STAAR Foundation

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

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. 💙✨

04/28/2026

Monday, April 28th, was truly something special.

We had the absolute privilege of welcoming Sunnie Jamerson, and when I say she showed up, she POURED in. She led Lesson 10: Teamwork – Building Relationships, with a powerful, much-needed emphasis on setting healthy boundaries. The way she broke it down was real, relatable, and rooted in truth. You could feel the room shift. Participants weren’t just listening, they were reflecting, opening up, and really taking it in. There were moments of silence, moments of vulnerability, and moments where you could literally see light bulbs going off.

Thank you, Sunnie, for showing up with such authenticity and intention and for pouring so deeply into our youth.

Following that, we had Adam Wanner with The Representative, and his presence was just as powerful. The way he speaks about community, brotherhood, and building meaningful relationships leaves you sitting in awe. He doesn’t just talk about it, he lives it. His intentionality, his heart, and his integrity shine through in every word. Our participants are truly blessed to be surrounded by leaders who walk in purpose and stand firm in who they are.

Moments like this remind us that this is more than a program. This is a movement and A space where growth is real, voices are heard, and lives are being shaped in the most powerful way.

04/23/2026

🔥 WOW… what a lesson tonight at Pivot with Cohort 2!

We had the absolute privilege of welcoming Courtenie Jackson from Diversion Hub to lead the Lesson 9 Career Prep: Interview Preparation session, and she brought the energy, wisdom, and real-world experience! From powerful interview strategies to helping our participants understand how to leave a lasting impression, she created a space that was engaging, empowering, and unforgettable. This was one of those sessions where you could feel the growth, the confidence, the shift in mindset!

Our participants leaned into the question: What do you want people to remember most about meeting you? …and that reflection alone sparked something powerful. Walking in confidence, knowing your worth, and showing up prepared, THAT’S what tonight was all about.

We also had Zeke Gonzalez with Celda 151 come in and share his testimony and strength with the group. His story brought inspiration, truth, and a reminder that no matter where you come from, your future is still yours to build. He connected with our youth in a real way, and we are so thankful for his time and heart.

Cohort 2, you are showing up, putting in the work, and it does not go unnoticed. Keep shining, keep growing, and keep being the BEST version of YOU. We see you!

04/21/2026

Energy Was HIGH at Pivot Tonight! 🔥

The conversations were real and reflective, as participants explored how communication shows up in their own life and workspaces, and what habits they want to keep moving forward.

From the start, she brought energy, laughter, and connection, creating a space where our participants were fully engaged and ready to grow. We focused on verbal communication and the speaker/listener technique, really digging into what it means to communicate with intention and clarity.

The conversations were real and reflective, as participants explored how communication shows up in their own lives and workspaces, and what habits they want to keep moving forward.

We also had Lazarus from Manufacturing Skills Academy join us, bringing inspiration and wisdom and sharing incredible new opportunities for our young adults. Moments like this open doors and help our participants see what’s possible for their future.

That level of awareness and exposure? That’s where real change begins.

The conversations were real and reflective, as participants explored how communication shows up in their own lives and workspaces, and what habits they want to keep moving forward.ud of you! 💙

04/16/2026

Wow… truly just WOW! 🤩

Shenice Freeman with SideXSide came in and absolutely brought her magic to the classroom tonight! ✨
We covered Lesson 7: Career Prep – Employment Applications and Resumes, and the energy in the room was unmatched.

Shenice is incredibly knowledgeable and has such a natural flow that she makes learning feel effortless. The way she facilitates is engaging, fun, and full of life. You laugh, you learn, and before you know it, you’ve gained real, valuable skills.

A HUGE thank you to our Pivot participants for continuing to show up, put in the work, and invest in your future. Your energy, engagement, and willingness to grow make this experience so special.

This group makes what we do even more rewarding, and honestly, y’all make it fun!
Keep pushing, keep growing, and keep showing up… because your future is worth it. 💫

04/15/2026

On Monday at Pivot, we had a powerful Lesson6 on Physical and Mental Health, focused on Creating a Healthy Lifestyle, led by the amazing Nathaly Ramos.

Our affirmation for the day:
✨ “Every day, I get stronger in mind, body, and spirit.” ✨

The engagement in the room was incredible. Participants showed up fully, leaned into the conversation, and embraced every moment of growth. You could truly feel the energy, the connection, and the willingness to learn and evolve together.

Grateful for a group that continues to pour in, support one another, and grow stronger each session. This is what transformation looks like 💙