Shawnee Outlook by Shawnee Outlook

Combating Poverty | Educational Foundation

JANUARY 24 Vol. 20 Number 11

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2024

departments

8 Portraits: Clues About Who, When Abound In Portraits Through The Centuries

KEEP THE CHANGE NUTRITION 101

10 Toyland: Police Department Receives 900 Toys, Items For Second Annual Drive

6 22

OVER THE FENCE

SONIC CONTEST

13 Us And Them: Combating Poverty Begins With Recognizing, Understanding Perspectives

SHAWNEE HISTORY

MENTAL HEALTH

19 Raising Hands: Shawnee Educational Foundation Supports Local Teachers, Students With Grants Awarded For Innovative Resources

CALENDAR

JAN

Okie Icon Media

MANAGING EDITOR

David Dinsmore

ADVERTISING SALES

Brad Carter

CREATIVE DIRECTION Kelsey Walker Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

features

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Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-1pm North of Hardesty Road & Hwy 102

Andrea Beck David Dinsmore Brandon Dyer Ann McDonald Angela Rowland Delaynna Trim

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise, call Brad (405) 445-3033

Volume 20, Number 11 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2024 Okie Icon Media Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Okie Icon Media. Okie Icon Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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keep the change

nutrition 101

LIVING ON YOUR FEET

PART 2: TRAVEL H AFFORDABLY L

ast month, I focused on affordable travel options. As you’re looking ahead at your 2024 travel calendar, here are some more tips to keep in mind: • Grocery shop at your destination. Whether you fly or drive, it’s often worth it to set aside some time at the beginning of your trip to go to the grocery store. Stock Angela Rowland up on snacks for day excursions and lunch/dinner options that can be made where you’re staying. Only have a microwave? Look for full-size dinner options for the microwave – just be sure you have freezer space, if you need it. If you have packing space, bring a slow cooker or an Instant Pot and let them do the cooking while you’re out exploring. Plan to pack lunches to eat while you’re on the go during the day so you don’t have to plan on expensive options wherever you happen to be when you’re hungry. If you’re traveling internationally, foreign snacks/candies often make fun souvenirs and are cheaper at the grocery store than in souvenir shops. • Plan transportation. Renting a car can be expensive, so consider other options. If your destination has a good public transit system, research your options for those, including passes that will let you hop from one transport to the other – such as metro and bus for example. Consider whether a taxi or a rideshare service can serve the purposes you need and which option is more affordable. • Get a season pass/membership. Even if it’s for a destination you don’t plan to visit again soon, sometimes a pass will save you money over multiple days of entry for one trip or a family pass will lower the cost of individual entry. It doesn’t hurt to look into it. I hope your 2024 brings many happy memories. S Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and share some of her favorite tips and deals. 6

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ave you heard the saying “sitting is the new smoking?”So many of us are sitting more and more that sitting has become the new “silent killer.” We aren’t moving our bodies enough, which leads to our heart not getting exercise and not burning enough calories compared to how much we are consuming. Researchers analyzed 13 studies of sitting time and activity levels. They found that those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to that same level of those who are obese and those that smoke. Sitting in a slouched posture can lead to low back and neck pain due to overstretching of the spine. Humans were not meant to sit at desks for long periods of time. Our bodies were made to move. So how do we fix that? In that same research, they found that even small amounts of movement throughout the day counteracted the effects of sitting. They found that 30 minutes of exercise a day leads to a 17 percent lower risk of dying early. If the exercise was vigorous, people had a 35 percent lower rate of dying early. That study shows that exercise is literally the best way to combat sitting. Ideally, adding in strength training two to three times in your week will help with muscle retention and gain. We lose 3-8 percent of our muscle mass every decade and even more after the age of 60. If you aren’t actively working your muscles then you will lose them. This becomes a huge factor in aging. Standing and walking while working can help add to your movements and steps. Ask for walking meetings if not in a large group or talk on your phone while standing up. All these small movements help your joints as well. I have seen some people have stability balls as chairs, which is a great idea to work your core while sitting. The goal at the end of the day is to get to 10,000 steps, so small movements throughout your whole day can really help you get there.

Winter Salad

Salads often seem to be more popular in warmer months but can also be great in the winter months. I love it when pomegranates are in season because they add so much color and flavor to a salad. Ingredients: 2 cups leafy lettuce 1/8 cup Dried cranber½ cup to 1 cup chopped ries with no sugar cucumber added ¼ cup pomegranate 1 oz feta cheese seeds ¼ cup chopped pecans

Directions: Place all in one bowl and serve with the dressing of your choice or squeeze some lemon on it for flavor. Makes: 1 serving Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 383 Total Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 33mg Sodium: 421mg Carbohydrates: 32g Fiber: 16g Protein: 9g Nutrition 101: Salads can be a great way to consume produce, but it can also be a great way to intake way too much saturated fat. Often, we get deceived with ingredients that go on salads like bacon bits, croutons, cheese and creamy dressings. When building a salad, think about if you can add more color to the salad other than the green from the leaves. Many ideas for color include radishes, cauliflower, yellow/red/orange bell peppers, tomatoes, diced apples, carrots and so much more. Every different color provides your body a different nutrient. So, the more colorful the salad, the more nutrients it provides you. Salads can be sides or part of your main dish. Watch your serving sizes on salad dressing. Typically, serving sizes of dressing are two tablespoons. Check labels on dressing for added sugar and saturated fats. S Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training and nutrition education through an online platform, StrongHER along with functional nutrition and labs through Laser Focus. For inquiries, visit strongherwithandrea.com, or the Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

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art of the matter

PORTRAITS

Clues About Who, When Abound In Portraits Through The Centuries

SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART

id you know that Museum Selfie Day is January 17? Come out to the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art to take a selfie in front of some world class art. Maybe even pose like one of the people in the paintings. Selfies have just been around since the invention of the camera, but portraits have been around for thousands of years. While the museum has lots of portraits, we have several on exhibit in a mini portrait gallery. First is a portrait of an Elizabethan lady. You can date the piece by looking at her clothing. The stiff lace collar gives us a good clue. Cut-work lace collars called piccadills became popular in the late 16th century. The name piccadill reputedly derives from the Spanish word “picado,” which means punctured or pierced. Queen Elizabeth I of England was painted wearing them. They became a status symbol, so the larger the collar, the more important you were. They became quite large with the use of starch. They became less popular in the 17th century as fashions changed. Her lace head covering is called a coif. Next, we have the Ronnie family portraits. These are early American portraits of a husband and wife. Notice how stiff they look? Early American itinerant artists would travel around and paint people’s portraits. It would often take a long time to paint someone, so to make the process go faster some artists would go ahead and paint generic bodies and just paint the details on the heads. These would often be self-taught artists. We might call them folk artists today. These portraits were typically stiff with little to no background. One of our most famous portraits is Fr. Gregory Gerrer’s portrait of Pope Pius X that he painted in 1904. Pope Pius X had just been elected Pope and needed an official portrait. Fr. Gerrer was selected as one of a few painters to have the Pope sit for them. Pope Pius X liked his portrait so much that he chose it to be his official portrait. He told Fr. Gerrer, “You painted me warts and all!” Notice how Fr. Gerrer painted the eyes – they follow you as you move in front of the piece. He painted St. Paul’s Basilica outside the window on the left side. This helps the viewer know about the sitter of the portrait. Other clues are his outfit. These are robes of a pope, as is the ring – even the chair or Cathedra Romana helps us know who this is. We can compare Fr. Gerrer’s portrait of Pope Pius X from 1904

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to Tintoretto’s portrait of Michele Suriano, the Venetian Ambassador from the 16th century. There are lots of clues as to who this sitter is. Outside his window is Castel Sant’Angelo, which was a papal castle and later prison. This connects him to the Vatican. In the lower left corner, we see a piece of paper with a seal. The seal is a Venetian Republic seal, and the paper is a papal bull or official letter from the Pope. These clues all lead to the fact that Suriano is the Venetian ambassador to the Vatican. What would you include in your portrait so that people knew it was you? What would be outside your window? What would you hold? Check out www.mgmoa.org/art-projects for more activities including videos on how to paint self-portraits.

Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Supplies needed: Museum of Art’s atPaper, crayons or markers or colored home project page. pencil, mirror First decide what, if anything, you want to be drawn with. What objects would make people think of you? It could be a toy, a pet or even a hat. Remember not all portraits are exact; some are abstract. Start by drawing an oval for the outline of your face. Then start adding your eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Have fun. S

Self-Portrait

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community

TOYLAND Police Department Receives 900 Toys, Items For Second Annual Drive

BY DAVID DINSMORE

he Shawnee Police Department held its second annual toy drive last just before Christmas and nearly doubled its impact from the first year. The community and charitable organizations gathered more than 900 toys and items for the children registered to receive some Christmas cheer from the men and women in uniform. Cpl. Vivian Lozano said she had 215 kids registered for the toy drive with most coming to an event on Dec. 19 at the department’s headquarters at 912 E. Independence. Families made their way through the event with volunteers on hand to help the little ones – each of whom received a personalized ornament with their name on it – find age-appropriate gifts while also enjoying some of the other holiday fun, including free food, photo booth, pictures with Santa and the Grinch, storytime station, games and more. Volunteers reached out to registered families who were feeling under the weather and couldn’t make it to the event to arrange a way for the children to receive their gifts. Officers received some of the extra toys to help distribute as they encountered children on calls in the community as part of the normal duties. For information about the annual toy drive, contact Lozano at (405) 501-3357. S

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shawnee bridges

US AND THEM

Combating Poverty Begins With Recognizing, Understanding Perspectives Part 1 of 6: Every other month in 2024, Shawnee Bridges Out of Poverty will share from its experiences in helping local families receive education, resources and connections to help break cycles of poverty and provide a hopeful future for themselves and future generations along with ways others in the community can support these efforts.

eople who recognize and own that poverty, in some form or fashion, exists in their own lives are the best at combating the attacks of poverty throughout a community. For this purpose — combating poverty in our community — we need to define the term poverty. Shawnee Bridges defines poverty as “the extent to which a person, institution or community does without resources.” From an individual standpoint, it’s how a person can or cannot access and understand how to use resources that can help them through life. In our model, there are a variety of ways people could experience poverty. Hidden rules, spiritual, health, mental, emotional, financial, social capital, relationships and role models are eight common resource categories which may cause someone to be considered impoverished. Perhaps in one or more of the areas above, poverty exists in your own life. Can you see it? This series of six articles is based on the premise that everyone should have the resources to envision and develop a positive future story for themselves and their families and to live with realistic hope for their future. We introduce Shawnee Bridges to our extended community through the

lens of family. We each have family generations preceding us that have set the table for our lives. It is beneficial for self and others in the community to recognize that we each are both an “us” and a “them.” Depending on the lens that another person is looking through at us, we (self) fall into one of these two categories (us, them) within the other person’s reality. This conscious understanding of one’s own self is the beginning of understanding of how those who may seem different than you are actually much like you but have a different outlook than you. Bridging the understanding gap in our differences goes a long way toward the building of mutual respect in relationships between community members. Everyone is a product of the generations before them. We have no control over the decisions made by our predecessors, but those decisions have had an extreme impact on who we are and our current behaviors. There are rules that individuals follow because of the environments that define them by class.

These rules are predominantly hidden, even by oneself as they are followed. Most do not face the fact that the rules even exist. Often, these hidden rules separate us from being a singularly powerful unit as a community. People rejoicing in — rather than rejecting – their differences are a formidable force. Power comes from like-minded individuals with numbers in their ranks. Poverty exists within us all. Nobody is perfect. How we view poverty is determined by the ‘lens’ we use to see it or recognize it. The lens that Shawnee Bridges uses to identify poverty is an economic lens. It is the goal of Shawnee Bridges to help build both mentor and ally relationships between community members who originate from diverse economic backgrounds. This begins when people understand that they as an individual operate according to prevalent and existing “hidden rules” that differ from those that exist for individuals from a different economic background. Shawnee Bridges’s principal contribution to addressing poverty is to offer a common understanding of > www.shawneeoutlook.com

It is generally believed that four principal factors cause poverty. Behaviors of the Individual Dependency Single parenting Work ethic Breakup of families Addiction Mental illness Language

Human and Social Capital Lack of employment Education Inadequate skill sets Declining neighborhoods Middle-class flight

Exploitation Dominated groups for profit Raw resources or materials

Political/Economic Structures De-industrialization Globalization Race to the bottom Increased productivity Shrinking middle class Corporate influence Economic disparity

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focus efforts in singular directions rather than united on all four fronts. As community members who desire the best for our families, we must shift our singular focus from one, two or even three of the above factors and consistently begin considering all four as a whole. When we better understand we all live in some stage of poverty ourselves, it is easier14to constructively dialogue with other community members about real, positive change and lose much of the “us” and “them” mentalities that hold us back. S

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education

RAISING HANDS

Shawnee Educational Foundation Supports Local Teachers, Students With Grants Awarded For Innovative Resources BY DAVID DINSMORE

hough most of the Shawnee community recently finished celebrating the Christmas season, some local teachers got that special holiday feeling a couple months early thanks to the Shawnee Educational Foundation. Since 1998, the foundation has provided more than $420,000 across upward of 375 grants to teachers within Shawnee Public Schools and area K-8 schools whose students can go on to attend Shawnee High School. “It was like Christmas in October when they would come in and you would receive a grant,” said Michelle Wallace, a 26-year veteran with Shawnee Public Schools who currently

The Shawnee Educational Foundation awarded more than $21,000 across 19 grants to teachers this year at Shawnee Public Schools and K-8 schools whose students can attend Shawnee High School to purchase resources that would otherwise come personally out of pocket for their students and classrooms. Community partners and sponsors help replenish these annual funds through the foundation’s annual banquet happening April 4 at the Grand Casino. serves as the board president of the foundation. Teachers put together grant proposals for resources for which there is no budget from the school system but would put a strain on their personal finances if they acquired them out of pocket, Wallace said. Though teachers are famous for putting their own money into elements they feel will enhance their students’ educational experience, the foundation aims to help them ac-

quire and provide these supplies, programs, equipment, opportunities and more. In keeping with the holiday theme, Wallace said she now gets to enjoy a “Santa Claus feeling” when she and other foundation board members go to each school to surprise the grant recipients with the good news and a big check representing the award. This year, the foundation provided 19 grants to local schools for a total of > www.shawneeoutlook.com

$21,472.20. “As a teacher, it gave you the feeling that you had a resource to help you go above and beyond the kind of teacher you can be,” said Wallace, who applied for and received grants from the foundation during her time in the classroom before moving to an administrative role as the coordinator of counseling and community engagement. To provide the funds for its programs, the Shawnee Educational Foundation works with local businesses, organizations and partners in fundraising efforts to replenish its coffers each year to continue its work, Wallace said. Its largest and most well-known fundraising effort comes from its annual banquet, which will happen on April 4 at the Grand Casino event center at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. The Shawnee Educational Foundation began in 1989, and after reorganizing in 1998, it made providing these grants a primary focus, according to information provided by the foundation, which cited its mission as partly to “encourage teachers to advance new approaches to teaching and to develop innovative programs which stimulate thought and expand the existing curriculum.”

These ideas run the gamut in terms of variety, whether creative, practical, experimental or otherwise, Wallace said. For instance, one year she worked with an art teacher in writing for a grant to form and supply a photography club to give students a new activity they didn’t have previously – particularly for those not involved in other opportunities of extracurriculars. Schools can write proposals for as many grants as they have ideas, but each school has a limit of five total grants awarded. This number of grants also can vary depending on the total dollars given toward a grant, Wallace said. Generally, requests run from a

12 in.

few hundred to just more than a thousand dollars, and in 2013, the foundation also began accepting grant proposals from principals along with their teachers. In addition to its grants, the Shawnee Educational Foundation also began providing $1,000 scholarships to Shawnee High School seniors in 2014 with four students receiving a scholarship last year. On top of the upcoming banquet on April 4, the foundation has also been trying some other fundraising initiatives to get more students, parents and personnel involved, Wallace said. Shawnee Elementary Schools competed

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against each other last fall in a “coin war,” bringing in pocket change to see who could raise the most money toward a senior scholarship. The war brought in about $1,000 – enough for one of the scholarships that the foundation will award. Grove and South Rock Creek schools will participate in their own coin wars later this month. The foundation also receives tremendous support from community partners, Wallace said. Over the years, it has found ways to honor some of the notable figures impacted by or who have had an impact on schools in the Shawnee area. In 2001, the organization inducted its first Shawnee Educational Foundation Hall of Fame member, Robert H. Henry, who served as the state attorney general and a federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Since then, governors, senators and other civic leaders have received this honor after attending at some point a school within the Shawnee public system or schools like Pleasant Grove, South Rock Creek or Grove whose students could later attend Shawnee High School. At one time, former North Rock Creek students also qualified prior to the establishment of its own district with the opening of its high school. “There are some really remarkable people who have walked these halls,” Wallace said. About 10 years ago, the Shawnee Educational Foundation also wanted to honor those who have provided a positive impact on the education of Shawnee area students with the establishment of its Max Brattin Award, named for a long-time economics professor at Oklahoma Baptist University who volunteered for many years with the foundation. Grant application and the annual honor nomination forms are available at shawneeeducationalfoundation.org. For more information about the Shawnee Educational Foundation and its current programs, contact Wallace at mwallace@shawnee.k12.ok.us. S

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over the fence

Friendships Help Make Riding The Ups, Downs Of Life Easier

BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

he day after Christmas a few hear back from another friend. You see, there is a wonderful years ago, I received a someman who works in this historic building that what panicked call from my more or less knows every single thing about wife around lunchtime. She that building. However, I didn’t have his was at her office in a large historic buildnumber, but I knew exactly which friend to ing downtown and was leaving to meet me call to get it. Soon, the right person was on the for lunch. She hopped in the elevator on the third scene, and moments later, my wife was safely on floor to go to the lobby and out the door to her car her way. We were eating lunch in no time, carrywhen it happened. ing on with our day as if nothing had happened. She pressed the button to take her downstairs, Why was it important to mention the friends I the doors closed and the elevator headed downward. contacted for help? I’ll tell you why. Because most But just a few seconds later the elevator came to a days, we all go about our lives and take for granted the jarring stop. Uh oh. It was completely still and hauntimportant social connections that we have. We take for ingly quiet. She pressed the buttons, but they would Brandon Dyer granted the value that those relationships add to our not respond, although she tried and tried. The elevalives. It’s easy to see their value in an emergency. That’s tor simply would not budge, and it was trapped between two why I told this story. There is a hidden value that is at work floors. That was the moment she realized she was stuck. What behind the scenes of daily routines and the stressors of life that a helpless feeling that must have been. makes life meaningful. There is comfort in knowing that I have Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? I have not, but I friendships. Meaningful friendships. I have people I can lean have one friend who was stuck for hours on an elevator alone. on. I have folks in my corner that care about me. They care It wasn’t a good experience as you can imagine. This is a le- about my family – and not just in times of emergency. gitimate fear for some folks. I mean, we’ve all seen the movies. These relationships that bring joy and meaning to our lives Elevators getting stuck is a tool often used to create suspense. must be cultivated. I am as guilty as anyone at not always inSometimes people magically open a convenient hatch door vesting in relationships at the level they require to be meanin the ceiling and dangerously scale their way down to safety, ingful. Too often, we unknowingly assume that these relationoften escaping bad guys in the process. Other times the cable ships will always be there. However, the truth is we must work snaps, and the elevator plunges downward to certain doom un- at them. So, make time to care about the people in your life. til a hero manages to stop it at the last second and saves lives. Stop and listen to them. Pay attention to what is going on in It’s important to note for those that are fearful of this hap- their lives. Strengthening our relationships will help us have pening in real life that very, very few elevators, if any, operate the kind of community we all want. A safe, caring and conon an old-school cable system anymore. They’re all hydraulic nected community. It might also get you out of a jam once in these days, so the odds of them suddenly malfunctioning and a while. S plunging downward are quite low. Almost zero in fact. Nevertheless, my wife was in that elevator, and she was stuck. She called me, as I mentioned, and asked what to do. I assured her there was no danger and told her I would make a few calls before we alerted the fire department. Now some reading this may disagree with that decision, and I wouldn’t ordinarily argue with them. It’s just that one of my friends happened to be a fireman. I got in touch with him, and he relayed the infor3601 N Harrison, Shawnee, OK mation to the closest station. 405-481-9700 But first, I contacted two other friends. One friend I always contact in these sorts of situations – not because he could nectravis@bhhsbenchmark.com essarily do anything about it, but because we always keep each travisarealtor other in the loop when crazy things happen in life. I guess you could say for support. I contacted him while I was waiting to TRAVIS ALEXANDER, REALTOR

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shawnee history

LOCAL ICON

Image Of Santa Fe Depot Synonymous With City BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER

hawnee’s iconic Santa Fe depot has been in the news a lot bile for travel. Santa Fe passenger travel declined and eventulately. The structure has actually been front page mate- ally ended. rial for years dating back to when the depot was built By the mid-1970s, even freight travel was taken over by the and became a key part of Shawnee’s identity. trucking industry, and only two Santa Fe trains were coming About 10 years after this area was opened to settlement, lo- through Shawnee. A deal was suggested by their officials. After cal leaders decided the community they were building would about two years, Santa Fe essentially traded the depot to the city thrive if they could persuade the railroads to build on the north of Shawnee for buildings that adjoined the tracks they would side of the river rather than the south as was the original plan. use for their freight business. It was the railroad’s expectation James Farrall, Henry Beard, John Beard and others had been that their special building would not be removed but saved to parceling off and selling portions represent the long-time and imof their claims for the building of portant rail industry in Shawnee. homes and businesses. They then The depot was designated a offered to donate and sell property National Historic Landmark in to the railroads. 1975. Learning of the deal, the Pott In the next few years, Shawnee County Historical Society was exwas a hotbed of rail activity with cited about moving from their muthree companies running their seum south of town that they were tracks through town. Farm produce outgrowing. The Santa Fe group was shipped out, and passengers quickly approved, and it was retraveled to and from Shawnee. ported in the local newspaper by The Santa Fe railroad saw the Wes Stucky, Shawnee’s city manneed for an appropriate passenger ager, “The railroad people we’ve depot. In 1902, the special design worked with think it’s a great idea. by Joseph Schuttner was agreed on. For more than 100 years, the Santa Fe Depot has They recognize its historic value.” Styled after a lighthouse in Scot- visually represented the city of Shawnee, from The agreement papers were rail passengers to photography enthusiasts and land, it has a tower simply for essigned, and the Historical Society thetics meant to be seen from a dis- more. — Photo submitted moved in. Few adjustments were tance. However, in practice, the tower assured train riders that made with the depot staying basically the same. Visitors loved they were arriving in Shawnee. the building. The depot became the “brand” of Shawnee, feaOne of the early employees commented that “this building tured on city signs, the logo on stationery and even uniforms of was meant to last” with baked clay tile roof, Bedford rock from employees. Visitors often remarked they knew it was Shawnee Indiana and decorative amenities, such as high ceilings of dark when they saw photos and drawings of the depot. At one time, wood supported by Old English carved arches and wood pan- the depot was voted the most photographed building in Oklaeled walls. A basement was set aside for crews who had to stay homa, people coming for graduation, engagement or family for a while. Passengers had the best accommodations while photos or just to have their own picture of the depot. waiting or when they came in from faraway places. They came Yet, 100 years takes its toll. By the turn of the 21st century, from all 48 states, Europe and even Australia visiting or looking it was evident the beautiful building that is Shawnee needed for a place to make their home or start a business. repairs. The roof was weather-damaged, and cracks appeared Shawnee’s rail companies brought in theater groups from around some of the rocks that made up the walls. The Historithe big cities back east because the town was easy to travel to. cal Society had already begun plans to construct a large buildPresidents and other political visitors had Shawnee on their ing just north of the depot to create a museum complex. The routes. The busiest period for passenger travel was between depot would then house railroad memorabilia. 1919 and the mid-1930s before slacking off due to the Great The new museum materialized and gratefully repairs are to Depression and the local drought that hurt the crops. Then af- be made to the depot. ter World War II, the public came to rely more on the automoThis building representing Shawnee will be saved. S www.shawneeoutlook.com

mental health

NEW BEGINNINGS G

Being Worthy Of A Life Free From Addiction SUBMITTED BY GATEWAY TO PREVENTION AND RECOVERY

ateway to Prevention and Recovery supports all individuals and families in Oklahoma in pursuing recovery and greater health through prevention, treatment and wellness. We are fortunate to have Michael Parks, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, on our team helping us Parks carry out this life saving mission and being open to share his experience, strength, and hope. Please note that readers may be sensitive to some of the elements of Parks’ testimony.

What does recovery mean to you? MP: Recovery means a daily walk out of the nightmare that used to be my life. How do you want people to feel after they read what you’ve written? MP: I hope that people will feel inspired and optimistic. Looking back, how did your journey towards substances start? MP: I first tried marijuana in sixth grade to fit in, and it steadily got worse from there. What were some of the struggles you faced on your journey? MP: I experienced homelessness, hopelessness, despair, tragedy and great loss. I lost three different families: one to tragedy and two to addiction. 26

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Did you have a rock bottom? If so, what did it feel like? MP: Yes, I hit a rock bottom. It was a steel door slamming shut, no air in my tiny cell, an empty stomach and a broken spirit. It felt hopeless, as if my so-called life had crashed all around me. I felt like I had lost myself and everything that meant anything to me. I had never felt more alone in my life. What was your turning point? MP: My last arrest was the turning point. I called it my divine intervention. My Higher Power said, “Enough is enough.” I also had a best friend who helped me get where I am today. Without God, my supportive friend and a very strong family support system, I would never have had access to new opportunities. What challenges have you faced in your recovery? MP: I feel like there is nothing that hasn’t been a challenge. Every step re-

quires a conscious effort. I have had to meet every morning with intention. I would say that my biggest obstacle has been facing the wreckage of my own doing. Also, seeing and knowing the actual man I am today is no easy task. What does your life look like today? MP: Today my life is better than I ever thought possible. I have achieved more in the last six months I’ve been out of prison than I had the 20 years prior to that. My mental and physical health have greatly improved. Sometimes, it is hard adjusting to the good I have in my life now. I had gotten used to a certain way of living while in addiction and can struggle with success or accepting my own worth. Yet, at the end of the day, I am where I belong. I used to be so down on myself that my self-esteem was nonexistent. However, I’m learning to let go of my insecurities and see myself for the man I am now.

What is the next step on your recovery journey? MP: My next step is to continue to grow in my career at Gateway. I love being an advocate for those that don’t yet know how to help themselves. My goal is to be the help that I needed most. What message of encouragement do you want to leave with those who read your story? MP: No matter what you are going through, trust that you are not alone. You are worthy of a life free from addiction. Reach out and get the help you deserve. What else do you want people to know about you or the recovery journey? MP: My addiction was fueled largely by an inability to properly mourn the death of my daughter. Instead of accepting and grieving her death, I chased anything that might make me feel bet-

ter in the moment – like so many people do. Unfortunately, this way of coping was the most tragic thing I ever did. If this is something that you find yourself doing, I encourage you to please reach out and allow me to share more of my story. Don’t let it take any more years of your life than it already has. What role did the legal system play in your recovery journey? MP: I have been arrested multiple times and have been to prison. I lost time due to incarceration, and I don’t wish it on anyone. Yet, my outlook is that all my experiences have made me who I am today, and I am only moving forward. If you or someone you know is looking for more recovery support, do not hesitate to contact Gateway to Prevention and Recovery at (405) 273-1170 ext. 0. If you would like to connect with Michael Parks, you are welcome to ask

for him over the phone or email him at mparks@gatewaytoprevention.org. Also, if you need additional support this winter season, do not hesitate to text/call/chat 988. You can call if you are feeling sad, down, scared, worried or even lonely. You can also reach out if you are in a mental health crisis and need immediate support. A trained professional is on the other end of the line ready and waiting to connect with you. Finally, be sure to sign up now to join the Connections App community! Engage with peers (anonymously), track your recovery, get motivated, learn coping skills, and get 24/7 support. You are not alone. S Michael Parks has worked as a peer recovery support specialist for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery since October 2023 and will be enrolling in Seminole State College. He enjoys working out, socializing and stepping into new experiences.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY Survey

Link

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY

COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT Event/Flyer Survey

h/ps://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_9XK1sFkk9rTBWSO

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FA SCAN THE QR CODE AND TAKE OUR SURVEY TODAY!

The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a collaborative health survey conducted with the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health. It aims to identify and analyze health needs and resources in Pottawatomie County, informing future health programs, policies, and services. The information that informs the CHNA is gathered from the Community Health Survey, Community Health Conversations, and secondary data sources. Various local organizations comprise the Unified CHNA Task Force: Absentee Shawnee Tribe Health Systems, Avedis Foundation, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, OK State Dept. of Health District 6, Pottawatomie Go (Pogo), SSM Health Oklahoma, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee, and the University of Okla homa College of Public Health. Survey questions were developed by the Task Force, guided by experts from the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health.

How can I be involved as an individual?

Your input helps create a detailed understanding of the community's health needs, ensuring that the assessment accurately reflects the diverse perspectives of the population. There are two opportunities to get involved: the Community Health Survey and Community Health Conversations.

What is the Community Health Survey?

The Community Health Survey is a broad study to help identify key health issues, guiding healthcare providers, organizations, and policy makers to focus resources and efforts on the most critical areas. This ensures more effective health interventions and lasting, positive im pacts on community well-being.

What will happen with my responses and personal information if I participate?

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Survey information is securely collected and managed by the Bio statistics and Epidemiology Research Design and Analysis Center (BSE RDAC) at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health. Pogo and its partners receive only aggregated, anonymous data to ensure individual privacy. Your input is confidential. Combined data will be used by partnering organizations to create a strategy to address identified health needs. This may include launching new health programs, making policy changes, and collaborating with community groups.

Continued

What happens after the Community Health Survey? What happens after the Community Health Survey?

A complete report will be reviewed by stakeholders. From this, specific goals and action plans will be implemented in collaboration with local health-related organizations, the Unified CHNA Task Force, and other community Continuous monitoring and public will The data willgroups. be analyzed to pinpoint key health needs reporting and trends. A complete report will beongoing reviewed by stakeholders. this,CHNA specific ensure transparency and improvement. The From finalized goals actionavailable plans will implemented with local will beand publicly onbe the SSM Health in St.collaboration Anthony Hospital health-related organizations,Go the(Pogo) Unified CHNA Task Force, and other Shawnee and Pottawatomie websites. community groups. Continuous monitoring and public reporting will ensure transparency and ongoing improvement. The finalized CHNA will be publicly available on the SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital Shawnee andhave Pottawatomie Go (Pogo) websites. Past CHNAs led to initiatives like Veggie Rx, enhanced beha vioral health services and mobile charitable food services. The current CHNA will similarly inform the next Community Health Improvement Plan, helping shape health-related projects, programs, and policies for Past CHNAs have led to initiatives like Veggie Rx, enhanced beha the coming three years, directly advocating for and benefiting com vioral health services and mobile charitable food services. The current munity-specific health challenges. CHNA will similarly inform the next Community Health Improvement Plan, helping shape health-related projects, programs, and policies for the coming three years, directly advocating for and benefiting com munity-specific health challenges.

The Pottawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment takes place every three years. The Pottawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment takes place every three years.

How can I stay informed about the progress of the initiatives from How can I resulting stay informed the CHNA? about the progress of the initiatives resulting from the CHNA?

Updates will be provided through community meetings, social media, and online. Stay engaged to see how your input contributes to posi tive changes. You can find more information at www.gopogo.org. Updates will be provided through community meetings, social media, and online. Stay engaged to see how your input contributes to posi tive changes. You can find more information at www.gopogo.org.

Input gathered from the Community Health Survey and Community Health Conversations helps create a detailed understanding of our community's health To ensure Health that theSurvey assessment accurately Input gathered fromneeds. the Community and Community reflects the diverse perspectives ofathe population, we need of as our many Health Conversations helps create detailed understanding community's health as needs. To ensure the assessment survey completions possible! Emailthat info@gopogo.org to accurately get reflects the diverse perspectives of the population, we need as many involved. survey completions as possible! Email info@gopogo.org to get involved.

PottCoHealthSurvey.com PottCoHealthSurvey.com

BETTER HEALTH. BETTER HEALTH. STRONGER COMMUNITY. STRONGER COMMUNITY.

St. Anthony Hospital SHAWNEE

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calendar Jan. 6-28: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art presents a special exhibit, Angels Among Us, inspired by works featuring celestial beings with a gallery talk and reception at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26. Information: mgmoa.org Jan. 7: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 p.m. at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on a powered ¼-scale locomotive right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30: Grow your little readers with Family Story Time at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Shawnee Public Library at 101 N. Philadelphia. Enjoy books, songs, and activities that encourage language and pre-reading skill development. Designed for children of all ages and their caregivers. Information: (405) 275-6353 Jan. 11: The Tipsy Artist is coming to Shawnee once again with a guided painting party at 6 p.m. at the VFW Post #1317 Canteen at 811 E. MacArthur St. Information: facebook.com/tipsyartist Jan. 12-13: Classic car lovers, get ready for the OK Classics Car & Memorabilia Auction at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Rangeline Road featuring vintage signage, classic cars and other memorabilia as part of this semiannual indoor auction. Information: okclassicsonline.com Jan. 13-14: The Heart of Oklahoma Youth Rodeo will feature performers ages 19 and younger in four different age groups competing in barrels, poles, goat tying, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, tie-down calf roping, steer stopping, steer breakaway and team roping events

from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence. Information: hoyra.net/ about.html Jan. 18: The Potawatomi Fire would like to invite all fans to celebrate the team’s 2023 TBL Championship at a special ring ceremony and dinner at 6 p.m. at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Rangeline Road. Information: potawaomifire.com Jan. 22, 24, 29, 31: Build your Spanish language skills with Spanish Conversation Classes designed for adults and teens through a partnership between the Shawnee Public Library and Gordon Cooper Technology Center at Gordon Cooper at 1 John C. Bruton. Information: (405) 275-6353 Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22: The Shawnee Public Library is partnering with Gordon Cooper Technology Center to offer American Sign Language Introduction classes at 6 p.m. at Gordon Cooper at 1 John C. Bruton. Information: (405) 275-6353 Feb. 3: World-class soprano, Indra Thomas, will perform a concert of striking vocal beauty and deep emotional impact at 7 p.m. in the Yarborough Auditorium of Raley Chapel on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University at 500 W. University. Information: okbu.edu/events Feb. 13: Exercise your physical, mental and emotional health through this Zumba class hosted by the Shawnee Public Library at 5:30 p.m. at 101 N Philadelphia. Information: (405) 275-6353 S If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

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