News from the Ada Jobs Foundation
Conduit Coders Make History: National Champions in Youth Coding League
Friday, December 13th , marked the end of another season for the Conduit Coders, the Youth Coding League team that the Ada Jobs Foundation supports with the help of the Build to Scale grant. In their third season, the Conduit Coders continue to grow and shine even...
Grind and Shine: Kaibree Flood’s Journey from Student to Entrepreneurial Storyteller
Sometimes it is the unexpected moments in life that can lead to new and surprising journeys. In the case of Kaibree Flood, the unexpected was a three-hour course that she needed for her minor in Mass Communications. She discovered during her last semester of college,...
Exploring Data Democracy: Vinayak Mitty on AI, Machine Learning, and Empowering Businesses
A little over a year ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with Vinayak Mitty, the Director of Data Science for LegalShield. We discussed his path to data science and how machine learning and AI can transform industries. At the time, Mitty was also about to begin...
Conduit Startup Showcase: Celebrating Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation
Anticipation filled the air as fifteen entrepreneurs, representing nine different projects, prepared to present and compete for cash prizes. November 7th had finally arrived, and it was time for the Conduit Startup Showcase, a pitch competition hosted and organized by...
An Interview with Carol Ervin, President and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation
On October 21st, Carol Ervin joined the Ada Jobs Foundation as their new President and CEO. Ervin, who has already done great things in Atoka, Bartlesville, and McAlester, is excited to bring her wealth of economic development experience to Ada. I had a chance to sit...
Oka Camp: A Day of Learning, Reflection, and Connection at the Blue River
The rapids are a soft constant clatter The trees are starting to remember it's fall All the plants are leaning into the water almost to hear its wise advice Two damselflies landed on my finger, adopting me into their home I remember I'm part of their world too --Reece...
Harnessing the Strengths of Rural Education: ECU’s Innovative Approach
No two schools are the same. One of the greatest differentiators between school districts is that of the urban versus rural divide. Each school is going to face their own challenges, but the hurdles that rural school districts face are unique to their own...
Collaborative Water Monitoring Initiative Launched with G2G Grant
The Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) is requesting submissions for qualified vendors or applicants to take part in a groundbreaking new water project. You can access the RFQ, or Request for Qualifications, at the following link: RFQ. This document outlines the requirements...
From Streams to Solutions: Kimberly Elkin’s Mission to Protect Our Watersheds
Kimberly Elkin is passionate about the environment. In fact, she was born on Earth Day. She wants to improve our freshwater ecosystems, but she also wants to educate the public so they can be a part of this movement as well. She knows that things won’t improve unless...
ADA JOBS FOUNDATION NAMES NEW PRESIDENT & CEO
Ada Jobs Foundation Board Chair Christy Idleman announced today that the economic development organization has hired Carol Ervin to serve as their President & CEO. This engagement follows a national search conducted by Community Growth Strategies, LLC, a...
Conduit Coders Return: A New Season of Innovation and Growth
After a stunning first year with the Youth Coding League, a national coding competition for young people, the Conduit Coders are returning for a new season. This team refuses to rest on their past accomplishments and eagerly anticipate competing once again at a high...
Innovative Leadership in Environmental Science:Dr. Saba Tahmassebi and the Future of Kerr Lab
Dr. Saba Tahmassebi, the Director of the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, has always liked figuring out how things work. He sees problems as opportunities and enjoys discovering solutions. He doesn’t look at the world in terms of difficulties or...
Building a Business from the Ground Up: How Tek-Work is Transforming Computer Repairs in Ada
By: Sunnie Dawn Baker Mike Smith was 10 years old when he learned that he could successfully take apart a computer and put it back together. His parents grounded him and forbade him from playing computer games. However, as many 10-year-olds may do, he thought he could...
Work Ready Ada: Transforming Lives Through Employment Readiness
By: Sunnie Dawn Baker Cassie Burrows knows what it’s like to need a new purpose and a new path. Her mother had been diagnosed with cancer and Burrows used her family medical leave to stay home and take care of her. Unfortunately, after she exhausted her leave, the...
Bridging Academia and Industry: Research Commercialization in Ada
By: Sunnie Dawn Baker As part of the Conduit Initiative’s strategy to encourage a technology and innovation-based economy, the Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) partnered with the Chickasaw Nation, the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, and the Oka’ Institute to...