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Jonny’s Gifts
When I met Jonny Skye , the Peoria tribal citizen, she allowed LEAD to choose one of her paintings to visually represent this year’s Tar Creek Conference, only to discover the title “It is in the Water” would also serve as our theme. The other paintings needed to be seen and I was pleased when she agreed to allowing us to host an art show for the public. Downtown Miami came to life one night this week at the time most towns close up. LEAD Agency held space open to the public
leadagency
Oct 293 min read


Reflecting on the 27th Tar Creek Conference
Earlier this month, LEAD Agency held our 27th National Environmental Tar Creek Conference on Oct. 7, 8 and 9 at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami.
To kick off this year’s conference, on October 4 we co-hosted an inaugural disc golf tournament, the Tar Creek Open, at the Veterans Memorial Disc Golf Course, located near Tar Creek in what used to be a residential neighborhood before residents were forced to move due to repeated flooding. It’s been our dream for many

Kim Barker
Oct 223 min read


The Project: What’s in the Air in Your House
The investigation of what’s in the air inside homes in Miami, OK in the far NE corner of Oklahoma is based on a discovery made 28 years ago.
A family moved into a home in a nice neighborhood, moving from a state that required childhood blood lead testing, both testing negative. After living in their home only 6 months 2 of the children tested positive. Upon investigating the playroom, the air vent cover was lifted and the HVAC duct had deteriorated and what seemed like gr

Rebecca Jim
Oct 123 min read
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Mom Guilt
Environmental Activism was never something I thought would be my life's work, but it found me. It was not like getting hit over the head...
Kindel Maymi
Mar 28, 20233 min read


I Come Back
Many years ago, my dad experienced a moment that occurred one afternoon in downtown Vinita. Two old Cherokee men were walking toward each...

Rebecca Jim
Mar 26, 20233 min read


Light of the Moon
Over the last few months, I have continued to listen to your stories and have been touched by the generosity you have shown not only to...

Rebecca Jim
Mar 21, 20233 min read


Start with Trees
LEAD’s Community Garden went to sleep for the most part during the Pandemic. We didn’t gather volunteers, no Garden Parties, not a weekly...

Rebecca Jim
Mar 4, 20233 min read


Lowdown at the Coleman
The takeaway for me was, run as fast as you can, dance every dance, do what you will, but do it NOW. The days may be numbered to...

Rebecca Jim
Feb 24, 20233 min read


You Have a Right
2/12/2023 Channeling my thoughts with you, from my heart to yours. I am angry that YOU have been disrespected. People who made decisions...

Rebecca Jim
Feb 12, 20233 min read


Not a Party Girl
I don’t get invited to many parties. The best thing that ever happened to me was being a ROPES course instructor. Why? The games. And the...

Rebecca Jim
Feb 12, 20234 min read


Big Chicken Got Cooked
It took 13 years for the judge in Tulsa to make his decisions about the way Big Chicken junked the Illinois River Watershed. But the decisio

Rebecca Jim
Jan 29, 20233 min read


More Than Shade
There is power in trees. They can heat us in the winter they can cool us in the summer. They can lift our spirits, they can transport us...

Rebecca Jim
Jan 19, 20233 min read


We All Dream
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others? Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. I had one too. His...

Rebecca Jim
Jan 19, 20233 min read
Checking My List
The season lies about us and remaining on my list are those closest to me. The dear and most cherished, the remarkable cogs that turn...

Rebecca Jim
Dec 26, 20221 min read


No Body's Story
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens Dickens' A Christmas Carol is read on Christmas...

Rebecca Jim
Dec 26, 20223 min read


Off Duty
Jennifer Little, the gift LEAD Agency got for Christmas arrived early enough to capture the seasons of joy and the stark reality of our...

Rebecca Jim
Dec 11, 20224 min read


It's Hard
I knew it would be hard. The questions on the Flood Survey need to be answered but the heartache and disgust of what past floods have...

Rebecca Jim
Nov 26, 20223 min read


Survey Your Moment
What is LEAD Agency doing right now? We are deeply into surveys. The word survey can be both a noun and a verb, since a survey can be a...

Rebecca Jim
Nov 21, 20223 min read


A Night Out
Red Dirt and Brownfields was not a place but a time. A Geography professor, a filmmaker, an author, a photographer and an activist met...

Rebecca Jim
Nov 21, 20223 min read
Who Done It?
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ― Maya Angelou This town has...

Rebecca Jim
Nov 21, 20224 min read


Black and Orange
What right do a group of fellows have to violate the Clean Water Act and dam up a natural flowing stream? No right. It is against the...

Rebecca Jim
Oct 30, 20223 min read
The Bridge
"Action is the bridge between thoughts and reality" ~ Richie Norton I'd like there to be a future. Of course there will be a future,...

Rebecca Jim
Oct 30, 20223 min read


Wednesday Morning
Together we have thought and pondered. We have tuned up our voices. And practiced believing our lives matter. There have been alignments...

Rebecca Jim
Oct 15, 20224 min read
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