At MBK Tulsa, we are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support and collaboration from local organizations dedicated to uplifting boys and young men of color. Our Table Workgroup Sessions have been a testament to the power of community, bringing together various partners to address educational and social challenges head-on. Although these organizations have initially been involved in developing the following strategies, additional organizations will be brought in to contribute to the aligned goals. Here’s how a number of organizations from across Tulsa are driving the charge to create a safer and more supportive Tulsa:
Milestone 1: Pre-K Enrollment Support Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa Dream Center, CAP Tulsa, Early Learning Works, Tulsa Educare, BEST, Impact Tulsa, Union Public Schools, and The MET Church are leading efforts to enhance early childhood education enrollment. Tulsa Public Schools will provide comprehensive 1-on-1 enrollment support, assist with obtaining birth certificates, and run targeted media ads and campaigns. They will also conduct neighborhood canvassing and offer enrollment support at community events. CAP Tulsa will collect and share data to identify families not yet enrolled, host transition events, and stay engaged with Head Start alumni to help parents navigate public school systems. Early Learning Works has committed to aligning child care centers with high-quality Pre-K curriculum, acting as credible messengers, and distributing crucial information about Pre-K enrollment. The Tulsa Dream Center will offer its facilities for enrollment events, provide direct enrollment support, and canvas neighborhoods through its Adopt-A-Block program.
Milestone 2: Improving Literacy Rates Through the “Reading ‘Round the 918” initiative, Tulsa Public Schools, Terence Crutcher Foundation, Gaining Ground Literacy, ImpactTulsa, Reading Partners, and Tulsa Dream Center will closely collaborate to improve literacy rates. Reading Partners currently leads the “Books in Barbershops” initiative, placing culturally relevant and age-appropriate reading materials in barbershops. Tulsa Public Schools will focus on multi-generational programming through the Parent Resource Center, provide literacy classes and leverage state funding. Gaining Ground Literacy will work directly with families to build home libraries for boys and young men of color, organize after-school and summer literacy camps, and run family coaching clinics. The Terence Crutcher Foundation will continue to bring retired educators back into classrooms as tutors to provide targeted reading support.
Milestone 3: High School Graduation Support Tulsa Public Schools, Union Public Schools, Genesys Works, Tulsa Community College, Impact Tulsa, and The Opportunity Project will dedicate their resources to supporting high school graduation rates. The Opportunity Project will provide tailored after-school experiences and create youth advisory councils. Genesys Works will directly connect students to internship opportunities and ensure they are on track to graduate. Tulsa Public Schools will implement Bridge courses for 9th graders, hire and deploy college and career counselors, launch Graduation Power Hour, and increase awareness and access to postsecondary opportunities. Tulsa Community College will enhance support services and informational sessions, while Union Public Schools will provide STEM pathway courses and promote advanced coursework. ImpactTulsa will be supporting the charge by leveraging data to inform policy advocacy for graduation and postsecondary readiness.
Milestone 4: Increasing College Enrollment The Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, Union Public Schools, Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa Community College, Oklahoma State University Tulsa, Tulsa Dream Center, and Young People of The Next Generation aim to increase college enrollment rates for boys and young men of color by 10%. They will provide summer navigators and advisors to guide students through the college enrollment process, create resources for counselors, and advocate for improved remediation policies. Marketing campaigns and tactical college fairs will help foster a college-going culture, and tailored supports will address barriers to improve student outcomes.
Milestone 5: Workforce Development Campus Tulsa, Madison Strategies Group, Tulsa Innovation Labs, inTulsa, and PartnerTulsa focus on connecting young men of color with employment opportunities. Campus Tulsa will ensure awareness of internship opportunities, while Madison Strategies Group will emphasize equitable intake and outreach processes. inTulsa will be working to expand career development support to recent high school graduates, and PartnerTulsa will integrate MBK work into existing initiatives, leveraging data and identifying funding opportunities.
Milestone 6: Increasing Community-Safety Youth Services of Tulsa, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Dream Center, Terence Crutcher Foundation, Tulsa Public Schools, City of Tulsa, 100 Black Men of Tulsa, Impact Tulsa, Prosper Oklahoma, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, and Oklahoma Policy Institute will be collaborating to reduce the homicide mortality rate through the development of a Community-Based Violence Intervention program. Strategies will include deploying credible messengers, and coordinating efforts across organizations to build trust, diffuse conflicts, and address immediate social needs.
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