The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners devoted significant discussion during its regular meeting Monday, to a proposed countywide educational initiative aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking, addiction, domestic violence and other interconnected social issues impacting local communities.

The discussion centered on bringing a one-day educational summit to Okmulgee County that would unite county leaders, law enforcement, emergency services, educators, faith leaders and nonprofit organizations under a shared effort to better understand and respond to trafficking and abuse.

Community advocate Rose Lynch introduced the proposal and explained the growing need for education surrounding trafficking and abuse.

“I’ve been approached by several different people to do an educational program on what

County officials are pictured with Rose Lynch and Karrie Shust following the regular meeting Monday where they discussed educating and informing the community on trafficking, abuse, drug usage and poverty. Pictured are Okmulgee County Commissioners, Michael Wallace, Steve Ward, OCEM Director Jeffrey Moore and Commissioner Ernie Ferreira.

trafficking is, awareness, and what to do if you see it,” she told commissioners. “I think this is the first step,” she said, explaining that the goal is to educate community leaders who can then share that information more broadly.

Rose then introduced Karri Shust, founder of the Pack the Purse and Pack the Purpose Summit, a statewide initiative that has traveled to multiple Oklahoma communities.

Shust described the summit as an educational-not therapeutic-event designed to help communities understand the root issues that often lead to trafficking and exploitation.

“The summit is a statewide initiative traveling around different rural areas, pulling in mayors, fire departments, commissioners, police departments, and education,” Shust said. “We talk about the seven keys of darkness that hit us right now-addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and food insecurity.”

Shust, who said she spent 36 years coaching youth at various levels, noted that these issues are no longer isolated to large cities.

“We’re really seeing it affecting our cities and our communities,” she said. “It’s not a mental health summit. It’s about education-what these things are and what they are not.”

According to Shust, the initiative has received endorsement from the Governor’s office and includes participation from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Response Unit, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and frontline professionals working directly with affected populations.

Commissioners were told the proposed event would be a four-hour summit, tentatively planned for February or March, and would include a panel of experts along with community leaders.

“We want you to be present,” Rose told commissioners. “You guys are our leaders, elected officials as well, and you’re the first ones we wanted to reach.”

Shust added that while January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, education should not be limited to one month.

“Every day is a day for people,” she said.

Following the discussion, the board moved on to routine business items, approving blanket purchase orders for Emergency Management equipment and CentOS software for District Two, employee forms, utility permits, private property agreements and a contract with Copy World for the County Clerk’s office.

Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore also provided a report, noting an increase in fire activity across the county.

“We responded to one structure fire the day before Christmas with Emergency Management and the Red Cross response team,” he said. “We’ve also had several grass fires throughout the county. We’re extremely dry,” he warned, adding that many fires are caused by landowners conducting burns when conditions are unsafe.

He explained that while drought conditions are worsening, specific statutory criteria must be met before a countywide burn ban can be enacted, though legislative changes may be forthcoming.