit awards. On April 13, she and her colleagues will be honored at a banquet where they announce the winners. She was also nominated as Byng Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year and will progress to the district level of awards. Boyd said she credits the school at which she teaches with her success. “Byng Elementary is an amazing environment,” Boyd said. “The teachers I work with share the same passion. We work together, collaborate and support each other.” She also has tremendous support from her principal, Dennis Kymes, who was actually the principal at her elementary school when she was a student there. He helped her along the way as a student and now continues to do so in her professional life. Boyd’s passion for teaching is what keeps her going. “I’m not going to be wealthy by being a teacher, but it is priceless to be able to walk into that classroom, share my passion for reading with those kids and make a difference in their lives in a positive way,” she said.
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Casey Lowry, Will Hogan, Andrew Wells and Vlad Umfitsev comprise local rock band, Vlad’s Fault, aptly name as a result of the persistence of Umfitsev to start the group.
PHOTO BY WILL HOGAN
Music a constant variable for rock band that includes computer science, math, library staff By Sunnie Dawn Smith
W
hen many people think about rock bands starting at colleges, they might envision people in their late teens and early 20s getting together to jam out after classes. They might not think about bands being formed by professors in the math and computer science departments, but that is exactly what happened with local band, Vlad’s Fault. Vlad’s Fault consists of four members: Vlad Ufimtsev on guitar, Andrew Wells on vocals and keyboard, Casey Lowry on vocals and percussion and Will Hogan on vocals and bass. Their name came about because, well, it was all Vlad’s fault. He was persistent about getting the band together. Also, they have a running joke that if you don’t like the music at their shows then it is all Vlad’s fault. When Ufimtsev first came to East Central University in fall 2016 to teach computer science, he discovered a friend in Wells, who teaches in the math department at ECU. As they got to know each other better, they learned that they also played musical instruments. They started practicing together and playing acoustic sets at Vintage 22 at 800 E. Main St. One night, they were hanging out 8 • www.adahub.com
and doing karaoke after work with some friends, including ECU librarian Casey Lowry. Wells and Ufimtsev were talking about forming a band, but they needed a bassist and a drummer. Lowry told them that she didn’t have a drum set, but she could play percussion. After they heard her sing, they told her she was in. They happened to have another friend, Will Hogan, who played bass and had been wanting to collaborate on some music, and thus Vlad’s Fault was born. In the beginning, they started off playing a lot of the Beatles. “I have had an unhealthy obsession with the Beatles from a very young age, even before I learned to speak English at age seven,” Umfitsev said. They even played a Beatles tribute show on the rooftop of the Grandview with local band, Our Mother’s Martyr. However, they do play more than the Beatles, though the majority of their music would be considered classic rock. Among the bands they cover are the Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Chuck Berry and Ben Folds Five. They have also started composing their own original music as well. They currently have five original songs that they have added
to their set. They usually write pretty collaboratively. Any band member is welcome to bring their ideas to the table. One person might have the beginning of an idea and then the other members will add on to it. They might play around with the tempo or the chord progressions and add or change lyrics. “We don’t have a set formula, but we enjoy working together and learning from one another,” Hogan said. Even though all of the band members have their own professional lives outside of Vlad’s Fault, they are also all highly experienced musicians who come from their own unique musical backgrounds. Lowry played piano as a child and then started with symphonic and marching band in sixth grade. She played percussion in marching band and bassoon in symphonic band. Bassoon was her primary instrument, but percussion is where her passion is. Ufimtsev has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old, and he has always appreciated the universal language of music. “It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you are from or what language you are speaking, music always makes you feel something, and you can appreciate it,” Umfitsev said. “It’s one of the greatest and most universal art forms.” Wells took piano lessons for 10 years as a child and also sang in choirs for school and church. When he was young, he learned a lot of blues, jazz, ragtime and gospel piano, and that has been a major influence on his musicality. He specifically appreciates the music of Scott Joplin and the playing of jazz greats Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk. Hogan started playing guitar around age 12, though he plays the bass in Vlad’s Fault. “I would call myself a guitar player or a keyboardist way before being a bass player, but Andrew and Vlad had those covered really well so I was happy to fill out the bottom end,” Hogan said. “That's why I play bass like a guitar player – at an extremely high volume.” His influences vary from punk to funk, hard rock to pop rock. Vlad’s Fault is currently the host band for open mic nights at Vintage 22, which happens the last Wednesday of every month, and they have another show coming up at 9 p.m. March 23 at Vintage 22. More information about upcoming shows can be found at facebook.com/vladsfault, and they soon plan to release an EP of their five original songs, which will be announced on their Facebook page.
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Relay for Life brings the fight against cancer home By Sunnie Dawn Smith
I
t is a rare person whose life has not been touched by cancer in some way. Almost everyone knows someone who has had cancer and survived or has lost someone to this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed and 609,640 cancer deaths in 2018. These staggering numbers could motivate some to take action, and many can do their part by participating in the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, Relay for Life. Not only does it raise money to help fight cancer and treat patients but it also gives people a chance to come together and share their hope while also sharing the memories of those they have lost. This year will mark the 23rd annual Relay for Life in Ada, Oklahoma. It will be held on May 4 from 6-10:30 p.m.on the football field of East Central University’s Koi Ishto Stadium. The theme this year is “May the 4th Be With You – Attacking Cancer from All Angles.” It is a challenge to organize an event of this magnitude. This is one of the reasons why three people – Carmon Hartshorn, her younger sister Ashlie Stick and Leta Burwell – have teamed up to organize the event instead of a single person. Hartshorn had previously been involved with Relay for Life through work. She said she had helped with fundraisers and wanted to do more, so she volunteered to be on the event leadership team and co-led the luminaria section for the past three years. Her older sister, Kelly Cook, had been involved and convinced her to sign up. Now, Hartshorn gets to co-lead with her younger sister. Burwell comes to Relay for Life from a very personal level. “I have been involved with Relay for Life for several years with my team at work and as a team captain for three years,” Burwell said. “This is my first year as an event lead. 10 • www.adahub.com
Relay for Life events all around the country shine a spotlight on cancer survivors and those still fighting or lost to the disease while raising funds and awareness for ongoing research.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The American Cancer Society is dear to me as my father died from colon cancer, and that is why I relay.” The money raised at Relay for Life benefits the American Cancer Society in their battle against cancer. Specifically, they use the money for education, research, advocacy and patient services. “The American Cancer Society is donor driven, which is why we need volunteers,” Hartshorn said. “Money raised will benefit researchers that are currently – and have been – making leaps and bounds towards finding a cure. If you or anyone you know has ever taken chemotherapy, then they are benefiting from American Cancer Society research.” There are many ways that people can help or be involved. They can form a team or participate on a team for the relay. They can also make monetary donations, volunteer on the planning committee or help out on the day of the relay. Also, they can show support for cancer survivors and their caretakers just by coming and participating. The day of the relay is organized so everyone can be celebrated. It begins with
an opening ceremony, welcoming all of the “relayers” to the event. Next comes the survivor lap. This is where cancer survivors walk together celebrating their victory over cancer. After this is the caregiver lap, where those who care for patients are recognized. While cancer can be a grueling ordeal, there is also a tremendous strain on those who care for them. Then everyone comes together to walk as one during the opening lap. The luminaria ceremony comes next during which people light candles for those who have passed or who are still fighting the disease. After these ceremonies, people are encouraged to still continue walking while the organizers provide family games, activities and entertainment. Finally, the Fight Back Ceremony closes the event, and the relayers take one final lap to symbolize their continuing fight to raise awareness and battle cancer. Hartshorn said her favorite thing about the Relay for Life is “honoring and celebrating our community’s cancer survivors and remembering those that have lost their battle with cancer.” She also wants the public and community to get involved by creating or joining a team, raising money, telling a cancer survivor about available services or inviting a cancer survivor to the event so they can be recognized.
Creative writing festival triples its author pool 13 years after formation By Sunnie Dawn Smith
E
ast Central University will host the 13th annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival from April 5 through April 7. This year, 58 authors coming to Ada from all around the country to read selected works. This is a festival that continues to grow each year as it gains more prestige around the country and within the writing community. The first year, approximately 18 authors read, but that number has more than tripled this year. Poet and ECU English professor Ken Hada organizes this yearly event. “For the University and Ada community this is one of the most recognizable events,” Hada said. “We are known throughout the state and beyond for this gathering.” There are many events that are free and open to the public. This year they are adding an art exhibit by Steven Schroeder, which will be up at the Grandview on April 4 – the day before readings begin. The public is invited to hear his gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. Schroeder, who is a poet and painter, titled his show “In the Path of Totality” and will present works on paper and canvas that use light and vision as a main theme. On April 5, the readings will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Estep Auditorium on the ECU campus. The first sessions goes from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. followed by another session from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. After lunch, readings will occur in two locations, Estep Auditorium and the North Lounge, also on the ECU campus from 2:00-3:20 p.m. Everyone can then gather at Estep for readings from 3:30-4:45 p.m., followed by an evening session in Estep from 7:00-8:15 p.m. Readings resume April 6 in Estep from 9-9:50 a.m. followed by joint sessions in the North Lounge and Estep from 10:00-10:50 a.m., 11:00-11:50 a.m. and 2:00-3:20 p.m. Everyone comes together once more in Estep from 3:30-4:45 p.m., and then again at 7 p.m. for a reading featuring George Bilgere. April 7 marks the final day as readings take place in Estep from 9:00-10:15 a.m. and 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to the grand finale from 12-1 p.m. featuring Jeanetta Calhoun Mish. This gives the public 18 different sessions to attend at their leisure. While the type of writing varies as much as the authors – poetry, short stories, novels – all those featured are highly accomplished and published writers who bring their own unique experiences and personalities to their work. The two featured writers, Bilgere and Mish, are both poets. Bilgere – who is traveling to Ada from Cleveland, Ohio – has published seven collections of poetry, three of which have received prestigious awards and recognition. He currently teaches creative writing at John Carroll University and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, has been a Fulbright Scholar and was named a Witter Bynner Fellow through the Library of Congress by U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Collins calls Bilgere’s work “a welcome breath of fresh, American air in the house of contemporary poetry.” Mish is the current 2017-2018 Oklahoma State Poet Laureate and is director of the Red Earth Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts program at Oklahoma City University. Mish has authored several highly acclaimed books. Her 2009 poetry collection, “Work
is Love Made Visible,” won an Oklahoma Book Award, Wrangler Award and the WILLA Award from Women Writing in the West. In addition to publishing poetry, she has also published numerous essays and short fiction pieces and also works as an editor. She is editor for Mongrel Empire Press, which was recognized as the 2012 Publisher of the Year by the Woodcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. One of the best things about the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival is the feeling of friendship and fellowship, Hada said. While these writers come to Ada in order to share their work with an audience, they also come to see old friends and enjoy one another’s company. However, they are also happy to make new friends and chat with new people that they encounter at the festival. This gives the audience a chance to hear quality literature read to them but also to purchase the books, have them signed and have a chance to discuss the readings with the actual writers. Hada said he loves being able to organize this event and bring these writers together to listen to one another’s work. “It is inspiring to listen to the narratives of authors who take their craft seriously and whose personae come to life as you watch them engage an audience,” Hada said. “It is something that a university should do. We should not only teach the arts; we should celebrate them. It’s a listening festival. Come and listen, and go away inspired.” www.adahub.com • 11
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