A new local nonprofit, Okmulgee Bridges Inc., will host a citywide Bridges Out of Poverty workshop on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Green Country Technology Center. The half-day session will be led by Treasure McKenzie, a national presenter who has guided Muskogee Bridges for more than a decade and helped that community earn the Bridges Out of Poverty Community of the Year award.
Organizers say the workshop is designed to give residents practical tools for understanding the causes and complexity of poverty – and, more importantly, for working together on solutions that strengthen families, workplaces, schools and civic life.
The event is intentionally broad in scope and open to anyone who lives, works, serves, studies, or does business in Okmulgee County – including business leaders, educators, law enforcement, attorneys, policy makers, service-club members, homeowners, students, agricultural professionals, church groups, volunteers and, as organizers emphasize, “those who work and play hard every day.” There is ample space for participants to attend with colleagues, friends or family, and organizations are encouraged to bring small teams so they can put shared language and strategies to work immediately. According to Okmulgee Bridges Inc., communities across the country have used the Bridges framework to boost school attendance and graduation, reduce workplace turnover, strengthen public-safety interactions and coordinate services more effectively. Locally, the group believes the same approach can help align efforts, reduce duplication and focus attention on barriers residents face – such as transportation, childcare, housing stability and the need for supportive relationships – while building on community strengths.
— How to Attend
Seats are limited. Please RSVP to help with materials and seating plans by emailing OkmulgeeBridges@gmail.com or messaging the Okmulgee Bridges Facebook page.
For more information, contact Mickey Baldwin at 818-815-2430.
— Upcoming Sessions The first Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-By World class will launch in January 2026, with 10-12 selected participants beginning the 20-week program. This is a proven self-help and mentoring model that empowers individuals to radically change their lives by overcoming barriers to success.
To introduce the program, two informative events are scheduled for Okmulgee citizens, businesses and community leaders. These events are especially valuable for those who work with low-income individuals on a regular basis, want to donate to the cause or wish to serve as a volunteer.
— October 25 Session
Featuring keynote speaker Treasure McKenzie, Director of Muskogee Bridges Out of Poverty. She will share how Muskogee became a national model for reducing generational poverty. Expect case studies, videos, simple exercises, stories, testimonials and practical solutions that reveal why “middle class” approaches often fail – and what actually works.
— November 8 Session This session will cover many of the same concepts but will be designed especially for corporate and individual donors, as well as business and community leaders.
