A new program called Bridges Out of Poverty is coming to Okmulgee, intended to help families break the cycle of poverty. City leaders said it's a free 20-week course that will give the community tools, training, and support to overcome financial barriers.

The first course will be held Jan. 6, 2026, from 6 to 8 PM, at First Free Will Baptist Church, located near West 12th Street and Oklahoma Avenue.

Krystle Hilton knew firsthand what poverty was like.

"My husband and I went through homelessness, we lived in our car That was like the lowest point of our lives," said Hilton.

According to Data USA, Oklahoma's poverty rate was about 23% in 2023 - nearly double the 12% national average.

Chet Cottom, the president of Okmulgee's Bridges Out of Poverty, said his plan should bring those numbers

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