5th annual Hope Summit in Muskogee offers tools for trauma recovery

Join Muskogee's Hope Summit as it addresses tragedy and trauma with healing and hope. Share in tools, conversation, and community support on July 25.

Friday, June 20th 2025, 1:32 pm

By: Jayden Brannon

MUSKOGEE, Okla. -

In the wake of one of Muskogee’s most devastating tragedies, the community is turning to hope. The annual Hope Summit, now in its fifth year, will return this July as a space for healing and resilience.

The event was launched following a 2021 mass shooting that claimed the lives of six people, including five children. Local organizations have since joined forces to help residents process the trauma and move forward with purpose.

2021 Story: Man, 5 children dead in Muskogee shooting; suspect identified

A Tragedy That Changed a Community

On a February morning in 2021, investigators say Jarron Pridgeon opened fire inside a Muskogee home, killing his brother and five children. Three of the children were his own. The tragedy shocked the city and left deep emotional wounds.

Community members, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies responded by creating the Hope Summit, which aimed to address trauma and provide long-term support.

A Full-Day Event of Resources and Recovery

The Hope Summit features speakers, licensed therapists, counselors, and hands-on workshops centered around trauma-informed care. Organizers say the event is designed to help people from all walks of life.

“Trauma is in all of our lives, no matter if you think it is or you don’t,” said Lindsey Roberts with Neighbors Building Neighborhoods. “Having conversations about how to be hopeful and how to work through that trauma is something that impacts all of us and all of our communities.”

Tools to Take Home

Workshops at the summit provide actionable skills for coping with stress, loss, and emotional hardship. Resources are available for attendees to use in their personal lives, families, and workplaces.

“I hope that trauma training helps them become more informed about support and how to help one another out,” said Annie Czaruk of Fostering Hope. “And then get the services and the training that they need to help others as well.”

More from Annie Czaruk at video below:

Growing Every Year

Attendance has increased annually, with organizers expecting up to 500 participants this year. The summit attracts people not just from Muskogee, but from across Oklahoma and neighboring states.

This year’s Hope Summit is set for Thursday, July 25. Tickets are available online, and the event is open to anyone seeking tools and community support to deal with trauma.