By: Jim Hill
Urban centers throughout the country continue to see the huge benefits of partnering with the OK Program as new chapters have been launched in Indianapolis, Indiana, Conyers Georgia, located in Rockdale County, about 23 miles east of Atlanta, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Indianapolis, which hosted an OK chapter in the 90s, has recommitted to the Program thanks to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Troy Riggs. The Chief has assigned two Indianapolis officers to work with African-American boys at Arlington Community High School and Arsenal Technical High School.
The effort to bring the OK Program to Rockdale County was spearheaded by Courtney Dillard, founder and CEO of The Leadership Team, an organization that tackles the problem of absent fathers by working with organizations like the OK Program. Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett and Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson, are supporting the Program through the Sheriff’s office. The launch plans are being finalized for the Program that will have three police officers working with four middle schools and three high schools throughout Rockdale County.
More than 80 boys are participating in the Kansas City Program. The partnership is with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, Hickman Mills C-1 School District, St. James United Methodist Church, and the City of Kansas City. Veteran Kansas City police officer Garron Carter, the OK Program Coordinator, is currently working with Smith Hale Middle School, Hickman Mills Freshman Center, and Ruskin High School.