Cathedral of Hope OKC honors Cole McAfee as 2026 Hero of Hope

Cathedral of Hope OKC, a leading, progressive, Christian congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ, proudly announces Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Cole McAfee as the recipient of the esteemed 2026 Hero of Hope award.

Cole McAfee (they/she) is the Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, where they work to foster physical, material, and emotional safety rooted in community that does not change based on any of the identities someone holds or where they call home through information sharing, community building, and art-based activism that centers 2SLGBTQ+ people in Oklahoma.

They also organize in community with Home Base, the People’s Budget Coalition, No New Jail OK, and Oklahomans for Privacy, working to build local power to disrupt carcerality, practice hope, and practice futurism rooted in shared values. They live in OKC with their spouse, Andrew, and three cats, Sabrina, Annapurrna, and Brunhilda, where they enjoy building strength in their Empowerhouse gym community, yapping about whatever they’re currently reading, trying new hobbies (currently junk journaling and collaging), and planning their next travel opportunity.

The Hero of Hope award ceremony will take place during Cathedral of Hope OKC’s evening service on Sunday, April 26th, at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Church of the Open Arms, located at 3131 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City.

At the event, Cole McAfee will deliver a keynote address and receive the Hero of Hope award. Following the service, a reception will begin at 7 p.m., offering attendees an opportunity to celebrate Cole McAfee’s achievements and engage in fellowship. All members of the community are cordially invited to attend both events.

Previous recipients of this prestigious accolade include esteemed figures who have made indelible contributions to fostering inclusivity and compassion in Oklahoma City. Past Hero of Hope honorees include:

• Rev. Bruce Lowe, Southern Baptist minister & author of “Letter to Louise” (2006)
• Jim Roth, former Corporation Commissioner and County Commissioner (2007)
• Kay Holladay, co-founder of PFLAG-Norman (2009)
• Bob Lemon, attorney and equal rights advocate (2011)
• Dr. Ed Shadid, Oklahoma City Councilman (2012)
• Mr. Ginger Lamar, community activist and entertainer (2013)
• Rev. Scott J. Hamilton, LGBTQ advocate and minister (2014)
• Mary Arbuckle, Executive Director of Other Options (2016)
• Paula Sophia Schonauer, advocate, educator, and author (2017)
• Sara Cunningham, activist for Free Mom Hugs (2018)
• Robin Dorner, Editor-in-Chief of The Gayly (2019)
• Victor Gorin, community advocate (2020)
• SISU Youth Services (2023)
• Councilman James Cooper (2024)
• Representative Cyndi Munson (2025)

Cathedral of Hope OKC is a welcoming, progressive, and inclusive Christian congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination. Committed to promoting diversity and embracing individuals of all backgrounds, the church’s mission is to “empower people to experience the presence of God, to grow towards wholeness, and to act in love.” For more information, please visit www.cohokc.com.