05/08/2026
✨ A Dream Turned Into Action ✨
On May 6, history was made in Kay County as eight individuals graduated from our community’s very first “Getting Ahead” program. What started as a dream more than a year ago became a reality — and many believe it marks the beginning of lasting change in the fight against poverty. The first picture is the graduates, and the second picture is the coalition.
This journey began when Kelli Northcutt, Scott Haywood, and Tara Goldman attended a Bridges Out of Poverty training and learned how communities across Oklahoma were seeing real transformation through the “Getting Ahead” program. They returned home inspired, knowing Kay County needed this opportunity too.
Because the truth is: poverty is at the root of so many struggles our communities face — housing insecurity, food instability, addiction, workforce shortages, mental health struggles, educational gaps, and limited access to healthcare. Until we address the cycle of poverty, lasting change cannot fully happen.
So our community came together.
Organizations, churches, businesses, volunteers, and leaders united with one mission: to help individuals not just survive poverty, but understand it, navigate it, and overcome it.
For 16 weeks, these participants — known as “Investigators” — worked incredibly hard. They studied the systems of poverty, identified barriers in their lives, reflected deeply on their experiences, and built action plans for their futures.
And on May 6, we celebrated them.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening was watching their children witness their parents walk across the stage. These were not just graduates receiving certificates. These were parents breaking generational cycles. Individuals finding confidence, purpose, and hope. Families beginning to rewrite their future.
This program would not have been possible without the incredible support of our coalition members, volunteers, facilitators, sponsors, meal providers, guest speakers, and community partners who believed in this vision from the very beginning.
And this is only the beginning. ❤️
Another class is already planned for January because investing in people changes communities.
If you’d like to learn more or be part of future classes, follow the Getting Ahead Kay County page or email [email protected].
Because sometimes changing a community starts by helping someone believe a different future is possible.
