In 2016, Representative Monroe Nichols became the first African American elected to represent House District 72 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. During his time in the Legislature, Representative Nichols has authored legislation focused on providing all students with a high-quality education, all Oklahomans with access to health care services, ensuring Oklahoma’s economy works for everyone, revitalizing neighborhoods and reforming the justice system.

Shawna Mott-Wright is Tulsa born and Tulsa raised. She comes from a close-knit family who instilled in her every step of the way that faith, hard work and integrity will get you anywhere you need to go in life. After over a decade in the classroom, Shawna now serves as President of Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) Vice President where she has continued her service in public education. She also serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Education Association and Oklahoma Education Association.

Rick Rendon is the Creator and Producer of Team Harmony Action Institute. Rick is also the founder of Empower Peace and Senior Partner of The Rendon Group, a Boston-based communications firm that specializes in public affairs campaigns. Empower Peace was founded on the premise that young people, through communication and the promotion of cultural understanding, could help pave the way for peace.

LeeAnne Jimenez has been an educator for 24 years in the public school system in Oklahoma. She is the Vice President of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association and a Zone Director for the Oklahoma Education Association. She is a member of the Oklahoma Education Coalition, a Board Member for the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, and has previously served as President of the Oklahoma Science Teaching Association. LeeAnne believes that every student deserves what they need in order to learn and grow and works diligently in the classroom to make sure her students know that they have dignity and worth. In her role as the Vice President of TCTA, LeeAnne strives to make sure all of the educators in Tulsa Public Schools also know that they have dignity and worth. LeeAnne is a proud mother of three daughters and the doting Lolly of 3 wonderful grandchildren. She is a graduate of Charles Page High School and The University of Tulsa and attempts to give back to all of the communities that helped her learn of her own dignity and worth.

Tyrance Billingsley II is an industrious and creative leader with experience in government, startups, community organizing and organizational leadership. Tyrance has received honors such as a proclamation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives, The Black Wall Street Times visionary award, the TYPROS Legacy Award, being named an Oklahoma Next Gen under 30, being an Echoing Green fellowship finalist and being named to the inaugural Forbes the Culture 50 Champions list that honors industry leaders most impacting Black and Brown communities. Tyrance joins this list alongside Colin Kapernick, Issa Rae, Amanda Gorman and Dewayne Wade. He has served on various statewide boards and commissions relating to both policy and entrepreneurship and is passionate about how humans can use technological innovations to solve global issues and improve quality of life.

John Waldron began his teaching career in Washington DC and came to Oklahoma to teach social studies at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa in 1999. In his twenty years at Booker T., he received awards including Tulsa Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2003, the National Council for International Visitors Educator of the Year Award in 2006, and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Secondary Teaching Award in 2013. In 2016, he ran for State Senate because he was frustrated about the state of education policy in Oklahoma. He lost, but subsequently won election to the House of Representatives in 2018. He currently serves on the Committees for Common Education, State’s Powers, Wildlife Conservation and A&B Select Agencies. He lives in Tulsa with his wife Krista and their son Van, aged 13.

Michelle Brown-Burdex has served as the Program Coordinator for the Greenwood Cultural Center (GCC) for 25 years. Michelle has a unique ability to educate people about the tragic history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the triumphant history of Black Wall Street through storytelling. Michelle is a member of the Tulsa Mass Graves Historical Narrative Committee and the American Folklore Society. She serves as a Board Member for A New Way Foundation and a member of the American Red Cross Sickle Cell Advisory Group. In 2020, Michelle was selected to be a member of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Leadership Arts Program and Leadership Tulsa’s Thrive Tulsa Leadership Program. She is currently serving as a Bloomberg Tech Fellow as a part of Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program.

Melissa is a lifelong Tulsa area native, married mom to two sons and stepmom to two daughters. Melissa worked tirelessly during her tenure as an educator to ensure that the children of Tulsa have access to a well-rounded social and academic school-going experience. Developing in each student the skills and abilities that allow them to be successful in life beyond high school as career and college-ready citizens is crucial to our long-term success. Healthy, productive, contributing citizens of Tulsa is the goal.

Kim Cook has been committed to educating, inspiring and engaging youth for much of her adult life. As a mother of two, a YMCA basketball coach, a preschool board member, and a self-appointed “neighborhood den mother” for all the children on her street, Kim has young people’s best interest in mind with all that she does. As Founder of “The Heart on Your Sleeve Project,” Kim has created a way to highlight a global community of organizations that follow her lead in their commitment to listening to their members and accepting them unconditionally, regardless of circumstance or identity. Kim graduated from Colgate University with a degree in Psychology.

The daughter of two retired Oklahoma public educators, Dossett; as an Oklahoma public educator, Dossett has devoted her 15-year career to the education of English Learners throughout the Tulsa area. Whether teaching youngsters by day, or adults in the evening, Dossett’s passion for equipping students with the language tools they need for personal success has become her trademark. During those 15 years, Dossett has been named a school district teacher of the year, while also maintaining high levels of engagement and leadership positions in her local education foundation, and in her local and state teacher associations.

Kendra Freedom serves as Manager of Partner Engagement at The Opportunity Project, facilitating youth-serving partnerships throughout the city. Through her work, she promotes experiential learning opportunities and social and emotional learning in Tulsa youth programming. Kendra has consistently invested in the development of Tulsa youth by working and volunteering for non-profit organizations offering hands-on learning experiences, opportunity youth development, and now through her work at The Opp.

Mark Hilliard is Vice-President, Stadium Operations for the Tulsa Drillers (AA affiliate of Los Angeles Dodgers). He is a proud graduate and avid fan of Oklahoma University. He has worked with the Tulsa Drillers baseball team for 27 years. He considers himself to be one of the lucky ones in that he enjoys what he does. Mark gets to help people relax, spend some quality time with family and friends, and create lasting memories.

Matt Latham is the founder and managing director of the Latham Consulting Group (LCG). After seeing a need for strategic communications, business development and advocacy firms with a local focus in Oklahoma, Matt started the Latham Consulting Group. With the goal of providing clients with the highest level of advocacy and strategic planning services, LCG has the experience needed to assist clients with all areas of legislative, political and community affairs in order to accomplish both short-term and long-term goals.

Jake Lerner is a Co-Founder and Program Director of Tulsa Changemakers, a youth leadership development and action organization that builds capacity in youth, adults, and systems to support youth in driving positive impact in Tulsa right now and into the future. Jake is originally from Philadelphia and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. In collaboration with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative and Global Youth Empowerment, Jake has co-created and facilitated social innovation and leadership identity workshops in Philadelphia and Dubai. He has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and has received training from the Asset Based Community Development Institute in Chicago. Jake serves as Board Member for the Hillel of Northeastern Oklahoma and Congregation B’nai Emunah. In 2018, Jake was honored with ionOklahoma’s NextGen Under 30 Award.

Andy Moore is the founder and CEO of Let’s Fix This, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to promote civic engagement, elevate advocacy, and build political power for Oklahoma voters.

Tim has been the Director of Programs at Tulsa Dream Center for over 12 years, where he is now the Executive Director. Tim has been a major catalyst in developing our Educational services including our after-school L.I.F.E. and summer programs. He has developed our Sports & Character Programs over the years, and he has been the driving force behind the addition of our new STEM and Community Policing Engagement programs. He is actively involved on multiple committees and boards on the city-level, and he is committed to empowering individuals through education and exposure to new experiences and opportunities.

Deon Osborne is Managing Editor at The Black Wall Street Times. Deon was born in Minneapolis, MN and raised in Lawton, OK before moving to Norman where he attended the University of Oklahoma. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Media and has written for OU’s student newspaper the OU Daily as well as OKC-based Red Dirt Report. He now lives in Tulsa and serves as the Associate Editor for The Black Wall Street Times. He is also a former intern at Oklahoma Policy Institute.

Dylan is Manager of Operations and Community at FC Tulsa. FC Tulsa is Tulsa’s professional soccer team and competes in the USL Championship, the second division of pro soccer in the United States. Dylan is a graduate of American Public University with a degree in Sports Management.