Tulsa is at a pivotal moment. Across our city, young people’s futures are shaped by the systems and opportunities available to them—but in many instances, those systems have operated in isolation. Education, housing, workforce development, and social services each play a critical role in shaping the trajectory of a child’s life, yet, on account of their design,they function separately rather than as part of a coordinated effort.
That’s about to change.
With the launch of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families (MOCYF), Tulsa is taking a bold step toward breaking down barriers and creating a unified approach to supporting young people and their families. This initiative stands as a promise to our youth to strategically align public and private resources, drive policy change, and rewire how systems work together so more Tulsa youth have more opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency
As the cradle to career backbone of this effort, ImpactTulsa will play a key role in ensuring that youth-serving initiatives across the city are connected and working toward a shared goal: helping 15,000 more youth get on the path to economic mobility by 2030.
Why Alignment Matters More Than Ever
The challenges facing Tulsa’s youth are complex. Since the pandemic, thousands of children and families have experienced instability in housing, education, and economic opportunity. We have seen Tulsa school districts, nonprofits, philanthropy and our local government innovate to meet these challenges. We know that a student’s ability to succeed in the classroom is deeply connected to factors outside of school walls; whether they have a safe place to sleep, reliable transportation, or access to career pathways that give them hope for the future.
No single organization or government agency can address these challenges alone. That’s why alignment is key. By bringing together city departments, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders, we can:
- Use data to drive smarter decision-making, ensuring resources are allocated where they’re needed most.
- Remove barriers to success, from housing instability to transportation gaps that prevent students from attending school regularly.
- Center the voices of families and young people, ensuring policies are designed with, and not just for, the communities they impact.
The launch of MOCYF creates an opportunity for systems-level change, ensuring that the investments we make today have a lasting impact on future generations.
ImpactTulsa’s Role: A Bridge Between Partners
At ImpactTulsa, we’ve spent the last decade aligning education, workforce, and community efforts to drive better outcomes for children and youth. Our role in supporting MOCYF builds on that foundation, ensuring partners are connected, solutions are data-driven, and accountability remains central.
- We serve as a convener, bringing together organizations and leaders who are committed to a shared vision for Tulsa’s youth.
- We bridge data with action, ensuring that strategic solutions are responsive to the realities of the community.
- We mobilize resources and partnerships that directly address systemic inequities.
- We remain an independent nonprofit that collaborates across sectors, relying on community partnerships and philanthropic support.
- We are not a government entity but a bridge, ensuring youth-serving initiatives across Tulsa are coordinated, effective, and responsive to community needs.
- We will continue to champion evidence-based solutions, ensuring that every step forward is informed by data and real community insights.
We’ve seen firsthand what happens when organizations work together toward shared goals. Through our partnerships with local school districts, community members, and early childhood providers, we’ve already helped thousands of Tulsa’s youngest learners start school ready to succeed. Now, with MOCYF, we have the chance to take this impact further, ensuring every young person in Tulsa has a clear pathway from cradle to career.
The Road Ahead: A Call to Action
This work is ambitious, but we know unprecedented coordinated action is what Tulsa needs. The foundation is already in place. Tulsa is a city that values collaboration, innovation, and data-driven solutions. Now, we need to bring these strengths together to build a system that truly supports every child.
This is where you come in.
How You Can Support This Work:
Know Your Number: Every youth in Tulsa deserves a pathway to self-sufficiency and the ability to thrive. We are tracking this impact, and we invite you to know your contribution to putting 15,000 more youth on a path to economic mobility. Visit ImpactTulsa to learn how your role—whether in education, business, or community organizations and neighborhoods—can help drive the change we need.
Join the Movement
- Organizations & Employers: Partner with us to align programming, develop career pathways, and invest in youth-focused initiatives.
- Educators & Families: Stay engaged and help shape policies that directly impact students’ success.
- Community Advocates & Leaders: Support this work by amplifying the message, advocating for policies that break systemic barriers, and ensuring youth voices are at the center of decision-making
The launch of MOCYF is a major milestone, but it’s just the beginning. Tulsa has an opportunity to lead the way in creating a city where every child, regardless of background, can succeed.
We are building a future where opportunity isn’t determined by zip code, but by the strength of the systems we create and the support we provide.
This is our moment. Let’s get to work.