March 3, 2016

A Conversation on Race and Gender in Oklahoma History, featuring the "OKC 13" mini-documentary

Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Oklahoma History Center | Oklahoma City, OK

On Thursday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m., the Oklahoma Historical Society will host a special program featuring a short film about the Daniel Holtzclaw case and his crimes against 13 African American women. The film, titled "OKC 13," will be followed by a panel discussion. Doors of the Oklahoma History Center will open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. The program is titled A Conversation on Race and Gender in Oklahoma History, featuring the "OKC 13" mini-documentary.

In her film, producer Carmen Coffee explores the abuse of power surrounding Holtzclaw's attacks and investigates open dialogue about justice and accountability in one American community. The panel discussion will feature first-person stories about overcoming biases based on race and gender through Oklahoma history from the 1940s to the 2000s. On the panel will be Judge Vicki Miles LaGrange, historian Bruce Fisher, Oklahoma City NAACP president Garland Pruitt and Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officer Lateka Alexander.

Federal Judge Vicki Miles LaGrange was the first African American woman elected to the Oklahoma Senate. In 1994 President Bill Clinton nominated and the U.S. Senate confirmed LaGrange to be a federal judge for the 10th Circuit.

Bruce Fisher served for 15 years as the multi-cultural curator at the Oklahoma Historical Society. In 2014 he retired, but continues to work to preserve Oklahoma's African American history. Fisher is the son of civil rights pioneer Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher.

Garland Pruitt is president of the Oklahoma City NAACP. A Houston native, Pruitt has spent most of his life in Oklahoma. Since retiring from General Motors, he has spent years counseling and mentoring Oklahoma City's youth. He believes that it is the NAACP's job to "tear down the walls that separate people."

Trooper Lateka Alexander is a veteran trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On October 10, 2001, she became Oklahoma's first African American female state trooper and completed the high stress academy as the only female that class.

Carmen Coffee is a media personality, content creator, television producer and Oklahoma City native. Coffee is experienced in media relations, television, radio, print and news media development. She has been involved in projects for NBA TV, Viacom, Comcast Spotlight, USA Today Sports, TLC, TV One and BET. Carmen studied theatre at Oxford University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Howard University.

29th Annual Family Kite Flite Day

Saturday, March 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center| Spiro, OK

Celebrate the beginning of spring at the 29th annual Family Kite Flite Day at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Family Kite Flite Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. Kite Flite Day is a free admission day, but donations are appreciated. It will be a great day for families and folks of all ages.

Each year since 1987, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center has hosted a day of spring fun and learning. Each year more than 300 individuals and families bring lawn chairs, blankets, kids and kites and fly the winds along with fancier kites flown by professional kiters. Demonstrations by kiters from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas will include stunt kites, parafoils and other fancy kites. There will be donated kites given away by drawing throughout the day. Members of the Spiro Boy Scouts will help visitors make their own free sled kite.

Along with kite flying, young visitors will enjoy the children's area. There will be a sandbox where children can dig in the sand for shells, jewels, coins and even a special token that can be redeemed for a kite. There also will be a bubble making area, which always draws a crowd. Vendors will be available on side with arts, crafts and various other items for sale. The grounds at Spiro Mounds are perfect for a family picnic and several vendors will be selling food. There is still space available for vendors. For more information please contact Dennis Peterson at 918-962-2062 or spiro@okhistory.org.

The Oklahoma Historical Society, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center and the Spiro Mounds Development Association with help from the Fort Coffee Fire Department and the scout troops of Spiro sponsor this event. Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is located three miles east of Spiro, Okla., on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road.

Brown Bag Lunch and Learn

Wednesday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m.

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center | Enid, OK

On Wednesday, March 9, at noon, the Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program will feature one of the "Trappings of the Cherokee Strip" show artists, Joe Lamerton. Lamerton is a talented furniture maker from Enid. He will be sharing information about his techniques, what inspires his work, and how he got started making furniture. The presentation will be held in the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center's Village Church and is free to the public. Please call 580-237-1907 for more information.