Oklahoma Policy Inc

PROVIDE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND IDEAS ON STATE POLICY AND BUDGET.

STATE POLICY EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC - TO MAKE THE BEST POLICY DECISIONS THAT LEAD US TO A BETTER FUTURE IN OKLAHOMA, POLICYMAKERS AND CITIZENS NEED GOOD, FACTUAL INFORMATION. OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE (OK POLICY) PROVIDES THE FACTS AND ADVOCATES FOR FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC POLICIES. OK POLICY IS A NON-PARTISAN INDEPENDENT POLICY THINK-TANK

SUMMER POLICY INSTITUTE (SPI) - SUMMER POLICY INSTITUTE (SPI) IS AN EXCITING AND IN-DEPTH LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER HIGHLY-QUALIFIED UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, WHO HAVE COMPLETED A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT OR HAVE RECENTLY GRADUATED, FOR A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME BETTER INFORMED ABOUT VITAL OKLAHOMA POLICY ISSUES. PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO NETWORK WITH FELLOW STUDENTS AND LEADERS IN THE POLICY PROCESS AND PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE STUDIES AND WORK IN PUBLIC POLICY-RELATED FIELDS. THE INSTITUTE IS HOSTED AND LED BY THE STAFF OF OK POLICY AND INVOLVES LEADING POLICY EXPERTS FROM GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA. KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS, ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS WILL PROVIDE A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM OKLAHOMA'S TOP PRACTITIONERS AND OBSERVERS ON BUDGET AND TAXES, EDUCATION, OKLAHOMA'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS, HEALTH CARE, POVERTY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RACE AND PUBLIC POLICY, CAREERS IN PUBLIC POLICY, AND MORE. PARTICIPANTS IN THE INSTITUTE ARE CHOSEN BY A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS AIMED AT SELECTING STUDENTS WITH STRONG ACADEMIC TRAINING, DIVERSE EXPERIENCES, AND A CLEAR INTEREST IN THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF PUBLIC POLICY. PARTICULAR EMPHASIS IS GIVEN ON SELECTING A CLASS OF PARTICIPANTS FROM A RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, FIELDS OF STUDY, AND GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. FULL AND PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND. NO ONE WILL BE DENIED A SPOT IN THE INSTITUTE DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY.

STATE BUDGET SUMMIT - THE STATE BUDGET SUMMIT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN STATE POLICY ISSUES FOR A DAY OF THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BOTH TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES WE NOW FACE AND TO CHART A COURSE FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE. THE EVENT INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW BUDGET PRESENTATION BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID BLATT; PLENARY SESSIONS WITH LEADING EXPERTS AND POLICYMAKERS ON THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AND STATE OUTLOOK; AND A CLOSING SESSION AIMED AT HELPING ADVOCATES TURN THE IDEAS WE HAVE HEARD INTO ACTION DURING THE UPCOMING SESSION. A NATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER IS USUALLY FEATURED DURING THE LUNCH HOUR.

TOGETHER OKLAHOMA (TOK) - TOGETHER OK IS A NONPARTISAN COALITION OF CITIZENS WORKING TOGETHER TO SECURE A ROBUST FUTURE FOR OKLAHOMA. IT IS A GRASSROOTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY GROUP CONNECTING OKLAHOMA VALUES TO STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES.