Hallie Green: A Good Person Helping Tulsa's Homeless

By Jintae Hwang

Good people make the world go around. Hallie Green is one of them. She works at Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, located north of downtown. I met her to learn about her job and how she does it.

When I entered her office, I recognized one of her frames on the wall. It says, "There is no such thing as small change." That statement gave me an idea of what type of person she might be.

She explained things with smile. She wanted to be here for a good reason—for a positive influence. The Tulsa Day Center was a familiar place to her. As a native of Claremore, she volunteered for years at the Day Center.

“I volunteered with the Day Center when I was in high school,” she said.

She started her career in politics as a fundraiser in Chicago. She had some stops before coming to the Day Center.

“It took me a while to get here,” she said.

She came back to help people and make changes. Obviously, she enjoys her work.

“This is an organization that I have always liked so I knew I wanted to be here,” Green said.

Although her main task is to raise money, she does a lot of things to accomplish it- sending out grants, plan events, talk to corporations and foundations, and so on.

She does extra work too. She goes to New Orleans every summer to help construct houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Her office showed her personality with pictures and art. The bulletin board, especially, displayed her interests. I could sense the positive energy on that board.

One of her pictures was a pigeon sitting on top of an old man's head.

"His name is Homer," Green said.

She explained that Homer was a good friend for homeless people for three years. If Homer could be a friend to people who need help, we can all do something. Green is doing just that.

"I knew I would do something with helping," she said.

For more information about the Tulsa Day Center, click here.

Jintae Hwang is a senior communication student from Korea. Before moving to Tulsa, he lived in Los Angeles.

Doing Good in Tulsa: Reports on People Who Help

By John Coward

Tulsa is justifiably proud of its good citizens and many service organizations that work every day to make this a better city. Helping our fellow citizens is certainly a higher calling.

With that in mind, Tulsa Street Stories is publishing profiles of some of the people and organizations who serve Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma every day.

Several of these stories are posted below. Please take a few minutes to read these stories, all of which were written by University of Tulsa students in the fall 2009 News Gathering course.

Prof. John Coward teaches communication at The University of Tulsa.

Tulsa's Madonna House, Where Karen Guzman Cares for Women and Their Babies

By Katelin Montag

Catholic Charities has been a major resource for those in need in Tulsa for many years. One part of Catholic Charities, the Madonna House, is a refuge for pregnant women who don’t have anywhere else to turn.

Karen Guzman has been the coordinator for the Madonna House for about a year and said their main goal at the Madonna House is to take care of the babies.

The Madonna House is a free program that accepts residents through an application process. Once there the residents have to fulfill certain requirements. For example, they must either go to school or have a job, to keep living there.

Guzman said they try and give the residents as many skills as possible to better themselves and prepare for the future.

Guzman said that she did suffer a general disillusionment after her first few months at the Madonna House. She thought that with all the resources and donations that are given to the residents many of them would be able to turn their lives around. However she soon found out that while some do meet their goals, the majority of the residents do not.

“I expected much more of a transformation to occur,” Guzman said. “We can’t make everyone’s life better even though we want that for them.”

Guzman also went through a shocking experience her first month at the Madonna House when one of the residents was stabbed by another resident. It was not a serious injury, but the altercation was enough to make Guzman wonder what she had gotten herself into.

Guzman went to TCC as an adult and got an associates degree in counseling. After going through Virtus training at her church to learn about how to prevent and handle sexual abuse, she felt that God had called her to go back to school. She got a bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to get her master’s in counseling psychology at Northeastern State University.

Now Guzman is focused on the Catholic Charities move to a new campus in December. The new facilities will be completely stocked with brand new furniture and supplies.

The new Madonna House will also allow them to take in more residents. Guzman hasn’t thought much about her future at the Madonna House since the move is coming up so soon, but says she always tries to be open for what God may call her to do next.

Learn more about the Madonna House at their website.

Katelin Montag is a communication student from Tulsa.

Frances Bevel: Working to End Hunger in the Tulsa Area

By Danni Powell

One in five children will go hungry tonight in Eastern Oklahoma.

That's one of the “Hunger Facts” from a pamphlet published by the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

Special Events Manager Frances Bevel witnesses this sad fact every day in her dedication to fighting hunger. Working from north Tulsa, Bevel plans events to raise awareness of hunger in the Tulsa area.

After majoring in sociology and human service administration at Louisiana State University – Shreveport, Bevel said she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to help the community. She moved to Tulsa in 2008 to work for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, allowing her to fulfill this desire.

Bevel plans an annual event called “Empty Bowls,” a silent auction and dinner that raised over $200,000 in April 2009. The auction included a cymbal signed by Ringo Starr, a songbook autographed by Bruce Springsteen, an all-expenses paid wine-tasting trip to Napa Valley, and many handcrafted bowls donated by local artists.

“We ask artists to donate bowls to represent the hunger that so many families face daily in Oklahoma,” Bevel said.

Bevel said that working for a food bank is often difficult because there are so many non-profit organizations located in Tulsa. Fundraisers are only a small aspect of the budget they count on; monthly donors are necessary to be able to put on events and publicize them in the first place.

Bevel is married to a freelance photographer who also supports her work. He attends the food bank's monthly event called “Recipe to End Hunger” to shoot photos for their website.

She said he understands the value of her work, which helps her to get through difficult days when venues cancel and businesses are not quick to donate items to be auctioned at events.

Although she admitted her job is difficult on her emotions, she said it is worth it.

“[My work] is amazing because I know I'm directly helping people that could be just like me,” Bevel said. “You never know who goes home wondering where they'll get their food for the next day.”

More information about the Food Bank is available at their website.

Danni Powell is a TU communication student from Muldrow, Okla.

Saving the Urban Forest: April Woodul of Tulsa's Up with Trees

By Elizabeth Kubik

After close to 80 years of growth and development in Tulsa, the city faced a serious problem. Tulsa’s urban forest was an estimated 200,000 trees short.

In 1976, Sid Patterson, then city street commissioner, organized Up With Trees to combat the growing issue.

Up With Tree is still devoted to the growth of Tulsa’s urban forest. Committed staff members, such as April Woodul, the organization’s outreach and volunteer coordinator, ensure Up With Tree’s continuing success and growth.

Tulsa native and TU graduate, Woodul is passionate about her role with Up With Trees. Her roles vary depending on seasonal needs, but her primary role is to coordinate civic, corporate and individual volunteers for planting projects and events.

“I also happen to be the accidental techie,” Woodul adds. “I manage the website and our social networking profiles.”

Up With Trees offers a variety of volunteer programs, but the Citizen Forester program is one of Woodul’s favorites. The program offers a curriculum for Tulsans interested in learning and enhancing their arboricultural knowledge.

Participants in the program receive 16 hours of training from arborists, and graduates join a large volunteer group that plants, maintains, prunes, and inventories trees around Tulsa.

“I coordinate curriculum logistics behind our Citizen Forester program by organizing meetings with our Education Committee, recruiting individuals and planning continuing education opportunities.” Woodul said.

“I really enjoy this program because it educates Tulsans about the need to expand the city’s urban forest, while also working to preserve and maintain what we have.”

The Up With Trees website is linked here. The organization also has a Facebook page, which you can find here.

Elizabeth Kubik is a TU communication student from the "Show Me" state of Missouri.

Jogging with Dogs: New SPCA Program Pairs Abused Pets with Tulsa Runners

By Megan Stock

On the far north side of Tulsa you will find a building that houses lost, abused or abandoned dogs and cats. The SPCA takes in unwanted animals and rehabs them so that they can be placed in new loving homes.

The organization's new program to help these animals called “Jog the Dogs.” It was started by Elaine Palmquist.

“Jog the Dogs" brings together Tulsa SPCA dogs with area runners and walkers. The idea is to partner dogs who love to play with people who want to walk or jog dogs.

The program wants people of all ages and abilities. Some volunteers are trail runners, Leukemia Team in Training coaches & participants, & tri-athletes. The only requirements are that you be 18 years of age, attend a Jog the Dogs orientation for training, and love to spend time with dogs!” Palmquist said.

I recently saw first-hand just how beneficial the program is.

Since it was my first time I had to go the orientation program, learning the basics about dog handling. With tails wagging and loud barking in the background it was hard to not be excited.

If you not a serious runner, you can choose to take your chosen pup for a walk instead of a run, which for me was just as fun. You can see how happy it makes the dogs as soon as you walk into their kennels, and how they light up once they can get out of their pens.

"Last fall I began volunteering at the Tulsa SPCA," Palmquist said. "I was trying to find the right fit, and see how I might be most helpful to the organization. I thought about how my own two dogs love running with me. So I approached Rhonda Lang, a TSPCA staff member, about running the SPCA's dogs. She was very supportive and gave me the go ahead.”

Palmquist, who has always been an animal lover,m was inspired to start the program when she found herself wanting to do more for the dogs.

“On one of my runs, I began brainstorming about recruiting runners and walkers to the SPCA to do the same thing I was doing," she said. "That's how it all began! I approached the RunnersWorld Tulsa store owners, Brian and Kathy Hoover, about talking to their marathon/half marathon training groups to try to recruit.

"Kathy then added my little story to her e-newsletter, and word began to spread. I started having Jog the Dogs orientations in February for those interested runners and walkers who contacted me," she said.

The program is extremely rewarding.

“Just seeing the joy on everyone's faces—canine & human!—when they're out for a jog or walk," she said. "The dogs love the one-on-one attention and the sense of freedom and adventure of getting out on the road or meadow trails by the SPCA with their exercise pals. And it's so rewarding and fun for the volunteers.

"Two Jog the Dogs volunteers have actually adopted dogs they fell for while participating in the program,” Palmquist said.

The program has already shown growth since its beginning and most of the orientation classes are filling up. Palmquist hopes that in the future, the program will keep on growing and that more local shelters will pick up on it.

For more information, check out their website here, or contact Elaine Palmquist at lanypalm@hotmail.com or the SPCA at 918-428-SPCA (7722).

Megan Stock studies communication at Tulsa University.

DaySpring Villa Helps Tulsa Women and Children

By Carolyn Siegerist

I was searching for a Tulsa news when I came across a website for DaySpring Villa, a shelter for abused and endangered women and children.

I called. A friendly voice answered, "DaySpring Villa, can I help you?"

I was transferred to a nurturing and motherly voice, a person who identified herself as Sheila. I asked for an interview. She penciled me in for early the next morning.

Sheila Mitchell is the director of DaySpring Villa. I asked her how long she had been working at the shelter.

"Oh well, you see, I've been here on and off since 1980," she said. "I just can't seem to stay away!"

She explained that her passion for helping abused and endangered women and children came from her religious beliefs as well as her sociology degree and studying at a seminary.

"You see, DaySpring Villa is different than other shelters because we are faith-based," Mitchell said. "We have bible studies, attend church services together, among other spiritual needs. We help the whole person, that's the physical, emotional and spiritual sides of them."

I asked about the most difficult and most rewarding aspects of her work.

"It's very difficult to see a woman go back to an abuser because he's says he will change and so often they don't,' she said. "Then, the children get put back in danger.

"But it is also an amazing feeling to see a woman successfully leave a bad situation for good and set up a new life for herself and her family. After six months, they can even come back to volunteer."

After almost 30 years, Mitchell is still passionate about helping women and children find happier and safer lives.

"The key to helping these women is to build their confidence and teach the children that you don't have to live in fear," she said. "The cycle stops with the children."

I thanked and told her what great work it is she's doing. She said, "Thank you, and have a blessed day."

The website for DaySpring Villa is linked here.

Carolyn Siegerist is a TU communication student from Stillwater, Okla.

Tulsa's Christy Southard: A Calling to Educate Women

By Caity Lincoln

All remarkable organizations need remarkable people behind the scenes inspiring social change in the community.

Christy Southard is executive director of the Tulsa affiliate of the Susan G. Komen organization, the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Many people have benefitted from Southard’s efforts to educate women about breast health and breast cancer through the Komen Tulsa organization. Her business background and her personal emotional investment in the cause help her to achieve the organization’s mission.

Southard started the position in April 2006, coming in with 26 years of professional work experience including jobs with international corporations in the areas of marketing and project management.

Southard’s goal was to retire early from corporate America and then begin a career with a non-profit organization. The opportunity to be involved in the Komen organization came along sooner than expected and proved too good to pass up. Southard feels that her corporate experience enables her to run the Tulsa affiliate as a business making decisions.

Southard takes the lead in compiling a community profile every two years to decide how to most effectively budget resources, time, and money to reach the most people in the community. The organization has almost doubled its revenue from $600,000 in 2006 to $1 million in 2009. Southard credits the steady increase every year to the passion of the amazing volunteers.

The mission of Komen Tulsa is very personal for Southard. She says it is a “passion God has given me.” It is her calling, a cause that hits close to home. She lost her grandfather and great aunt to breast cancer when she was young, and as an adult lost her mother.

She has also lost four friends to the disease, all of which combines to make her determined to create a stronger awareness among women and emphasize the importance of early detection. Southard’s determination to make a difference came in a promise to her dying friend when she recognized “I can’t fix you, but I can help your daughters.” Through community programs Tulsa Komen has increased awareness locally.

Despite the flailing economy, this year’s Race for the Cure, held Sept. 19, exceeded last year’s numbers, in both participants and dollars.

While the Susan G. Komen organization is well known the Race for the Cure every year, Southard also strengthens the Tulsa affiliate’s influence by supporting numerous community programs. The third annual Pink Sunday event will occur on October 25, which is an effort to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage early detection through faith programs associated with Tulsa area churches.

Southard is also involved in public policy and frequently makes trips to Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C. to push for research funding to ultimately find a cure for breast cancer.

The Tulsa affiliate of the Susan Komen Foundation has more information on its website.

Caity Lincoln is a TU student from Tulsa.