Mandi Mays

What makes Mandi Wildly Capable?

Mandi has worked as the Neighbor Liaison supporting foster parents for years. She tirelessly serves them way beyond her 9-5 role, and she has several foster children herself. TRACY ZSERDIN 

What makes you feel proud? 

Being able to help people when it seems impossible makes me feel proud. When my four children see people as valuable and worthy and show it through their love and actions, I feel proud. When hard work comes together and changes people’s lives, I feel proud. Alongside my full-time job at Oklahoma Department of Human Services, I am finding ways to serve our non-profit as well as families and people in need. 

Who is the biggest influence in your life? Why? 

My husband. His life transformation over the course of our marriage is inspiring. He is brilliant, compassionate, understanding, and an amazing student – always seeking love, truth, and grace. 

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far? 

Parenting children from hard places. Foster care broke me but it also healed me. It is an obstacle I still struggle with daily – I want to give my adopted children a great life while dealing with their traumas. 

One year from today, how do you hope you’re different? 

I strive daily to be a better version of myself. I hope in a year I am further down that road and that I have created a new passion for people dealing with addiction. I hope that I have gained more knowledge to serve people better. 

What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community? 

Man, I have so many. I have a heart for justice and doing the right thing. I would love for people to be able to understand each other better. I think we would be a better community if we really understood who people are and how they got there. The name I use for this problem is Relational Poverty.