The following is a summary poem of the World Café discussion that occurred during the morning of the Oklahoma Project Symposium, April 30, 2016.

World Café—The Oklahoma Project:
Creating the World We Want to Live In – Poem by Pat Hoerth and all of the participants of the Oklahoma Project Symposium

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…a desire to stay in Oklahoma
…knowing that Oklahoma is our home
…hope for a better life for our children
…a desire to value individuals; to let them be who they are
…a desire to be proud of diversity, tolerance
…a desire to make room for the unique

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…a desire to start understanding what matters and what doesn’t
…the fact that we don’t want Oklahoma to continue its current race to the last
…a need to stop traumatizing our children to fulfill mandates
…a wish to stop the downward trajectory

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…empathy
…the idea that we should be able to share the good, the happiness
…weariness of always being cited as the worst
…seeing that the present system is not sustainable
…the fact that our children are inheriting our state and the issues are building

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…a desire for survival
…poor state leadership
…frustration that people are actively working to make things worse
…a desire to not have to constantly battle these issues
…seeing that corporations have power; a desire for normal people to have power

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…knowing that this is the best way to spend a life
…the pain experienced when we think about the future
… willingness to stay around during adverse circumstances
…a calling
…recognizing we can’t go on endlessly in crisis mode, it erodes our citizenship

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises from…
…a desire to make the world a better place.
…obligation
…an awareness of those who came before us. We don’t have the right to discontinue good works

Passion for a just and flourishing Oklahoma arises…
…because people are important
…because Earth is important

Emerging is…
…engaged millennials
…the realization that change for good is possible
…seeing that there are people that want change
…seeing that everybody wants to work together

Emerging is…
…the realization that the state is not functioning in a humanitarian way
…recognition that our generation doesn’t have the education we need to step outside our square

Emerging is…
…relationship
…the awareness that we have never needed creativity more than we do now
…seeing that we are not alone
…recognizing that technology isolates
…education of myself
…need for stronger sense of community
…needing a sense of hope
…knowing that it’s not as if we’re asking for a miracle; there are precedents and successes in other places

Emerging is…
…a belief that change is possible
…looking through other eyes
…there are too few voices at the table

Emerging is…
…deep versus shallow
…recognition of how much work is needed
…awareness of how many people want this also
…realizing there are different thoughts about views
…consistency of ideas among groups

Emerging is…
…hope
…possibilities
…common ground
…polarization may signal eve of revolution
…the need to work together to accomplish goals
…knowing we can’t rely on non-profit organizations to do all the work
…finding like-thinkers who are willing to take action
…extreme need to care for marginalized
…extravagant generosity
…”I can make a difference”
…need for more diversity
…knowing we’re all in this mess together
…a desire to start looking at what can be done, not focus on the problem

Emerging is…
…state-esteem
…space for community
…opportunity
…space where we have conversation
…commitment

When we live in the state we want to live in, Oklahoma…
…will be more green,
a place to be looked to
a welcoming place
an inclusive place
a place that is respectful
a place of global citizenship
a place of connection
a place where communities intersect on social change
a place where there is a meaningful, lived-out Oklahoma standard

When we live in the state we want to live in, Oklahoma will look like…
…a place with a balanced budget,
universal health care,
equitable housing,
excellent public schools,
diversified economy
high quality decision makers,
enlightened citizens…
A place where people are
…members of communities of faith that lead authentic social justice…
where people are…
…talking together,
…willing to listen to outsiders
…participating in their citizenship…
where people…
…live in natural cycles
…are willing to regulate
…are youthful,
honest…
where people…
…confront classism, racism, ableism, sexism, naturalism
Oklahoma will be a place…
…where our grandchildren love to go to school
there is research-based legislation,
accountability of elected leaders,
more cooperative government,
restorative justice,
rehabilitation vs. incarceration,
community treatment
drug court

Oklahoma will be a place where…
…there is universal health care,
equitable and diverse housing,
community helping recovering addicts, people in prison,
…there are strong mental health programs
Oklahoma will be a place where…
…the ecosystem is protected
…there is biodiversity that fits the situation
…there are parks, trails,
water

When we live in the Oklahoma we want to live in, it will be a place where there are…
…limits on corporations
…a progressive tax code
…less extractive economy
…sustainable energy
…a functioning infrastructure
When we live in the state we want to live in, Oklahoma will be a place where…
…people are priority
…life is sustainable
…there is the best use of land
…people eat seasonally, locally
…where every church and school has a garden.