City Residents, Organizations Honored for Community Partnerships

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- A number of Oklahoma City residents and organizations were honored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) during an awards ceremony to highlight the role partnerships play in supporting a community.
The Stars of Our Community awards were presented March 26 at the OKDHS Human Services Center on Kelley Avenue. The awards honor the community’s medical providers, counselors, employers, educators, mentors and volunteers that are critical to helping individuals and families lead healthier, safer and more productive lives.

“The support of these individuals and organizations, the services they provide to the community and their willingness to help the people we mutually serve, truly makes them stars in our community,” said Dianna Johnson, OKDHS community resource specialist. “Their efforts allow our clients to overcome the day to day and unforeseen challenges they face.”

Receiving awards were: Donetta Starks and Dr. Clark Hamilton, Mary Mahoney Memorial Health Center; Dr. Blayne Hinds, Langston University, Oklahoma City campus; Bernard Drake, Guthrie Job Corps Center; Susan Sinn, Ocean Dental; Ameyka Pittman, Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition; Susan Dykstra, SmartStart of Central Oklahoma; Florence Jones-Kemp, Florence Country Cuisine; and Morris Johnson, A Family Affair.

Also, Dr. James Branscum, Metro Technology Centers; Becky Cunningham, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma; Rita Gibbens, U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Allyn Mills, Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver; Mark Gunn and Margaret Chase, Catalyst Behavioral Services, Inc.; Myron Mayberry, Effective Transitions, Inc.; Patricia Edmond, Healthy Start; Wendy Henderson, Feed the Children; Brian Staples, Douglass High School; Reginald Mitchell, NAACP; and Elvis Patton, Zodiac Club.

Also, Beverly Pittman, Family Recovery Counseling; Patricia Kelly, Occupational Industrial Center; Becky O’Dell, Community Literacy Center; Karen Young, New Horizons Youth and Family Services; June Elkins-Baker, Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Toks Solanke, Tox Integrated Guidance, Inc.; Shiral Gaines, Shiral’s Ultimate Looks Salon; C.T., Harlem Nights Barber Shop; Secreta Holder, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City campus; Detric “D,” Dixon’s Barber Shop; Bryan Johnson, Omega Psi Psi; retired business owner Perma Jessup; as well as many donors who wished to remain anonymous.

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