‘Our Inherent Duty to Serve Others’
Meeting Focuses on Vital Social Issues

Health care for Oklahomans, poverty, education, economic development and the environment were just a few issues addressed at the Oklahoma Academy’s sixth annual Town Hall meeting held recently in Norman. Tim O’Connor, executive director of Catholic Charities, was one of 155 Oklahomans who participated in the three-day event. He said the experience was rewarding and educational.                                               Tim O'Connor at left, with Jeff Wallace and Terry Kordeliski at the Town Hall                                                             meeting. Photo courtesy

 “An important issue addressed was health care services for all Oklahomans,” said O’Connor. “The stability of the state’s economy in the future will be an integral component to addressing poverty and other social issues.  Another important discussion focused on environmental concerns, especially access to water for all people across the state.”  

The 2006 Town Hall took a comprehensive look at the future of the state through five factors: social, technological, economic, environmental and political.  As a participant of the academy, O’Connor was given a homework assignment before the Town Hall to read the research document written by experts in various fields on the five factors.  O’Connor was one of the contributors.  His article, included in the 200-page book, discussed the mission and works of Catholic Charities and the need for all Oklahoma citizens to address poverty and other social issues in our neighborhoods, churches and communities.  

O’Connor writes in his article: “We need not rely on national disasters to remind us of our inherent duty to serve others.  Through stewardship of talent, time, and money in our communities, everyone is needed to build community that is inclusive and supportive for all.  The most effective solutions to poverty are in the hands of local community leaders who are inspired and motivated to set an example of service and generosity to be a part of the solution.  Strong voluntary donations and service enable organizations like Catholic Charities to be responsive and accountable in making sure that not a child goes hungry and no one dies in the cold. Ultimately, those we serve bring out the best in us.”

The Town Hall participants were broken into six groups to converse, debate, shape and recommend innovative and transformative policy ideas.  O’Connor was a member of one of the six groups, which included people from non-profit organizations, education, social agencies, business and industry, legislature, and government.  On the last day of the Town Hall meeting, each group prioritized its top issues.

A total of 16 transformational ideas for Oklahoma’s future came out of the Town Hall.  Six of those were selected by the participants as the Academy’s primary focus for post-Town Hall implementation.  The top six selected were:

•Creating a model school for the future and restructuring the pre-kindergarten-20 school system

•Healthy Oklahoma Initiative and providing Universal Health Care for all Oklahomans

•Development of Statewide Broadband-Universal Connectivity and statewide infrastructure bond issue

•Creating the Institute for Development of Energy and Agriculture

•Reconstruction of Government

•Technology Fund

Julie Knutson, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Academy, said the organization will now turn its attention toward finding ways of implementing the Town Hall recommendations.  She said the implementation process will reach into the future and will involve collaboration with both the private and public sectors and the Oklahoma legislature.

The Oklahoma Academy is a 501 (c) 3 private, non-partisan, citizen-based statewide organization.  For more information about the Academy, visit the website www.okacademy.org

Contributors to the article:

Connie Blaney, Catholic Charities Jennifer Conatser and Julie Knutson, The Oklahoma Academy