In two-thousand and five the board of directors of Inner City Productions, Inc. and those of us on the staff agreed that after twenty-eight years of non-stop community activism, it was time to take a break. So, making a unanimous decision we place the organization on a temporary snooze break while each of us pursued other aspirations.
For me this break was all about returning to OCU to complete my degree.
With only eleven hours remaining to graduate, I can now look back at this experience with a renewed sense of achievement and accomplishment. I started this process with four hours carried over from my first attempt at college in 1966. The journey to completing the remaining one hundred and twenty hours has been to say the least a challenge. Especially since I live in McAlester Ok, and had to commute to Oklahoma City during the winter months.
As March grows closer (when I finish), the ice and snow covered roads traveled too and from the university, now adds to my sense of accomplishment. But, I have to be honest, there were days that I felt like turning around, going back home and giving up. At those moments while engaged in an enteral debate, I resolve that this time, there would be no going back or quitting.
In June 2010, the board of directors and staff agreed it was time to reactivate the organization; so the last five months has involved various legal and organizational task that ultimately restores it to full operation. Saturday October 16th we held the first event in McAlester, implementing a multi-county health and wellness project titled “Save The Children.” This campaign is affiliated with First Lady Michelle Obama’s national initiative to address childhood obesity.
After four years to do nothing but school, the challenge of working full time and school obligations remains to be determined. Fortunately, I have the support of the board, staff and volunteers who are committed to assisting me in completing this personal goal; so I look forward to embracing this challenge.
There is however, a real silver lining in taking this particular class as we actively engaged in restoring the organization to full operation. We are in need of a well planned and implemented media campaign to alert both supporters and the general public that we are back; and ready to go another twenty-eight years.
Did I hear you say we have to prepare a Public Relations plan for a non-profit organization? Hummm, I’ve got just the one for this assignment.
