August 2022 Update
ID: “August Monthly Update” www.freedomoklahoma.org/news and the FOK logo. The background is a picture from Pride with a light blue overlay with orange and blue lines and dots
EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE IS DONE WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Back-to-school season is upon us, and, as we expected, efforts to implement the reckless harm from this past legislative session are already yielding terrifying results. This school year, our students, educators, and caregivers are walking into an increasingly hostile educational environment. The risks feel insurmountable and it would make sense to freeze in the face of all of the real and potential harm. However you are feeling in this moment - frozen, angry, scared - just know that you’re not alone.
“One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance. Places where we know we are not alone.” - bell hooks
While we all brace ourselves for yet another school year full of unknowns, we hope you’ll take some time to seek out ways to stay connected - with yourself, your community, and this movement. At Freedom Oklahoma, we are finding connection and resolve in our collaborative planning efforts for this year’s Leadership Summit. Years of feedback, side conversations, and listening sessions have provided the vision and foundation for this summit, and we couldn’t be prouder to be partnering with our friends at the Foundation for Liberating Minds and the ACLU of Oklahoma to bring it to life.
“Everything worthwhile is done with other people.” - Mariame Kaba
Now is the time to know each other and what we're up to in our respective communities. We need to experience the power of our collective strength, and our ability to love ourselves into a better world. We know the policy attacks we're under. We know they're not new. We know that navigating existing systems to beg for dignity isn't enough - we also have to build the world we deserve. And we have to do it together.
Let's connect with one another, our history, and the skills and resources we all need to sustain this movement. Please join us Friday, August 26th for the 2022 Freedom Oklahoma Leadership Summit. (Programming centers 2SLGBTQ+ folks between the ages of 17-25, but all are welcome.)
2022 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT DETAILS
One-day convening of 2SLGBTQ+ community from around the state where we will learn and develop best practices for organizing, community care, power building, and sustaining our movement for liberation. Virtual and in-person options are available and we will be announcing our Satellite Sites as they confirm.
Friday, August 26th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Virtual and In-person options, with satellite sites in Ada, Tulsa, and more TBA
The 2022 Freedom Oklahoma Leadership Summit partners are the Foundation for Liberating Minds and the ACLU of Oklahoma. Our workshops and breakouts will be facilitated by staff members from all three of our organizations.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Important Links and updates:
donor highlight
Donor Highlight
We can’t do any of this work without the financial support of our tremendous donors. Through their contributions, we are able to continue the vital work of protecting 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans. We are proud to highlight this month's special donor, Rachel Cope at 84 Hospitality who is doing exciting work in our communities and offers endless support here at Freedom Oklahoma.
Rachel Cope is the owner and operator of 84 Hospitality, a local restaurant group here in Oklahoma. Rachel is committed to serving the community and making sure that she is consistently giving back to those around her. Whether it be through pizza donations for events and protests, yearly donations, or sponsorships, 84 Hospitality consistently donates to help sustain the efforts to keep our communities resourced, informed, connected, and organized–and for this, we are so grateful.
To Rachel Cope and the 84 Hospitality crew and supporters: THANK YOU!
“Thank you! Rachel Cope + 84 Hospitality” with an image of Rachel Cope, the 84 Hospitality logo, and random dots and leaves framing the image.
2SLGBTQ+ Virtual Community Groups
2SLGBTQ+ Virtual Community Groups
Our August 2SLGBTQ+ Teacher, Parent/Guardian, and Student Virtual Community Groups are scheduled for August 9-11. Join the space for community as we prepare for the upcoming school year. We will be talking about policy updates, information on upcoming events, and–as always–how we can continue to best support you in the process. If you have barriers to accessing a virtual meeting please reach out to us so we can work with you to remove those obstacles.
Schedule:
Teachers: Tue (8/9), 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Caregivers: Wed (8/10), 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Students: Thurs (8/11), 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
A collage of paper scraps and a photo from Pride at Scissortail Park along with our logo. Text: “2SLGBTQ+ Youth Organizing & GSA Support.” and “Freedom Oklahoma | 2SLGBTQ+ Community Groups | Teachers: Tuesday, 8/9 | Parents/Guardians: Wednesday, 8/10 | Students: Thursday, 8/11”
OUHSC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
OU Health Science Center: Smoking Cessation for 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans
The Empowerment Project is guided by the idea that when people work together to do things to support the well-being and solidarity of their communities, they can also strengthen their own personal skills and motivation to make positive health changes for themselves, including quitting smoking. Interested in joining the study? Click the link to learn more!
ID: watercolor rainbow background with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Logo and the words “Empowerment Project: Smoking Cessation Study for LGBTQ2S+ Oklahomans. The Freedom Oklahoma logo is at the bottom.