Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, April 13, 2026
Angelica Martinez Managing Editor
From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., March 27, in Ross Hall’s Johnson Auditorium, the Cameron University Office of Student Development hosted the Spring 2026 Leadership Summit, “Local Leaders: Voices in Our Community!” The panel-style event featured Lawton leaders from nonprofit organizations dedicated to community development, members of the Lawton City Council and alumni of the Cameron President’s Leadership and University Scholars (PLUS) program. The event was open to the public, including students, staff and faculty. Current PLUS students supported the event through introducing panelist, moderating sessions, and assisting with with setup and cleanup. Session 1 - Community Leadership: Action, Service, Impact The first session ran from 9 - 9:45 a.m., featuring three individuals from local nonprofit leadership. One of the panelists was Brenda Spencer-Ragland, founder and executive leader of Embrace Hope Collaboratorium Inc. SpencerRagland assists in life-skill development and oversees the C. Carter Crane emergency homeless shelter. Another panelist was Adriene Davis, founder of the Henry Hearts Feeding Ministry. Davis works to provide free meals and groceries to individuals in dire need of assistance. The final panelist was Bernita Taylor, founder and CEO of MIGHT Community Development and Resource Center (MIGHT CDRC).
Her mission is to provide collaboration within the Lawton-Fort Sill area to contribute to individual and family life skills and economic stabilization. Throughout the panel, each leader answered questions regarding the motivations of their nonprofits, advice for audience members interested in nonprofit work and how students can get involved. Taylor of MIGHT CDRC explained the importance of engaging with existing nonprofit organizations for the long-term success of the community. “Know what the groundwork is, where the nonprofits are and how you can support them,” Taylor said. “Because we don't need another nonprofit or to start a new nonprofit if there’s already someone trying to do it. Perhaps you can just go in and help there and be a part of that, expand it, do whatever it is that you need to do to help.” She emphasized that partnership between nonprofits and community members is the best way to truly get involved in nonprofit work. Session 2 - Lawton City Council: Shaping Our City The second session ran from 10 - 11 a.m. and featured four members of the Lawton City Council. The panelists consisted of Lawton Mayor Stan Booker, Councilman Taron Epps of Ward 2, Councilman Kirby Brown of Ward 3 and Councilwoman Sheren L. Williams of Ward 7. Each council member provided personal insights on the process of city government, discussed
Volume 114 Issue 7
more than 12 years of accounting experience at Hatch, Croke & Associates and serves on the Cameron University Foundation Board of Directors. She previously served as president of Lawton Business Women, was named the “2020-2021 Business Woman of the Year” and currently serves as the organization’s treasurer. Each panelist described how their college experience impacted their real-world workplace experiences. Spencer Brown discussed the importance of continuing to learn after graduation. Courtesy photo “I would encourage you to never stop learning. So many people two, the summit had a break challenges within government think ‘okay, I'm out of college. for lunch. and explained how the next I get to stop reading. I get to Session 3 - PLUS Alumni: generation can stay informed stop learning things. I just go From Learning to Leading and involved in Lawton’s local to work,’” he said. “that’s not The final panel featured government. how it is. You are constantly four alumni of the PLUS A major point of discussion learning things about yourself, program who discussed how was building trust among constantly learning things their education at Cameron Lawton citizens who may feel about your profession and that has helped them and their disconnected from their local has helped me find comfort in contributions to the Lawton government. the uncertainty.” community post-college. Mayor Booker explained Blackburn shared the One guest was Kyndall the different ways that Lawton importance of connecting Brown, owner of Ink Boutique elected officials build trust. within the community early. Oklahoma where she works in “Trust is a tremendous “If you don't know what factor that to do and you don’t improves even know where to “I would encourage you to never with different start, get involved in the elements” stop learning ... You are constantly community,” Blackburn Mayor Booker learning things about yourself, said. “If your degree said. “One path is business, then constantly learning things about your walk into the Chamber of of them is profession and that has helped me Commerce and say ‘hey, availability. One of them is find comfort in the uncertainty.” what is your next thing doing what you - Spencer Brown where I can meet people?’ say you'll do Go to Lawton Business Founder of Sanctuary 212 Women, go to rotary, go or be working on it. You to something where you don't get to can get plugged in. Take 3D areola restoration, scar and snap your fingers and things someone out to coffee and pick stretch mark camouflage and happen, especially because their brain.” permanent cosmetics. the mayor doesn't get to make Students at the event gained Another guest was her decisions on his or her own. impactful first-hand insight. husband, Spencer Brown, who It takes the entire council to After each panel guests were founded Sanctuary 212 (S212) make decisions … This is true able to interact with audience and, in collaboration with in any organization: things members in one-on-one MIGHT CDRC, established move faster when everybody conversation. The McMahon S212 Guest trusts everybody. When For student Sharon citizens trust the political body, House dedicated to housing Richardson, she was able and providing resources to then it moves faster as when to gain impactful first-hand young men aging out of foster the political body trusts the insight. care or who are otherwise administrative body.” “I had never really homeless. Williams expanded on this considered working for a Another guest for the point with her own perspective nonprofit before, but it really panel was Lizzy Reeves, on trust. stood out to me how much that the community engagement “First of all, you have to it could really (suit) myself and manager at United Way of communicate,” Williams my career development ... to Southern Oklahoma, where she hear from community leaders said. “I communicate with brings together the community and former Cameron graduates my constituents. You have to with resources that contribute build a rapport. When you're was great for perspective, to long-term thriving. communicating, you listen to advice and opportunities. You The final panelist what the constituents in your can learn a lot by listening to was Danielle ward need and what they the stories of others.” Blackburn, want.” who has After session
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