Launch of 1050 Forward - Boosting Oklahoma’s Micropolitan Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2024

Tulsa, OK - 1050 Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and connecting Oklahoma’s micropolitan communities, publicly launched today and announced its advisory board members as well as its inaugural class of 1050 Forward Fellows, which includes leaders from Ada, Muskogee and Stillwater.   

Fellows and board members will gather in Muskogee on September 11 and 12 to tour Muskogee and meet with community leaders. The event begins at Port Muskogee for a barge tour and welcome reception this afternoon. 

“We’re thrilled to host 1050 Forward here in Muskogee. Our community has always been resilient, and we’ve seen firsthand the strength that comes from working together. The potential of the network 1050 Forward is building is incredibly exciting – by connecting like-sized cities, we can share resources, ideas and strategies that will help us all thrive,” said Port Muskogee Executive Director Kimbra Scott. 

More About 1050 Forward 

A micropolitan is a small city with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 residents. These communities are home to over 50 million people across the U.S. and serve as crucial hubs, offering access to healthcare, job opportunities and education for their rural neighbors. Micropolitans are important anchors for Oklahoma — they help drive the state’s economy, have served generations of families, and offer a valuable way of life.

1050 Forward, an initiative developed by George Kaiser Family Foundation, aims to foster vibrant, sustainable communities for generations to come through leadership development, increased civic engagement, shared best practices and an impact network focused on problem-solving. Other founding partners in the effort include The Chickasaw Nation and Partners for Rural Impact. 

In its inaugural year, 1050 Forward is actively working in Ada, Muskogee and Stillwater, three exemplary micropolitans that are engaged in learning and sharing their experiences with each other. In June of this year, 1050 Forward Fellows and leaders visited Ada for stakeholder meetings and an extensive tour of the community. The group will gather in Stillwater in November. 

Former Oklahoma legislator and Speaker of the House, Kris Steele, serves on 1050 Forward’s advisory board and shared, “Cities like Ada, Muskogee and Stillwater have proven that collaboration and a relentless commitment to problem-solving are what it takes to get things done; we have so much to learn from them.”

1050 Forward’s place-based approach is guided in part by advisory board members who have committed to a two-year term and generously share their diverse and first-hand experience living and working in micropolitan communities and rural places. 

 1050 Forward Advisory Board

Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby
The Chickasaw Nation
Ada, OK

Kurt Bollenbach
CEO, Teocalli Exploration
Oklahoma City / Kingfisher, OK

Marlon Coleman
Executive Director, Muskogee Tourism Authority
Muskogee, OK

Dreama Gentry
President and CEO, Partners for Rural Impact
Berea, KY

Jennifer Gray
Executive Director Government Relations, Choctaw Nation
Edmond / Durant, OK

Joy Hofmeister
CEO, JLH Group
Tulsa, OK

Marcie Mack
Executive Director, Grow Enid
Enid, OK

Frank Merrick
President, Merrick Foundation
Oklahoma City / Ardmore, OK

Kris Steele
Executive Director, TEEM
Shawnee, OK

 1050 Forward Fellowship

The 1050 Forward Fellowship, a flagship program of 1050 Forward, is designed to equip participants with the skills and competencies necessary to galvanize local communities, implement effective civic engagement strategies, and leverage results-based leadership. The program emphasizes measurable impact and results-based accountability, engaging fellows in a 10-12 month arc of learning. This includes skill-building seminars, application work between sessions to advance and accelerate their community initiatives, and coaching opportunities with 1050 Forward leaders and national partners.

“Here in Stillwater, we’ve seen significant progress due to strong public-private partnerships," said Amy Dzialowski, 1050 Forward Fellow and Vice Mayor of Stillwater. "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.”

1050 Forward Fellows Class of 2024

Wendell Godwin
President, East Central University
Ada, OK

Cody Holcomb
President, Civil Design Solutions
Ada, OK

Lisa John
Secretary of Culture and Humanities, The Chickasaw Nation
Ada, OK

Angie Stout
Assistant City Manager, City of Ada
Ada, OK

Mike Miller
City Manager, City of Muskogee
Muskogee, OK

Jeff Underwood
Deputy Director, Port Muskogee
Muskogee, OK

Angela Wilson
President and CEO, Muskogee Chamber of Commerce
Muskogee, OK

Kim Dyce
Chief Talent Officer, Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa / Muskogee, OK

Uwe Gordon
Superintendent, Stillwater Public Schools
Stillwater, OK

Amy Dzialowski
Senior Principle, Geosyntec Consultants
Vice Mayor, City of Stillwater
Stillwater, OK

Becky Taylor
Assistant Vice President for Provost's Priorities and Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK

Clyde Wilson
Associate Vice President for Access and Community Impact and Director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK