Oklahoma Future Caucus lawmakers earn Collective Impact Awards
December 29, 2022
Lawmakers who have helped address challenges affecting Oklahoma’s future, such as the loss of young people to opportunities in other states, received some national recognition recently.
Oklahoma Future Caucus co-chairs Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton; Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City; and Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, stand with fellow member Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, after accepting the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award on behalf of the caucus during the recent Millennial Action Project Rising Stars Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
(Courtesy photo)
Lawmakers who have helped address challenges affecting Oklahoma’s future, such as the loss of young people to opportunities in other states, received some national recognition recently.
Representing Oklahoma’s Future Caucus, Sens. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, and John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, and Reps. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, and Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, traveled to Washington D.C., where they received Collective Impact Awards presented during a Millennial Action Project Rising Stars Awards ceremony.
According to a news release, the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award is meant to honor “future-focused” leadership and political bridge-building at the state level.
“The nonpartisan Millennial Action Project brings together young state legislators from around the nation to encourage them to reach across the aisle and be proactive in finding common-sense solutions to prevent future problems, and this is what our caucus has accomplished,” Hicks said. “I’m incredibly grateful to MAP’s leadership and all my colleagues who consistently look for post-partisan solutions to the challenges we are facing in Oklahoma.”
In the fall of 2020, Oklahoma became the 30th state to form a Future Caucus. The bipartisan group is made up of more than 30 Senate and House members, all 45 years old or younger.
In the past two years, members of the Future Caucus have authored nearly 40 bills to address issues especially important to future generations, Montgomery said. Among other things, they’ve addressed concerns surrounding financial literacy, health care, internet connectivity, and other issues that may prevent young people from launching careers and building long-term futures in the Sooner State.
“I’m grateful for the strong leaders in our caucus and their courage to seek innovative ideas and put partisan politics aside for the betterment of our state,” Montgomery said. “We hope more young Oklahoma legislators will join us to share their ideas and perspectives. Collaboration is imperative to successfully address difficult issues.”
Pittman said she is a strong believer in the potential of young lawmakers to work together to meet challenges affecting all Oklahomans.
“I joined the Future Caucus because it is a national safe space for young, diverse elected officials to share experiences and best practices,” she said. “We must continue to move our nation forward through the Millennial Action Project model and find common ground that will first help us unite, then we can implement policy to become the world leaders in prosperity and peace,” she said.
In addition to Hicks, Montgomery and Pittman, the Oklahoma Future Caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan.
The award ceremony was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. To learn more about MAP and the Rising Star Award, visit futurecaucus.org/risingstarawards.
Join 1,800+ BIPARTISAN LEADERS NATIONWIDE
Be a part of a network of lawmakers committed to governing effectively, passing more representative public policy, and increasing public trust in democracy.