Our community: Here are 44 of the incredible Oklahomans we've met over the last year
In April 2024, The Oklahoman launched a new feature called Get To Know. It appears each week on our website and in our printed paper on Sunday. GTK is intended to be a community connection, introducing our readers to people doing interesting and often significant things.
Looking back at the dozens of GTK articles we've published over the past year, we've initiated conversations with a wide variety of Oklahomans. The list includes corporate executives, legislative leaders, heads of state agencies and nonprofit organizations, along with a college president, a mayor, a tennis coach and a zookeeper. We've interviewed leaders in the Latino and Asian communities and icons of the Black civil rights movement. We've shared the views of people with widely different political persuasions, from the former owner of OKC's biggest gun store and the author of the state's restrictive abortion law, to the head of the state teacher's union and an activist for more youth social services. And we've tackled issues like poor school performance, legal aid for those who can't afford attorneys, deportation of unlawful immigrants, missing and murdered Native American women, among others.
We hope you've found these weekly conversations with fellow Oklahomans enlightening and fun to read.
And we're calling for your for help in making the second year of our series even more worthwhile.
Tell us who you think we should all "Get to Know." All we need is the suggestion, and we'll follow through.
Send your thoughts to me directly at Or use the email address for letters to the editor: . We're looking forward to hearing from you.
In case you missed them, here is a sampling of some of the thoughts shared by those we interviewed:
"It's been a long time since I've been in school, but even with my children, I don't believe the Tulsa massacre in 1921 or the massacre of some of our Native Americans in pre-statehood days has ever been told in the textbooks, at least until recently. I give speeches about historical events like that in Oklahoma, and people will say, 'I never heard about that.' We just didn't cover what I believe are ugly parts. For example, the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s was so powerful it controlled much of the government, and we didn't learn that growing up. It's important to study even the ugly parts of our history. If we don't talk about our mistakes with the next generation, how will they learn?"
(Read more here.)
"One out of five children live in poverty in Oklahoma. How are we addressing that? Because until we address the poverty situation, we'll never have change. I feel like I need a button that reads, 'Because of Poverty, Because of Poverty, Because of Poverty,' because when we talk about almost every issue we have, the overarching issue is poverty. Take education. Our teachers are struggling to teach our kids because the kids aren't getting what they need at home because of poverty, right? People aren't earning a living wage, and we're 80,000 units short of obtainable housing because of poverty."
(Read more here)
"Legal Aid doesn't have the capacity to do all that needs to be done. We do the best we can. We try to be where our clients already congregate. Health care facilities, for example. We're at 35 different hospitals and clinics across the state. We have about 230-240 lawyers, and that makes us the biggest law firm in the state, which isn't known by a lot of people. Why don't more people come? Transportation is still an issue. People are sometimes intimidated, thinking they have to go to a legal office. They may think they're going to get charged, even though we don't charge anybody anything."
(Read More)
"We have people from all walks of life, all career paths. Some of our students already have four-year degrees and are coming back to upskill or reskill. We have younger folks who kind of fit the traditional college pattern and others who are balancing jobs, families and school. We are a beautifully diverse campus in terms of gender, ethnicity, and I am very proud of that. I would also say that we're an emerging Hispanic institution, which means that nearly 25% of our students are Hispanic. We see the diversity on our campus as value added, and it's not something that we shy away from here."
(Read More)
"The culture here in Oklahoma is different than it is in other places I've lived. We have a tendency here to let sleeping dogs lie. Even African Americans here have been basically nonviolent people. The closest you came to a protest was probably when Mrs. (Clara) Luper did the sit-in at the drugstore. There are more doors to kick open, but that's a scary thing to some folks. To this day, there's a hesitancy to some in saying the name of this center, the Black Liberated Arts Center."
(Read More)
Historian Bob Burke on Oklahoma history, and what's happening now
Oklahoman opened doors for Dallas Mavericks CEO, Black women in STEM
OKC nonprofit Palomar works to curb domestic violence, sexual abuse
OKC Zoo's chief of animal programs officer talks animal care
Coach Dick Villaflor retires as one of best Oklahoma HS tennis coaches
Sandino Thompson seeks to rebuild community for OKC's minorities
Oklahoma tribal leader, educator wants to improve understanding
Douglass tennis star in Oklahoma elevates sport for Trojans, community
OKC's Latino community alarmed by state's new immigration law
Former H&H Shooting Sports owner talks gun rights in the United States
Meals on Wheels OKC helps feed 22,000 seniors each week
OKC civil rights activist Joyce Jackson works to energize next generation
OU College of Medicine Dean Ian Dunn on teaching reproductive care
OKCPS nutrition program director feeds 32,000 students
So far, spiritual adviser Jeff Hood has seen seven executions
Feroz Bashari, refugee in Oklahoma, was once voice for Afghan government
OKC painter Kiona Wooton Millirons pours pain of sister's death into art
What are Oklahomans thinking? Pollster Pat McFerron keeps tabs
New OKC public works director looks ahead to new projects, Olympics
OSU professor Joey Senat talks Oklahoma open records, open meeting law
Tulsa Oklahoma writer Rhys Martin an advocate for preserving Route 66
Oklahoma Policy Institute seeks nonpartisan help for those in need
Sisu Youth Services' leader explains causes of youth homelessness
How unlikely mayor of Hochatown became an activist for the community
Geothermal energy could be a new winner for state's oil & gas industry
Former Boys & Girls Club CEO's book promotes the after-school program
Oklahoma senator says changes in state abortion law necessary
Finding a job is big business for Express Employment's Bill Stoller
Oklahoma City Community College president talks goals, next 50 years
Latinos in OKC unsure whether to be hopeful or fearful after election
Free assistance from Legal Aid helps many Oklahomans in trouble
Teachers union leader says Ryan Walters has created 'culture of fear'
How OKC's Asian District can grow according to these business owners
Utopia Plastix in Oklahoma's goal to replace conventional plastics
New Oklahoma House Speaker Hilbert on tax cuts, mental health, abortion
New Oklahoma Senate leader Lonnie Paxton wants income tax cuts
Jimmy's Egg OKC restaurant owner shares his story on immigration
Meet Cyndi Thomas, an OKC high school guidance counselor
Meet the Oklahoma woman fighting against the nation's 'silent epidemic'
Meet co-founder of Potts Family Foundation helping Oklahoma education
Meet the OU scientist looking for breakthroughs in tornado research
Meet the woman heading an effort to improve access to reproductive care in Oklahoma
She was one of many helping the wounded at the OKC bombing. Now she helps preserve the victims' memory
Meet a legislator passionate about education. Could he someday replace Ryan Walters?
In 2025, we have allowed you to learn more about some of our staff members, as well. Here are some teams we've featured.
Faith, food and fun: Meet The Oklahoman's Features team reporting on it all
Answering the big questions that are important to you
Oklahoma's moments, on film and on paper: Meet The Oklahoman's visuals team
Full-court press: Meet The Oklahoman sports team reporting on the OKC Thunder during the 2025 NBA Playoffs
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 44 Oklahomans we've met who are changing the state for the better
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