Helping the hive thrive

When one mom asked “What’s next?” for her daughter with disabilities, she sparked a community powered by connection

When Melissa Collyar’s daughter, Hannah, graduated from Norman North High School, she faced more questions than answers about what came next. Hannah needed intensive, hands‑on support — help that went beyond a part‑time job coach. No programs met her needs, and Collyar kept asking herself, “What’s next?”

Then, a phone call from former special education teacher Loralei Gann sparked an idea that quickly grew into something bigger than Collyar imagined. Within eight months, that idea became SunHive Collective, a nonprofit providing purpose-filled programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Norman area.

The name came from a simple phrase that captured the vision: Be the hive.

“We’re a group of individuals working toward the same goal, just like bees,” she said. “And the sun? That’s the fun, cheerful energy we bring.”

SunHive began with six members and four staff in a borrowed church classroom. Today, it serves more than 30 individuals with a team of 18. The organization’s growth highlights the need for meaningful options for adults who often age out of school-based support with no clear path ahead.

SunHive now operates on a 20-acre property where members help care for gardens, goats, chickens and a miniature donkey named BamBam. The collective hosts themed camps, forges community partnerships and creates a place where individuals of all abilities are seen and celebrated.

“We treat our members like the adults they are,” Collyar said. “They take care of the land, care for animals, work on art projects, learn life skills and most of all, they belong.”

A mission that resonates

That sense of purpose reached OEC Fiber, the broadband subsidiary of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, after the co‑op published a member profile on Collyar in 2022. The broadband team saw a natural fit between co‑op values and SunHive’s work.

“We were so inspired,” said Erin Garcia, copywriter and media specialist at OEC Fiber. “It was one of those things that just resonated. SunHive is filling a major gap in one of the most underserved communities, and as a co-op, that’s what we’re here to do — serve.”

While Oklahoma Electric Cooperative provides SunHive’s electric service, OEC Fiber was in a unique position to offer additional support. During SunHive’s critical first year, OEC Fiber provided one year of complimentary high-speed fiber internet service.

“That kind of reliability was something we could do to help them get off the ground,” Garcia said. “And from what we’ve seen, it made a huge difference.”

For SunHive, that connection wasn’t just a convenience — it was essential.

“There’s no way we could run our program without high-speed internet,” Collyar said. “Everything we do depends on being online.”

From checking members in to teaching cooking and life skills, nearly every part of SunHive’s rhythm depends on connection.

More than a provider

OEC Fiber’s team sees partnerships like these as more than good PR. They’re the heart of what makes cooperatives different.

“We’re not just here to collect a payment each month,” said Burns Thornton, creative services and marketing specialist at OEC Fiber. “We want to tell our subscribers’ stories and be a part of something meaningful in our community.”

Thornton captured SunHive’s journey in a video feature for OEC Fiber. While he’s documented many subscriber stories, this one stood out.

“It was eye-opening,” he said. “We take internet for granted, but for SunHive, it’s vital. It’s how their members learn, express themselves and feel empowered.”

Brooklyn White, who leads OEC Fiber’s marketing efforts, echoed that sentiment.

“SunHive Collective came to us with an idea, and we were able to say, ‘We believe in this. Let’s help,’” White said. “That’s the beauty of being a cooperative — we’re flexible, community-focused and built to serve.”

Rooted in purpose

SunHive is a hive in every sense of the word — a community of individuals working toward a common goal. And like the bees its name references, the collective thrives when connected.

As OEC Fiber continues to grow, its team remains committed to those connections. Whether it’s powering a family farm, a small business or a nonprofit like SunHive, every partnership is rooted in the same principle: improving quality of life for members, no matter where they live or what challenges they face.

“Our members can choose rural life without sacrificing the services they need,” Garcia said. “And that’s the kind of difference we’re proud to make.”

Hannah once spent entire days on her iPad in isolation. Now she is doing daily art projects, her favorite activity, as part of a joyful community.

Collyar hopes SunHive will inspire similar collectives across the state. Across Oklahoma, adults with disabilities age out of school-based support each year. Programs like SunHive offer a blueprint for inclusive, community-driven care, especially in rural areas where options are limited.

SunHive welcomes volunteers, donations and community partnerships. Learn more at sunhivecollective.com. Every helping hand makes the hive stronger.