Upward Transitions Honored by National Initiative for Civic Bravery

OKLAHOMA CITY – Local nonprofit organization, Upward Transitions, has been recognized by The Courage Project, a new national initiative that aims to recognize and inspire actions at the community level bolstering civic engagement and inclusive community values as well as to honor and celebrate everyday acts of civic bravery.

United Way Worldwide is one of the founding partners of The Courage Project, along with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Freedom Together Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, Surdna Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Skillman Foundation. The Courage Project is backed by an initial $10 million commitment with additional funding and partners expected in the future.

Upward Transitions is part of a small group of awardees announced on June 30, 2025. The award comes with a grant of $20,000 to honor the 100-year-old Oklahoma City organization’s actions and to help continue the vital work during a challenging time for so many civic groups and those they mean to help.

“The work that you are doing to prevent families with minor children and seniors from losing their housing through eviction is noteworthy and demonstrates how Americans can support their communities to ensure everyone thrives,” said Shital C. Shah, Senior Advisor of Special Initiatives of United Way Worldwide.

Upward Transitions was founded as Travelers Aid in 1925 and is celebrating its centennial this year. Known as the “go-to” agency for retrieving State IDs, birth certificates, and other identifying documentation for people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma County, Upward Transitions has expanded in the last 100 years and branched out into more areas of community service. The Courage Award recognizes the work of its Community Outreach Program which assists families in need with paying rent and utilities to avoid eviction and thereby the risk of homelessness.

With a staff of only 11, Upward Transitions assisted more than 4,000 individuals in need last year. The organization’s homeless services case managers hold office hours at local partner organizations weekly making the organization’s services and resources more easily available to people with transportation barriers. The organization partners with more than 50 other local agencies and has been a United Way of Central Oklahoma Community Partner for 100 years. Its mission is to prevent generational poverty through community collaboration, emergency relief and empowerment, therefore inspiring hope with our neighbors experiencing housing instability.

“We are overwhelmed by this award,” said Upward Transitions’ CEO, Periann Pulliam. “We do this work because it is critical to preventing families with children and seniors from becoming homeless and to help remove barriers to employment, housing, and other services for those who are currently unhoused. To be recognized for our work and mission in the company of the other amazing recipients is an honor.”

For information about Upward Transitions, its programs and services, visit www.upwardtransitions.org, or contact Conna Dewart, Development and Public Relations Manager at 405-232-5507 or cdewart@upwardtransitions.org.

Information about The Courage Project can be found at the project's website:  www.thecourageproject.org.

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