OKC-area events, news: OG&E teacher grants; Opening Night; Christmas concert and more

Staff reports
·4 min read

OG&E is offering teacher grants

Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. is offering teacher grants and donating $30,000 to fund projects that directly support local educators and students across Oklahoma through DonorsChoose, an online nonprofit that funds public school classroom projects.

Sarahi Garcia-Acosta, a pre-K teacher at Arthur Elementary School in the Oklahoma City district, directs her students as they use math manipulatives to understand important counting concepts. Through the online platform DonorsChoose, OG&E helped fund Garcia-Acosta's request for these critical classroom materials.
Sarahi Garcia-Acosta, a pre-K teacher at Arthur Elementary School in the Oklahoma City district, directs her students as they use math manipulatives to understand important counting concepts. Through the online platform DonorsChoose, OG&E helped fund Garcia-Acosta's request for these critical classroom materials.

DonorsChoose hosts thousands of teacher projects, from requests for basic school supplies to tablets in the classroom to help promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts and support students from low-income households in its service area.

OG&E encourages others in the community to support teachers through DonorsChoose and help them complete funding for their impactful classroom requests. Anyone can donate toward a teacher project, and donations are now being accepted.

To donate to a teacher or to find teacher projects OG&E is matching, go to donorschoose.org.

Waiver program aims to help survivors of domestic violence

EDMOND — The city of Edmond has launched a program to help survivors of domestic violence escape abusive situations and find a safe haven to begin the healing process.

The Domestic Violence Waiver Policy is a way to alleviate the financial barriers victims often face by waiving the deposit typically required to start, restore or transfer utility service for residences served by city of Edmond utilities.

Working in conjunction with the YWCA and Palomar, the Oklahoma City Family Justice Center, city staff has developed a form that survivors can provide to Utility Customer Service in lieu of their deposit.

To learn more about the program, go to www.edmondok.gov/1743/Domestic-Violence-Waiver-Policy.

The countdown to Opening Night has started

This year marks Oklahoma City’s 37th Opening Night. The event, presented by MidFirst Bank and the Inasmuch Foundation, will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Bicentennial Park, 500 Couch Drive. Performers range from Americana/roots rock to jazz, opera, rock ‘n’ roll, mural artists and more.

The night of food, fireworks and fun for people of all ages will feature live music in five locations, food trucks and activities for kids. Performers range from Americana/roots rock to jazz, opera, rock ‘n’ roll, mural artists and more.

Ring in the new year with the Finale Count Down to Midnight show, which includes live music by Shortt Dogg, a live countdown to midnight and the ascent of the Rising Ball followed by a fireworks show.

The OKC Streetcar will be free of charge on New Year’s Eve beginning at 6 p.m. There are two stops near the main entrance of the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Wristbands are $8 in advance and can be purchased at any OKC Metro Dunkin’ or OnCue, or online at https://www.artscouncilokc.com/opening-night/.

Ambassadors’ Christmas concert

The Ambassadors’ Concert Choir and Ambassadors’ Children/Youth Choir will present a Christmas Eve concert, “Behold This Star,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 5700 N Kelley Ave.

This year’s concert will honor longtime benefactors Richard and Jeanette Sias and their Ad Astra Foundation, which helped the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir in its infancy, said Sandra Thompson, artistic director of the 50-voice adult choir.

The free concert will be a mix of classical works, gospel, secular music and spirituals. The concert will close with selections from “Born to Die,” a work about the life of Jesus Christ written by Guthrie native Glenn E. Burleigh.

“Mr. and Mrs. Sias really loved this work, and helped us perform it several times,” Thompson said of Burleigh’s composition. “In honor and memory of them, we present a portion at this 2022 Christmas Eve concert.”

First Americans Museum introduces AT&T Sundays

First American Museum, (FAM), a cultural museum focused on promoting awareness and educating the community about the First American Nations in Oklahoma, covers cost of youth tickets for Oklahoma students with $250,000 contribution from AT&T and the AT&T Foundation.

Aidan Underwood is pictured outside the First Americans Museum. Students ages 4-12 can attend the museum for free every third Sunday of the month for AT&T Sundays.
Aidan Underwood is pictured outside the First Americans Museum. Students ages 4-12 can attend the museum for free every third Sunday of the month for AT&T Sundays.

Students ages 4-12 can attend First American Museum for free every third Sunday of the month for AT&T Sundays.

The mission of First Americans Museum (FAM) is to educate the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history and contributions of the 39 Tribal Nations in Oklahoma today.
The mission of First Americans Museum (FAM) is to educate the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history and contributions of the 39 Tribal Nations in Oklahoma today.

The museum opened in 2021 and provides visitors with an immersive experience rooted in the history of the 39 First American Nations in Oklahoma today. The museum provides 175,000 square feet of immersive exhibits, events, cafe and a gift shop.

For more information about hours and pricing, go to https://famok.org/.

To be considered for this column, please email news and events with photos two weeks in advance to DLindauer@Oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City metro-area happenings: News and events