This past Friday, HIW had the honor of hosting our first assembly of the year at Redstone Middle School, setting the tone for another year of character development, leadership, and anti-bullying work with students. The energy in the room reminded us exactly why this work matters, kids leaning in, engaging, and being reminded that there truly is a hero in every kid. We were also grateful to have members of the Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs State Advisory Group (OJA SAG) in attendance, witnessing firsthand the impact of prevention-focused, youth-centered programming. It was especially meaningful to see SAG Chair, Les Thomas in his element championing youth, community, and collaboration. During the assembly, HIW was honored to receive a BIG grant check from the SAG, that was awarded this past fall, affirming the importance of early intervention, character development, and school-based prevention efforts across Oklahoma. We are deeply grateful for the partnership, the trust, and the shared commitment to supporting young people. Moments like this remind us that when schools, nonprofits, and state leaders come together, real impact happens. Here’s to a strong start to 2026 and the meaningful work ahead.

We want to take a moment to celebrate and welcome the newest members of Heroes In Waiting. 5 new Heroes in the last 10 days!! @Edrick Rowena Rowena - Joining from across the pond in the UK... Welcome! Fitness Specialists: @Viola Hall - Excited about Fitness and Christ - and is looking to spread the light to the world. @Solange Jaouen - Certified Fitness and Nutrition Coach - Passionate about helping people in all walks of life. Multi-media Extraordinaires: @Ross Blythe - Specializing in Student Ministry and making lasting content that lands with the Youth. @Cameron Sutherland - The man behind the camera... let the mystery ensue By joining this community, you’ve stepped into something bigger than a curriculum—you’ve joined a movement committed to protecting children’s mental health, building belonging, and shaping safer school cultures. Your presence matters. Your voice matters. And your willingness to care helps create environments where kids feel seen, supported, and brave enough to be themselves. Whether you’re here as an educator, parent, counselor, coach, or advocate, thank you for choosing to stand up for kids who need it most. Every new hero strengthens our collective impact and brings us closer to a world where kindness leads and no child feels alone. We’re grateful you’re here—and we’re honored to walk this journey together. 💙 Please help spread the word about this place so we can come together and support each other in this meaningful work!

As a doctor, I see the stress families go through every day, and I understand that receiving a diagnosis is only the first step in facing an environment that doesn't always know how to be inclusive. In communities like this, focusing on bullying is vital because the invisible burden we call the triple shift also includes constant mediation with schools to protect the well-being of our patients. What is a profound challenge is when this double dimension occurs, where the parents themselves are also neurodivergent and must support their children through bullying situations. From clinical observation and analysis, we see fundamental points for building resilience: - Amplified challenges: The emotional exhaustion caused by bullying can be mutual. When the sensitivity of both parents and children is wounded at the same time, the family needs spaces of safety and validation above any other strategy. - Synergistic strengths: There is an intuitive neurological understanding that acts as a shield. A parent who processes the world differently can validate their child's pain without minimizing it, modeling a self-acceptance that is the foundation for facing social stigma. - From vulnerability to shared strength: The goal is not just for the child to fit in to avoid conflict, but to build environments where self-care and neurodivergent identity are seen as a value and not a weakness. Thank you for this space to talk about what really matters: transforming isolation into belonging. ✨