STAAR Foundation

09/25/2026

06/18/2026

Adult Pathway To Excellence

Over the course of 12 weeks, we'll walk alongside individuals who are ready to grow, learn new skills, build confidence, strengthen relationships, improve financial wellness, and create a pathway to the future they want.

Sometimes all we need is an opportunity, a little support, and a room full of people who believe in us.

Starting Monday, July 13, 2026, STAAR Foundation, in partnership with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), will launch our next Adult Pathway to Excellence Cohort.

This program is designed for individuals who are:

✅ Ready to invest in themselves
✅ Looking to build confidence and life skills
✅ Interested in improving relationships and communication
✅ Working toward financial stability and homeownership
✅ Exploring education, career, and personal growth opportunities
✅ Looking for support, encouragement, and community

We've already seen participants from our first cohort move into homeownership and take meaningful steps toward long-term stability and success. We believe the same opportunities are possible for others who are willing to show up and invest in themselves.

💜 Come grow with us. Your next chapter could start here.

06/11/2026

When a community comes together to love, support, and invest in young people, extraordinary things happen.

Congratulations to Emerson South Mid-High for the incredible outcomes reflected in the 2025-2026 OKCPS Senior Survey!

🎓 93% of Emerson South seniors are proud to be graduates of their school EMERSON SOUTH MID-HIGH!!!

📚 94% feel academically prepared for their future.

📝 90% believe their coursework was relevant to life after graduation.

🚀 91% feel they were equipped for the future.

These results are a testament to what can be accomplished when educators, staff, families, community partners, and supporters UNITE around a common purpose: helping students succeed.

Behind every percentage is a young person who has been encouraged, challenged, supported, and empowered to believe in their future.

This is the power of relationships, collaboration, and a community that refuses to sit by.

Thank you to everyone of our partners that came out to pour into the lives of Emerson South Mid-High students.

Your commitment, care, and investment are helping create confident, capable, and future-ready graduates.

Together, we are proving that when people come together with love, purpose, and a shared vision.. lives are RADICALLY transformed.
❤️

RADICAL LOVE!!

05/07/2026

We want to give a huge thank-you to all the amazing partners who made this possible: Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board, Impact405, Laura Broyles, Oklahoma Building Trades & Unions, Diversion Hub, and Pivot Inc.

Events like this could not happen without your support, encouragement, and genuine care for helping our youth develop and become the best versions of themselves. Thank you for taking the time to pour into these young emerging adults, inspire them, and help create pathways toward success.

We are beyond grateful for every conversation, connection, opportunity, and moment of encouragement that was shared yesterday. The future is bright. 💙

05/05/2026

Monday evening, we had the pleasure of welcoming one of our truly valued community partners, Federal Credit Union, represented by the amazing Tina Herndon, who brought such incredible passion, energy, and genuine care to our participants through her workshop, How To Adult.

Tina has a remarkable way of breaking down “adulting” into real, practical, and understandable life skills that our participants can truly connect with and apply in everyday life. Her energy, charisma, and heart for serving others filled the room from the moment she began speaking.

What makes Tina so impactful is not only her knowledge, but the intentional way she pours into people. She cares deeply about helping individuals understand the real-world aspects of finances, responsibilities, decision-making, and personal growth. She creates a space where learning feels empowering, relatable, and encouraging.

The Young Emerging Adults were engaged, asking questions, laughing, learning, and walking away with valuable tools they can carry into adulthood and their future journeys.

Thank you, Tina Herndon, for continuing to show up for our community with excellence, compassion, and authenticity. Your dedication to educating and uplifting others is truly top-notch, and we are so grateful for your partnership and support of STAAR Foundation. 💙✨

04/30/2026

What a POWERFUL Wednesday evening at Pivot for Lesson 11: Emotions, Communication, and Conflict Resolution.

Jabar was incredibly intentional in the way he facilitated this session. He brought real-life scenarios into the space, broke concepts down in a way that was relatable and easy to understand, and created an environment where participants felt engaged, heard, and supported. Honestly, STAAR staff learned just as much as the participants did. You can truly tell he has a heart for people, a passion for teaching, and a genuine love for his work. His wisdom, professionalism, and ability to connect with others are something special. I could listen to him facilitate sessions all day long!

Jabar was incredibly intentional in the way he facilitated this session. He brought real-life scenarios into the space, broke concepts down in a way that was relatable and easy to understand, and created an environment where participants felt engaged, heard, and supported. Honestly, STAAR staff learned just as much as the participants did. You can truly tell he has a heart for people, a passion for teaching, and a genuine love for his work. His wisdom, professionalism, and ability to connect with others is something special. I could listen to him facilitate sessions all day long!

We also want to give a huge thank you to William Cottrell for sharing more about the IMCI Youth Initiative programs and opportunities. We believe valuable connections were made through this partnership, and we are grateful for the support and encouragement poured into these young people.

Thank you both for being part of this movement and for continuing to help empower, encourage, and uplift the next generation. 💙✨