Walking Together: The Launch of 1050 Forward and the Power of Micropolitan Communities

Written by Joy Hofmeister, 1050 Forward Executive Advisor and Chair

Back in the 1990s, as a young mom driving my kids to church, school, and hockey practice, I often had the car radio tuned to country radio. One song that stuck with me was Diamond Rio’s “Meet in the Middle.” Its chorus—“We gain a lot of ground, ’cause we’d both give a little”—has been on my mind lately, especially as we embark on an exciting new journey with 1050 Forward.

Today, I’m thrilled to be part of 1050 Forward’s launch, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Oklahoma’s micropolitan communities. Through leadership development, increased civic engagement, shared best practices, and an impact network focused on problem-solving, we aim to strengthen these small cities that play such a critical role in our state’s well-being.

Micropolitan communities—those small cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 residents—are the backbone of rural America. They are home to 50 million Americans and serve as hubs for healthcare, job opportunities, and education, supporting not just their own residents but also the surrounding rural areas. In fact, data shows that rural communities near strong micropolitans often fare better in terms of poverty rates and economic opportunity than their more isolated counterparts. These cities act as economic anchors, driving state economies, supporting generations of families, and offering a valuable way of life that’s worth preserving and enhancing.

In my eight years as Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I saw firsthand how critical it is to find common ground, compromise, and work together. These leadership principles—collaboration, respect, and pragmatism—are what got things done. And they’re precisely the principles that are so often on display in our micropolitan communities, where leaders don’t have the luxury of endless resources or time. Instead, they work side by side, pooling their strengths to solve challenges both big and small, from filling potholes to expanding water infrastructure or addressing homelessness.

This is why 1050 Forward is so important. Our flagship program, the 1050 Forward Fellowship, is designed to equip local leaders with the skills and tools they need to galvanize their communities, implement civic engagement strategies, and leverage results-based leadership. Fellows engage in a 10-12 month arc of learning, including skill-building seminars, application work to advance community initiatives, and coaching opportunities with 1050 Forward leaders and national partners.

One of our inaugural Fellows, Amy Dzialowski, Vice Mayor of Stillwater, shared her thoughts with me recently: “Here in Stillwater, we’ve seen significant progress due to strong public-private partnerships. I’m excited to share our triumphs as well as the lessons we've learned with other leaders across the state. By working together across like-sized communities, I’m hopeful we’ll create a strong network of vibrant communities where even more Oklahoma children, families, and businesses can flourish.”

This sentiment captures the essence of what 1050 Forward is all about. It’s about coming together, learning from one another, and creating a collaborative network that uplifts every community involved. We believe that by working together—just like in that old country song—we can gain a lot of ground.

In our inaugural year, 1050 Forward is launching pilot programs in Ada, Muskogee, and Stillwater. These communities, with their diverse needs and strengths, will benefit from our leadership development initiatives, resources hub, civic engagement strategies, and impact network. Our efforts are supported by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, The Chickasaw Nation, Partners for Rural Impact, and a dedicated advisory board made up of individuals with deep ties to micropolitan and rural communities.

But 1050 Forward is more than just a program—it’s a movement. A movement to bridge the rural/urban divide, to foster pride in our micropolitan cities, and to ensure that these communities continue to thrive for generations to come. We’re committed to being community-led, amplifying local voices, and making sure that the solutions we develop are driven by those who know their communities best.

As we launch 1050 Forward, I invite you to walk with us on this journey. Let’s meet in the middle, give a little, and together, we’ll create a stronger, more vibrant Oklahoma.

- Joy