POSSIBILITIES INC

STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICES ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 990 POSSIBILITIES INVESTS ITS RESOURCES IN LOCAL PEOPLE THROUGH ITS CORE, POSSIBILITIES INNOVATION PROGRAM (PIP), ENGAGING AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES FROM WITHIN. AN ONGOING LEADERSHIP JOURNEY, PIP TEACHES TOOLS TO CREATE COMMUNITY, UNITY AND A SHARED VISION FOR TRANSFORMATION. PIP INSPIRES LOCAL LEADERS TO TACKLE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS AND SUPPORTS THEIR EFFORTS. TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED ALUMNI ARE EXTENSIONS OF POSSIBILITIES STAFF AND CONNECT DIVERSE PEOPLE TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY CHALLENGES, IMPACTING AROUND 50,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. WORKING WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, LEARN, PLAY, WORK AND WORSHIP, THEY ACHIEVE SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, STRONGER FAMILIES, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGHOUT GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY AND BEYOND. PIP ADDRESSES ISSUES SUCH AS POVERTY, ISOLATION, DEPENDENCY, STRUGGLING SCHOOLS, CRIME, AND DETERIORATING COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE OPENING RETREAT, MULTIPLE TRAINING SESSIONS AND PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES, COMMUNITY PROJECTS PLANNED AND CARRIED OUT BY PARTICIPANTS AND ONGOING MENTORING AND SUPPORT DURING AND AFTER THE PROGRAM. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE OFFERED. PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE ATTEND TO COMMUNICATE IDEAS, SHARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY WORK, PROVIDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND OPENLY ADDRESS ISSUES ON ISSUES THAT CAN BE DIVISIVE. THIS PROVIDES CURRENT PARTICIPANTS, ALUMNI AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR NETWORK, ACCESS RESOURCES, AND RECEIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS. PIP ALUMNI ARE LEADERS WHO TRANSFORM THROUGH PROJECTS AND COMMUNITIES AS DIVERSE AS THEY ARE. THE PROGRESS GRADUATES MAKE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, HOUSES OF FAITH AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS IS IMPRESSIVE. A SNAPSHOT OF A FEW RECENT EXAMPLES: BEAUTIFICATION - A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT AT THELMA PARKS ELEMENTARY WHERE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SHARE A SENSE OF PRIDE, IMPACTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL. THIS GROUP RAISED 650 IN CASH AND IN-KIND DONATIONS FOR THEIR EVENT DAY FROM 11 SOURCES. 30 VOLUNTEERS CAME TOGETHER ON THE EVENT DAY TO CLEAR TRASH, TRIM TREES AND HEDGES, PLANT FLOWERS AND SPREAD MULCH IN 8 FLOWER BEDS. VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATED WITH HOTDOGS, SNACKS AND SNO CONES. PILOTING A NEW IMPACT MEASUREMENT APPROACH, A SURVEY WAS DESIGNED WITH THIS PIP GROUP AT THEIR DEBRIEF SESSION AND IMPLEMENTED AT THE SCHOOL'S OPEN HOUSE EVENT IN AUGUST. STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, GRANDPARENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS COMPLETED THE SURVEYS. 73% INDICATED IMPROVED SCHOOL APPEARANCE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, 97% INDICATED FEELING PROUD OF THEIR SCHOOL AND 88% WANT TO HELP KEEP THE SCHOOL LOOKING GOOD. POSITIVE COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED, SUCH AS "I LOVE THE CHANGES. THE SCHOOL LOOKS MORE WELCOMING. SUPPORT OF CHILDREN - THIS GROUP'S GOAL IS TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT AND ADVANCE CHILDREN BY OVERCOMING THE GAP BETWEEN FAMILIES AND RESOURCES. THE FIRST EVENT WAS A ONE DAY FAIR AT SOUTH LINDSAY BAPTIST CHURCH TO PROVIDE FOOD, FAMILY FUN AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN SOUTH OKC, PARTICULARLY IN THE 73129 ZIP CODE. 48 VOLUNTEERS HELPED WITH SET-UP AND CLEAN-UP AND APPROXIMATELY 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED THROUGHOUT THE FOUR HOUR EVENT. THIS GROUP RAISED A TOTAL OF 1,075 OF IN-KIND RESOURCES INCLUDING TACOS, HOT DOGS, SNO CONES, WATER AND PRIZES FROM 23 SOURCES. RESOURCES PARTICIPATING INCLUDED INTEGRIS HEALTH SOUTH, COMMUNITY LITERACY CENTERS, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF OK, OKC COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND LATINO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ZUMBA, MOON BOUNCES, GAMES, A DJ LEADING DANCES AND A PERFORMANCE BY THE BROTHERS OF STOMP. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EVENT, LEFTOVER FOOD WAS DISPERSED TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. CONNECTING COMMUNITY - THIS GROUP'S GOAL IS TO UNIFY SENIOR CITIZENS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH SHARING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION AND HAVING FUN. THEIR EVENT, HELD AT LINCOLN PARK SENIOR CENTER, A YMCA FACILITY, HAD MUSIC, PRIZES AND GAMES. 10 VOLUNTEERS HELPED 40 SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN ROTATING "TOPIC" TABLES WITH ASK THE DOCTOR, PROVIDED BY ONE FOCUS MEDICAL, NUTRITION, PROVIDED BY INTEGRIS HEALTH, FINANCES, PROVIDED BY ARVEST BANK AND MILLENNIALS VS. SENIORS, PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.