Advocacy in Action: Advancing Housing Justice in North Tulsa

During Black History Month, President/CEO Kamilah McAfee traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma as a member of a Housing Partnership Network (HPN) delegation for a two-day listening and learning session with CDFI Friendly Tulsa (CFT), a stakeholder group committed to community development in the city. From providing guidance and advice, to encouraging HPN members to work in Tulsa, CFT was hopeful attendees would be inspired and informed to help them address the longstanding challenges of building local capacity and bringing much needed affordable housing and community development financing to Tulsa.

 

Kamilah McAfee shared, “I found inspiration in the resilience and dedication demonstrated by the advocates, allies and practitioners in Tulsa. They have a strong commitment and understanding of the importance of establishing new investments and partnerships to achieve their goal of new housing and economic development. As an HPN member, Wesley Housing recognizes the mutual benefits that peer exchange and collaboration provides our collective mission of preserving and expanding affordable housing and community development opportunities.”

 

The trip commenced with a visit to Greenwood Rising, an immersive history center commemorating the tragic events of the Tulsa Race Massacre, an event which devastated the thriving community of Greenwood, commonly known as Black Wall Street, leaving the vast majority of Tulsa’s African Americans to experience wealth extraction and homelessness. This transformative experience provided a powerful backdrop for understanding the historical context of housing disparities and systemic injustices in the region.

 

Following this foundational experience, community leaders, philanthropists, developers, and government representatives came together for a series of roundtable discussions. These sessions facilitated deep exploration and dialogue around the multifaceted issues of housing affordability and accessibility in North Tulsa. The discussions were characterized by a spirit of collaboration and innovation, with participants exchanging insights and sharing best practices from their respective fields. Together, they explored a range of creative strategies aimed at addressing the root causes of housing inequities and fostering sustainable solutions for the community.