Academics call it social capital. We might call it networking. Because of the success of OCPA’s J. Rufus Fears Fellowship, the Heritage Foundation invited OCPA to a small gathering of state leaders to discuss how to build social capital and use it to implement conservative policies. I am writing to you this morning from the conference.

How can conservative organizations help conservative governors and legislatures pass legislation—education choice, lower taxes, regulatory reform, etc.—and effectively implement it? That question is the focus of Heritage’s “Supporting the States” conference. About 22 leaders from around the country were invited to participate.

Representatives from the Republican Governors Association are on hand to provide the governors’ perspectives. Much of the discussion centered on filling a governor’s cabinet with strong conservative voices, surrounding the governor with effective staff, and filling appointments on boards and commissions. This is where social capital is essential and where OCPA’s J. Rufus Fears Fellowship shines. 

Young leaders in our network of 350 Fears Fellows are filling many of these roles in Oklahoma. Governor Kevin Stitt has several on his staff. Others have been appointed to state boards. OCPA’s Fears Fellowship is doing exactly what Heritage and others believe is essential to advancing the freedom agenda.

Social capital is built by identifying young leaders, providing them training, and networking them together so they can call upon one another as opportunities arise. When Fears Fellows working in state offices hear of an open position, they recommend other Fears alumni and the number of fellows working in positions of influence grows. That is the power of networking. That is the power of social capital.

The model works in other agencies as well. OCPA regularly receives calls from government or political offices looking to hire bright young talent. Through the Fears Fellowship, we have a list of strong prospects. Once one is hired, others follow. It has happened over and over again across Oklahoma.

Of course, I am learning a lot at this Heritage conference about how other states run their leadership programs and how their networks feed into their state governments. I am proud to share with the nation the success that we have had in Oklahoma.

Off to the next meeting. This morning we are talking about where in the political cycle it is most important to plug in key ideas and key personnel. Looking forward to telling more Oklahoma stories.