Community Learning Series Launched Last Week Last month, more than 80 community members joined us for our first of six community engagement sessions. Our January session reviewed the Economic Opportunity theme of the Tulsa Equality Indicators report. Panelists were Charity Marcus, co-founder of Black Women Business Owners of America; Karen Pennington, Executive Director of Tulsa Community WorkAdvance; Modisane (Modi) Kwanza, VITA Coordinator/Financial Resilience Programs Manager of Goodwill Industries of Tulsa; and Michelle Barnett, Deputy Chief of Economic Development at the City of Tulsa Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. ► Key Takeaways Panelists provided insight about their organizations’ efforts to address disparities in economic opportunity, relief and recovery efforts during COVID-19, and their long-term goals and visions for greater economic opportunity and equity. - The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development is using Tulsa Equality Indicators data to drive change, such as the recent creation of a new economic development entity focused on increasing shared prosperity and racial equity.
- Tulsa Community WorkAdvance is launching Retrain Tulsa to help people most impacted by COVID-19 find new career paths and refocus on high demand jobs by providing access to career services and soft skills training.
- Goodwill Industries of Tulsa has launched its Financial Navigator Program with the City in response to emergency needs many residents are facing due to COVID-19. The program offers assistance to access unemployment benefits, rental assistance, avoiding eviction, payment plans, and more. The Financial Empowerment Center offers additional services to assist with money management and will help individuals achieve long-term financial goals.
- Black Women Business Owners of America is focused on helping women access resources, information, tools, people, and funding to support entrepreneurship.
| |
► Resources & Links Below are links to resources that were shared during the event. | |
