On behalf of the Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa, I am writing to express my deep appreciation and "thank you" to the individuals, organizations,state agencies, and early learning professionals who have taken an active interest in the Mind in the Making Early Learning Modules.

   Growing from a pilot project of Tulsa Area United Way's Success by 6® Initiative into community-wide initiatives in Tulsa, Bartlesville, Bristow, Sapulpa, and Sand Springs, the Mind in the Making Early Learning Modules have provided a way for communities to link together and support adults caring for our young ones.           

   Special thanks to the participants of the 2005 Mind in the Making Institute and a very special "thank you" to Phil Dessauer, Jr., Executive Director of the Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa for letting me jump into the national field-testing pilot project way back in 2004!  I would like to also thank the following individuals, agencies, and organizations for providing support, guidance, and much needed funding over the last 2 years:

George Kaiser Family Foundation

Tulsa Area United Way 

Oklahoma State Department of Health 

Chet Rafferty

Dawn Parton, Associate Professor, Tulsa Community College

Child Care Resource Center (Tulsa)

Delaware Child Development Resource & Referral Agency (Bartlesville) 

Nina Sazer O'Donnell, Families and Work Institute

Ellen Galinsky, Families and Work Institute

Dr. Mimi Graham, Florida State University

Dr. Craig Jones, University of West Florida

Diana Montoya, University of New Mexico  

Jenger Baker, Tulsa Community College

Angi Bauer, Tulsa Community College

Michelle Kingsley, Tulsa Public Schools

Kelly Caldwell, Fellowship Bible Church - ABC Preschool

Debby Ihrig, Bristow Public Schools 

Heather Little, Our Friends Child Care, Sapulpa

Sherry Newman, Kid's Castle, Sand Springs

Heather Haynes, Bartlesville

Cinthia Adair, Sapulpa

   Oklahoma shines again for putting young children first through innovative support for adults working with young children.  Being a Missouri girl - Oklahoma showed me the meaning of "community" by supporting development of  life long learning experiences and learning communities for the young children of Oklahoma.  Thank you! 

Tori Rafferty

Mind in the Making - OK Project Director

August 2006