As VOICE has listened and organized, we know that the need in our community is great and that there is more to be done.

It was in a VOICE meeting about five years ago when I first felt in my soul the social and political segregation we live in here in Oklahoma.

Among some of the first issues VOICE sought to address were concerns about policies and experiences of families in our public schools.

Working with VOICE, we learned that one-quarter of the children who failed the third-grade reading test were English language learners.

We heard from parents of a third grader who had to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication because of the pressure to pass the third grade reading test.

This is the story of VOICE’s formation, and the event that officially launched the organization on February 12, 2012.

I got involved with VOICE because I knew that other ministers had found it to be a great place for their lay leaders to receive training.