TulsaPeople February 2023

FIRST OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS Leaders with Heart

HARD WORKING. LOYAL. COMMITTED.

Lew Erickson is known for her can-do attitude, boisterous laugh, faith and a heart for service, which comes through in everything she does.

“It gives me joy to help other people. That’s what puts the bounce in my step,” Lew says.

“I want to wake up each day and be more Christlike, serve others.”

With over 35 years of banking experience, including eight years at First Oklahoma Bank, Lew is a commercial lender with an expertise in health care and real estate. She is responsible for the bank’s private banking offering.

Giving back has always been a part of her life, and something her parents and grandparents modeled through their community and church involvement. Her father was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; her mother’s outreach was through golf. Lew watched and learned.

“Golf opens communication and builds relationships. Both my parents were involved in sports, my dad a coach and my mom a P.E. teacher. Golf was my way to be an athlete and fit into my family. I learned later that golf was a plus for a business career. I tell young women that if they have the chance to learn golf at a young age, do it.”

Lew was a daily presence at the 2022 PGA Championship this past summer. Since 1993, Lew has served on a United States Golf Association committee and officiated at many golf events, including the U.S. Women’s Open, the NCAA Championship and the Curtis Cup Match. Her experiences have ranged from keeping her eye on a bear in a tree as she was starting the players in the U.S. Women’s Open in Colorado, helping Jack Nicklaus with a bee sting, and making sure that the standard bearer for Tiger Woods got his autograph.

Through golf, Lew became involved in the Tulsa chapter of the American Heart Association. Other organizations near to her heart have been Young Life, a Christcentered ministry that builds relationships with high school students to help them grow in their faith, and The Common Good, which helps families in need in northwest Tulsa.

“Lew is the standard for a relationship banker. She embodies our core value of treating others as we would want to be treated. Her clients become her friends. People trust her – she’s smart and extremely talented,” says Tom Bennett III, CEO and President of First Oklahoma Bank.

“First Oklahoma Bank is very communityfocused,” Lew says. “When the pandemic hit, everyone at the bank rolled up their sleeves and worked day and night to help small-business owners apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. I think when that happened, you really saw the heart of First Oklahoma Bank. It involved everybody in the bank.”

Midtown: 4110 S. Rockford Avenue | South: 100 S. Riverfront Drive, Jenks www.FirstOklahomaBank.com

Oklahoma Heart Institute offers a cardiac CT angiogram scan that is more than 95 percent sensitive in detecting heart disease. This painless imaging test shows exactly where your blockages are and how severe they are in just seconds. This means easy and early detection of heart disease.

Learn more at oklahomaheart.com/betterscan.

7

CITY DESK

A new look for the Center of the Universe. Emmy-winning puppeteer calls Tulsa home. Local teen develops new app for parents. Art for Ukraine.

TABLE TALK

New bakery has us happily waiting in line. Ice cream heart cakes for Valentine’s Day. 3 places for hot chicken. Sober sips. 91

LIFESTYLE

Chocolate-centric Oklahoma destinations.

Hawley Furniture’s new home. Specialized care for the youngest and oldest.

Connie Cronley’s latest musings.

Chicken, lamb and falafel wraps from Pita Place

Weight-loss surgery can change lives

Hear success stories at a free seminar

Many people have their lives changed through bariatric surgery. And the first step for many is attending a seminar. Meet our care team, learn more about surgery, and hear success stories from other patients. Get answers to questions, too. Know that we’re maintaining strict precautions to keep you safe in our care.

To sign up for a weight-loss surgery seminar, call 918-205-7665

Weight-loss results may vary depending on the individual. There is no guarantee of specific results.

Some say February is for lovers.

ere’s the obvious Valentine’s Day — a day for telling those closest to you how much you love them. Steak, chocolate and a bottle of wine do the job well.

en there’s Galentine’s Day, which seems to have become a holiday all its own and one easily adaptable to your best group of gal pals. We can all thank the ctional Leslie Knope of “Parks and Recreation” for this uno cial holiday, at least that’s what Google and Cosmopolitan tell me. Tulsa retailers and restaurants are paying attention to this calendar newcomer and I’m grateful for it.

On Feb. 12 the Super Bowl brings football fanatics together with people who only watch one game a year (that’s me) over the love of snacks, barbecue, beer and any kind of powdered cheeseencrusted crunch.

is month TulsaPeople’s focus turns to food, too, as writer Natalie Mikles shares ve foodie nds (p. 82). You might have driven past these countless times or seen social media posts about

6 TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2023

Volume XXXVII, Number 4 ©2023. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage.

TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by 1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407

P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926

one of their great avor concoctions. No matter what, we suggest you give these a try when you have the hankering for something di erent.

Natalie also checks in on downtown’s Lowood, gives us three spots for spicy fried chicken and spills on the bakery that sells out every Saturday.

Also this month we cover education in Tulsa — from private school and college guides to various program highlights happening across town.

Junior League of Tulsa — a collection of women leaders committed to changing our city for the better through volunteerism and community action — celebrates a centennial milestone this month. Starting on p. 73 see what this organization has done for Tulsa.

Many of us have a piece of JLT in our homes in the form of its cookbooks — collections of recipes perfect for any occasion, perhaps even one this month. TP

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller

EDITOR Anne Brockman

DIGITAL EDITOR Tim Landes

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Blayklee Freed CITY EDITOR Tiffany Howard

EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford

ART DIRECTOR Georgia Brooks GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ashley Guerrero MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER Michelle Pollard VIDEOGRAPHER Greg Bollinger

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Andrea Canada ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Josh Kampf Rita Kirk

CONTROLLER Mary McKisick

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall INTERN Abby Medico

Langdon Publishing Company sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue of Tulsa People was printed on recycled fibers containing 20 percent post-consumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.

Disregard any TulsaPeople subscription solicitation that is not directly mailed from the Langdon Publishing office at 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Contact Langdon Publishing directly if you are interested in subscribing or renewing your TulsaPeople subscription.

Anne Brockman EDITOR

MEMBER

FROM

Keys to the future

Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance offers summer coding camp sessions designed to help middle school girls gain the computer science skills necessary to make an impact through future technology careers. Participants learn coding basics, how to build websites and robots, design their own business and develop strong relationships with mentors in the field. The camps are just one of the many programs TRSA has developed to provide learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math to Oklahoma students. TP

LEARN MORE ABOUT TULSA REGIONAL STEM ALLIANCE ON P. 22.

Coding camp participants Shilpi Bardhan and Finley Buchner work with RedFlight Innovation’s Robinne Eller to troubleshoot their code for a robotics dance competition.

NOTEBOOK

BY TIFFANY HOWARD

Center of the Universe redesign

Necessary structural updates to the Boston Avenue Pedestrian Bridge — better known as the Center of the Universe — also will bring exciting aesthetic changes and new amenities. But Tulsans can rest assured nothing during the renovation process will affect the legendary echo anomaly so many visit the site to experience. Brian Kurtz, president and CEO of Downtown Tulsa Partnership — the organization steering COTU’s design and planning as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County — discusses what Tulsa can expect.

HOW WILL THE COTU’S REDESIGN IMPROVE THE SPACE FOR TULSANS? Even in its current condition, it’s a major draw for people who love it for what it provides — a public gathering space with an incredibly fun experience. When the renovation project is done, it will continue to serve in these same capacities, plain and simple. The benefit of this project is injecting quality design, materiality and programming into the space.

Dense urban places require greenery and shade — spaces that serve as respites or escapes from our places of employment or residences — and this design introduces each of these elements. Downtown needs more parks and public spaces, and we (can) recreate this concrete bridge into a beautiful gathering space.

WHICH OF THE NEW DESIGN ELEMENTS OR FEATURES WERE SUGGESTED BY THE PUBLIC? The entire space as presented is informed by public responses and ideas that have come forward throughout the conceptual design process … From day one we heard that no matter what happens to the look and feel of the space, the echo must remain! The design team brought in an acoustic engineer to ensure that, when all is said and done, Tulsans will still be able to experience the acoustic anomaly.

HOW WILL IT SERVE TULSA’S CREATIVE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS? From the overall design to its daily use and experience, art is a critical part of this project. The design features two flat or terraced lawn areas on each end of the bridge that can serve as venues for performances and events, whether planned or impromptu. In addition to restoring (the sculpture) “Artificial Cloud,” there will be opportunities to commission new public art works for permanent placement as well as future opportunities for temporary works of art.

Learn more about the project at recentertheuniverse.com.

READ MORE OF THIS CONVERSATION AT TULSAPEOPLE.COM

MONTEREAU LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST

BOOKER T. HITS BIG ANNIVERSARY IN 2023

Booker T. Washington High School is celebrating 110 years of unparalleled academic access for students. Opened by Ellis Walker Woods in 1913, BTW’s original four-room frame building was established to ensure Black children could receive an excellent education and make an impact on the world. Named one of the best high schools in America by U.S. News in 2020, BTW continues to build on its tradition of educational merit and athletic prowess, serving students from every racial, ethnic, religious and socio-economic group in Tulsa. For the past five years (excluding 2020), the average scholarship amount received per graduating class is $23,216,737.

Voices of Oklahoma

“It’s easier to be ugly to someone you don’t know. But when you get to know that person, then it’s pretty difficult. Because you realize that person has the same dreams you have, grew up, sometimes, in the same way, had parents saying the same things. Praying to the same God. To know that person — that makes all the difference in the world ... My advice (to young people) is to dream big and to know that the world is open to you today like it’s never been open to you before. And you have the right, and you have all of the resources available to you.” — Civil rights activist Joyce Jackson was the first Black female journalist in Oklahoma television history. She was also part of the Katz Drugstore sit-in in 1958 — the beginning of a movement that contributed to race relations reform in Oklahoma.

“Voices of Oklahoma” is an oral history project founded by John Erling in 2009. Visit voicesofoklahoma.com.

Montereau Retirement Community launched its new podcast “Vitality Matters” in December. With a primary focus on aging services, a new episode each month will touch on key components to enhancing vitality: social, intellectual, physical, spiritual and emotional. Find the podcast at montereau.net and on other popular podcasting platforms.

COTU: MKSK STUDIOS; JACKSON: COURTESY; BTW: SARAH WALKER

Proposed elements of the Center of the Universe redesign include all new hardscaping and sidewalks, terraced lawns, a train watching/seating area, shade structures, accent lighting, large shade and decorative trees, native plants and a play area for families.

Booker T. Washington High School’s pom squad and students gear up for last year’s homecoming during a pep rally.

FEBRUARY

COMPILED BY BLAYKLEE FREED

FEB. 1

GILCREASE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

While the museum is closed for renovations, see Pop Chalee’s “Forest Scene” in select locations around town as part of this pop-up museum series. Installations will be taken down toward the end of the month, so hurry and catch a glimpse before it goes. Various locations.

GILCREASE.ORG/GILCREASE-IN-YOUR-NEIGHBORHOOD

FEB. 10-11

PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS

For two days, the PBR Express Ranches Classic will be at BOK Center, presented by Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. See top riders in action competing in the nationally televised Unleash The Beast series.

BOK CENTER, 200 S. DENVER AVE. BOKCENTER.COM

FEB. 17

STAINED GLASS CLASS-AND-SMASH

Tulsa Stained Glass has a series of “date night” events planned in February, so grab your sweetheart or your best pal and make your own stained-glass project. All classes include a Rage Room experience where participants chuck ceramics to release tension.

TULSA STAINED GLASS, 4131 S. SHERIDAN ROAD TULSASTAINEDGLASS.COM

FEB. 17

COMEDY SHOWCASE

Aunties Acting Up brings hilarious Indigenous women to the stage for a night of comedy, music and fun.

Nathalie Standingcloud hosts.

THE VANGUARD, 222 N. MAIN ST. THEVANGUARDTULSA.COM

FEB. 5

GOLDEN HURRICANE BASKETBALL

The University of Tulsa men’s team takes on our neighbors to the north, the Wichita State Shockers, for a Sunday face-off at home. Also catch the Golden Hurricane at home Feb. 15, 21 and 26.

REYNOLDS CENTER, 3208 E. EIGHTH ST. TULSAHURRICANE.COM

FEB. 17-19

VINTAGE TULSA SHOW

Find the treasures of yesteryear you’ve been searching for at this show with vendors galore.

EXCHANGE CENTER AT EXPO SQUARE, 4145 E. 21ST ST.

HERITAGEEVENTCOMPANY.COM/VINTAGE-TULSA-SHOW

FEB. 19

GREENWOOD CULTURAL CENTER SERIES LAUNCHES

Kicking off this month, the Don Ross Speaker Series brings Justin Hansford, associate professor of law at Howard University and executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center. GREENWOOD CULTURAL CENTER, 322 N. GREENWOOD AVE. GREENWOODCULTURALCENTER.ORG

FEB. 18

ANCIENT

TU BASKETBALL: DAVE CRENSHAW/COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA; GILCREASE: COURTESY; PBR: ANDY WATSON/COURTESY BULL STOCK MEDIA; STAINED GLASS: GREG BOLLINGER; VINTAGE TULSA: HERITAGE EVENT COMPANY; HANSFORD: AAE SPEAKERS; TRAIL TREK: MICHELLE POLLARD

HAZEL TURNER

BY TIM LANDES

It’s break time for Hazel Turner. She takes a seat in a booth by the front window of White River Fish Market, 1708 N. Sheridan Road, to discuss her four-decade service to the restaurant that has been feeding Tulsans since O.T. Fallis opened it in 1932.

What started as a second job in 1981 eventually turned into a full-time position that has Turner working an average of 37 hours a week. It’s anyone’s guess how many llets of sh she’s delivered to tables.

“Oh my God, I can’t even imagine. I’ll just say a bunch,” she says as she laughs.

TURNER MOVED TO TULSA FROM TAFT IN 1973. SOON SHE WAS WORKING AS A TELLER AT FOURTH NATIONAL BANK OF TULSA, WHERE SHE MET FALLIS, WHO BANKED THERE

I worked at the bank for 32 years. Mr. Fallis was one of my customers. He came in one day (in 1981) and he said, “Hazel, I’m getting ready to sell my restaurant.” I couldn’t believe it. So maybe a week or two had passed and here comes the new owner: Mr. (Gary) Cozzby. He said he was from Texas and he had gone shing with Mr. Fallis at his favorite spot on the White River in Arkansas and that’s when they talked about selling the business. Maybe two or three months had passed and I saw Mr. Cozzby and told him I was looking for a new job. He said, “You come out this coming Saturday, and we’ll see.” Now here I am.

ORIGINALLY TURNER WORKED FOR WHITE RIVER SELLING FOOD AT JAZZ EVENTS IN GREENWOOD, MAYFEST AND TULSA STATE FAIR ... We’d sell so much gumbo and seafood salad we had to run back to the restaurant here and get more gumbo over and over again. I was giving out gumbo samples at the fair — we

were out there, oh my God, about 27 years. It’s so funny, we nally said to Gary, “We are getting kinda old. We don’t think we’re gonna do this anymore.” He started laughing.

SHE EVENTUALLY STARTED WAITING TABLES WHEN SHE WASN’T WORKING EVENTS, WHILE ALSO WORKING AT THE BANK DURING THE DAY UNTIL HER RETIREMENT FROM THERE IN 2009. THAT MEANS MANY OF HER CUSTOMERS HAVE CROSSED OVER TO BOTH PLACES, AND SOME HAVE GROWN UP WITH HER ... Some of my bank people still come in here. is young man came in here recently and he said, “Hazel, it’s you!” He had this big beard. en he said, “You used to give me suckers at the bank!” I thought “Oh my God, where does the time go?” We have people coming in here with their kids and they say, “I used to come in here as a kid and you’re still here. I didn’t scare you away?!”

SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANOTHER RETIREMENT DATE IN

SIGHT ... It’s like spending time with my family here. We are a close-knit group. I like it better here than I did at the bank.

SHE HAS SERVED AN UNIMAGINABLE NUMBER OF FISH OVER THE DECADES, BUT SHE HAS NEVER GROWN TIRED OF IT ... I love sh. I’m a cat sh lady. On Fridays, I bring cat sh home and my brother, who lives with me, we enjoy it.

HER FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB IS MEETING NEW PEOPLE I’ve been known to talk too much. (laughs)

SHE CELEBRATED HER 73RD BIRTHDAY IN NOVEMBER BUT FEELS ... 50ish. I feel good.

HER ADVICE FOR READERS IS ... No matter how old you are, if you feel like you can still do work, don’t go home and sit down. Don’t stop being active. Find something to do. Volunteer at a church or somewhere. Keep yourself motivated. TP

WHITE RIVER FISH MARKET WAITRESS

STORY AND PHOTO

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FIRM FOUNDATION

TULSA NONPROFIT CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SUPPORTING HIGH SCHOOLERS’ COLLEGE DREAMS.

BY ZACK REEVES

The Simon Estes Educational Foundation Inc. has donated millions in scholarships for students who have the brains and ambition to make it to university, but not necessarily the funding or support. Behind it all is the tireless work and big heart of co-founder Jayne L. Reed — or “Mama Reed,” as her students lovingly refer to her.

It all started in 1983, when Reed was on Tulsa Opera’s board of directors, and internationallyacclaimed bass baritone Simon Estes was booked for a show. Reed — who, since becoming a parent, had become concerned with the ability of her community’s high school students to nance college — decided to ask Estes to help local students.

“My friends said, ‘It’s a nice idea, but he doesn’t even live in the United States. He’s busy,’” Reed recalls. “But my heart told me I had to go for it.”

After calling his hotel room and asking if he’d speak at McLain High School to encourage the students, Reed was delighted when Estes agreed. at speaking engagement led to a concert, for which Estes waived his own fee. All the money went toward a small scholarship fund which, that year, put two students through college, and the foundation was born.

Since then, Estes has performed many more times in Tulsa, continuing to waive his fee and direct proceeds into the foundation. With the addition of grants, in-kind gifts and corporate and

individual contributions, it has ful lled 428 Tulsa high schoolers’ dreams of college.

But the support doesn’t just end with the cutting of a check; Reed and the entire board also provide emotional support for the duration of students’ college experiences.

“Mentorship is key to our scholars,” Reed says. “Ninety percent of applicants are rst-generation college students, and they may lack resources and a support system. We are here for you as surrogate parents, if you feel uneasy or need to talk at any time.” She says she’s even driven to Norman in the middle of the night when a student needed her.

“We don’t just give them a check and say goodbye,” Estes adds. “Jayne and the board follow through with these students, and that support contributes to their success. Many came from underprivileged backgrounds but are now lawyers, doctors, nurses and educators, touching thousands of others’ lives.”

In celebration of its 40th year, the foundation is expanding its reach and opening scholarship opportunities to students not only in Tulsa County but also in Creek, Osage, Okmulgee, Pawnee, Rogers, Wagoner and Washington counties.

“It all started 40 years ago with a handshake and continues today due to the generosity of the Tulsa community, for which we are eternally grateful,” Reed says.

To make a donation, visit seef.org. TP

SCHOLARLY PURSUITS

Jackson Bailey

Jackson Bailey, Simon Estes Educational Foundation scholar, graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 2021 and is in his sophomore year of college at Tennessee State University. Of the support he has received from the foundation and its co-founder, Jayne L. Reed, he says:

“Ms. Reed is always a pleasure to talk to when I am having issues with specific classes or teachers. Having someone aside from family to talk about my problems has helped me de-stress at times. With the financial help I receive I don’t feel any burden or need to take out any student loans.

“Right now college is great. I have a 3.7 GPA, and my favorite part of school is being part of the Aristocrat of Bands. Once I graduate, I plan to pursue a master’s and doctorate degree in education and become a band director at an HBCU (historically Black college or university).”

Graduating from Edison Preparatory School in 2016 and the University of Oklahoma in 2019, former foundation scholar Rylie Durham now lives in Japan with her husband and daughter. As a second grade teacher on an Air Force base, she says she is now able to pass on the same support she received from the Simon Estes Educational Foundation to her own students.

“Education is a passion for me,” Durham says. “The foundation’s financial and emotional support allowed me to focus on my schoolwork instead of stressing so much about paying for college. And throughout college, I knew the foundation would be there for me if I needed them. Ms. Reed has always been incredibly supportive. She would call just to check in with me and tell me how proud she was.”

“I absolutely strive to give the same support to my students,” she adds. “Everyone needs someone in their corner.”

— TIFFANY HOWARD

The foundation’s scholarship application window is Feb. 1-March 17. Students with financial need and a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to apply by going to seef.org.

Rylie Durham

Jayne L. Reed

Simon Estes

REED: MICHAEL BULMER; ESTES: DSM MAGAZINE; BAILEY: GREG BOLLINGER; DURHAM: EMILY WILSON

OUR HOUSE

CASA DE LA CULTURA IS A NEW HUB FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

BY FELIPE OYARZO

Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) is one of Tulsa’s newest Latino organizations, joining the many Hispanic churches, supermarkets and media outlets enriching the local social and economic landscape. Located at 1515 N. Harvard Ave., Suite E., Casa is an independent nonpro t o ering art and musical pursuits to all ages, as well as opportunities to learn more about Hispanic culture.

“I want Hispanic children who were born in Oklahoma to know their cultural roots and to feel proud of their ancestors’ culture,” founder Francisco Treviño says.

Treviño dreamed of o ering a space like this for a long time, but the pandemic prevented him from pursuing it. With the Commemoration Fund providing a grant to begin interior construction, Casa nally opened its doors this past October. Ivan Reyes Milan, the Mexican state of Zacatecas secretary, attended the inaugural ceremony. While Casa is not politically a liated, it is supported in part by Federación Casa Zacatecas (the Zacatecas House Federation from Mexico), San Luis Potosí and Aguascalientes in Mexico, as well as local Hispanic businesses and George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Treviño’s vision is to engage both nonHispanic and Spanish-speaking groups and to o er dedicated space to advance Hispanic arts. On Wednesdays, Casa o ers guitar lessons ($20 per

session) for adults and students ages 8-14, and art classes ($5; materials and snacks included) are held in Spanish for children ages 5-10 on Tuesdays.

“ e art classes have become a center for community in the short time we’ve held them,” Treviño says.

In the evenings, TelaTúlsa theater company utilizes Casa as a rehearsal space, with hopes to get more young adults interested in acting. Casa also lends space to organizations like Young People of the Next Generation to hold FAFSA and Oklahoma Promise workshops.

“We are allowing these organizations to use our building to connect with our communities,” Treviño says.

On average, 50 people participate at Casa each week, and Treviño plans to triple that number this year. e Guatemalan Consulate just celebrated a community service event that gathered around 400 Guatemalans from a four-state area.

Casa’s future programming goals include o ering entrepreneurial skill set development, Mexican folk-dance lessons for children and activity options for seniors, like lessons in Danzón — a traditional Cuban dance. e Mexican Consulate also will partner with Casa to o er cultural programming.

Treviño says he would like to thank Tulsa for the organization’s acceptance into the community. Visit casadelaculturatulsa.org to learn more. TP

PITCH PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

On Dec. 9, KIPP Tulsa high school seniors demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurial prowess during the school’s inaugural pitch competition.

Challenged to come up with a unique product or service, senior teams presented two concepts before a panel of judges: ASAP Essentials, a Redbox-like service to help north Tulsans gain easier access to everyday essentials; and MEGA WAVE Comics, a comic book company focused on creating diverse characters within the superhero world.

Put on through a partnership with Littlefield Agency, a Tulsa-based marketing agency that works with local and national brands, the pitch competition was the first of its kind for Tulsa high schools. The MEGA WAVE Comics team took home the $5,000 scholarship — donated by Littlefield — and plan to invest the money into what they hope is the beginning of a life-changing brand.

“We want to make sure everyone feels included while also being entertained,” says Adrian Jasper, who’d originally come up with the concept in sixth grade with his friend, Colin Hurt. “It’s important because you don’t really see minority-made comic books.”

In the weeks leading up to the competition, teams received mentorship by Littlefield staff.

“This was one of the best decisions our agency has ever made,” says Sam Littlefield, president and CEO of Littlefield Agency. “The most important thing is that these teams created a product or service that can actually make a difference in today’s world.”

Littlefield was connected to KIPP through Tulsa Area United Way earlier in the year.

“We got together for a brainstorming session to really think about how we can make sure there are pathways for our students to succeed in Tulsa and beyond,” says Ray’Chel Wilson, director of development for KIPP Tulsa Schools.

In addition to future pitch competitions, Littlefield and KIPP are exploring potential shadowing and internship opportunities for students.

— TIFFANY HOWARD

Children participate in an art class at Casa de la Cultura, the first Hispanic cultural center of its kind in Oklahoma. Inset, Francisco Treviño, Casa’s founder.

LEA ESTE ARTÍCULO EN ESPAÑOL EN TULSAPEOPLE.COM

KOTV anchor Autumn Bracey, Littlefield Agency CEO Sam Littlefield, KIPP Forward Director DeAnn Cooks, and winning scholarship pitch team Jayden Garcia, Adrian Jasper and Shannon Tillis

SEEING STARS

STORIES BY ETHAN VEENKER

Starry-eyed, taken uncharitably, might mean naive or idealistic, but if you ask Cheyenne Smith, founder of the Tulsa chapter of Science Heads, you’d get a de nition more in line with passionate, or courageous.

“I didn’t see anybody of color (who was) into astronomy growing up,” she says. “And so subconsciously I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t for me.’”

She doesn’t want others to feel the same. “I want more people to be astronomers,” Smith says. “Making it more visible and more accessible is my main mission.”

Smith, who by day is communications coordinator at Tulsa Artist Fellowship, was researching how to build her own mobile science center in 2019 when she encountered Science Heads. e California-based nonpro t partners with schools and teachers to provide STEM-based programming, with a clear soft spot for astronomy. ey host “astronomy nights” for students to study the stars and o er opportunities for the kids to design experiments they send into the atmosphere with weather balloons, among other programming.

One of those programs involves the Mobile Observatory, or MOBS — a portable observatory with nighttime and solar telescopes and no shortage of astronomical gadgets. Built into a trailer, the MOBS can be towed to di erent locations and also happened to be just what Smith was looking to build.

Smith pivoted from hosting small star parties in her backyard to instead building a public-facing MOBS for Tulsa. All funding is from Tulsa-based organizations including TYPROS, Builders and Backers, and George Kaiser Family Foundation.

At this time the Tulsa MOBS is still under construction, but it has turned into a community endeavor with help from Tulsa Welding School and other volunteers who have been inspired by Smith’s vision. Additional help may still come from a local contractor, and she aims to have the nishing touches done by late spring.

Upon its completion, expect to see the MOBS around town, in places like Chandler Park or O’Brien Park. She’s aiming for future partnerships with local schools and, of course, to hold some communal astronomy nights.

“I want to have a night for everybody,” she says. “Not just for kids. I especially want to be intentional about targeting minority and BIPOC communities — girls and women, women of color and other people of color.”

Science, after all, is for everyone. TP

For further information or to find out how you can help, Cheyenne Smith can be reached by emailing her at cheyenne@blackspacegirl.com, or on Instagram @blackspacegirl.

ALL LIT UP

Route 66 has attracted travelers from around the world in its near century of existence. Lately, those cruising through Tulsa’s 28-mile stretch of the Mother Road will notice a fresh glow of neon lights adorning local businesses.

“We thought, ‘What’s a way we can impact the 28 miles of Route 66 in Tulsa and do something meaningful?’” says Ken Busby, executive director and CEO of the Route 66 Alliance. “And the thought was, ‘Oh, neon signs! We have some, but we could use more.’”

The Route 66 Neon Sign Grant, a brainchild of the City of Tulsa’s Route 66 Commission, began granting funds in 2019 for businesses along the famous road to install or refurbish their own neon storefront signs (though it doesn’t have to literally be neon, so long as the aesthetic influence is clear).

At about a 90-10 split between new and refurbished, the grant has so far provided funding for over 50 signs, including recent additions at Decopolis (1401 E. 11th St.), Josey Records (1020 S. Rockford Ave., Suite B.) and Chicken and the Wolf (3136 E. 11th St.).

The grant was inspired in part by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture’s relocation of the Meadow Gold sign to near the corner of East 11th Street and South Peoria Avenue in 2009, but also by a recent influx of tourists interested in neon signs, Busby says.

Economic development is the aim, and as Busby reports, “We have heard — anecdotally — from some of the (storefronts with signs) that it’s really increased their business, even locally.”

Interested business owners can find more info at cityoftulsa.org/neongrant, including specific guidelines for eligibility. TP

Ken Busby

TULSAN IS BUILDING AN OBSERVATORY ON WHEELS TO BRING ASTRONOMY TO EVERYONE.

Passionate about astronomy and making it accessible for all, Cheyenne Smith is constructing a mobile observatory to take into places like local schools and parks for Tulsa communities to study the stars.

HELP 24/7

YES TULSA OFFERS CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

Where do you take a child experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis? Before intervention centers like the CALM Center and YES Tulsa, options were limited to hospitals and justice system involvement.

e CALM Center and YES Tulsa are two Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma initiatives, with YES Tulsa being the latest addition. YES Tulsa is the city’s only 24/7 crisis intervention center for outpatients, complementing the inpatient services o ered at the CALM Center, explains CRSOK Executive Director Bryan Blankenship

YES Tulsa, launched in 2021, moved to a new location at 9912 E. 21st St. in November 2022, expanding the center’s capacity to six family rooms where youth ages 5-17 and their families can rest, connect to health services and leave with resources to help.

“We call them a family room because we have a limited time (because) we’re not an inpatient facility. e goal is to discharge by 23 hours 55 minutes, before the 24-hour mark, so they are (considered) outpatient,” explains Solmaz Bulut, YES Tulsa program director, while giving a tour opening day to local media, police o cers, educators and social workers. Bulut describes the space as “a hub” for youth and their families seeking emergency services that include mental health screenings, prescriptive medication and trauma-informed crisis intervention.

“Emergency departments are so full of kids, they don’t have enough trained people to be able to assess the situation and make the referrals, and they will be waiting in the hospital rooms,” Bulut says. “It’s pretty traumatic, too, because it feels isolated. People don’t know how to take care of (the kids) or how to intervene.”

Bulut stresses the importance of YES Tulsa’s family-style model of care. It’s not a place where kids are dropped o , but rather a place where parents and caregivers can work through problems and identify a continued care plan after discharge in step with professionals.

YES Tulsa is operated by CRSOK in partnership with Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. “ is is the entryway into all of the bigger things that we have planned for the Tulsa community,” CRSOK Board Chair Deneisha Johnson says. “I have been to a similar facility before as a patient. It was so much scarier than this. I walked in and I thought this is nice, this is calming. I would like to get help here.”

Johnson says she grew up in Texas the daughter of a parent with a mental illness. “In my adulthood, I was diagnosed with that same mental illness, and I nd myself saying, ‘Wow, what if there had been a YES Texas? What if there had been a CALM Center in Fort Worth? How would my adult views have been transformed if my youth had been transformed?’”

For more information, visit crsok.org. TP

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Jackie Lawson speaks fluent numbers, thanks to an associate degree in accounting, a career in banking and 20 years of retail tax preparation experience.

Lawson started volunteering around 1987, when she took advantage of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. “They taught me how to do my taxes, then I had to help others,” Lawson says, explaining the trade-off. She took classes taught by the IRS on how to prepare tax returns by hand during the day while processing transactions for Bank of Oklahoma at night.

After volunteering with the program for close to six years, she stepped back to spend more time with her kids. Then, three years ago (during the pandemic), she saw in her church communication that Tulsa Responds was looking for volunteers to meet with people remotely and help them file taxes from home.

As church secretary, Lawson wanted to help her community and “be a touchpoint to let people know about the program,” she says.

VITA is a well-established program, operated by Goodwill Industries of Tulsa and Tulsa Responds — a free one-on-one navigation service to help Tulsans enroll in benefits programs that launched in April 2020. IRS-certified volunteers help households with incomes under $60,000 by preparing, reviewing and e-filing state and federal returns for free.

“In the 2022 season we helped file for 3,270 households and generated a total of $5,530,728 of refunds and tax credits back to the City of Tulsa,” says Emily Russell, program manager for Tulsa Responds.

Lawson considers it her civic responsibility to make the process understandable and to educate her clients about preparing and filing their taxes. “That’s what drives me,” she says.

Information about making an appointment is at getyourrefundtulsa.org.

— JANE ZEMEL

Jackie Lawson

YES Tulsa’s new facility is the city’s first 24/7 Urgent Youth Crisis Assessment Center, offering six rooms for youth and their families to rest in and receive services. Inset, Solmaz Bulut, YES Tulsa program director; Deneisha Johnson, board chair for Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma; and Andre Campbell, CRSOK clinical director

The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine has been impacting our state’s health for 50 years and counting.

What began in 1972 with an inaugural class of 36 here in Tulsa is now one of the top osteopathic colleges in the nation. Our alumni are practicing today in family medicine as well as pediatrics, OB/Gyn, cardiology, anesthesiology and other subspecialities in Tulsa and across the state.

Our mission to educate Oklahoma’s future physicians is stronger than ever.

To learn more visit medicine.okstate.edu.

TOMORROW

’

S INNOVATORS

TULSA REGIONAL STEM ALLIANCE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS TO GLIMPSE FUTURE CAREER PATHS.

BY ROBERT EVATT

With partnerships in 78 school districts across Oklahoma — and still growing — the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance provides an array of exciting learning activities for K-12 students across the state. Last year, more than 50,000 students engaged with TRSA-a liated opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math including robotics clubs, drone competitions, science fairs, coding clubs, and much more.

“We believe kids deserve the opportunity in and out of school to see what is possible and determine how they can get to that future,” says Levi Patrick, executive director for Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance.

TRSA helps students in three major ways. e rst is to provide college and career-ready experiences that allow students to feel secure in their capabilities and demonstrate how others just like them are using STEM skills to solve problems, Patrick says. For example, TRSA teams up with Tulsa Community College to host the annual Sonia Kovalevsky Day, named after the rst woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics. e event empowers female students by allowing them to see themselves in the STEM eld and dream of potential career paths.

Extracurricular o erings are TRSA’s second major focus, with ongoing clubs and special events providing the opportunity for students to delve

deeper into their interests and discover even more STEM opportunities in the world.

“ e students who continually succeed in STEM experiences have STEM experiences beyond the school day,” Patrick says. “Students that don’t could lose their competency during summer breaks.”

Finally, TRSA helps puts on competitions for students to gain real world experience solving STEM problems while also learning to work in a collaborative environment to overcome challenges. Just one of these competitions is the SeaPerch Challenge, in which K-12 students build underwater robots that must perform a series of tasks. is year’s event, scheduled for March 23, is a qualifying event for the International SeaPerch Challenge in May. ose interested can sign up through Feb. 19 by going to tulsastem.org/ seaperch-challenge.

In addition to student programs, TRSA also provides professional training opportunities to help teachers and volunteers become more e ective STEM mentors. According to Patrick, interested organizations don’t have to be in Tulsa — TRSA has partnered with groups as far away as Oklahoma City and Guymon.

To learn more about programs o ered by TRSA or for partnership opportunities, visit tulsastem.org. TP

BUILDING TULSA’ S WORKFORCE

The Tulsa area has hundreds of intern positions open each year at local businesses and nonprofit organizations, but college students near and far don’t always know about those opportunities.

That’s where Campus Tulsa comes in. Brooke Randels, Campus Tulsa program director, says the program connects college students to relevant paid internships.

“We’re taking a very strategic approach to the students we work with and are reaching out to student populations who haven’t really had access to some of our more corporate and nonprofit spaces and internships,” Randels says, “… making sure they’re aware of these opportunities and (have) the confidence to go ahead and apply.”

Students don’t need to be from Tulsa to find an internship through Campus Tulsa, though Randels says local students are encouraged to apply. “How many Tulsa students are graduating and ready to step into these spaces where they can get the education to fill the workforce here?” she asks. “It’s not the number we want, so we spent a lot of time … working with our institutions and companies and nonprofits to make the matches happen once the students are in school.”

Randels says data shows students who land an internship in Tulsa are more likely to stay after they graduate. “If we can get a student here twice (hired for two internships), the data shows if the job is here, if the opportunity is here, then they’re going to say yes.”

Campus Tulsa is a branch of the economic development arm of George Kaiser Family Foundation. This summer, Randels expects more than 200 students to be hired for internships at local companies and nonprofits, connected through Campus Tulsa. The job board on Campus Tulsa’s website is constantly updating, though, so students can apply year-round. Visit campustulsa.com for more information.

A young girl builds a small-scale hydraulic robot arm to move ping pong balls and witness fluid dynamics in action as part of a summer engineering camp put on by Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance. Inset, Levi Patrick, TRSA executive director.

DJ Majda at St. Vitus

MIX AND MAX

LONGTIME TULSA BARTENDER FORAYS INTO DJING.

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

It’s 5 p.m. on a winter weekday at e Max RetroPub, 114 S. Elgin Ave., and Majda Phillips is behind the bar serving the happy hour crowd between answering questions for this story without missing a beat. After 20 years bartending, this is a rhythm Phillips knows well.

But on a Friday night, you won’t nd her bartending. Or at e Max at all, for that matter.

Phillips, aka DJ Majda, will now be out in the community regularly spinning tunes on the weekends, whether that be St. Vitus, Soundpony, Rabbit Hole or another local music hot spot.

ough a de nite change in pace, Phillips describes how DJing and bartending are similar, crafting an experience for customers. “ ey’re not just out there playing music, they’re setting the vibe,” she says.

For the last couple of years, DJ Majda has played the Tito’s tent at Tulsa Tough with A staface, aka friend and mentor Andey DeLesDernier. “It’s like our tradition,” Phillips says. On Devil's Night, the night before Halloween, the pair played at Soundpony. Phillips recalls when they put on “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge. “ e whole mood in the room just changed,” she says. “You just could feel when things got dark and red and smoky.”

Phillips might be new to booking regular solo

gigs, but she’s always been the de facto DJ in her friend groups. Years ago, she DJed for the rst time at the Crystal Pistol. “I was playing with (DJs) Robbo and Lynn K., from Starlite,” she says. “I burned two identical CDs and I made a set.”

Phillips doesn’t make sets or use CDs anymore, but she does have a soft spot for vinyl sessions, which is A staface’s specialty. During the pandemic, A staface asked Phillips to play with her at Fur Shop. DJ Majda’s solo gigs followed.

“With DJing, I’m not really producing or making any music, necessarily. I’m just trying to have a good time to sort of vibe. I just like to see people dancing and have fun,” she says, but she does have a few dream gigs. “Play either the Himalaya (ride at the fair) or a skating rink.”

Now with her dual careers, Phillips spends weekends as DJ Majda and weekdays bartending and managing e Max, which she assures will always be retro. “We’re going to be stuck in 1999, even 20 years from now,” she says. “My husband’s like, ‘So you guys have been open for 12 years, are you ever going to go to 2000?’”

Change e Max? Never.

Except the new ICEE machine, another 2022 highlight. Phillips welcomed the cold u y nonalcoholic goodness with open arms. TP

Covers REVISITED

Seventeen years ago, a 15-year-old student found his smiling face on the cover of TulsaPeople’s August 2006 Arts and Education issue. Then an upperclassman at Central High School, Lordly Beard was photographed for his role in a leadership program developing ideas for improving Tulsa Public Schools.

“It was so surreal to see my face on the cover as an underserved kid,” Beard says. “It was so monumental for me to experience that.”

Just a few months after the cover was published his stepfather passed away, leaving him without a father figure to guide him into adulthood. That reflection influenced his journey moving forward.

In 2009, Beard began working at KIPP Tulsa in an advisory role helping middle school students map out a path to college, leaving in 2014 to recruit students and teachers for TPS. In 2020, he became the Director of NextGen — Transformation Church’s young adult ministry — where part of his work as a pastor involves building partnerships with local schools to create a pipeline for students to receive encouragement, resources and mentorship.

“It gives me the opportunity to be both a role model and a mirror to kids because I’ve been there,” he says.

Beard also has two sons — a blessing he says he prayed for 16 years ago when he was searching for his future and wondering about fatherhood. “I prayed for the strength and prepared for it, and I’ve been blessed with it,” he says.

Beard says his aspirations are to continue in full-time ministry and help churches maintain vision and sustainability in their respective communities.

BRENDA CAROL

OF CABBAGES AND CAIN ’ S

DANGEROUSLY GOOD

TULSAN WHO HELPED ESTABLISH THE CITY’S HIP-HOP SCENE OVER 30 YEARS AGO IS READY TO GIVE BACK.

STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

“Live at Cain’s” in front of an audience. The EP was released in October. It’s accompanied by a series of music videos that capture the band’s infectious energy and unexpectedly diverse, crowd-pleasing set list.

“D

angerous Wayz,” the eighth studio record from hip-hop artist and former Tulsan Robert C. Daniels II, aka “Dangerous Rob,” is out this month.

e single “I Love You” drops, appropriately, on Valentine’s Day. After three successful decades in the business, Daniels believes this album may be his last. He’s ready to help develop a new generation of talent in his hometown.

“Going into the new year, I’m really trying to focus more on establishing my management and entertainment company, along with my record label, Freedam Records,” Daniels says. “I want to work with younger artists from Tulsa and the Oklahoma area to help them build their careers.”

Daniels grew up in Tulsa. Inspired by the mixtapes of artists like Big Daddy Kane, Rakim and Run-D.M.C., which his cousin brought back from summer visits to Harlem, Daniels wrote his rst four-line raps in elementary school and developed his freestyle skills over time. While in high school at Rogers, the rap battles he participated in were banned from the school’s halls — not because of their content, but because of the crowds they drew that halted the ow of tra c between classes.

According to Daniels, music saved his life.

“I got into trouble when I was 12 years old, and I was on probation until I was 18,” he says. “I know when you go to jail, people forget about you. I knew if I got into trouble, I would be forgotten. I just had so much talent built up in me, it drove me away from being bad.”

Daniels recorded his rst album at 15 with Tulsa group THOB-MOB. A second followed with Partners-In-Rhyme. In the early days of the internet, he garnered a large following overseas, selling and shipping his own albums directly to international markets. During his career, he’s performed with many well-known artists including LL Cool J, N.W.A., Geto Boys, a Dogg Pound, Too $hort, Ice Cube, Doug E. Fresh, Mike Jones and Ice-T.

For the past 12 years, Daniels has lived in Arlington, Texas, while regularly traveling to Tulsa where his daughter is a student at Oral Roberts University. He plans on moving back to Tulsa soon to use his experience and knowledge to help build up young local talent.

“ is journey has been all that I could ask for, with no complaints,” Daniels says. “I’m a giver, not a taker, and when you bless people, your blessings come in abundance.” TP

“I’m super proud of it. It’s a great representation of who we are,” says KCBB’s bandleader Greg Fallis, who plays trombone and sousaphone. “It’s exceeded my expectations.”

Local music fans embraced KCBB from the start, which is encouraging to Fallis, a Tulsa native and University of Tulsa grad who chose to return to his hometown in summer 2021 after living and working in Memphis and New Orleans for several years. Fallis’ decision to create a NOLA-inspired brass band in a city more familiar with line dances than second lines wasn’t a sure bet.

“It’s been overwhelmingly positive, and honestly, it makes me a little emotional just thinking about where I was,” he says. “It’s crazy to me because in high school and college, I always felt like kind of an outcast for being a jazz trombone player in Tulsa, like I never really fit in. I felt there wasn’t always a place for me. With Cabbage, I’ve found a lot of purpose putting my energy and time not only into the business end of it, but into the people that it impacts as well.”

Up next for KCBB: a studio album and plans for a regional tour in the fall. For more information visit kingcabbagebrassband.com. TP

King Cabbage Brass Band returns Feb. 17 to Cain’s Ballroom for an all-ages Mardi Gras-inspired night of music and revelry. The Tulsa-based brass band made its debut on the stage of the historic venue last July, recording

Greg Fallis

Hip-hop artist Dangerous Rob, whose eighth studio record releases this month, looks to help build the next generation of local artists and highlight Tulsa’s talent within the music industry.

‘STRONGER TOGETHER’

HOME BASE FOR ART COLLECTIVE SERVES AS STUDIO AND GALLERY SPACE.

STORIES BY BLAYKLEE FREED

Twelve artists currently make up Tulsa’s Black Moon Collective, which launched in 2019 and moved into studio space at WOMPA, 3306 Charles Page Blvd., in April. is year, Founder Elizabeth Henley says the group is working on becoming a nonpro t — the 501(c)3 status is one piece of a bigger puzzle to keep Black Moon Collective in its studio space, which has provided a home base for the artists and space to display and sell their works.

“We’ve worked with local institutions, like Living Arts, Philbrook and Gilcrease. I’d like to see more opportunities for local Black artists to hold space in these places and in public art locations,” Henley says.

“Black art is so vital and important, and our voice hasn’t been recognized or heard in those larger institutions as much as everyone else’s, so it was very crucial that Black artists came together and made our voice heard and known within the community,” Henley continues. “ ere are so many talented artists of color outside of Black Moon, I feel like us coming together was a catalyst to give permission to other artists to do what they want to do. Just go for it.”

A space of their own means Black Moon members don’t have to change their art to t into the con nements of traditional gallery requirements, many of which have historically been white-owned. “I just realized that if we wanted to have control over what type of art we were creating, and also displaying, we needed our own space. Our art would still get rejected because it didn’t t whatever criteria any gallery wanted

on their wall. So now we have permission to do whatever.”

Black Moon has open submissions for new members, and Henley says Black artists of all skill levels are encouraged to apply because the collective provides a support system for individual artists. “I do feel like we’re stronger together, and that’s why we are progressing,” she says.

As for supporting the organization, donations are accepted, but Henley says, “It’s just as powerful to support individual Black artists by purchasing a piece of art because then you have that treasure forever.”

Black Moon’s lease is up for renewal in April, and Henley is focused on keeping the collective headquartered at WOMPA. “With the way Tulsa is progressing, we have to support the arts, especially artists of color. Tulsa was known at one point for Greenwood, this group of Black individuals who came together to build up their community. And I’m always thinking about that — with intentionality — when it comes to Black Moon and how powerful it’s been to take that vision and implement it into life.”

Learn more and purchase art at blackmoontulsa. com. TP

FEB. 1-26

Black Moon Collective will take over Mother Road Market’s LTO (Limited Time Only) retail space. Find prints, Black Moon merch and gifts, along with paintings, crafts and other artwork, all made by artists in the collective.

MEET AND GREET

Woody Guthrie Center’s new director Cady Shaw has spent years developing and curating exhibitions and cultural centers for Cherokee Nation and Choctaw Nation, of which she is a citizen. She joined WGC in November and spoke with TulsaPeople, sharing her story and hopes for the museum.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN MUSEUMS? I’ve always been fascinated by stories and storytelling. Being Native, that’s a big part of our culture. I would always sit around with my elders at my grandparents’ house — they tried to shoo me away (laughs) — but I wanted to sit and listen to their stories.

HOW DID YOU MAKE THE PIVOT FROM COMMUNICATIONS? I was (at Cherokee Nation) for 12 years. I started in events planning, then helped to form a cultural tourism department. And through that, my love of history and research and storytelling really came into play when we did our first exhibit at (Northeastern State University). And that kind of fell into a wealth of exhibits and studying.

An opportunity came up to work for my tribe. (The) Choctaw Nation was in the process of building a cultural center, and they needed someone to build their collections. And that was a dream come true, because it’s my family, my tribe, but also helping form that (legacy).

HOW DOES FOLK MUSIC FIT INTO YOUR STORY?

Growing up, a lot of my lullabies were folk singers. My mom was a huge fan of Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro and Ricky Lee Jones and Carly Simon. And my dad was into Bob Dylan, Bob Seger and the Rolling Stones. Music was a huge part of my family life. The storytelling and the songs were always really compelling, even if I didn’t understand them.

Woody Guthrie was a prolific creator … you can see how that creativity can lead to something bigger than yourself.

BLACK MOON: GREG BOLLINGER;

Bottom left, Elizabeth Henley, an acrylic painter and multimedia artist, founded Black Moon — a collective of Black artists in Tulsa (right). Top left, Henley’s yarn and fabric punchneedle portraits.

Cady Shaw

AID FROM AFAR

BY JANE ZEMEL

As an artist, Colleen Stiles is a ected by images. When she began seeing photos and videos coming out of the Ukraine war, she was determined to nd a way to help.

Her solution was to create the “Help Ukraine Juried Exhibition” for Tulsa Artists’ Coalition, an organization she serves as vice president. All entry fees and gallery commissions for the show — themed “Peace in a Time of Chaos” — will go directly to UNICEF to bene t Ukrainian families and children a ected by the war.

“It was a way to pull others in to make an impact,” she explains. Stiles wanted a theme that would promote peace in the region without limiting the artists’ expressions.

Tulsa artist and graphic designer Christina Armendariz jumped at the chance to show her support when she saw TAC’s call for exhibit works.

“I don’t have any ties to Ukraine, but I see the turmoil the people are going through and it’s heartbreaking,” she says. “Many of us want to help in some way, but don’t always know where to start.

is exhibition is something I knew I wanted to be part of because it gives me the chance to get involved.”

While Stiles also has no personal ties to Ukraine, she is still an impassioned observer. “I can’t imagine what the people are going through,” she says. “ ey’ve been displaced. I haven’t experi-

enced war or con ict on that level. At this point in the world’s history, we shouldn’t have to.”

An artist in her own right — working in pen and ink, watercolor and gurative sculpture — Stiles has been involved with TAC “o and on for years,” she says. Most recently, she rebuilt the organization’s website, and hopes to bring more community engagement to the gallery.

“We should all give back and do what we can from our corner of the world to help those displaced by war in Ukraine,” she notes.

Along with works by 19 other Oklahoma-based artists, Armendariz’s piece “Smile” will be on display from Feb. 3-25. Visitors to the gallery at 9 W. Reconciliation Way also can donate to UNICEF on-site during the show’s opening.

TP

THIS MONTH AT Circle Cinema

HAPPY HOURS

6-7:30 p.m., Every Thursday in February

Thursday Happy Hours continue in February with special guest OmaleyB! The Tulsa-based R&B artist and singer will perform live in the Circle Gallery from 6-7:30 p.m. every Thursday with movie-themed drink specials at the bar before any of the great films on Thursdays.

CAT DADDIES

Opens for daily screenings Feb. 3

Calling all cat dads — don’t miss this heartwarming and tender portrait of a diverse group of men whose lives have been forever changed by their love of cats. A refreshing and timely exploration of modern masculinity, the documentary shows us how being a “cat person” has no gender, and that the unlikely bond between man and cat is here to stay.

LITTLE DIXIE

Opens for daily screenings Feb. 3

See the latest thriller from Tulsa writer/ director John Swab, featuring scenes shot in Tulsa. Doc facilitates a fragile truce between the Governor and Cartel, trading prosecutorial leniency for finance. With no more truce, Doc is left to fend for himself and protect the one untainted thing in his life: his daughter, Little Dixie.

DRIVE

10 p.m., Feb. 10-11

Presented by Graveyard Shift, Ryan Gosling stars as a mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman who gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor’s husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.

DR. JACK (1922)

11 a.m., Feb. 11

Enjoy a classic silent film with a live score played by Bill Rowland on Circle’s restored 1928 theater pipe organ with support from Play Tulsa Music. This month, comedy icon Harold Lloyd will have you in stitches as a small-town doctor who believes the true cure for illness lies in kindness and compassion.

THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS

Open for daily screenings Feb. 17

With all three categories offered, this is your annual chance to predict the winners and have the edge in your Oscar pool. Live Action Shorts open Feb. 17, Animated Shorts open Feb. 24, and Documentary Shorts open March 3.

Compiled by Circle Cinema’s Ryan Thomas. Visit circlecinema.org for pricing and more information.

TULSA GALLERY SUPPORTS UKRAINIANS WITH FEBRUARY SHOW.

“Smile” by Tulsa artist Christina Armendariz is one of the works displayed this month at Tulsa Artists’ Coalition’s “Help Ukraine Juried Exhibition” from which show proceeds benefi t UNICEF’s humanitarian aid for Ukrainian children and families.

Colleen Stiles, TAC Gallery vice president and show organizer

PUPPETEERING PURSUITS

MULTI-TALENTED CREATIVE MAKES HIS HOME IN TULSA.

STORIES BY JULIANNE TRAN

Tulsa is home to many artists — singers, poets, musicians and more. Now, the city welcomes another talented performer: a puppeteer.

David Bizzaro is an award-winning puppeteer and actor who recently starred as Mochi in “Wa es + Mochi’s Restaurant,” an educational children’s show produced by Michelle Obama’s production company.

“Working with Michelle Obama was amazing,” Bizzaro says. “She’s such a delight to work with. It felt like hanging out with family.”

In 2020, his work on the 50th season of “Sesame Street” landed him a Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Special E ects, Costume, Makeup and Hairstyling.

Born in Fresno, California, to an immigrant mother from El Salvador, Bizzaro moved to Oklahoma City when he was 13 years old. He fell in love with performing on stage during theater class in high school and later explored music, joining multiple bands. In 2009, he began working as a visual generalist for the Flaming Lips “to create backing videos for live shows, merchandise, music videos, documentaries and original art,” he says.

After leaving the band in 2013, Bizzaro made his rst foray into puppetry.

“I started puppetry because of a lie,” Bizzaro laughs. After showing his friend Jonathan Fowler a puppet advertisement, Bizzaro asked if Fowler

VW needed a similar one — despite having no formal puppetry experience.

“In a week, I quickly taught myself how to build, perform and write for puppets,” Bizzaro recounts. “I fell in love with puppetry. It connected my acting, dancing and movement experience.”

And so, Bizzaro pursued puppetry head-on.

He moved to New York City, met with people in the puppetry industry and started working for Jim Henson Co., which created “ e Muppets” and “Sesame Street.” While there, Bizzaro built props and puppets for productions and wrangled puppets on set for “Sesame Street.”

“As a rst-generation person of color, I’ve constantly had to create my own doors, and if there’s no door, I’ve got to build a window,” Bizzaro describes. “I’ve had to create my own way.”

After years in New York, Bizzaro recently moved back to Oklahoma to be closer to family and friends.

“We really love Tulsa, and we love the people here,” he says.

While in talks for upcoming puppetry productions, Bizzaro is also exploring the idea of starting his own clothing brand. In the meantime

UP TO CODE

At 14 years old, Arjun Deepak already has a packed schedule that includes activities from competitive swimming and national math competitions to Academic Bowl and Indian classical dance. An eighth grader at University School, he’s also team captain of the robotics club.

“It can be hard for my mom to keep track of all of the things I’m doing,” Deepak says.

And so, Deepak set out to create an app to help his mom. Along with his extracurricular activities, this multi-talented teen also has been coding since age 10, when he first taught himself the skill. In 2020, Deepak joined BYJU’S FutureSchool. Named after founder Byju Raveendran, BYJU’S is an online learning platform that teaches coding and math via live oneon-one instruction.

“It really helped take (my coding skills) to the next level,” he says.

With these skills, Deepak built Parent Connect, an app to help parents keep track of their children’s activities and events.

Deepak’s app was selected as a finalist in the “18u18” global coding competition hosted by BYJU’S FutureSchool — an impressive accomplishment for this busy Tulsan.

As he looks toward the future, Deepak has more apps in mind. “I think I would like to make another app or two that would help people with their daily lives.”

“That’s why I enjoy coding,” he adds. “It helps all of us every day.”

Arjun Deepak

THE PARENT CONNECT APP IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE.

you can nd him around town at Gathering Place with his 8-month-old son or exploring the city’s new restaurants and art spots with his wife, Cassandra Watch Bizzaro as Mochi in season two of “Wa es + Mochi’s Restaurant” on Net ix. TP

Tulsa-based performer David Bizzaro, who starred as Mochi in Netflix’s second season of "Waffles + Mochi," also creates his own puppets: (clockwise) Arturo, Jerry Fauchaughkle and an unnamed puppet that lip syncs along to songs on Bizzaro’s Instagram @davidbizzaro.

LISTEN TO A CONVERSATION WITH DAVID BIZZARO ON THE FEB. 1 EPISODE OF TULSA TALKS: A TULSAPEOPLE PODCAST.

Cooking Up Compassion

Benefits Catholic Charities.

CCEOK.MAESTROWEB.COM 4

The Candy Ball Benefits Child Abuse Network.

CANDYBALL.ORG

Riverfield Rocks the Cain’s Benefits Riverfield Country Day School.

RIVERFIELD.ORG

United Way Night at the Symphony Benefits Tulsa Area United Way.

An Evening with P.S. Gordon Benefits Tulsa Botanic Garden.

TULSABOTANIC ORG 11

Bringing Broadway Home Annual Gala Benefits Craft Productions of Oklahoma.

CRAFTPRODUCTIONS ORG Mardi Gras Gala 2023 Benefits Youth Services of Tulsa. YST ORG/GALA2023 18 The Ancient Trail Trek Benefits Sand Springs Parks. FACEBOOK COM/KEYSTONEANCIENTFOREST 23

Heart of Henry Benefits Tulsa Day Center. TULSADAYCENTER ORG 25 Centennial Tea Party Benefits Junior League of Tulsa. JLTULSA ORG Champagne and Chocolate Benefits Living Arts of Tulsa.

LIVINGARTS ORG

Pennies for Pearls Mardi Gras Masquerade Benefits American Parkinson Disease Association Oklahoma Chapter. APDAPARKINSON ORG/OKLAHOMA Splash Benefits Oklahoma Aquarium.

OKAQUARIUM ORG 28

KIPP Star Talent Show and Gala Benefits KIPP Tulsa. KIPPOK.ORG

Christmas Luncheon and Fashion Show

On Dec. 6, the Tulsa Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary hosted the 70th annual Christmas Luncheon and Fashion Show at Renaissance Hotel Tulsa and Convention Center. The theme was “We Need a Little Christmas,” and guests participated in one of the largest silent auctions in town followed by a lunch and fashion show featuring Tulsa news anchors. With about 540 guests in attendance, the event raised over $180,000 to go toward The Salvation Army’s programs and community resources including Boys and Girls Clubs, the Adult Rehabilitation Center and Center of Hope — Tulsa’s largest capacity emergency shelter that also provides daily meals to the community.

1. Tulsa Auxiliary President Linda Schaffer, Tulsa Auxiliary Chair Marolyn Allred, Tulsa Auxiliary Co-Chair Leah Gajan and Area Commander Major Sarah Nelson

2. KOKI meteorologist Mike Grogan and anchor Sara Whaley walk in the fashion show.

3. The event emcee was KOKI anchor Shae Rozzi.

4. With more than 100 baked goods and 300 items bid on by participants, this year’s silent auction brought in over $26,000 — the most it’s ever made.

Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala

The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala took place Dec. 2 at Central Library. Given annually by the Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa City-County Library, the event brings in and formally recognizes an internationally acclaimed author. Due to illness, this year’s chosen author Elizabeth Strout was unable to attend and accept the award, so 2014’s winner Ann Patchett stepped in as the night’s featured speaker. In addition to Patchett’s address, the 320 guests in attendance enjoyed a sit-down dinner catered by The Summit.

Thanks to the unwavering support of Peggy Helmerich and her family, the Distinguished Author Award has brought to Tulsa such renowned names as Norman Mailer, Ray Bradbury, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates and Kazuo Ishiguro. Honored with an engraved crystal book and a $40,000 cash prize, authors also speak to area high school students and give a free public presentation and book signing. Patchett will donate the $40,000 to her foundation, Parnassus Books Foundation, to purchase books for Nashville schoolchildren.

1. Kimberly Johnson, CEO of the Tulsa City-County Library, welcomes guests.

2. Central Library’s first floor was transformed into a glittering winter wonderland for the event.

3. Committee Chair Denise Payne with Peggy Helmerich and American novelist Ann Patchett

4. Gala Vice Chair Lissa Hair, hostess committee member Pam Hillis, and decorations committee co-chairs Susie Wallace and Susie Tatum Woody

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON: EMILY FREEL; PEGGY V. HELMERICH: JESSICA KARIN TROUT

College Guide

Oklahoma colleges and universities, as well as popular regional options, offer countless opportunities for furthering education.

COMPILED BY J. D. MYER AND ANNE BROCKMAN

Bacone College

2299 Old Bacone Road, Muskogee 918-683-4581 | bacone.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 321

Student/faculty ratio: 12-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 8

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 13

Most popular academic programs: Business, exercise science, American Indian studies

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1880

Baylor University

1311 S. Fifth St., Waco, Texas 800-229-5678 | baylor.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 20,970

Student/faculty ratio: 15-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 127

Number of advanced degree programs: 129

Most popular academic programs: Business (accounting, finance, management, marketing), health/pre-med programs, biology, nursing, psychology, communication sciences and disorders, communication, political science

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1845

Carl Albert State College

1507 S. McKenna St., Poteau; 918-647-1200 1601 S. Opdyke St., Sallisaw; 918-775-6977 carlalbert.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 1,900 Student/faculty ratio: 21-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 25 Number of certificate programs: 9

Most popular academic programs: Nursing, physical therapy assistant, business administration, pre-elementary education

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1933

College

of the Muscogee Nation

2170 Raven Circle, Okmulgee 918-549-2800 | cmn.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 201

Student/faculty ratio: 8-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 6

Most popular academic programs: General studies, tribal services, Mvskoke Language Certificate

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 2004

Connors State College 700 College Road, Warner; 918-463-2931 2501 N. 41st St. E., Muskogee; 918-687-6747 connorsstate.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 2,310 Student/faculty ratio: 23-to-1 Number of associate degree/certificate programs: 25

Most popular academic programs: Agriculture, business administration, pre-nursing, nursing, general studies Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1908

East Central University 1100 E. 14th St., Ada 580-332-8000 | ecok.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 3,600 Student/faculty ratio: 18-to-1 Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 65 Number of advanced degree programs: 16 Most popular academic programs: Kinesiology, nursing, computer science, education, business administration Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1909

Eastern Oklahoma State College

1301 W. Main St., Wilburton; 918-465-2361

1802 E. College Ave., McAlester; 918-302-3607 eosc.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 1,352 Student/faculty ratio: 22-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 40+ Most popular academic programs: Nursing, business administration, agriculture, life science, respiratory therapy Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1908

John Brown University

2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, Arkansas 479-524-9500 | jbu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 2,236

Student/faculty ratio: 14-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 2

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 52

Number of advanced degree programs: 19

Most popular academic programs: Nursing, psychology, family and human services, kinesiology, graphic design

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1919

Kansas State University

919 Mid-Campus Drive N., Manhattan, Kansas

785-532-6011 | k-state.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 19,722

Student/faculty ratio: 19-1

Number of associate degree programs: 2

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 131

Number of advanced degree programs: 124

Most popular academic programs: Business administration, animal science and industry, mechanical engineering, kinesiology, veterinary medicine, aeronautical technology, psychology, biology and education

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1863

Langston University

701 Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, Langston; 405-466-2231

6700 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City; 405-530-7500

914 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa; 918-877-8100

langston.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 3,000 Student/faculty ratio: 17-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 6

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 24

Number of advanced degree programs: 4 master’s; 1 doctoral

Most popular academic programs: General studies, nursing, health, physical education and recreation; psychology; management

Campus housing: Yes (Langston campus)

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Rural, Urban Year founded: 1897

Mid-America Christian University

3500 S.W. 119th St., Oklahoma City 405-691-3800 | macu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 2,083 (1,600 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 13-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 171 Number of advanced degree programs: 27

Most popular academic programs: Business and ethics, psychology (undergraduate); counseling, business (graduate)

Campus housing: No

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1953

Murray State College

1 Murray Campus Drive, Tishomingo 580-387-7000 | mscok.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 2,133

Student/faculty ratio: 16-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 56

Most popular academic programs: Nursing, gunsmithing technology, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapist assistant, veterinary nursing

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1908

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

200 I St. N.E., Miami 918-540-6203 | neo.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 1,800 Student/faculty ratio: 22-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 40

Most popular academic programs: Agriculture, general studies, nursing, business and technology, physical therapy assistant

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1919

Northeastern State University

600 N. Grand Ave., Tahlequah; 918-456-5511

2400 W. Shawnee St., Muskogee; 918-683-0040

3100 New Orleans St., Broken Arrow; 918-449-6000 nsuok.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 7,025 (5,523 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 17-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 60

Number of advanced degree programs: 26

Most popular academic programs: Psychology, nursing, accounting, cell and molecular biology, health and human performance

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1851

Northern Oklahoma College

1220 E. Grand Ave., Tonkawa; 580-628-6200

615 N. Monroe St., Stillwater; 580-628-6900

100 S. University Ave., Enid; 480-242-6300 noc.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 3,374 Student/faculty ratio: 17-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 49

Most popular academic programs: Business, education, health, physical education and recreation Campus housing: Tonkawa, Enid Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1901

Oklahoma Baptist University

500 W. University St., Shawnee 405-275-2850 | okbu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 1,763 (1,657 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 14-to-1 Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 53 Number of advanced degree programs: 5 Most popular academic programs: Nursing, education, business, communication studies, theological studies

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1910

Oklahoma Christian University

2501 E. Memorial Road, Edmond 405-425-5000 | oc.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 2,250 Student/faculty ratio: 13-to-1 Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 104

Number of advanced degree programs: 5

Most popular academic programs: Mechanical engineering, nursing, cybersecurity, gaming and animation, computer science Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1950

Oklahoma City Community College

7777 S. May Ave., Oklahoma City 405-682-1611 | occc.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 17,021 Student/faculty ratio: 23-to-1 Number of associate degree/certification programs: 88

Most popular academic programs: Diversified studies, business, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, computer science Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1972

Oklahoma City University

2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City 405-208-5000 | okcu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 2,566 (1,374 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 11-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 59

Number of advanced degree programs: 27 master’s; 5 doctoral; 1 juris doctorate Most popular academic programs: Liberal arts, performing arts, law, business, health professions

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1904

Oklahoma State University

107 Whitehurst, Stillwater 405-744-5000 | okstate.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 24,649 (20,323 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 18-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 200 Number of advanced degree programs: 79 master’s; 45 doctoral

Most popular academic programs: Business administration, agriculture, engineering

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1890

OSU Center for Health Sciences 1111 W. 17th St., Tulsa 918-582-1972 | medicine.okstate.edu

Type: 2-to-4-year, graduate, public Enrollment: 1,613 Student/faculty ratio: 7.8-to-1

Number of advanced degree programs: 14 Most popular academic programs: College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Health Care Administration

Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1972

OSU Institute of Technology

1801 E. Fourth St., Okmulgee 918-293-4976 | osuit.edu

Type: 2-year, with some 4-year, public Enrollment: 2,331

Student/faculty ratio: 17-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 33 Number of bachelor’s of technology programs: 5

Most popular academic programs: Allied health sciences, information technologies, high-voltage line technician, air conditioning and refrigeration technology, engineering technologies

Campus housing: Yes

1801 EAST 4TH STREET, OKMULGEE 918.293.4678 • OSUIT.EDU

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

OSU Institute of Technology, founded in 1946, is Oklahoma’s only university of applied technology, where graduation means you’re hired. It is known for world-class teaching facilities, partnerships with industry and successful students ready to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. OSUIT students have a 90% job placement rate in technical degree programs.

Instruction is delivered through hands-on training and innovative technology that businesses and industries seek today for globally competitive environments. Students choose from several dozen programs spanning four schools, earning either an Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science or Bachelor of Technology.

Popular programs include Allied Health Sciences, Culinary Arts, Natural Gas Compression, Instrumentation Engineering, Pipeline Integrity, Information Technologies, Cybersecurity and Truck Technician.

Many prospective students enter OSUIT’s degree programs with significant prior knowledge and experience directly related to their chosen field of study. At OSUIT, you can apply your relevant learning, work and life experiences toward college credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

Even as it evolves and grows, OSUIT’s founding mission of serving and prioritizing veterans remains essential to its foundation today; OSUIT is consistently named a military-friendly school.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

OSUIT’s Bachelor of Technology in Applied Technical Leadership is a 100% online, accelerated baccalaureate degree program that was created in response to industry demand for individuals who possess the technical, leadership, management and entrepreneurial skills to successfully fulfill supervisory and other administrative positions. That being said, building on associate-level technical degrees with advanced training, this program is designed for professionals to expand existing knowledge and step into leadership roles.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1946

ENROLLMENT: 3,009

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 16-1

NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: 34

NUMBER OF BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS: 5

WHERE GRADUATION MEANS YOU’RE HIRED

At OSUIT, you’ll find the career that’s right for you with instructors who will help you succeed. Our two-year programs combine classwork and real-world experiences with exciting internships to prepare you for what’s next. With a 90% career placement rate after graduation—you can answer the call and be true to you at OSUIT.

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1946

OSU OKC

900 N. Portland Ave., Oklahoma City 405-947-4421 | osuokc.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 4,949 Student/faculty ratio: 15-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 1 with 45 major options

Most popular academic programs: Nursing

Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1961

OSU Tulsa

700 N. Greenwood Ave. 918-594-8000 | tulsa.okstate.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 2,608

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 25

Number of advanced degree programs: 10 master’s; 4 doctoral

Most popular academic programs: Management, marketing, finance, mechanical engineering, accounting, psychology, organizational leadership and educational leadership

Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1999

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

2201 Silver Lake Road, Bartlesville 918-333-6828 | okwu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 1,100 (650 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 9-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 6

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 38 Number of advanced degree programs: 12 Most popular academic programs: Digital media marketing, exercise science, graphic design and strategy, ministry Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1905

Oral Roberts University

7777 S. Lewis Ave. 918-495-6161 | oru.edu

Type: 4-year, private

Enrollment: 5,126 (4,072 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 16-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 67

Number of advanced degree programs: 20

Most popular academic programs: Ministry and leadership, nursing, psychology, business administration, engineering

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1963

Phillips Theological Seminary

901 N. Mingo Road 918-610-8303 | ptstulsa.edu

Type: Graduate seminary Enrollment: 140

Student/faculty ratio: 10-to-1

Number of advanced degree programs: 5

Most popular academic programs: Divinity, ministry Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1906

Rogers State University

1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore; 918-343-7777

401 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville; 918338-8000

2155 Highway 69A, Pryor; 918-825-6117 rsu.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 3,177 (3,067 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 16-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 12

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 21

Number of advanced degree programs: 2

Most popular academic programs: Business, nursing, biology, social sciences, fine art, unmanned aircraft systems, cybersecurity

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1909

Rose State College

6420 S.E. 15th St., Midwest City 405-733-7673 | rose.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 6,899 Student/faculty ratio: 21-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 60 Most popular academic programs: Nursing, business/information technologies, dental hygiene, engineering, aerospace Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1970

Seminole State College

2701 Boren Blvd., Seminole 405-382-9950 | sscok.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 1,493

Student/faculty ratio: 16-to-1

Number of associate degree programs: 5, plus 18 transfer associate degree programs

Most popular academic programs: Health sciences, business, nursing, liberal studies, criminal justice

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Rural Year founded: 1931 Southeastern Oklahoma State University 425 W. University Blvd., Durant 580-745-2000 | se.edu

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 5,420 (2,933 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 24-to-1 Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 36 Number of advanced degree programs: 19 Most popular academic programs: Aviation, elementary education, business and leadership, fisheries and wildlife Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1909

Southern Methodist University

6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, Texas 214-768-2000 | smu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 12,053 Student/faculty ratio: 12-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 100+

Number of advanced degree programs: 108 Most popular academic program: Business administration Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1911

Southern Nazarene University 6729 N.W. 39th Expressway, Bethany 405-789-6400 | snu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 2,208 (1,529 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 14-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 43 Number of advanced degree programs: 10

Most popular academic programs: Kinesiology, biochemistry, education, graphic design, business, theology, music Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1899

Southwestern Christian University

7210 N.W. 39th Expressway, Bethany 405-789-7661 | swcu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 486 (458 undergraduate) Student/faculty ratio: 12-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 21

Number of advanced degree programs: 3

Most popular academic programs: Business administration Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1946

Texas Christian University 2800 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas

817-257-7000 | tcu.edu

Type: 4-year, private Enrollment: 12,273 Student/faculty ratio: 13.5-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 117

Number of advanced degree programs: 100

Most popular academic programs: Business, nursing, biology

Campus housing: Yes Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1873

Tulsa Community College

Metro campus, 909 S. Boston Ave.

Northeast campus, 3727 E. Apache St. Southeast campus, 10300 E. 81st St. West campus, 7505 W. 41st St.

Riverside community campus and aviation center, 112 W. Beechcraft Drive

Owasso community campus, 10800 N. 140th E. Ave., Owasso 918-595-8000 tulsacc.edu

Type: 2-year, public Enrollment: 21,523 Student/faculty ratio: 15-to-1

Number of associate degree/certification programs: 121

Most popular academic programs: Business administration, liberal arts, enterprise development, pre-nursing and nursing Campus housing: No Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1970

University

of Arkansas

1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

479-575-2000 | uark.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 30,936 (26,269, undergraduate; 4,277, graduate; 390, School of Law)

Student/faculty ratio: 19-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 96

Number of advanced degree programs: 83

Most popular academic programs: Supply chain managment, architecture, engineering, nursing, psychology, business economics, recreation and sports management, finance, agricultural education, communication and technology

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1871

1701 W. WILL ROGERS BLVD., CLAREMORE; 918-343-7777 • 401 S. DEWEY AVE., BARTLESVILLE; 918-338-8000 • 2155 HIGHWAY 69A, PRYOR; 918-825-611 • RSU.EDU

Rogers State University

Rogers State University boasts one of the region’s lowest student debt loads for graduates. This is driven by RSU’s affordable tuition, along with the scholarships and financial aid available to deserving students.

RSU offers in-demand degree programs (nursing, chemical engineering, unmanned aircraft systems, cybersecurity) along with unmatched facilities, including world-class student housing, on-campus nature reserve, behavioral sciences lab and more. Programs in medicine are among the state’s leaders, and RSU nursing graduates are always in high demand.

RSU offers small class sizes with a student-faculty ratio of 16-to-1, allowing students to personally know their faculty. According to RSU’s Class of 2020 graduates, 94% reported

YEAR FOUNDED: 1909

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 3,177

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 16-TO-1

NUMBER OF ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAMS: 2

they were satisfied to very satisfied with their overall RSU experience.

RSU is the Tulsa metro area’s only public university with on-campus housing, allowing students to fully participate in the traditional college experience. Campus residents enjoy a variety of amenities including a swimming pool, sand volleyball court, outdoor gathering spaces with a fire pit, movie rooms, themed housing areas and nearby hiking/walking trails.

RSU has more than 40 student organizations that promote involvement and leadership, along with 12 NCAA Division II sports. The RSU women’s softball team won the 2022 NCAA Division II national championship. RSU offers bachelor’s and associate degrees entirely online, along with an online MBA, all for an affordable value.

NUMBER OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS: 22

NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: 12

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Nursing, Business, Chemical Engineering, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Cybersecurity

RSU is the only public university in the Tulsa metro area that offers a full collegiate experience, from residential life to NCAA athletics. RSU is affordable, with half of our graduates earning a degree with no student debt.

✓ Programs in today’s top fields, on campus and online.

✓ Additional scholarship support for freshmen and transfers.

✓ Ranked among the top 25 colleges in the west by U.S. News and World Report.

University of Central Oklahoma

100 N. University Drive, Edmond 405-974-2000 | uco.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 12,250 (11,817 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 16-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 119

Number of advanced degree programs: 81

Most popular academic programs: Psychology, forensic science, nursing, criminal justice, finance Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1890

University of Kansas

1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, Kansas 785-864-2700 | ku.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 27,685 (all campuses)

Student/faculty ratio: 17-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 142 Number of advanced degree programs: 215

Most popular undergraduate academic programs: Psychology, finance, journalism, marketing, business, computer science, exercise science, political science, mechanical engineering, accounting

Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes

Campus setting: Yes Year founded: 1865

University of Oklahoma

660 Parrington Oval, Norman 405-325-0311 | ou.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 28,320 (21,294 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 16.7-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 123

Number of advanced degree programs: 105 master’s; 56 doctoral; 1 professional

Most popular academic programs: Psychology, biology, finance, health and exercise science, marketing Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Suburban Year founded: 1890

OU Health Sciences

Number of advanced degree programs: 54 (including 5 certificates) includes HSC programs at OU-Tulsa

Most popular academic programs: Medicine M.D., Nursing B.S.N., Allied Health Professional, Dentistry D.D.S, and graduate college doctoral research Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1910

OU Tulsa

4502 E. 41st St. 918-660-3000 | ou.edu/tulsa

Type: 4-year, public Enrollment: 1,100 Student/faculty ratio: 15-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 7 Number of advanced degree programs: 15 master’s; 6 2-year graduate programs; 9 doctoral

University

of Texas at Austin

110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 512-471-3434 | utexas.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 52,384

Student/faculty ratio: 18-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 154 Number of advanced degree programs: 232

Most popular academic programs: Natural sciences, liberal arts, engineering, business, communication Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1883

University of Tulsa

800 S. Tucker Drive

918-631-2000 | utulsa.edu

Type: 4-year, private research institution

Enrollment: 3,777 (2,658 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 9-to-1

Center

1105 Stonewall Ave., Oklahoma City 405-271-2332 | ouhsc.edu

Type: 4-year, public

Enrollment: 3,388 (984 undergraduate)

Student/faculty ratio: 8-to-1

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 10 includes HSC programs at OU-Tulsa

Most popular academic programs: Social work, undergraduate nursing, physician assistant, allied health Campus housing: No

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1957

Number of bachelor’s degree programs: 71

Number of advanced degree programs: 28 master’s; 15 doctoral

Most popular academic programs: Mechanical engineering, computer science, biology, psychology, exercise and sports science, nursing, finance Campus housing: Yes

Online classes/programs: Yes Campus setting: Urban Year founded: 1894 TP

Private school guide

Tulsa’s private school options are plentiful — but perhaps overwhelming — for parents to navigate. From tuition and class sizes to grade levels and academic integrity, it’s a lot to take in.

Here, we’ve compiled updated information for 37 local options.

COMPILED BY J.D. MYER

ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

299 S. Ninth St., Broken Arrow | 918-251-3000 allsaintsba.com 1957 Pre-K-8th Yes Yes $5,523, Catholic; $6,373, nonparishioner 18-1 Catholic 386 Yes February.

AUGUSTINE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6310 E. 30th St. | 918-832-4600 acatulsa.org 1997 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $7,395-$8,865 12-1 Christian 180 Yes

BISHOP KELLEY HIGH SCHOOL

New students can apply in March; August enrollment deadline; admission stops when classes are full.

3905 S. Hudson Ave. | 918-627-3390 bishopkelley.org 1960 9th-12th Yes Yes $10,500-$12,500 12-1 Catholic, Lasallian 848 No If accepted, enrollment contracts are due March 1.

CASCIA HALL PREPARATORY SCHOOL 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. | 918-746-2600 (Upper School); 918-746-2616 (Middle School) casciahall.com 1926 6th-12th Yes Yes $16,075 10-1 Catholic, Augustinian 535

After-school study hall until 5 p.m. Call 918-746-2604 for tour, testing and application information.

CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI ACADEMY 3702 S. 90th E. Ave. | 918-628-6524 christianmontessoriacademy.org 2006 Pre-K-8th No No $670-$850 per month 12-1 Montessori 70 Yes Call 918-628-6524 to schedule a tour.

CROSSOVER PREPARATORY ACADEMY 5424 N. Madison Ave. | 918-986-7499 crossoverprep.org 2017 6th-12th grade boys; 6th-8th grade girls Yes Yes $8,000 15-1 Christian 115

HAPPY HANDS EDUCATION CENTER 8801 S. Garnett Road, Broken Arrow 918-893-4800 happyhands.org 1994

Age infant-6 for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or have communication disorders

After-school extracurricular activities Application deadline April 1

No Yes Sliding-scale 3-1, infants; 5-1, all others Christian 66 Yes Ongoing.

HOLLAND HALL 5666 E. 81st St. | 918-481-1111 hollandhall.org 1922 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $8,000-$23,500 10-1 Episcopal 1,044 Yes

HOLY FAMILY CLASSICAL SCHOOL: THE PARISH SCHOOL OF HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL PARISH 820 S. Boulder Ave. | 918-582-0422 holyfamilyclassicalschool.org 1899 Pre-K-11th Yes Yes $5,000-$7,500 12-1 Roman Catholic, Classical 213 Yes

Registration begins in January and is dependent on grade level and availability.

Registration begins in January and continues until classes are full.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 400 N. Aspen Ave., Broken Arrow | 918-251-5422 ilcanews.org 2001 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $6,700-$7,700 12-1 Lutheran 300 Yes Begins Feb. 1. Testing by appointment.

LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

1201 N. Elm Place, Broken Arrow | 918-286-6794 legacyba.org 2007 Pre-K-6th Yes Yes $5,500-$6,500 8-1 to 16-1 Christian 97 Yes Begins Feb. 1.

LINCOLN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

1003 N. 129th E. Ave. | 918-828-9200

lincolnchristianschool.com 1997 3-year-old-12th Yes Yes $6,452-$8,598

MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

1519 S. Quincy Ave.; 1528 S. Quincy Ave. (Early Childhood Development Center) | 918-584-4631; 918-583-3334 (ECDC) marquetteschool.org

1918 Pre-K3-8th Yes Yes

$6,075, parishioner (multiple child discounts offered); $7,695, nonparishioner

16-3, 3-year-old; 16-2, Pre-K; 16-1, K; 18-1, 1st-4th; 20-1, 5th-6th; 24-1, 7th-12th

Christian, nondenominational 1,001 Yes Ongoing.

22-1 Catholic 480 Yes

School tours and testing by appointment. Inquire at marquetteschool.org/admissions.

SCHOOL YEAR FOUNDED GRADE LEVELS UNIFORMS FINANCIAL AID TUITION (ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED) STUDENTTEACHER RATIO SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION TOTAL ENROLLMENT BEFOREAND AFTERSCHOOL CARE REGISTRATION/ TESTING INFORMATION

METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

6363 S. Trenton Ave. | 918-745-9868 metroca.com 1983 P3-12th Yes Yes $8,080-$12,720 10-1, Early Childhood; 12-1, K-12th Christian, nondenominational 1,127 Yes Call Admissions Office at 918-7459868, ext. 155 or visitmetro.com.

MINGO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

8304 S. 107th E. Ave. | 918-294-0404 mingovalley.org

MISS HELEN’S PRIVATE SCHOOL

4849 S. Mingo Road | 918-622-2327 misshelens.com

MIZEL JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL

2021 E. 71st St. | 918-494-0953 mizelschool.org

MONTE CASSINO SCHOOL

2206 S. Lewis Ave. | 918-742-3364 montecassino.org

PEACE ACADEMY

4620 S. Irvington Ave. | 918-627-1040 patulsa.org

PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF SOUTH TULSA

10185 S. 85th E. Ave. | 918-364-0021 primroseschools.com/schools/south-tulsa

1976 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $8,750-$10,670 10-1 Christian 350 Yes Ongoing. School tours by appointment.

1954 Pre-K-5th Yes No $905-$925, monthly 10-1, preschool; 15-1, K-5th N/A 140 Yes Ongoing.

1975 Preschool-5th Yes Yes $9,000 8-1 Jewish 41 After-care enrichment program Ongoing.

1926 Pre-K3-8th Yes Yes $7,800-$13,500 16-1, middle school; 10-1, elementary; 8-1, early childhood Catholic 770 Yes Call Brooke Jones at 918-746-4238 for open house dates, to schedule a tour or for your student to shadow.

1990 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes Pre-K, $6,450; K-12, $6,050 5-1 to 25-1 Islamic 229 N/A Ongoing.

1982 Infants-Pre-K Pre-K only No $1,300, monthly 9-1 N/A 175 After-school care Ongoing.

REGENT PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OKLAHOMA 8621 S. Memorial Drive | 918-663-1002 rpsok.org 2000 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $4,590-$11,590 14-1 Christian 585 No Registration: November; testing: January-March.

REJOICE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

10701 N. 129th E. Ave., Owasso (preschool/ elementary); 13407 E. 106th St. N., Owasso (middle and high schools) | 918-516-0050 rejoiceschool.com

RIVERFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

1992 Preschool-12th No Yes $2,980-$8,870 16-1 Christian 1,103 Yes

2433 W. 61st St. | 918-446-3553 riverfield.org 1984 Infants-12th No Yes $12,150-$15,800 4-1 to 15-1, based on age Nonsectarian, Reggio-inspired 625 Yes

SAINT CATHERINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

2515 W. 46th St. | 918-446-9756 saintcatherineschool.org

Registration begins Dec. 1. Preschool applicants complete a 30-minute developmental screening. K-12th applicants complete an academic screening. Times vary. Screening appointments are made in the online application.

New K-12th registration: MarchAugust. Prospective preschool students can submit applications at any time. Enrollment for the upcoming school year typically offered by mid-May.

1927 Pre-K-8th Yes Yes $4,760-$5,889 13-1 Catholic 160 Yes February-July.

1717 S. 75th E. Ave. | 918-627-5367 school.spxtulsa.org 1957 Preschool-8th Yes Yes $4,165-$6,317, preschool (3-4 year olds); $5,490, K-8 (Catholic); $7,075, K-8 (non-Catholic)

SAINT PIUS X SCHOOL

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL SCHOOL

17-1 Catholic 350 Yes

Re-enrollment: February; registration is ongoing. Testing for students entering kindergarten by appointment.

1428 N. 67th E. Ave. | 918-836-2165 peterandpaultulsa.org 1951 K-8th Yes Yes $5,250 (multiple child discounts offered) 13-1 Catholic 170 Yes Begins Feb. 1.

SCHOOL OF SAINT MARY

1365 E. 49th Place | 918-749-9361 schoolofsaintmary.com 1954 Pre-K-8th Yes Yes $2,529-$7,187

SOLID FOUNDATION PREPARATORY ARTS ACADEMY

4025 N. Hartford Ave. | 918-794-7800 sfpaeagles.com

SUMMIT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

200 E. Broadway Ave. and 3500 W. New Orleans St., Broken Arrow | 918-251-1997 summit.school

THE LITTLE LIGHT HOUSE

15-1, K-2; grades 3-8 have a maximum of 30 students with smaller classes for math and language arts

Roman Catholic 316 After-school care As needed.

2004 Pre-K-5th Yes No $5,760, Pre-K; K-5th, tuition-free 12-1 Fine arts academy 75

After-school care Enrollment and shadow dates in February and March.

1987 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $6,768-$8,306 14-1 Christian 588 Yes February-August.

5120 E. 36th St. | 918-664-6746 littlelighthouse.org 1972 Birth-age 6 No No Tuition-free.

12-3 with additional daily therapeutic intervention from an interdisciplinary team

Christian orientation; however, LLH is open to all children with physical and mental challenges causing a developmental delay in two or more areas of development

116, Development Center; 126, Early Intervention

No

Students must have a diagnosis from a doctor to enroll. Visit littlelighthouse.org for next enrollment steps.

Marquette Catholic School

Marquette Catholic School has been educating the next generation for more than 100 years. Offering preschool (age 3) through grade 8, Marquette is a place and community that first and foremost belongs to Jesus Christ. Students are formed with care, intentionality and excellence, and then sent out into the world to transform it. In the Early Childhood Development Center, 3- and 4-year-olds are immersed in a rich curriculum that prioritizes their physical and emotional needs in classrooms custom-made for their size.

In kindergarten through eighth grade, Marquette teachers focus on developing

well-rounded, happy and faith-filled students through a whole-child approach. The rigorous academic curriculum upholds the Catholic tra dition as faith animates every aspect of the school. The Sacraments, prayer and liturgy are not afterthoughts, but the source and summit of the school’s existence. With an enrollment of approximately 500 (PK-grade 8), students possess great character and virtue, and are ac ademically prepared for high school. The best way to experience the Marquette community is to see it for yourself. Schedule a private tour today!

YEAR

FOUNDED: 1918 ENROLLMENT: Approximately 500 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO:

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

THE SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL OF TULSA 2444 E. Admiral Blvd. | 918-728-7337 sanmigueltulsa.org

TOWN AND COUNTRY SCHOOL

8906 E. 34th St. | 918-296-3113 tandcschool.org

TULSA ADVENTIST ACADEMY

900 S. New Haven Ave. | 918-834-1107 tulsaacademy.org

UNDERCROFT MONTESSORI SCHOOL

3745 S. Hudson Ave. | 918-622-2890 undercroft.org

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA

326 S. College Ave. | 918-631-5060 uschool.utulsa.edu

VICTORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

7700 S. Lewis Ave. | 918-491-7720 vcstulsa.org

WRIGHT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

11391 E. Admiral Place | 918-438-0922 wrightchristianacademy.com

OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION TOTAL ENROLLMENT BEFOREAND AFTERSCHOOL CARE

179 Yes Ongoing. CONTINUED FROM P. 40

2004 6th-8th Yes Yes $100, monthly 12-1 Lasallian 72 Extended school day February-August.

1961 1st-12th No Yes $14,080-$15,780, 2nd-12th 6-1

1916 Pre-K-12th Yes Yes $5,875, Pre-K-8; $6,945, 9th-12th 15-1 Christian 105

After-school care MondayThursday Pre-enrollment in March. Testing by appointment.

1964 Age 3-8th No Yes $7,615-$12,960 11-1 Montessori 233 Yes Ongoing.

1982 Pre-K3-8th No Yes $12,015-$13,245 6-1 Gifted 185 Yes Ongoing.

1981 K3-12th Dress code Yes Check website. 12-1 to 17-1 Christian 1,170 Yes Ongoing.

1989 Pre-K3-12th Yes Yes $2,680-$6,700, Pre-K3-Pre-K4; $6,610-$8,050, K-12th 9-1 Christian 250 Yes Ongoing; tours by appointment.

2520 SOUTH YORKTOWN AVENUE, TULSA • 918.746.2600 • CASCIAHALL.COM

Cascia Hall Preparatory School

T

YEAR FOUNDED: 1926

ENROLLMENT: 535

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10-to-1

GRADES: 6th-12th grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Since 1926, our tradition has defined us, and we like it that way.

Riverfield Country Day School

It’s an exciting time to be a Riverfield Raven! Construction is underway on a 15,000-squarefoot Center for Creativity that will house a black box theater, rehearsal rooms, recording studios, visual art studios, maker spaces, and a severe weather shelter designed to meet ICC 500 standards. The expansion of the Clark Gymnasium is nearly complete, which doubles the footprint of the existing building, adding courts, seating, locker rooms and a concession stand.

Riverfield is a nonsectarian school providing quality innovative education for children 8 weeks old through 12th grade. Riverfield is dedicated to academic excellence and college preparation while remaining true to its family-oriented atmosphere and whole student approach to education and learning.

Small class sizes, along with the collaborative nature of the classrooms, provide opportunities

YEAR FOUNDED: 1984

ENROLLMENT: 630

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 4-to-1 to 15-1 (based on age/grade level)

GRADES: Infants-12th grade

for students to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, leadership, interpersonal skills, and the confidence needed for success today and tomorrow.

Riverfield is home to the state’s first and most comprehensive school rock band program, with more than a dozen student bands. Through partici pation in the OSSAA, the school has achieved suc cess in athletics, academics, extracurriculars, and arts including State Championships three of the past four years in Academic Bowl and five years running in Speech and Debate.

Riverfield is accredited through the Indepen dent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the Oklahoma Private Schools Accreditation Commission (OPSAC).

To learn more, please contact Director of Admissions Kacey Davenport at 918-446-3553 or kdavenport@riverfield.org.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Located on a 120-acre campus, Riverfield’s students experience the barnyard, hiking trails, gardens and athletic fields as an extension of the academic excellence found in the classroom.

Holland Hall

Holland Hall celebrated its anniversary in 2022, and its mission is the same as it was when it began — to provide a school “where each student may receive individual attention, within reach of any citizen of Tulsa.”

Holland Hall’s intentionally small-scale approach assures teachers truly know who their students are and where their strengths and passions lie.

“Students find it all at Holland Hall, and every student can find a place to excel,” says Director of Enrollment Management Justin Butler ’04. Holland Hall students see an average score of 1360 on the SAT and 27 on the ACT.

Historically, 100% of graduates who apply are accepted to a four-year college and 90% of graduates receive some form of college scholarship.

Holland Hall students have opportunities beyond the classroom, too. The Upper School offers 62 different art courses, 18 individual and team sports and more than 30 clubs.

A Holland Hall education may be more affordable than expected. Pre-K tuition is up to $3,000 less per year than comparable local programs, and 31% of all students receive some form of tuition assistance.

“We believe the best way to learn what makes Holland Hall different is to visit our 162-acre campus and see for yourself,” Butler says. In addition to private tours, the school offers open houses on “Welcome Wednesdays.” To learn more, visit hollandhall.org/ admission or email justin.butler@hollandhall.org.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1922 ENROLLMENT: 1,034

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10-to-1

GRADES: Early Pre-K–12th grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Holland Hall is the only Cum Laude School in Tulsa. Colleges see having a Cum Laude Society chapter as a critical mark of academic excellence.

Monte Cassino School

Since 1926, Monte Cassino, an independent Benedictine Catholic school, has been committed to providing an exceptional education while nurturing the whole student. The PreK3–8th grade school features a campus-wide average class size of 17 and an 8-to-1 student/teacher ratio in the Early Childhood Learning Center. The dedicated faculty allows Monte Cassino to provide a comprehensive educational experience. The school, located at 2206 S. Lewis Ave., offers the traditional subjects of reading, writing, math and the sciences and also provides excellent programs in music, art, foreign language, STEM and athletics. Students are encouraged to take risks and explore concepts while developing learning strategies.

The Monte Cassino educational experience is complemented by a co-curricular program of over 25 clubs and offerings such as robotics, coding, chess, Makerspaces, musical theater, Academic Bowl, MCTV Broadcasting, book clubs, STEAM and more. Because experiential learning is important, the school offers unique and learning-based field trips, service days and

project work. The Monte Cassino athletics department offers 11 sports, ongoing development clinics and camps. Monte Cassino holds many state championships in basketball, volleyball and Academic Bowl.

Monte Cassino’s commitment to Catholic instruction focuses on eight universal Benedictine values: Love of Learning, Seek God, Prayer, Community, Simplicity and Balance, Hospitality, Service and Stewardship. These values enable students of all faiths to build life skills and grow in their own spirituality while serving the community around them. Monte Cassino’s rigorous, challenging and focused curriculum helps develop well-rounded and morally-grounded students who are prepared for high school and life beyond. Over $1 million in financial assistance is available. Come learn how a Monte Cassino education can make a difference for your family.

To schedule a tour and for more information, contact Brooke Jones at: bjones@montecassino.org or at 918-746-4238.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1926

ENROLLMENT: 780

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 8-to-1, ECLC; 16-to-1, elementary and middle schools

GRADES: Pre-K–8th grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Monte Cassino School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Cognia.

Monte Cassino provides a place for children and young adults to reach their fullest potential but more importantly, it is a community that helps develop kind, loving, and generous humans in a faith-filled environment. As parents, we are amazed by Monte Cassino and ld t h d b tt

The University of Tulsa University School

Celebrating its 40th year, University School offers a dynamic full school program for gifted students from age 3 through eighth grade. University School provides an emotionally supportive and intellectually challenging learning environment that rewards both creativity and socially responsible behavior.

“We believe that a person learns best in a supportive, but kindly firm, atmosphere where they are actively involved and have some control over what occurs,” says Director Debra Price. “We know each student is an individual and therefore we do not expect uniform educational results.”

With a total enrollment of 185 students and a 6-to-1 student/faculty ratio, teachers can focus on the success of each student.

acceptance that understands and celebrates diversity and shares cross-cultural values.

University School sponsors several opportunities for students to exhibit academic and artistic projects. The annual drama festival is a chance for students to write, produce and perform plays. Students can exhibit their creative projects and interact with professionals in their own academic interest area at the Creative Producers exhibit held each spring. The USchool Ambassadors program and student council allow students to serve as leaders within the school community. University School offers a variety of clubs and organizations often driven by student interests.

University School values are: The pursuit of excellence in scholarship, leadership and citizenship; the development of critical thinking, problem solving and responsibility; an environment that engages and empowers students to explore ideas prompting discovery and stimulating creativity; a culture where faculty actively model the philosophy and benefits of life-long learning; and a community of

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Another essential component of the curriculum involves making use of the school’s relationship with the University of Tulsa. The University Connection consists of TU Exploration, in which children may visit classes and interact with professors, staff and TU students, as well as attend exhibits and utilize university facilities. The relationship with the university provides USchool with tremendous unique resources that few schools can match. YEAR FOUNDED: 1982

University School students are gifted, creating a unique environment of high academic standards. Presentations about University School have been made in numerous states, Canada and Europe. Articles about the University School curriculum have been published in leading national magazines, newspapers and journals.

Metro Christian Academy

“We like to say around here that you can tell a lot about something by its name,” says Keith Currivean, Ph.D., head of school at Metro Christian Academy. “Metro is where we are, Academy is what we are, and Christian is who and how and why we are.”

Located on a 60-acre campus at East 63rd Street and South Trenton Avenue, Metro Christian Academy is an independent Christian school, serving students age 3 through 12th grade. High schooler students are challenged through enrollment in on-level, honors or advanced placement courses. College credit is also available through concurrent enrollment classes.

Beyond the books, students can participate in competitive athletics including 11 varsity sports, fine arts programs including band, studio art and drama. In addition, leadership and mission classes teach students to lead and serve others.

At the heart of Metro is a sense of community. Students, parents, faculty and staff work together to educate and nurture students to reach their full potential. “We work to develop this culture in which everyone knows who you are,” says Adam Taylor, director of school operations. “You are somebody here. You are someone important.” Visit metroca.com where you can find more details on curriculum, activities and more.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Metro’s elementary program offers two tracks for students. One features traditional curriculum that students may join at any time. The other is a Spanish immersion section that students may enter in Pre-K or Kindergarten and continue through fifth grade. Spanish immersion students become bilingual by learning core subject content in Spanish including history, language arts, science and math.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1983 ENROLLMENT: 1,134

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 12-to-1 GRADES: P3-12th grade

For the past 12 years, TulsaPeople readers have named their favorite local businesses to the A-LIST. The A-LIST Hall of Fame recognizes those winners named to the list for five or more years. Each business is listed under the overall category it was recognized in: Dine Local, Shop Local, Head to Toe, Services and Fun for All.

According to you, our readers, these businesses, restaurants, service providers, destinations and local sites are the best in Tulsa. Congratulations to those named to the Hall of Fame.

Nominate your favorite business to the 2023 A-LIST beginning Feb. 1 on TulsaPeople.com.

Businesses with stars designate those that have been on the A-LIST for 10 or more years.

Highlighted businesses have advertised in this issue.

Fun

108 Contemporary 108contemporary.org

Ambassador Hotel A ambassadortulsa.com

AMC Southroads 20 amctheatres.com/movietheatres/tulsa/amcsouthroads-20

AMF Sheridan Lanes amf.com

Andy B’s bowlandybs.com

BOK Center A bokcenter.com

Broken Arrow Lanes brokenarrowlanes.com

Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center brokenarrowpac.com

Cabin Boys Brewery cabinboysbrewery.com

Cain’s Ballroom A cainsballroom.com

Cinemark Tulsa and IMAX A cinemark.com/theatres/ ok-tulsa/cinemark-tulsaand-imax

Circle Cinema circlecinema.org

The Color Run thecolorrun.com/locations/ tulsa

Cox Business Convention Center coxcentertulsa.com

Discovery Lab discoverylab.org

Dresser Mansion dressermansion.com

Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge dustbowllounge.com

Gilcrease Museum A gilcrease.org

Guthrie Green guthriegreen.com

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino A hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Hard Rock Live hardrockcasinotulsa.com/ entertainment/hard-rocklive

Harwelden Mansion harweldenmansion.com

Hunter Park tulsacounty.org/parks

Incredible Pizza incrediblepizza.com/tulsa

LaFortune Park A tulsacounty.org/parks

Living Arts of Tulsa A livingarts.org

Lovetts Gallery lovettsgallery.com

M.A. Doran Gallery A madorangallery.com

Main Event Entertainment mainevent.com

Mayfest A tulsamayfest.org

Mayo Hotel A themayohotel.com

Mohawk Park tulsaparks.org

Oklahoma Aquarium A okaquarium.org

Oklahoma City Thunder nba.com/thunder

Oklahoma State University - Tulsa A tulsa.okstate.edu

Oktoberfest A tulsaoktoberfest.org

Osage Casino A osagecasino.com

Philbrook Museum of Art A philbrook.org

Pinot’s Palette A pinotspalette.com

Purple Glaze Studio purpleglazestudio.com

Regal Warren Broken Arrow regmovies.com/theatres/ regal-warren-broken-arrow

River Parks A riverparks.org

River Spirit Casino Resort riverspirittulsa.com

Scotfest okscotfest.com

Spain Ranch spainranch.com

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure A komenoklahoma.org

Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium A tulsamuseum.org

Tulsa Ballet A tulsaballet.org

Tulsa Community College A tulsacc.edu

Tulsa Drillers A tulsadrillers.com

Tulsa Glassblowing School A tulsaglassblowing.org

Tulsa Greek Festival tulsagreekfestival.com

Tulsa Oilers A tulsaoilers.com

Tulsa Opera tulsaopera.com

Tulsa Performing Arts Center A tulsapac.com

Tulsa Run tulsarun.com

Tulsa State Fair tulsastatefair.com

Tulsa Symphony tulsasymphony.org

Tulsa Technology Center tulsatech.edu

Tulsa Theater tulsatheater.com

Tulsa Tough A tulsatough.com

Tulsa Zoo A tulsazoo.org

University of Tulsa A utulsa.edu

WaterWorks Art Center A waterworksartcenter.com

Williams Route 66 Marathon A route66marathon.com

Woodward Park A tulsaparks.org

Woody Guthrie Center woodyguthriecenter.org

Dine Local

2 POPS Catering 2popscatering.com

918 Coffee tulsa918coffee.com

Albert G’s BBQ A albertgs.com

American Solera americansolera.com Andolini’s Pizzeria A andopizza.com

Antoinette Baking Co.A antoinettebakingco.com

Bill and Ruth’s billandruths.com

Billy Sims Barbecue A billysimsbbq.com

Blue Moon Bakery and Cafe bluemoontulsa.com

Bodean Restaurant A bodean.net

Bonefi sh Grill A bonefishgrill.com

Bramble Breakfast and Bar bramblebreakfastandbar. com

Brookside By Day A brooksidebyday.com

Brownies Hamburgers A facebook.com/ browniesburgersharvard Bull in the Alley bullinthealley.com BurnCo. Barbeque A burnbbq.com Charleston’s Restaurant A charlestons.com

Chimi’s Mexican Food chimismexican.com Chuy’s chuys.com

Coffee House on Cherry Street chocstulsa.com Coney I-Lander coneyi-lander.com

Daily Grill dailygrill.com Dalesandro’s Italian Cuisine A dalesandros.com

Desi Wok A desiwok.net

Dilly Diner dillydiner.com

Doc’s Wine and Food docswineandfood.com

DoubleShot Coffee Co. doubleshotcoffee.com

Ediblend Superfood Cafe ediblend.com

El Rio Verde facebook.com/ elrioverdetulsa

El Tequila Mexican Kitchen A eltequilatulsa.com

Elote Cafe and Catering elotetulsa.com

Fat Guy’s Burger Bar A fatguysburgers.com

First Watch firstwatch.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar A flemingssteakhouse.com

Fuji Sushi fujitulsa.com

Goldie’s Patio Grill A goldies.com

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anlikeExperience no other!

As Tulsa’s premier senior living community, Montereau is a truly special place. Combining the peace of mind that comes from maintenancefree living, a beautiful campus in the heart of Tulsa, and a warm welcome from our friendly staff, the lifestyle here is second to none.

THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE.

For more than 60 years, Saint Francis Health System has been committed to one mission: to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ in all we do. His caring is the model for how we serve patients, families and each other in Tulsa and the surrounding communities.

Over the decades, we have expanded and adapted to the growing needs of the region and to ongoing changes in the healthcare industry. Thank you to the more than 10,500 physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers for their dedication to serving patients and making the mission of Saint Francis a reality.

We are proud be named to the 2023 TulsaPeople A-List Hall of Fame:

Saint Francis Hospital

A-List Hospital

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Warren Clinic Dermatology A-List Dermatology Clinic

Manager Valerie Lindsay holding “Frankenstein”, owner Emily Stewart holding “Truman”, manager Cody Greene and manager Tommy Ball holding “Kitty Cat Dog.”

Tulsa is a better place because of the Junior

Thank

The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma thanks the Junior League of Tulsa for 100 years of leadership and devotion to our community.

League.

you, Laura Law, Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Board Chair, for your leadership and commitment to fighting hunger in eastern Oklahoma.

A CENTURY of service

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TULSA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

For a century, volunteer-driven nonpro t Junior League of Tulsa (JLT) has been instrumental in launching and supporting over 100 community projects in areas such as health care, education, social services, child abuse prevention and more — developing leaders and empowering women along the way.

Its mission “to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training” has remained constant while membership has grown to re ect a more diverse society and the ever-evolving roles and responsibilities of the women in it.

Community reflection

JLT is part of the larger Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., started in New York City by social activist Mary Harriman in 1901. It since has evolved into one of the oldest and largest women’s volunteer organizations in the world, with more than 125,000 women in over 295 leagues in four countries.

“ e league re ects women in society,” explains JLT President-elect Lesley Hess. “We have doctors, lawyers, stay-at-home moms, teachers, entrepreneurs and many more occupations represented. Every type of woman there is, from every background and education, that is who we are and who we represent. We welcome all women who value our mission, so if you have a passion for Tulsa, and you want to give back to Tulsa and to grow as a civic leader, then we welcome you.”

Established in 1923, a mere 16 years after statehood, Tulsa’s chapter has been responsible for establishing or supporting organizations as varied as Children’s Medical Center, Leadership Tulsa, Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS), Ronald McDonald House, Mayfest and Oxley Nature Center.

Philanthropist, community leader and volunteer Bonnie Henke is a Junior League legacy of sorts. Her mother, Dottie Creekmore Davis, was a member in JLT’s early years. “She was involved in many things, including the Tea Room and Children’s Medical Center and those early projects,” Henke recalls. “I have so many friends, family and people from all generations who I’ve met through the league and with whom I became really close because we worked together to get something done.”

Henke too was active in the organization for many years, serving as its president from 19751976. Henke’s sister, two daughters and niece were also active JLT members. Today she remains a sustaining member, one of the three levels of Junior League membership.

President-elect Hess grew up in Tulsa, joining Junior League when she moved to San Diego after college graduation and later transferring to the Portland, Oregon, chapter. is is her 11th year with the organization.

“Every Junior League I’ve been in has been a little di erent. ey’re a re ection of the community,” Hess says. “ e Junior League of Tulsa has a very strong community impact.”

No organization can survive a century and

remain stagnant. Members, like President Chris Oden, attribute JLT’s longevity to its determination and ability to evolve with the community and its changing needs.

“You think about 100 years and all of the things that have a ected us and our nation, such as war. In times of need, our league adapted quickly and helped by selling war bonds to aid in the e ort,” Oden says. “ at’s a really incredible thing about the league. JLT has a history of recognizing a community need and taking action to aid in a solution. It’s really remarkable to look back on our history and re ect on all of these women who realized, ‘OK, we need that. How are we going to make it happen?’”

Leadership development

Membership in JLT requires both a nancial and time commitment. In return, members receive the satisfaction that comes from making a positive contribution to the community in which they live. ey also hone and expand their leadership skills through the training and service opportunities JLT provides. Developing women as community leaders and volunteers has always been at the heart of JLT’s mission.

“ e purpose was the same then as the purpose is today — to provide trained volunteers for the community,” Henke explains. “ e training was very rigorous and speci c. Everything was checked and rechecked, and it was pretty sophisticated. Most women weren’t employed outside the home at that time, but you had people who

Former Junior League of Tulsa President Bonnie Henke, President-elect Lesley Hess and President Chris Oden gather at the organization’s midtown headquarters to mark 100 years of the women’s volunteer organization.

were rising through the ranks because they were good CEOs. ey knew how to start an organization or run a project.”

at was the case for Deidra Kirtley, who recently retired from her position as executive director of the nonpro t Resonance Center for Women.

“My background was public relations and marketing, but I stayed home to take care of my kids. Junior League was my outlet,” says Kirtley, who served as JLT president from 2003-2004. “I joined because I wanted to give back to the community and stay engaged with other women. I started working with nonpro ts on di erent programs and just fell in love with nonpro ts.”

Henke’s many years at JLT sharpened her organizational and negotiating skills. She’s served as a member or leader on numerous nonpro t boards, including Tulsa Library Trust and Gilcrease Museum. “I learned to keep all the balls in the air,” she says.

JLT’s list of past presidents reads like a compendium of community leaders. Many, if not all, of JLT’s internal leadership have gone on to serve with other nonpro t organizations or contribute through their work in local businesses or government.

Hess says JLT develops civic leaders. “We have women who come through this organization, and then go out to lead in other organizations within the community, too.”

A signi cant number of JLT members have taken what they’ve learned as a volunteer in the organization and applied it to their own careers.

“I joined the league because I wanted to give back to my community, but also to help me grow as a person and as a leader. Now I’m president-elect, so it was successful. But it’s honestly really helped me in my career, as well,” says Hess, a senior cybersecurity engineer and cloud security assessment lead. “My background is engineering, so I’m a technical female in a male-dominated eld. I didn’t have a lot of leadership opportunities within the company where I worked. I had the ability to manage people in my work, but I didn’t have that opportunity. I got that experience within the league.”

Kirtley says Junior League introduced her to the world of nonpro ts. “I saw how they worked. I worked with volunteers, on the strategic planning committees, and on the fundraising committees all in Junior League. at’s pretty much everything you need to know to run a nonpro t,” she says. “Ultimately, I really do feel strongly that it groomed me to be able to be an executive director.”

Among the many organizations JLT helped establish is Leadership Tulsa, which began in 1973 as a joint project between JLT and Tulsa Regional Chamber. Leadership Tulsa, with its mission to identify, develop and connect diverse leaders to impact the community through service, and its executive director Wendy omas were honored at JLT’s 2022 GEM Gala event.

“ e Junior League of Tulsa, which was the Who’s Who of women in leadership, and the Chamber, which at that time would have been the Who’s Who of men in leadership, decided

MEMBERSHIP IN JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TULSA

Provisionals are new members who focus their first year on learning about how the league operates, its community projects and fundraisers. They also serve on committees. Provisionals are non-voting, and at the end of completing the new member program, they are voted into active membership.

Active members are voting members and include the leadership of the league and committee members, who coordinate community efforts, determine the direction of the league and its initiatives, and handle fundraising coordination and day-to-day operations.

Active members can choose to go Sustainer after seven years of active service. Sustaining members are not required to attend meetings or have a placement, but can be as involved as they choose. All members pay dues to the organization depending on their level. Sustainers are supporters of the organization and serve to help sustain the organization, not only financially, but also as advisors and advocates within the community.

JLT welcomes women of all ages who are over 21.

Above, former Resonance Center for Women Executive Director Deidra Kirtley at the nonprofi t’s Take 2 Cafe. Kirtley is a former Junior League of Tulsa president and credits her time in the organization for grooming her for a career in nonprofi ts. Below, Bloomingdeals is one of Junior League of Tulsa’s annual fundraisers. Held in the fall and billed as “Tulsa’s biggest garage sale,” it is one of several annual events that helps the organization underwrite its efforts and the organizations it supports.

to do this thing together,” omas says. JLT continued to provide volunteers and guidance to Leadership Tulsa until it became its own 501(c) (3). e two nonpro ts continue to collaborate today.

“For almost the entire 50 years we’ve been in operation, Leadership Tulsa has been sending talent out onto Tulsa area boards. Currently we partner with the Junior League and with the Chamber, through their Young Professionals program (TYPROS), to do a board leadership collaborative where we provide training around board best practices,” omas says. “ ere are other informal ways we collaborate, too. Obviously, there’s a lot of cross-pollination between both the leadership and the membership of the Junior League and of Leadership Tulsa. It remains just a really close and collegial relationship.”

Community impact

In addition to their contributions as volunteers, JLT members have raised millions of dollars for numerous community projects over the years. In 1924, JLT opened the Tea Room, which ran for several decades. Members helped fundraise by serving as volunteers in the kitchen and as wait-

resses and cashiers. Now annual fundraisers like “Bloomingdeals,” billed as “Tulsa’s biggest garage sale,” cookbook sales, and the GEM Gala help underwrite JLT’s e orts and the organizations they support.

Each year, $10,000 of that money is funneled back into the community in the form of scholarships.

“Every year we give $10,000 in scholarships to four di erent individuals,” Oden says. “We focus two of them on what we call the ‘traditional student’ who’s gone the traditional high school route and is now getting ready to go to college. en we give two to non-traditional students who, for some reason, had some kind of hiccup in their educational career and are getting back into it and need some extra assistance.”

Resonance Tulsa, where Kirtley was executive director from 2012-2022, also has a long history with JLT. Resonance provides substance abuse treatment to women in lieu of incarceration. e organization also works with women as they prepare to be released from prison and while they are incarcerated. Among JLTs contributions to Resonance was helping to create and grow Take 2 Cafe, which employs and trains women who’ve been recently released from prison.

Junior League of Tulsa’s 1929 provisional class

Photos on left: 1923 Christmas Ball, sign making for the Christmas tree lot in the early 1970s, the pediatric enrichment program, Tara Payne and Dr. Brenda Lloyd-Jones at a general membership meeting, the Provisional Committee welcoming provisional members.

COURTESY JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TULSA; GEM: JEFFREY S. METCALF/GOOSE AND GANDER CREATIVE

Congratulations to Junior League Tulsa on your momentous anniversary. We proudly look forward to hosting your centennial anniversary event at our venue.

The Vista at 21 is a spacious indoor and outdoor venue which can accommodate 250 inside and another 225 outside with exceptional views of downtown Tulsa.

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PROUD TO BE WOMEN BUILDING A BETTER TULSA

“ ey were very helpful in coming up with the ideas to help us launch that. We were looking for a transitional work program, and they came up with four ideas to pitch to us. We landed on this one,” says Kirtley of JLT and Take 2. “ ey had a task force, did the research and did the whole business plan for us.”

JLT members also mentor women who work at the cafe. At one time, members taught classes for Resonance in nancial literacy and other useful topics to women inside a correctional facility near Tulsa. e program was only discontinued after the facility was closed by the state.

Kirtley says the mentorship makes a di erence. “To have someone in the community show up for them every single week makes them feel good about themselves.”

Evolution and growth

When it was rst established in 1923, membership in JLT was by invitation, and few — if any members — worked outside the home. Since that time, JLT has grown to become a more diverse and inclusive organization.

“In past years, a candidate for membership had to be sponsored and recommended by individuals within league. We have since dropped that requirement,” Oden says. “As one of our core values, diversity is of utmost importance to us. We want our membership to represent the community it serves and we welcome all women who value our mission.”

Henke believes JLT’s ability to grow and evolve is one of the reasons it still exists 100 years after its creation.

“ ere have been so many dedicated women over the years,” Henke says. “It’s changed and evolved pretty well, I think. It’s stayed up with the times and stayed current with issues. I think that’s one reason it’s remained e ective.”

Centennial activities

In keeping with its mission, JLT’s centennial activities will combine service and celebration. Many of the events are open to the public.

“On Feb. 25, we’re having a tea party, and it’s open to people in the community,” Oden says. “We thought a tea party would be a fun event that also pays homage to our historic tea room, an important part of our history.”

A Mentorship Matters event is scheduled for March 30, with a featured speaker and scholarship announcements, and the Centennial Diamond Gala will take place April 22. JLT also is working on a children’s book to be released this year that focuses on the importance of volunteering.

Details about upcoming centennial e orts, events, book readings and general league information can be found at jltulsa.org.

“For example, for our 50th anniversary, we started Mayfest. In that same vein, we want to give a gift to Tulsa for our centennial by helping solve a problem in the community,” Hess says. “We have a history of being a good partner to other existing organizations within Tulsa, but we’ve also acted as a catalyst for solving some of those problems. I’d like to see us do something similar for a new need because we have that history. We want to meet a gap in Tulsa.”

As JLT steps into the next 100 years, it’s clear that, from its inception, the organization has been meaningful to the city that hosts it and to the women who make up its membership.

“I can really say I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Henke says of her time with the organization. “I’ve been so impressed with the many, many people I’ve known who were involved. It was a lot of fun.”

Oden concurs, “I work with amazing women everyday that are truly dedicated to making a difference in our community.” TP

Junior League of Tulsa Immediate Past-President Elaina Osteen Beatt, Leadership Tulsa Executive Director Wendy Thomas and JLT President Chris Oden at the 2022 GEM Gala, where Thomas was an honoree. Leadership Tulsa was the product of a collaboration between Junior League of Tulsa and Tulsa Regional Chamber. Leadership Tulsa identifi es and develops community leaders primarily through its cohort-based leadership programs that bring people from across sectors to experience its community as a classroom, to build leadership skills together and to build deeper personal networks.

Junior League of Tulsa turns 100

1970s

Celebrating 50 years, Junior League initiates programs and events that are still a major part of Tulsa today. Leadership Tulsa, started with the Tulsa Regional Chamber, and Youth Resources Bureau with Youth Services of Tulsa, still serve the community in 2023. To celebrate JLT’s anniversary, the group creates Mayfest, a festival promoting arts and humanities in the city.

1920s

With its founding in 1923, Junior League begins its legacy of community through fundraising events like Follies and Crystal Carnival. The organization opens its famous Tea Room in 1924, popular for decades. JLT also starts a relationship with St. John Hospital by refurbishing hospital rooms.

1980s

DVIS and Junior League of Tulsa join together to help survivors of domestic violence with advocacy and education. In 1986, the organization begins Bloomingdeals, known as “Tulsa’s biggest garage sale.” The decade also sees the initiation of the Child Abuse Network with Tulsa Community Service Council and Ronald McDonald House.

1930s

Oilman and philanthropist Waite Phillips gifts JLT its first building in 1935. The League begins its support of the Convalescent Home (later Children’s Medical Center) with passage of state money, mortgage payment and a new wing. The group initiates its first publication called “Newssheet.”

1990s

Through the decade, JLT expands and continues its work through programs like Going to Bat for Kids, Christmas in April and the publication of “Tulsa A to Z.” JLT volunteers develop Tulsa history curriculum for Tulsa third-graders, and also create an eating disorder awareness program for seventh-graders.

1940s

The legacy of the Tea Room continues in the form of a cookbook. The group continues support of local Tulsa organizations including the Children’s Museum Program at Philbrook Museum of Art, the Club Foot Clinic at St. John and Tulsa Figure Skating Club. JLT joins the war effort by selling more than $200,000 in war bonds.

2000s

Several supportive task forces form including Child Abuse Network, Race for the Cure, DVIS Skills for Life and Global Gardens with community schools. In 2005, the group collaborates with Resonance Center for Women to create the Mother Read program, through which incarcerated mothers connect with their children through recorded stories.

1950s

The Convalescent Home becomes the Children’s Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (later Children’s Medical Center) and introduces other programs including the Preschool Deaf Therapy Program and Sunnyside School. In 1956, JLT launches television programs for children with the Tulsa City-County Library, as well as Gilcrease Museum’s docent program. The ladies raise charity through fashion shows, horse shows and other community events.

1960s

In 1962, Junior League begins the Pro-AM Golf Tournament, which in later years brought in support from Arnold Palmer and Bob Hope. The group initiates Case Aide support and the School for Hard of Hearing at the University of Tulsa. JLT’s existing programs, including a puppet program and the Science Center for Tulsa, continue to grow based on the community’s needs.

2010s

JLT hosts its first GEM Gala in 2015. Through the organization’s short-term IMPACT projects, JLT supports local nonprofits including Food on the Move, Tulsa Girls Art School and Laura Dester Children’s Shelter. A partnership with Street School creates “Culinary Club,” cooking classes for high school students.

2020s

Today, there are more than 500 members of Junior League of Tulsa. The group’s impact is reflected today in its support of Food on the Move, Hawthorne Elementary School, Lunches with Love, Resonance Center for Women and Street School. Each year, $10,000 of funds raised is given back to the community in the form of educational scholarships. TP

F die FINDS

SOME RESTAURANTS FLY UNDER THE RADAR.

STORY BY NATALIE MIKLES • PHOTOS BY MICHELLE POLLARD

These are the best-kept secrets of foodies, the restaurants that don’t always get the attention they deserve. It could be because they’re new or out of the way. Sometimes they don’t have a mainstream menu.

But food lovers know a good thing when they taste it. We talked to Tulsa foodies about their favorite underrated restaurants — the ones they recommend to friends who want to try a place they’ve never been.

If one of these five restaurants is already a favorite, consider yourself part of the in-crowd. These are places too good to keep to ourselves.

Pita Place Mediterranean Grill

Pita Place isn’t hurting for a loyal following. Owners Fred and Pary Zakerion have been in the Tulsa restaurant scene for decades. But they have found their biggest success at Pita Place, where they have been serving fresh Mediterranean food for 15 years.

The Zakerions came to the U.S. from Iran, and their menu of authentic Persian food has given them a following of customers who declare their food the best in the state. But still, many people have never heard of Pita Place or tasted Fred’s lamb in tomato sauce or eggplant stew.

The cabbage rolls — rich with spiced ground beef or basmati rice — are among the best you’ll ever have. And many declare there’s nothing better than the falafel. A great way to sample several things is to try one of the mezza plates. We like the one with falafel, dolmehs, baba ganoush, hummus, Persian salad and pita.

Pita Place also has a small market, which is a great spot to pick up spices, dried nuts and fruit, Turkish coffee, date cookies, rice and feta cheese. Its food truck can be found at events throughout the season. Find where it will be on facebook.com/pitaplacebixby. 8315 E. 111TH ST., BIXBY

La Michoacana Plus

As we stood in line at La Michoacana Plus, a woman turned to her boyfriend and said, “Babe — how have we never been to this place?” Same girl, same. Talk about a hidden gem. La Michoacana is an ice cream aficionado’s dream.

The selection of fruit popsicles, creambased popsicles, ice cream and sorbet fill cases that run the length of the store, stretching from the front to the back. The entire store is colorful, from the walls to the food. Fruit popsicles come in every shade, with flavors including watermelon, mango, gooseberry, kiwi, cucumber or pineapple with chile, chamoy and tamarind.

Kids love the cream-based popsicles like Oreo, strawberry and bubblegum. Grownups will like the avocado, blackberry yogurt and rum raisin. Ice cream scoops are served in cups, cones, sundaes or milkshakes. We are big fans of the cappuccino, pistachio and cinnamon toast.

The shop also makes a variety of aqua frescas and mangonadas, the shop’s specialty. Some people skip the sweets entirely and come for the snacks, like corn in a cup, corn with hot Cheetos or nachos.

La Michoacana Plus started in California, where owner Ruben Jimenez has grown the shop’s reach, expanding across Mexico, California and as far as Dubai.

11360 E. 31ST ST.

OREO AND WATERMELON PALETAS

Tulsa is home to some legendary barbecue joints. So when we tell you we’ve found a place that’s worthy of standing next to others in the Oklahoma barbecue tradition, we’re serious.

Frank Willis III started Alpha Grill as a food truck in 2016. As an entrepreneur, he’s tried multiple concepts — from the food truck to a macaroni and cheese-focused restaurant he’s rebranding near East 31st Street and South Sheridan Road to Alpha Grill’s brick-and-mortar location at East 66th Street and South Lewis Avenue. But one thing is consistent, and that’s Willis’ mastery of barbecue using homemade rubs, injections and sauces.

Willis caught the barbecue bug in 2015 when his wife bought him a smoker for Father’s Day.

“I started smoking everything. And when I say everything, I mean I was smoking everything from ribs to lettuce,” Willis says.

But Willis, who has a real love for cooking, isn’t satisfied with traditional barbecue. He calls himself more of a barbecue guru than pitmaster. His food, “barbecue with a twist,” combines barbecue and Cajun or smoked meats in various plated creations like a burrito or nachos. He says it’s a surprise to some customers who are expecting a straight menu of ribs and pulled pork. But those twists are some of the best and unexpected surprises on the menu, sometimes featured as specials.

That’s not to say Willis doesn’t shine with his straightforward barbecue. The ribs are thick, with plenty of meat, cooked until tender, making them both smoky and delicious. We’re partial to the Alpha: a sandwich of chopped brisket, pulled chicken and hot links, topped with barbecue baked beans. It’s a seriously good sandwich. For a sandwich that’s less vertical, there are options of pulled pork, brisket or bologna that are customer favorites.

Sauces are made in house and include regular, hot, sweet and spicy bourbon, and Bama, his take on a traditional Alabama white sauce typically used on poultry. 6670 S. LEWIS AVE.

Alpha Grill BBQ Chengdu

Chengdu is no hole in the wall. Traffic buzzes by the location at East 66th Street and South Memorial Drive — though no doubt many motorists have no idea they’ve just passed some of the best and most authentic Chinese food in Tulsa.

The brightly lit, open restaurant offers a view of the kitchen so you can watch as cooks pan fry beef and steam dumplings. Food is gorgeously presented — an important element of what makes for such a memorable experience. For instance, salt and pepper prawns, which may appear ho-hum on a white plate are instead presented in a small woven basket.

Chengdu specializes in traditional Szechuan-style food, punctuated with garlic and chile peppers. It’s found in the seafood dry hot pot, shredded pork with garlic sauce and Wanzhou grilled fish, among many other items. We couldn’t get enough of the dumplings with spicy chile oil and the beef with garlic sauce — both were exceptional.

Our server, Zoey, was great at offering recommendations, and says more adventurous eaters love the frog dry pot and chicken feet in lemon sauce. Americanized versions of Chinese dishes, like kung pao chicken and General Tso’s chicken are the best versions of themselves here. And, as Zoey told us, vegetarians won’t feel left out with such dishes as hot-and-sour shredded potato, bok choy in vinegar sauce and enoki mushrooms with chile oil.

One of our favorite endorsements for Chengdu came from a Facebook post, where the commenter said the restaurant had officially become his choice for a final meal, should he ever have to choose. 6620 S. MEMORIAL DRIVE

DUMPLINGS WITH SPICY CHILE OIL

THE ALPHA BURRITO

Sin fronteras

Victor Flores and Katie Hudson met when working in the restaurant industry. It didn’t take long before the two — now married — decided to open their own restaurant, cooking food that made them happy and kept them connected to Flores’ Honduran roots.

Sin Fronteras translates to “without borders,” which speaks to the menu that highlights Honduran food but also makes a nod to Mexican and Caribbean fare.

Sin Fronteras is a casual, comfortable spot. When we stopped in for lunch to check it out, we saw a platter of pupusas, and knew we had to try them. Hudson also recommended the sopa marinera — a mix of crab, tilapia, shrimp and oysters marinated with coconut milk and served with rice, tortillas or fried plantains. It’s a popular soup that’s served daily.

Hudson is a welcoming host, and is happy to help customers new to Honduran food navigate the menu. For us she suggested the fried chicken, a heaping portion of crisp fried chicken piled with cabbage, pickled onions, white and red sauce, and plantains. It’s the most popular item for good reason. We also had to try Hudson’s favorite thing on the menu: chuleta. This Honduran-style pork chop with red sauce, salad and fried plantains is a great dish, and it’s big enough that you can take home leftovers.

5125 S. PEORIA AVE. TP

SOPA MARINERA

FRY IT OUT

In this month’s A La Carte (p. 89), we tell you about three great spots for a hot chicken sandwich. You can’t beat those places, but it’s also fun to make your own.

This fried chicken has some spice, but it’s not coated in the hot spice of the true Nashville hot chicken style. This is more like a homestyle fried chicken with a kick. If you’ve been too intimidated to fry chicken, this is a great starter recipe. — NATALIE MIKLES

SPICY FRIED CHICKEN Serves 4

1 cup buttermilk

3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 (3-pound) chicken, cut into 10 pieces and trimmed Vegetable oil (at least 2 cups)

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon oregano

In a large bowl, stir the buttermilk, jalapeño and cayenne pepper together. Poke several holes into each piece of chicken and place into bowl with buttermilk mixture. Marinate, covered and chilled, about 2 hours, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before frying, letting sit at room temperature.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees. Oil should be about 3/4-inch deep in skillet.

While the oil is heating, stir together the flour, salt, pepper, ginger, garlic powder, garlic salt and oregano on a plate. Roll each piece of chicken in the flour to coat thoroughly, shaking off the excess. Transfer the chicken to a wire rack.

In two batches, fry the chicken for about 10 minutes on each side until chicken is cooked through. If the oil begins to smoke, reduce heat. If oil stops bubbling around the chicken, increase heat. Place chicken on paper towels to collect excess oil.

MICHELLE POLLARD

THE HAPPIEST OF HOURS

On a Wednesday in November, 45% of sales at WEL Bar in Mother Road Market, 1124 S. Lewis Ave., were from non-alcoholic drinks, something manager Daina Paul has never seen before.

It was the first NA Sober Sips Happy Hour, a social event with mocktails crafted as carefully as the finest top-shelf libations. “There were tears, there was laughter, it was just beautiful,” Paul says. “There were people sober for 40 years (and) people sober four months — our bartender was celebrating her four-month sobriety.”

Paul is sober, as are two of WEL Bar’s bartenders. She approached her team of five with the idea for a sober happy hour, and they eagerly got to work on specialty drink options.

DD’s Bees Knees is the brainchild of Emily Rose, one of the sober bartenders. The Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic London Dry is eerily similar in taste to gin, Paul says. She recalls a friend triple-checking it was booze free.

That’s what WEL Bar staff aimed for — drinks reminiscent of classic cocktails, sans-alcohol. Other NA options include takes on the mule, old fashioned and margarita.

Alcohol-free canned and bottled options are available, as well, including Bison terpene-infused carbonated drinks.

The monthly Sober Sips Happy Hour events will continue, and dates are announced on social media, Paul says.

— BLAYKLEE FREED

The lowdown on Lowood

Much is happening at Lowood, though the restaurant has stayed true to its original concept since opening in 2019. We checked in with Noah Bush, co-owner of GB Provisions, which owns and operates Lowood, Topeca Coffee Roasters, Hodges Bend, Saturn Room and Vintage Wine Bar.

Bush is a self-proclaimed wine and cocktail guy, and his appreciation for the conviviality of the bar environment comes through at Lowood, where food and drinks play off one another like poetry. That and the woodfired grill and oven give a feeling of being a guest in someone’s home, gathering around while they cook for you.

Trevor Tack recently joined Lowood as executive chef. “He’s been on the scene for awhile, and his food is incredible,” Bush says. “I don’t think people in Tulsa realize just how much he’s influenced how they eat and drink.”

WHEN GRANT HUGHES AND SOPHIA BUSH’S TULSA WEDDING WAS FEATURED IN VOGUE MAGAZINE LAST YEAR, TULSANS PORED OVER THE DETAILS. EVEN THOSE WITH NO INTEREST IN CELEBRITY OR FASHION CULTURE WERE INTERESTED IN THE TULSA LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. ONE OF THOSE SPOTS FEATURED WAS LOWOOD, WHICH SOPHIA CALLED HER “FAVORITE TULSA RESTAURANT.” I had no idea that article was going to come out! Out of respect for their privacy, we kept everything really quiet and confidential. I just figured we’d do our job, give them a great party and that would be it. Then I woke up one morning and everyone I knew was texting me about the article. That article definitely put us on the map, and since then, we’ve had a number of famous people casually come into Lowood. I walked in one day and Jesse Plemons was sitting at the chef’s counter eating and having a good time.

We’ve also had people come in asking to sit and take a picture in front of the art where Sophia and Grant took their photo. Beyond the pride we feel, this was great for Tulsa. It is wonderful that a person outside Tulsa shares the same love for our city and understands what makes it special.

ON LOWOOD’S REPUTATION AS A FOODIE’S RESTAURANT … I think that when you are a true lover of food and wine, it’s common to want to share that experience with others. For Lowood, we wanted to create a convivial and relatable spirit of sharing. Our team understands that we eat with our eyes first, so the food has to be beautiful. But there is equal emphasis on quality of ingredients. A dish is only as good as its weakest link, so if it’s not a quality ingredient, we’re not going to use it. The flavors in the dishes are familiar and straightforward but plated with care and inventiveness. And that is what sets us apart. If you make those two things work, the dish rhymes. Add in the perfect wine, and then it becomes the beat to an amazing hip-hop song; you’re just creating a cool vibe with friends.

ON TULSA’S RESTAURANT SCENE … It’s so different from when I started. I think the guests really understand food more than ever. Chefs in this town have really stepped up and are pushing the limits of what people expect when they go out. I’m a huge fan of the fact that we’re seeing more vegetables as the featured dish instead of just an afterthought to protein. I think one of the biggest changes within the past decade is seeing people who learned in this industry grow. They know how to do it really well and are the ones with the best places.

— NATALIE MIKLES

MICHELLE POLLARD; LOWOOD: COURTESY

Noah Bush, left, and Trevor Tack; inset, cavatelli and pink Argentina shrimp with basil, tomato, saffron, capers, parsley, citrus and cervasi olive oil

DD’s Bees Knees, margarita and old fashioned mocktails from WEL Bar

Mini ice cream hearts from Big Dipper Creamery

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Big Dipper Creamery is bringing back its single-serving ice cream hearts.

This year, choose from five flavor options. Returning favorites are vegan cookies and cream with a chocolate cookie crumb topping, as well as cereal milk ice cream topped with a Fruity Pebbles crunch. Three new hearts debut this year: cookie butter ice cream with edible chocolate chip cookie dough, dark chocolate ice cream with a brownie base, and red velvet ice cream with red velvet brownie pieces. All are $7.99 each.

Visit bigdipperok.com/shop to pre-order the cakes by Feb. 5 for pick-up Feb. 10-14 at either of Big Dipper’s locations: 1124 S. Lewis Ave. inside Mother Road Market or 120 N. Main St., Sand Springs. Hearts are individually boxed — making it a perfect gift.

Big Dipper owner Sami Cooper expects to open the shop’s third location in Brookside this month. — ANNE BROCKMAN

Local loaves

Standing in line at the Country Bird Bakery feels special — like you’re in on a secret. But the word is quickly getting out about this artisanal bakery that’s open only on Saturdays.

At Cat Cox ’s small-batch bakery, 1644 E. Third St., early birds get first-choice, and it’s not uncommon for the beloved country sourdough loaf to sell out in a couple of hours. But Cox has plenty of other breads to satisfy.

So what’s so special about this sourdough bread that has grown adults lamenting if they’re too late to grab a loaf?

For starters, it’s super flavorful. It’s not hollow in taste or texture. The bread is fermented in a three-day process and naturally leavened with no commercial yeast. It’s made with 100% stone-ground whole wheat — it’s made the hard way, the laborious way, the way that signals to your taste buds that something is different about this bread.

Cox says the stone-milling process helps to preserve the germ and bran, retaining the fiber and minerals that make an exceptional loaf of bread. It’s something that can’t be replicated with wheat flour from the grocery store.

Cox’s desire to use local, whole, unprocessed ingredients was intensified during her time working with Living Kitchen, a farm-to-table kitchen in Depew. There Cox made bread, creating new varieties for the menus that changed every two weeks. Cox also baked for FarmBar, but then took a break to regroup when the concept closed for necessary renovations after a damaging 2022 fire at next-door neighbor BurnCo. She spent time working with artist friends in New York City and came back inspired to delve into sourdough bread-making.

Her passion began with a monthly Bread Club where Cox made loaves that members then picked up once a month. It was so popular the bread club went weekly. At that point, Cox invested in commercial equipment to open Country Bird Bakery.

The country sourdough loaf is only one type of bread Cox makes. She also makes a whole-wheat baguette with some buckwheat flour and an olive loaf with lemon zest and millet that are both popular. Cox makes specialty loaves that change seasonally. Some of her winter loaves included a pumpkin and polenta loaf and a cocoa, cranberry and rye porridge loaf. Beyond bread, Country Bird Bakery sells butterscotch brownies, chocolate chip cookies, scones and more. Cox also makes her own butter and buttermilk.

“There’s an incredible amount of attention and care that goes into the bread. It’s a very labor-intensive process,” Cox says. “And there’s a great sense of community and camaraderie here. I love seeing people on Saturday mornings, running into their friends or making new ones.”

Country Bird Bakery is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (or until bread sells out) on Saturdays. Learn more at countrybirdbakery.com. — NATALIE MIKLES

MICHELLE

Sweet potato, mesquite and barley porridge bread from Country Bird Bakery

Turn up the heat

3 FAVORITE SPOTS FOR A HOT CHICKEN SANDWICH

This is the one that put hot chicken on the Tulsa map: Chicken and the Wolf. It’s where hot chicken newbies regretted their decision to order it “hot” after the first bite. Even the medium spice could bring tears to your eyes. The uninitiated should play it safe with original or mild spice. As the menu says “Our heat is spicier than others. You’ve been warned!” We’re also fans of the hot chicken fries — cheese fries with chicken, pickles, dill and sauce. Chicken and the Wolf now has three locations. 3136 E. 11TH ST., 918-890-9653 | 1124 S. LEWIS AVE. IN MOTHER ROAD MARKET, 918-271-5262 | ONE WILLIAMS CENTER IN CENTER COURT OF THE BOK TOWER | CHICKENANDTHEWOLF.COM

We love the old-fashioned crispy fried chicken at Red Light Chicken. But when we’re craving some heat, it’s also a great place to go for a hot chicken sandwich. Not only is the chicken spicy but the habanero mayo gives it even more of a kick. Topped with tomato and pickle on a brioche bun, this is a delightful sandwich. Crinkle fries, coleslaw or chips are all good sides. Red Light Chicken also has great mac and cheese and yeast rolls with honey butter. 332 E. FIRST ST. | 918-986-7733 | REDLIGHTCHICKEN.COM

The chocolate chip pancakes or the chilaquiles might be calling your name on the brunch menu at Bramble. But don’t sleep on the hot-pickled chicken sandwich. Bramble brines the chicken in pickle juice for a slight dill flavor, then coats it with spicy seasoning and fries it crisp. Garlic aioli, house-made pickles and slaw round it out. It’s one of the best chicken sandwiches in town. 1302 E. SIXTH ST., 539-664-5635 | 400 RIVERWALK TERRACE, JENKS; 918-528-3054 | 121 N. ASH, BROKEN ARROW; 539-3671419 | BRAMBLEBREAKFASTANDBAR.COM — NATALIE MIKLES

ASIAN

The winners of TulsaPeople’s annual A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards deliver on authentic dishes spanning Asian cuisines.

Keo Asian Cuisine

3524 S. Peoria Ave., 918-794-8200 8921 S. Yale Ave., 918-794-0090 845 E. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow; 918-957-8100 keorestaurant.com

Yokozuna

309 E. Second St., 918-508-7676 9146 S. Yale Ave., Suite 100; 918-619-6271 yokozunasushi.com

P.F. Chang’s 1976 E. 21st St. 918-747-6555 pfchangs.com

Lanna Thai Restaurant 7227 S. Memorial Drive 918-249-5262 lannathaitulsa.com

Roka 1616 S. Utica Ave. 918-382-7777 rokatulsa.com

Ri Le’s 4932 E. 91st St., Suite 102 918-496-2126

MICHELLE POLLARD; RED LIGHT CHICKEN: COURTESY

Red Light Chicken

Bramble

BESPOKE SPACE

For more than 40 years, Mark Hawley has been designing one-of-a-kind, statement and timeless furniture creations under his Hawley Design Furnishings name.

In September, Hawley moved to a new showroom where natural light floods a space filled with modern pieces — many custom-made in Tulsa by Hawley and his team of craftsmen — ranging from dining tables, conference tables and beds to chairs, occasional tables, sofa tables and desks. The store also carries pieces from well-known brands.

Vignettes are often staged in the space, like this one that features paintings by Tom Savage with an art piece three-drawer bookcase Hawley designed using Italian black-and-white laminate from the Memphis Design movement.

Hawley is still producing his signature Sitting Image Chair, a design that can be customized to feature photography, commercial art and more.

Hawley Design Furnishings is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday. Follow on Instagram @hawleyco and at facebook.com/ hawleydesigntulsa. TP

Fashion forward

SHOP OWNER GOES ALL IN WITH WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE.

BY JORDAN COX

It’s amazing the di erence two weeks can make. at’s the length of time Mari Rains asked o from her job to go to Market in Dallas to nd out if her dream of opening a women’s clothing boutique was viable.

“I have always been so nervous to ‘go for it’, but this time I just wasn’t afraid,” she says. Rains’ store-opening timeline was ambitious; she took her two-week buying trip in June, left her oil and gas career in August, began the store build-out in September and opened for business in October 2021.

“Once I decided what I was going to do, there was nothing that was going to get in my way,” Rains says, “so I just did it.” Rains, who for years had been a single mom, was an avid saver and characterized herself as risk-averse.

Rains’ merchandise is upscale, dressy and elegant. “Come and get your statement piece,” Rains says. “For a girly girl, it’s a perfect spot.” e shop spotlights brands such as Hudson Denim, Paige, Amanda Uprichard, Zadig and Voltaire, Free People and home decor by Jonathan Adler You can get anything from a pair of jeans to a “forever piece” from Paris. Rains states her pieces are the pop that every wardrobe needs.

e Ella and Orchid name is a tribute to both of her granddaughters as well as Rains’ favorite ower. In an industry that has been upended since the pandemic, Rains has found consistency and success that validates her monumental e orts.

“ at’s the thing about being naïve … you have no idea the level you could fail on, but every month we’ve done better than the month before.” TP

MICHELLE POLLARD

Mari Rains

Across the age spectrum

MEDICAL SPECIALISTS ON CARING FOR THE YOUNGEST AND OLDEST OF PATIENTS.

BY ANNA HOLTON-DEAN

Dr. Kyle Bielefeld

Even before medical school, all Kyle Bielefeld, M.D. loved working with children. When he discovered his interest in cardiology, combining the two made perfect sense.

“When I got to medical school, pediatrics was my favorite rotation, so I went into it for my residency training,” says Bielefeld, assistant professor of pediatrics and pediatric cardiologist at University of OklahomaTulsa. “Cardiology patients were my favorite patient population, so I went into an additional three years of training to be a pediatric cardiologist.”

While most pediatric practitioners stop seeing patients when they reach 18-21 years old, that’s not always the case for Bielefeld’s specialty.

“For pediatric cardiology, our area of expertise is in diagnosing and treating conditions people are born with — like heart defects — medically and surgically,” Bielefeld explains. “Our patients don’t stop having their condition when they turn a certain age, so there are those of us who still see our patients on into their adulthood.”

Danielle Hurd

Drawn to geriatrics (seniors aged 65-plus) because of its uniqueness, Danielle Hurd, APRN, AGNP-C, says she wanted to focus her attention on the things that differentiated the geriatric population from the general.

“Caring for the elder population requires an individualized approach,” says Hurd, who works for Indian Health Care Resource Center in Tulsa. “However, there are some areas that require more attention with geriatrics. Managing their care can be quite complex.”

Challenges in geriatrics include medical dosing, polypharmacy (the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions), additional screenings, and the way one goes about gaining needed information from the patient.

“Medication dosing guidelines are often different from the general adult population, as some side effects can be more severe in older adults,” Hurd explains. Geriatric patients can also be prescribed a large number of medications, she says. “The challenge in that is figuring out where you can eliminate medications or lower doses without causing harm. Additional screenings and tests are recommended at a certain age, such as bone density scans, screening for abdominal aneurysms and screening for hepatitis, to name a few.

Communication can be another challenge. Sometimes Hurd rephrases questions to get patients talking. “This population is not always forthcoming with information, or they may downplay the severity of their symptoms, so a lot of my answers come from careful listening.”

Hurd also says she and her entire medical team work to meet other needs beyond the medical aspect.

“This age group can be vulnerable, so extra care is sometimes needed beyond their medical issues; social challenges must be considered, as well.”

The payoff of that extra care includes seeing the positive progression in a patient’s health status.

Due to the projection of the senior population doubling in the coming years, Hurd believes there will be a need for more practitioners specializing in geriatrics. Locally, the University of Tulsa offers an advanced degree program in acute care of adults and geriatrics.

Nonverbal communication with patients who do not understand the necessity of medical care is one of the biggest challenges associated with pediatrics, but specialists like Bielefeld develop their own tricks and methods to keep little ones calm and get the job done.

“That’s one of the biggest nuances; we may need to do an ultrasound of the heart, and that can take 30 minutes,” he says. “It takes a lot of patience to get what we need in a quick amount of time and make a complete assessment.”

Bielefeld says patients should seek out a specialist whenever they need expertise. “Pediatricians have a very broad understanding of heart conditions, but mine is much more specific to children and their heart conditions. Specialists have spent time focusing on those areas. If you need specific care, they’ve got that extra level (of training) where things can turn out not just good, but great.”

However, he emphasizes keeping patients healthy is a team effort. “By the same token, I rely heavily on their general practitioner to stay on top of all the other aspects of their health that I can’t focus on and trained myself to focus away from. It has to be a team game and group project to ensure best outcomes.”

OU Physicians in Oklahoma City has added several cardiologists in the past two years to expand pediatric cardiology care in Oklahoma. Locally, OU-Tulsa offers a pediatric residency program with 25 residents currently.

BY TOM DEKLE

Diego Dominguez’ trail to becoming an Oklahoma State University Scholar in Urban Medicine and a third-year medical student started years ago when he was just 12 years old on his rst visit to a doctor after moving from El Salvador to his new home in the United States. at visit did not go well.

“I couldn’t explain my symptoms in a di er-

ent language and unlike the other patients at the clinic I didn’t have anyone to translate for me,” Dominguez recalls.

He was there with his aunt who was also challenged by the new language.

“Eventually, I gave up and told the doctor I was ne,” recalls Dominguez, who is interested in studying ophthalmology.

Now, Dominguez is one of four OSU medical students named this year’s George Kaiser Family Foundation Scholars in Urban Medicine.

Also named are Deseree Monique Jones, Matthew Choate and Merhawit Ghebrehiwet. All these scholars are medical students at OSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Each receives an annual $12,500 scholarship award for four years. A committee at OSU Center for Health Sciences selects students who have diverse backgrounds, are academically successful, have personal missions to improve health for vulnerable populations and may have nancial needs.

“ e Scholars in Urban Medicine program provides an opportunity for tuition assistance to OSU medical students who want to practice in underserved health care communities in Oklahoma,” says Monica Basu, senior program o cer with GKFF.

e program is part of GKFF’s work in Tulsa to reverse the generational cycle of poverty through community health initiatives, Basu explains.

“GKFF has sought best practices to combat Tulsa’s signi cant health challenges,” she says.

Urban medicine is not a program per se, but it is part of a larger e ort by GKFF to focus on underserved areas in Tulsa. “ e e ort aims toward closing the disparity that exists in health care in the Tulsa area,” Basu says.

“You can’t provide equal opportunity without providing good health care. Urban medicine addresses health care access issues in urban areas,” she adds.

Ghebrehiwet is a second-year medical student. She was born in Asmara, Eritrea, but grew up in Broken Arrow.

“Practicing medicine in an urban area involves providing care for a diverse population,” says Ghebrehiwet, who is open-minded about which area of medicine she might go into, but is most interested in internal medicine as of now.

“Having a physician workforce that is equally diverse as the population being served is one way health equity may be advanced,” she adds. “I especially hope to make my patients that come from a similar background as me and might even look just like me, feel seen and heard. In this way, I truly believe that an urban area like Tulsa could really bene t from committing to diversity.”

Choate is a third-year medical student from Tulsa who grew up near South Memorial Drive and Admiral Boulevard. He has a strong interest in women’s health.

“It has always been my mission to provide for communities like the one I grew up in,” he says. “Being part of an underserved urban community growing up and now having this great opportunity is a blessing.

“As a physician I hope to have a positive impact on my patients in the community I serve, providing them the best care and advocacy possible.”

Jones, a Booker T. Washington High School graduate, is a second-year medical student.

“Growing up in an urban environment isn’t so bad,” says Jones of her childhood in north Tulsa.

Deseree Monique Jones and Merhawit Ghebrehiwet are both second-year medical students at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and were named Scholars in Urban Medicine.

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“But growing up in an urban environment and poor in an underserved area is a recipe for a plethora of chronic illnesses without the resources to help them. e result is a cycle of medications, hospitals and follow-ups without resolution to the root cause.”

Jones describes how she witnessed her mother being caught up in just such a cycle. Finally, Jones found a doctor who listened and took the time to nd an appropriate treatment for her mother.

“He did not just tell her what medications to take and leave the room,” Jones says. “He spoke to my mother as a person rst, not a patient. at’s the type of doctor I want to be. I want to treat people, not diseases.”

While watching her mother circulate through the health care system, Jones came to understand some of the many factors that cause health disparities in underserved urban areas — all of which are complex and multifactorial, she says, but come down to unequal divisions of resources and power. Jones also mentioned the lack of “Black and brown faces” in urban medicine as an issue to be addressed.

“I didn’t even see a doctor that looked like me until I was in college,” says Jones, whose top picks for medical practice include surgery and emergency medicine. “Representation matters and is often re ected in the trust built in doctor-patient relationships.” TP

Matthew Choate and Diego Dominguez are both third-year medical students at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and were named Scholars in Urban Medicine.

BY RHYS MARTIN

Chocolate is perhaps the most traditional gift given every year for Valentine’s Day, and lucky for us, Oklahoma is a melting pot of locally made chocolates across the state. Why not pair a delicious treat with a little road trip with your sweetheart?

Guthrie is the original state capital. In addition to some ne museums and beautiful architecture in its historic downtown district, you can also nd RICK’S FINE CHOCOLATES AND COFFEES . It opened its doors in November 2006 on the same day as the town’s parade to mark the Oklahoma Centennial. Rick’s pink “ruby chocolate” is a specialty, but you can’t go wrong with any of the options inside the display case. ere’s also co ee roasted especially for Rick’s and it makes for a great companion to the shop’s sweet treats.

BEDRÉ FINE CHOCOLATE sits right o Interstate 35 in Davis, the gateway to the Arbuckle Mountains. What started as a small operation in an elementary school in nearby Ada has grown into a proud Chickasaw Nation business with a focus on quality. While bedré is Norwegian for “better,” the handcrafted chocolates are rooted in Native American recipes and tradition. Turner Falls, Oklahoma’s largest waterfall, is not far away; even if it’s frozen over, it’s a picturesque spot for a Valentine’s Day sel e and a bite of chocolate.

It’s probably no surprise that Oklahoma’s oldest candy company resides in Oklahoma City. WOODY CANDY CO. was founded in 1927 by Lucille and Claude Woody Sr. and has remained family owned and operated ever since. eir priority has remained the same for the last 96 years: to make the best candy in the world. From old-fashioned candy to new concoctions to a pecan “To e” (a mix of to ee and brittle), there’s something for everyone at this Nichols Hills institution.

Did you know Norman has an annual chocolate festival? Now in its 40th year, this January festival has been organized with proceeds going to the Norman Public School system. Four-time winner APPLE TREE CHOCOLATE is open year-round and is a local favorite. Caramel-covered apples are a specialty here with all manner of chocolate and nutty toppings available. Of course, that’s not all. Pretzels, bark, strawberries and other chocolatecovered delights are also on o er here.

If you’d rather stick closer to home around Valentine’s Day, take a short drive over to Broken Arrow and stop in at NOUVEAU CHOCOLATES Located in the heart of the Rose District, Melvin and Hailey Piper were inspired by the old-world Belgian chocolate traditions in place when they purchased this shop in 2019. You can nd some wonderfully unique items here, such as a dipped strawberry shortcake or a hot cocoa bomb. Watch chocolatiers at work as you pore over their selection of ne chocolates; no matter what you take with you, it’s sure to make the holiday special.

COURTESY;

Nouveau Chocolates

READ OUT THE NAMES!

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

I’m thinking about changing my name.

I’ve changed my last name twice with very interesting results. What wonderful adventures would befall me if I changed my rst name? Sadly, my favorite names are already chosen. ese are names I really like. Athletes Joe Montana , Lovie Smith and Cat sh Hunter. Actresses Maud Gonne, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Stella Adler and Tuesday Weld. Musicians Blossom Dearie and elonious Monk . Writers Jack Wonder and Huston Smith. Fictional people, Tiger Lily and Holly Golightly. Tongue twisters Evel Knievel and Yakima Canutt (a gallant cowboy whom I once interviewed.)

ese are all names of color, imagination or heft. A new name with some mojo would propel me through the new year. Do you think someone named Maud Gonne (I pronounce it “gun” not “gone”) would sink into a funk about politics? Can you imagine Blossom Dearie dragging through a low energy day?

Across cultures, from folklore to religion, there is authority in naming things. In stories from “Rumpelstiltskin” to “ e Hobbit,” there is power in discovering a name.

Once I was involved in a church squabble that had two camps of us hissing and spitting at one another like cranky cats. A man in the opposing camp waved a paper at us and said, “I have

the names here of seven or eight people who can prove you wrong.”

“Who are they?” shouted the man sitting beside me. “Read out the names!” e man with the list did not read out the names. e shouting man and those of us with him lost the day. I forget what the issue was, but I remember so fondly the cry, “Read out the names!”

I often want names read out or printed or listed. When a nonpro t organization closes, I want to know the names of the board members and management who failed in their duciary duty. When legislation can’t get passed to ban assault weapons — my personal soap box — I want names of the responsible, not bland terms “lobbyists” or “activists.”

I like seeing the names of politicians who accept funding from the National Ri e Association and how much money they take. I want to know what gun manufacturer the lobbyists are supporting and who bene ts nancially from that manufacturer.

Names can be bludgeons for shaming.

In 1850, Hawthorne’s novel “ e Scarlet Letter” condemned adulterous Hester Prynne to public shaming and shunning. A hundred years later, in 1954, U.S. Army special counsel Joseph Welch de ated Sen. Joseph McCarthy ’s communist witch hunt with the death-blow question,

“Have you no sense of decency, sir?”

Time has hardened us. Being called out in public doesn’t carry the same punch it once did. Public shame amounts to nothing more than a Bronx cheer. e more shocking the behavior, the bigger the headlines, but little shame.

Shame is a complex emotion. On a pain scale, it’s head and shoulders above its cousins, guilt and embarrassment. We have abandoned public shaming methods of history — standing in stocks in the public square (Colonial America) and forcing the poor to wear red or blue badges (17thcentury England). Contemporary shaming has gone underground, spread on social media.

Women have always been easy targets for shame, often for sexual conduct, but males can be stigmatized, too. When I worked with a soup kitchen, I met many teens and young adults living on the street after being put out of the family home because of their sexual orientation.

Psychologists say adolescents feel shame more acutely than adults do. Adolescence is such a tender age, trying to grow the protective shell of adulthood, hyper-sensitive about self-image and identity. How cruel of us to subject adolescents to public skirmishes about gender identity, library books and school toilets.

Shame on us.

We should have our names read out. TP

TIM HAYES

GORDON SHELTON

918-697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com

OAK COUNTRY ESTATES

Elegant gated estate situated on approx 2.44 acres. Gorgeous setting on corner lot with mature trees. Grand entry has marble floors,soaring ceiling & sweeping staircase. Formal living & Dining.Great room opens to kitchen with huge island. Master suite with study (or exercise). Upstairs has bedroom with private bath,2 additional bedrooms with pullman bath. Game room. Safe room. Inground Pool. Located near 71st & Hi-way 75 So. just west of Tulsa Hills by Oaks Country Club. $875,000

PRESTON WOODS

Beautiful home on a quiet cul-desac in Preston Woods Subdivision in Jenks Southeast School District! True 5 Bedroom home with formal dining, formal living & study. Kitchen opens to den. Master suite with double closets & stunning brand new master spa bath. Large game room + bonus room (could be media or exercise) & 4 spacious bedrooms upstairs with 2 full baths. Extensive hardwoods. Newer paint, carpet & roof. Covered Pergola overlooks a beautiful park-like yard. $559,900

SOLD

GRAND LAKE LOT

Enjoy living at the Points on this lakefront lot with 155 feet of shoreline, unbelievable views of Grand Lake, dockable cove, utilities and paved roads, large trees, gated and well-maintained subdivision and surrounded by lovely homes and just over an hour from Tulsa and 5 minutes east of Ketchum!

0.61 Acres $499,000

DIANA PATTERSON

918-629-3717 dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

MIDTOWN

A pristine Mid Century Modern home built in 1950! Completely and professionally renovated to today’s standards. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, spacious living/dining combo wall-towall windows overlooking the gunite diving pool. Fabulous kitchen with granite counters, and mahogany cabinets. Master bedroom with luxury bathroom. $805,000

1.65 ACRES - OWASSO

1.65 acre parcel in Owasso. Situated on 106th St North between Sheridan and Memorial. Enjoy country living just 2 miles outside of town. Flat lot ready to build your dream home. Per survey 125’ frontage on 106th St. Zoned AG. Excellent location with easy access to Hwy 75 and just minutes to downtown Tulsa. $145,000

SOUTHRIDGE ESTATES

Large Master suite, a great outdoor deck area, and large rooms. There are several recent updates, new gutters, a new deck. Enjoy your wooded setting in complete privacy!

Jenks school district. $379,000

garage parking in the residence only garage. Views of Cascia Hall and Utica Square. Large outdoor terrace with outdoor kitchen. Gardening space on balcony. Architecturally the building is stunning. 3,104 Sq. Ft. $1,690,000

2200 S. Utica Place 6C | Rare opportunity to own the last unfinished unit. Architectural plans and detailed design plans are available for the condo space created by the team of John R. Allen (Architect, Dallas) and Barry Williams of Williams Design (Dallas). Italian Valcucine kitchen and Rimadesio closet designed by Scott Pohlenz (Tulsa) in collaboration with John Allen and Barry Williams. Plans and numerous materials (Pohlenz cabinetry, appliances, HVAC units,slabs of marble and ceramic surfaces) convey with purchase. Majestic views and extreme privacy. Large outdoor terrace with room for outdoor kitchen. Gardening space can be created on balcony. Highest level finishes throughout the building. Come experience the Utica Place lifestyle. 3,755 Sq. Ft. $1,500,000

1419 S. Rockford Avenue A | Sleek modern urban living. Simple low maintenance living just off Cherry Street. Central location near Cherry Street, Brookside, Downtown Tulsa, and Utica Square. 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Elevator. Hardwood floors throughout. 2 balconies and small fenced yard. 2 car garage. HOA takes care of all lawn care. Kitchen fridge and wine Fridge remain. 2,539 Sq. Ft. $500,000

BUILT BY BROTHERS

STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE

David R. Travis was the oldest of four brothers, all of whom immigrated to the United States with their parents in 1892. e brothers worked in the oil supply business, which ultimately brought them to Tulsa by 1914.

David and his brother Sam both found success in Tulsa and soon used their wealth to build two side-by-side mansions on South Peoria Avenue. ey hired local architect Noble B. Fleming to design the homes. Both Travis estates were designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style but di ered in ornamentation and architectural detail. Inside, features of David’s home included 21 rooms, 10 bathrooms and a basement ballroom; Sam’s featured a split staircase,

BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

a library with authentic Tudor plaster ceiling and a tiled sunroom with a terra cotta fountain. Shortly after the two homes were completed, however, both brothers ended up selling them and leaving for California before the start of the Great Depression.

In 1954, the City purchased David’s former mansion in order to have a permanent location for the Tulsa Garden Center, organized by the Tulsa Garden Club. e neighboring Sam Travis Mansion was purchased by the Tulsa Historical Society in 1997, and the museum wing was completed in 2004, opening with three galleries. e mansion was renovated once more in 2007 before fully opening to the public.

Two members of the Junior League of Tulsa pose beside a Packard automobile outside the mansion of David R. Travis in the late 1920s. Located at 2435 S. Peoria Ave., it is now home to the Tulsa Garden Center.

TULSA HOMES” CIRCA 1920 (P. 108) BY JOHN BROOKS WALTON (2012)

with a full spectrum of care

o f M i n d P e a c e Gracefully age in place with a full spectrum of care

Assisted Living Memory Care

Expanded

Expanded

Saint Simeon's luxurious Assisted Living Center offers serene, spacious apartments with spectacular views of downtown Tulsa or our beautifully maintained courtyards and grounds. With four personalized levels of care now including secure memory care, Saint Simeon's Assisted Living offers the most complete spectrum of assisted living care in the Tulsa area

Saint Simeon's luxurious Assisted Living Center offers serene, spacious apartments with spectacular views of downtown Tulsa or our beautifully maintained courtyards and grounds With four personalized levels of care now including secure memory care, Saint Simeon's Assisted Living offers the most complete spectrum of assisted living care in the Tulsa area

Minutes from downtown, Miles from ordinary.

Call Mary today for more information: 918-794-1900 or visit us at SaintSimeons.org

Assisted Living Memory Care Minutes from downtown, Miles from ordinary. Call Mary today for more information: 918-794-1900 or visit us at SaintSimeons org

Saint Simeon's is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

Saint Simeon s is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

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