Making Every Mile Shine: Mayor Holt’s Vision for a More Beautiful Oklahoma City
In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, sits down with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Natalie Evans, Executive Director of OKC Beautiful, to spotlight the crucial role local leaders play in creating cleaner, greener, and more vibrant communities.
Mayor Holt shares his personal journey and Oklahoma City’s renaissance—a transformation fueled by forward-thinking city policies, community partnerships, and ambitious public investments like the city’s signature MAPS initiatives. He discusses how dedicated funding for beautification and permanent staff positions is shaping the aesthetic and ecological future of OKC. Natalie Evans adds a hands-on perspective, detailing OKC Beautiful’s empowering initiatives—from massive tree plantings responding to recent natural disasters, to the innovative Tackle the Trails campaign where residents come together to clean every mile of the city’s public trail system in just one day.
Together, they explore how nonprofit and public sector collaboration is building momentum for the Greatest American Cleanup, a nationwide movement ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Tune in to hear how Oklahoma City’s story can inspire your own community to take action, and discover practical ideas for engaging citizens in beautification and sustainability projects.
Find out how you can get involved, access resources, and join the movement at kab.org/greatest. Listen to the full episode to be inspired by real-world solutions and join us on the journey to do beautiful things together!
Quotes:
“I love my city, and I recognize that beauty in all its forms is critical to having a city where people want to live, do business, move to, and visit.”
— Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma City, OK
“We’re not just building (tree) canopy—we’re building community.”
— Natalie Evans, Executive Director, OKC Beautiful
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Mayors Join Cleanup Initiative
- 06:06 “Transforming Public Art Leadership”
- 08:39 Oklahoma City’s Revival with MAPS
- 10:07 Oklahoma City’s Maps Initiative
- 14:43 Oklahoma City Tree Planting Initiative
- 19:17 Trail Cleanup and Awareness Day
- 22:11 “Competitive Beautiful Cities Initiative”
- 24:28 Plant Red, White, Blue for 2026
- 26:19 Leveraging Milestones for City Beautification
Show Links:
- Greatest American Cleanup: https://kab.org/greatest-american-cleanup/
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org. MEDIA CONTACTS: McCall Vrydaghs Keep America Beautiful® communications@kab.org