SPARK Creative Lab

05/05/2026

We had a great day in Norman for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Day, spending time with an incredible group of soldiers and airmen and their families.

The focus was on whole health: physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. We were honored to be included with organizations showing up across all of those areas.

The SPARK! crew was out in force, offering our creative workshops and inviting folks to experiment, connect, and try something new. Arts-based practices are increasingly recognized for supporting well-being, from reducing stress to building connection and engaging both mind and body. We were glad to bring that piece into the mix.

Appreciation to the organizers for bringing this together, and to the many partners who showed up for service members, including
 Oklahoma Veteran News and more. (Thanks for the group photo!)

Grateful to be in it with you all.

ConnectingTheDots

05/01/2026

OKC has some incredible Veteran-serving organizations.

We’re teaming up with to host a free creative workshop for Veterans - built on curiosity, collaboration, and showing up exactly as you are.

We’ve been doing this for awhile now, and alllll the people who say “I don’t have a creative bone in my body” end up killing it on a cowbell.

Come experiment. Come connect. Come see what happens. You might surprise yourself. At the very least you’ll meet some cool humans and have a good story to tell.

📍 May 18 | 6–8 PM
📍 Warriors for Freedom HQ
FREE

Link in bio or visit sparklahoma.org

And hey. Keep breathing. 🖤

04/20/2026

At SPARK!, connection drives everything we do. Success to us looks like one Veteran knowing they have a place to go and a community that will welcome them.

We’re proud to be a Friend of We Face The Fight, a national coalition of organizations working together to reduce Veteran su***de and strengthen support across the country.

This free Crisis Response Planning workshop from the STRONG STAR Training Initiative offers practical tools for supporting someone who may be struggling. Learning how to recognize risk and respond with care can make a real difference.

If you work with Veterans, military families, or anyone navigating hard days, this is a valuable resource.

⬇️ Check them out. Details and registration below ⬇️

When a bad day becomes someone’s worst day, having a “Bad Day” plan can save a life.

Join STRONG STAR Training Initiative's free, virtual Crisis Response Planning (CRP) Workshop and learn how to support individuals at risk for su***de with practical, personalized strategies they can use in moments of need.

Be ready when it matters most: https://strongstartraining.org/upcoming-events/crp-workshop/

04/17/2026

Yesterday we gathered at Texadelphia in Bricktown for Canvas & Camaraderie, a mask-painting workshop for Women Veterans, Active Duty, and Military spouses.

Ten AWESOME folks joined us, all attending their first SPARK! event. Within minutes, the room was full of color, conversation, and a lot of laughter.

Participants shared that the evening brought calm, connection, and a chance to express themselves in new ways. People told us that they felt "welcomed," "heard," "happy, joyful & relaxed" after the workshop, and that's always music to our ears. We're honored to be in the room, creating alongside you all.

Thank you to Jamie Montoya and Grand Canyon University, to Renee at Whittington Realty and to the fabulous owners and staff at Texadelphia. We’re grateful to everyone who showed up with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to let their creativity come out to play. We can't wait to do it again!

✨

04/14/2026

Movement.
Storytelling.
Morse code.
Mask-making.
--- .... / -- -.--!

In March, Veterans and artists gathered across Oklahoma to create, listen, and build community together.

Veterans bring the mission. Artists bring the medium. Together we create something bigger than any one of us.

Not a SPARK! subscriber? Check out the latest and join us!

https://mailchi.mp/sparklahoma.org/building-community-in-uncertain-times

04/08/2026

👀

Don't forget about the Oklahoma Veterans Forum this Thursday!
Hope to see you there!

04/02/2026

This is basically the vibe of Veteran Story Lab.

A little mess and a lot of heart… and completely real.

The way Veterans show up for each other - with curiosity, humor, and deep listening - is crazy beautiful.

We have one final session this Saturday at and we’re opening the circle to a few more Veterans who might want to join us.

No experience needed. Just a welcoming space to explore storytelling together.

🗓 Saturday
⏰ 10 AM – Noon
📍 Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Facilitated by Navy Veteran Zack Milner and OKC StorySlam Founder Molly O’Connor .okc

Learn more & register at http://www.sparklahoma.org/schedule ❤️

If you know a Veteran who might enjoy this kind of space, feel free to tag them.

❤️Thank you to Angel Dickey Zack Milner & Molly O'Connor! ❤️