Candidates for the OK House District 88 race appeared at a candidate forum at First Unitarian Church. Local grassroots organization VOICE hosted the forum and framed questions from stories they've heard in their listening sessions.

“Oklahoma organizations are already planning to challenge the legislation in the courts,” . . . stated the Rev. Lori Walke, senior minister at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ.

“Immigration is one of those issues, unfortunately, that is used [as] something [to] get people stirred up for voting ... and that there's very little real interest in solving the issues, as we can see what happened with Senator Lankford.”

Oklahoma religious leaders are speaking out in strong opposition to HB 4156. The letter, created by VOICE clergy and signed by 22 pastors across Oklahoma, was delivered to Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Governor Kevin Still today.

At a VOICE press conference led by VOICE clergy Fr. Tim Luschen and Rev. Dr. Lori Walke, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church leader Irma Palacios urged lawmakers to remember the people as they debate the politics of immigration.

Líderes Irma Palacios, P. Tim Luschen y la Rev. Dra. Lori Walke hablan en una conferencia de prensa de VOICE.

“I can’t think of two leaders who more deserve our recognition,” said Heather Sparks, VOICE board member and treasurer of the VOICE Education Fund. “Our city is better for their presence and work.”

On October 3, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case whose outcome could severely weaken the CFPB and its capacity to protect everyday consumers from unfair and abusive financial practices.

The poorest Oklahomans inevitably fall behind on their payments and are victim to an endless cycle of bench warrants, arrests, driver’s license suspensions and incarceration, thus exacerbating the state’s incarceration problem.

VOICE was involved in supporting MAPS 4 human and community-centered projects like mental health facilities, upgrades to neighborhood parks, sidewalks and youth centers. Now, the group hopes to see an agreement that benefits all residents.

Fr. Luschen adds, “How will construction of the arena benefit average Oklahoma City families? For example, can we build in a living wage for arena workers? [H]ow will this project help regular families in our city?”

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond says he is prepared to file the largest lawsuit in state history to recoup billions of dollars in natural gas costs from a 2021 winter storm, which left Oklahoma ratepayers with significantly higher utility bills.

Since the [Recognizing the Stranger] program commenced, there's been "nativism, growing tensions on the border, polarized politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, a major economic recession and gun violence," said [VOICE President Fr. Tim] Luschen . . . The new program responded amid it all by fulfilling the pope's call "to listen to others, to see others."

This situation underscores the reality of expecting a population of Oklahomans that is mostly impoverished to fund critical services of the county and state government. Why do we make the path back to productive community membership more difficult?

When Pope Francis launched his newly invigorated process for the Synod of Bishops in 2021, he challenged Catholics worldwide to “become experts in the art of encounter, . . . For decades, members of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) . . . have been experts in such an art.”

When Pope Francis launched his newly invigorated process for the Synod of Bishops in 2021, he challenged Catholics worldwide to “become experts in the art of encounter, . . . For decades, members of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) . . . have been experts in such an art.”

VOICE leader Eric Jergensen: “What we see in this event is not so much purchasing gas but a massive wealth transfer between the population of Oklahoma as a whole and a few well-placed individuals. The adults in the room did nothing to stop it.”

With teacher shortages already hammering school districts, local colleges said that they don’t even have enough students who want to be teachers . . . . "The pipeline is unfortunately slowing to a trickle. . . . " [said Heather Sparks, director of teacher education at OCU and a VOICE leader].

"And I don't think that has been fully addressed, how many people saw this as an assault and not just against this country, not just against our seat of government and our democracy and free elections, but against their life's work," said the Rev. Diana Davies, of the First Unitarian Church in Oklahoma City.

“The rubber stamping so quickly has me worried that this world is just too cozy between regulators and the companies they’re supposed to be watching,” said Steven Goldman, a member of VOICE, a coalition of groups that have come together to advocate for Oklahoma City-area residents.