Raising OKC Kids – Conversations with MetroFamily

We continue our series discussing racism and racial injustice, specifically looking at ways parents and families can engage in the community to fight for racial justice. We’re exploring our education system, small business and Black-owned businesses, neighbor building and civic and local engagement with local leaders Dr. Angel L. Wilson, Maurianna Adams, Dr. Christina Mushi-Brunt and Ashley Dickso...

On this episode of Raising OKC Kids, we hear from Kiona Millirons, a visual artist, teacher and founding executive director of the Oklahoma City Girls Art School, whose mission is to empower underserved girls to become successful in life through learning about the arts, the artist and the arts community. Kiona has taught art classes for children, teens and adults throughout the Oklahoma City metro...

Leah and Lauren Palmer founded The Conversation Workshops in 2016 when they saw a need for an anti-racism curriculum that would teach ways of responding to the systems of racism we all experience. On this episode of Raising OKC Kids, we dive into why these sessions were needed then, why they are needed now and how to implement these conversations into our work, play and home life for the bettermen...

Necie Black, vice chairwoman of  Dress for Success , a nonprofit organization that equips women with resources to gain meaningful employment including clothing, technology and more, talks about the impact of Dress for Success in the community as well as their future plans for moving to their new downtown location after their building was tragically burned down.

Local mom Skye Latimer takes over this episode of Raising OKC Kids to talk with local parents Dr. Tamecca Rogers, Travis Hartfield and Ryan McGee about teaching kids about race and racism. Hear lived experiences from these parents of Black children, tips to teach kids how to respond to racism, their thoughts on how our school systems and community can better elevate children of color and where the...

Listen in as we hear from JoBeth Hamon, councilwoman from Oklahoma City’s Ward 6. Councilwoman Hamon has worked at Mental Health Association Oklahoma where she coordinated the Zarrow Mental Health Symposium, the largest mental health conference in the region. Additionally, she facilitates suicide prevention training programs for community groups in OKC. Find tips for mental wellness for yourself a...

On this episode of Raising OKC Kids, we hear from Becky Weintz, director of marketing and communications at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art as well as Rosie May, director of learning and engagement and Amanda Harmer, manager of outreach &eEarly learning. Together they bring us a much-anticipated and very exciting announcement, as well as information on new and upcoming exhibitions, including a par...

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister joins us to talk about what returning to school will look like this fall amid COVID-19 concerns, the department’s guidelines and considerations for public school districts and how Oklahoma’s public school system can better address and teach the history of racial injustice in our state.

On this episode of Raising OKC Kids, we speak with Jaime L.M. Thompson, director of education and public programs at the Oklahoma Contemporary. Jaime moved to OKC from Cincinnati and began work in March of this year. She brings more than 11 years of expertise in museum education and leadership. Listen in as she explains how the Contemporary plans to serve the city at home this summer, including an...

Periann Pulliam and Micah James of Upward Transitions, a metro nonprofit serving families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, talk about their work to support families facing evictions, address common misconceptions about the homeless population and give advice about how to talk with children about the issue of homelessness, plus ideas for how kids can help.

We talk with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who was featured with his family on our Father’s Day issue one year ago, to talk about all that has happened since, including his leading our city through the COVID-19 pandemic, future investments thanks to the passage of MAPS 4 and how we as a city can better declare that racism and racial injustice have no place here.

In honor of National Foster Care Month, we check in with local foster mom Kay Robinson one year after she began her fostering journey and was featured in MetroFamily , as well as founder and executive director of Angels Foster Family Network Jennifer Abney to discuss how foster care has evolved in Oklahoma, the importance of building relationships with biological parents and how the COVID pandemic...

MetroFamily staff talk about the results of our recent survey asking metro parents about their summer plans and comfort level with activities like birthday parties, restaurant dining-in, summer camps, sports leagues and vacations. Whether your family plans to get out in the community safely or stick close to home, we provide resources for you to enjoy a fun, safe summer.

Dr. Erica Faulconer with Northwest Pediatrics in Oklahoma City provides advice for parents on keeping their families safe as we transition into the next phases of opening the state. She also explains reports about the unusual symptoms and reactions kids around the country are having to COVID-19 with need-to-know information about Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome for parents.  Find out...

Three successful metro kid entrepreneurs give their best business advice for other kids interested in starting a business. Serenity with Serenity Jade, Malachi with The Building Brothers and Sophia with FiFi share tips about how they got started.

Stacy Dykstra with Smart Start Central Oklahoma, a nonprofit offering parents and caregivers of young children free programs and resources, talks about the power of play in parent-child relationships and child development. Sign up for Smart Start’s new free program  Bright By Text , offering parents of children through age 8 weekly texts with expert tips, games and child development information at...

Veronica O’Leary, with  Addison Group , a staffing and recruiting agency in Oklahoma City, discusses changes in the workplace and employment due to the impact of COVID-19 and she answers important questions for Oklahomans facing unemployment challenges.

Local moms talk about parenting in a pandemic while working from home and discuss the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.

Representatives with Camp DaKaNi chat about their virtual summer camps and other summer camp alternatives.

  Dr. Chad Borin with SSM Health at St. Anthony Hospital talks about the rise of the dangers of poisoning from household cleaners and how to keep your family safe. He also discusses what to do if you suspect your child has come in contact with a poison risk and gives tips if your family has to visit an ER during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Editor Erin Page talks with Erin Engelke and Heather Warfield, LMFT, from nonprofit organization Calm Waters Center for Children and Families about how they have responded to the COVID-19 crisis and the grief support available to families in the Oklahoma City metro area, including weekly Zoom meetings and other virtual support groups.

  Grayson Starbuck is a doctor of physical therapy, certified strength and conditioning specialist and owner of Armor Physical Therapy. Starbuck talks about the benefits of mobile physical therapy businesses like his, especially during a pandemic, and tips for parents as they are working from home to alleviate stress and tension.

Raising OKC Kids features conversations with local experts and parents, helping us connect, learn from each other and grow our community together. This new series will highlight a variety of important topics to help support metro parents. In the episode, MetroFamily staff shares insights about how we are embracing different stages of parenthood during a pandemic and the shared struggles parents ar...