marymyrick.org

As our work (Neighborhood Strategies) with the schools in northeast Oklahoma City continues, a new student club has been launched at Douglass High and Middle Schools that has me particularly excited – it’s called Yes I Am. The group meets during lunch every couple of weeks, and promotes leadership, character, diversity and professional development.The teens involved with Yes I Am will have the opportunity to job shadow on days when school is not in session.Members will also mentor elementary students and be paired with a local business leader.Top performing members even get the chance to become a Yes delegate at the national conference in the spring.

I think it’s a great way to engage kids at Douglass in the community and prep them for the work place or furthering their education.We’ll be asking members of the community to support Yes I Am as speakers and mentors so these kids can gain valuable experience. The student club is just getting started, so I’ll keep you posted on their growth and how you can help in the future.

Until next time….

Mary Myrick

Although the morning was overcast and drizzly, the Get Fit, Stay Healthy Walk found huge success in its first year.  Over 500 members of the northeast Oklahoma City community joined together on May 15, 2010 for a one-mile walk to promote healthy living.  The walk started at Douglass High School and took participants along Martin Luther King Blvd. before returning to the school.  Before and after the actual walk, the walkers had the opportunity to visit with over 30 vendors (set up in the school’s gymnasium) to learn about everything from Diabetes to Heart Disease to the benefits of Zoomba and Thai Chi.

The Get Fit, Stay Healthy event is the first of many initiatives that will benefit northeast Oklahoma City.  Thanks again to our sponsors:  Integris Health, Perry Publishing, KVPS and KRMP radio stations, State Farm, Subway and Tinker Federal Credit Union; as well as all of our participating partners and vendors who, unfortunately, are too many to name!

I for one will look forward to the Second Annual Get Fit, Stay Healthy Walk in 2011!

Until next time….

Mary Myrick

Calling all walkers!  It’s My Community is organizing a community walk for northeast Oklahoma City to promote fitness and health.  The one-mile walk is being held bright and early on Saturday, May 15.  Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. at the Moses F. Miller Stadium at Douglas High School; the actual walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

KOCO morning anchor Anita Blanton will be the host and Senator Connie Johnson, Representatives Anastasia Pittman and Mike Shelton, and Commissioner Willa Johnson will be on hand.  Health screenings and other activities will be taking place in the stadium until noon.

I want to give a big shout out to our community partners who have helped support this event:  Integris Health, Perry Publishing, KVPS and KRMP radio stations, State Farm, Subway and Tinker Federal Credit Union to name a few.

So grab your family and some friends and I’ll see you on the 15^th!

Register at: http://www.registernow123.com/imciwalk/

Public Strategies Inc. has focused on improving Oklahoma City since its creation more than two decades ago. The company now works with numerous populations within the community to strengthen families and relationships. One of the company’s newest endeavors is designed to directly affect Oklahoma City students.

Under the direction of President and Chief Executive Officer Mary Myrick, Public Strategies has adopted Edwards Elementary School. The school is undergoing a $2.5 million renovation that will roughly double the classroom space and include a new library. Public Strategies has pledged to help the school fill the new library shelves with books. The company and its employees have donated more than 2,200 books.

Oklahoma City-based Public Strategies Inc. has a long history of serving Oklahoma. The company recently celebrated a significant benchmark.

Public Strategies manages and operates the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, a statewide effort to strengthen Oklahoma families by providing couples and individuals with skills and tools essential for creating and maintaining healthy relationships.

As of December 2009, the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative has served more than 200,000 Oklahomans since its inception in 2000. The marriage initiative provides relationship education through one-day workshops, weekend retreats, classes that take place over several weeks and college and high school programs.

Public Strategies Inc. has partnered with the It’s My Community Initiative to help strengthen northeast Oklahoma City by providing students and families the tools they need to be successful at school, work and home. The effort builds on PSI’s more than 20-year history of working to improve lives throughout Oklahoma.

Under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Mary Myrick, Public Strategies has adopted Edwards Elementary. The company and its employees have provided more than 2,200 books for the new school library. PSI donations also have clothed dozens of Edwards students with winter coats and given families frozen turkeys for holiday meals.

While many companies are scaling back operations because of the struggling economy, Public Strategies Inc. and its programs are expanding.

Public Strategies’ It’s My Community Initiative was recently awarded a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for training in energy efficient and renewable energy jobs.

It’s My Community will work with underemployed individuals and ex-offenders throughout northeast Oklahoma City. The program is part of the continued effort of PSI and IMCI to invest in northeast Oklahoma City by providing students and adults throughout the community with skills and tools needed to be successful in all aspects of life.