News Releases

Charlotte Anderson Becomes Oklahoma’s Fourth “Kid Governor”

December 14, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Includes Photo and ID

Contact: Joe Dorman, CEO – Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy

Telephone: (405) 833-1117

Email: jdorman@oica.org

Charlotte Anderson Becomes Oklahoma’s Fourth “Kid Governor”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) announced nine-year-old Charlotte Kennedy Anderson of Edmond is the new “Kid Governor” for Oklahoma. Charlotte became Kid Governor during OICA’s annual Fall Forum recently-held virtual conference.

Candidates for Kid Governor submitted one-minute campaign videos, which were viewed by a panel that included child advocates, professionals, and journalists. After narrowing down the list, the panel virtually interviewed the finalists and selected Charlotte to be Kid Governor.

“The entire panel of evaluators was very impressed with Charlotte and how she presented herself in the campaign video she submitted, along with her interview,” said Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of OICA. “While there were many excellent candidates to be Kid Governor, Charlotte displayed the poise and maturity one would expect from a young adult instead of a nine-year-old.”

The purpose of the Kid Governor program is to give young Oklahomans an advocate in their state’s future through a peer. During their term, the Kid Governor is the voice and face of OICA’s efforts to address statewide issues affecting Oklahoma children’s well-being.

“I am very grateful to have been given the chance to speak for young Oklahomans,” Charlotte said when accepting the post. “This past year has been really tough, and Oklahoma is 49th out of 50 states for the health of our kids, all while we are in the middle of a pandemic!

“But I know together we will make 2021 better. We have a lot of work to do, and I am excited to get started: let’s put our masks on and let’s go!”

Among the issues important to Charlotte are the need to wear masks to protect against COVID-19, the importance of vaccinations, kids being active, and their ability to share their feelings.

Charlotte is the daughter of McKenzie and Matt Anderson; she is the granddaughter of Cheri Bonsteel, David High, and David Anderson. She is a fourth-grader at Edmond’s Chisholm Elementary School, learning through Virtual Edmond.

Charlotte is the fourth Oklahoma youth selected to be Kid Governor. She follows two-term Kid Governor Luke Peterson, Audrey Patton, and the first Kid Governor Justin Evers. Kid Governor began in 2016 as a joint project of Sunbeam Family Services, Inc., and OICA; beginning with Charlotte’s term, OICA is the program’s sole sponsor.

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