Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC) is offering a unique opportunity for individuals who have faced significant life challenges to pursue higher education through its Center for Social Innovation (CFSI). In this program, students like Nick Eston, who aims to become a diversion court lawyer, share their career goals with supportive classmates. Eston, reflecting on the group, noted that despite their diverse backgrounds, they share a common goal: “We’ve all been through a lot, and we’re here to create a better life for us and our families.”

CFSI, launched in 2020 with a $1 million grant from the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, is now in its fifth cohort. The program has become increasingly popular, with 150 applicants last year, of which 38 were selected. The two-semester program is designed for people who have faced barriers such as homelessness, incarceration, or domestic violence, offering them a path to higher education.

“It’s a program that braids higher education with transformative programming,” explained Senior Director Ariel Moore in an interview with KOSU. Beyond academic opportunities, students receive training in leadership and emotional intelligence, along with stipends to offset lost income from missed work. The program provides “complete wraparound services,” such as court support, assistance with family reunification, and help with sobriety and childcare needs.

Moore, who has personal experience with incarceration and addiction, leads the center with empathy and understanding. Her colleague, John Stanfill, also brings a unique perspective to the team. After being released from North Fork Correctional Center, Stanfill joined CFSI as a student while living at the City Rescue Mission. Now, as a data specialist at the center, he helps others find new opportunities through education.

For many, CFSI offers a life-changing experience. In a presentation, student Merrie Smith shared her aspirations to become a professor, aiming to inspire others who might feel that college is out of reach. Smith described the program’s supportive environment as crucial in helping her regain social skills after a period of isolation due to domestic violence.

CFSI’s impact is measurable. The program’s third cohort saw their average annual income rise from $10,000 to $37,000 upon completion, even without earning a degree. This reflects the center’s broader goal of breaking cycles of poverty and hardship.

“You think about generational chains breaking,” Moore told KOSU. “I don’t think that just meeting basic needs is ever going to change that.” With a high retention rate and students who are dedicated to building better futures, CFSI is proving that every day can be “kind of a miracle.”