OSU-OKC to host annual spring gathering with keynote speaker O’Connor

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Media Contact: Matt Price | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-945-6733 | matthew.l.price@okstate.edu

According to the keynote speaker for Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City’s Spring Gathering, finding alternative revenue sources could be key to expanding nonprofits in the coming years.

OSU-OKC will hold its annual Spring Gathering, a public service lecture, at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, in the North and South conference rooms of the Student Center. This year’s keynote speaker is Whitley O’Connor, chief social enterprise officer for the Homeless Alliance and creator of the award-winning street paper, Curbside Chronicle.

The Spring Gathering aims to unite students, faculty and community members to discuss pressing social issues and explore innovative solutions. This event is part of OSU-OKC’s ongoing commitment to public service and community engagement.

“The Spring Gathering is our signature public service event on OSU OKC's campus,” said Lathonya Shivers, public service program coordinator at OSU-OKC. “It's a lecture where we invite a public servant to come and talk to our students about their work in the community. We have a variety of public service practitioners who come, people who run nonprofits, selected officials, people who are engaged in community volunteering. It's a great opportunity for our students to hear from people who are really making an impact in our community.”

O’Connor’s work with Curbside Chronicle has provided individuals facing homelessness with opportunities to earn income and gain valuable skills. His lecture will focus on the importance of social enterprise and its role in generating revenue for nonprofit organizations, aiding clients and reducing reliance on traditional funding sources.

“A lot of nonprofits are using social enterprises, which are businesses that nonprofits use to not only generate income for their nonprofit, but they also make an impact for the individuals that are served,” Shivers said. “So, by providing these kinds of lectures, it really gives students the opportunity to learn what public servants do, the transformational services that exist in our community, and hopefully inspires them to be more engaged in their communities.”

The lecture is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is limited. For more information, please contact the OSU-OKC Public Service Program at 405-945-6792 or visit the university’s website.