Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission discusses nominating timeline, committee engagement and membership seats

Ray'Chel Wilson, chair of the Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission, opened the meeting by outlining the commission's nominating timeline and urging commissioners to deepen their committee work.

"We will have a nominating committee that will be selected at the next meeting, in November," Wilson said, adding that the committee typically has three members and that the commission will vote on chair and vice chair in January. She asked commissioners to consider who might serve on the nominating committee and to use committee meetings — not the full commission's monthly meeting — for detailed policy work.

The commission's discussion centered on three related governance topics: (1) the nominating process and leadership transition, (2) the role of standing committees in developing policy and community outreach, and (3) the commission's mix of organization-seat and individual-seat appointments.

On leadership, Wilson asked commissioners to think about bringing forward candidates for chair and vice chair and noted that past commissioners Commissioner Love and others have played recurring roles on nominating panels. Commissioner Love said she would support the incoming leadership and emphasized continuity with ongoing work.

Commissioners and committee chairs described efforts to deepen committee work and to broaden community engagement. The policy committee reported plans to host forums that present differing viewpoints so the public can better understand issues and how the commission uses community input. The community engagement and culture committee said it is producing an electronic newsletter and is expanding distribution to library branches and other community sites; the newsletter currently runs at Rudasill Library and on the city website.

Education and skill-building committee members reported work on an op-ed about chronic absenteeism and coordination with Tulsa Public Schools. One commissioner said she serves on the board of South Tulsa Community House and that the organization operates a walking school bus for Marshall Elementary, which informs committee work on absenteeism.

Commissioners also raised the commission's membership structure. Wilson noted the ordinance that defines the commission sets a mix of organization seats and individual seats and that some designated organizations no longer send representatives. "We may want to change an organization seat to an individual seat. However, the process requires an ordinance change," she said, adding that the mayor can recommend changes to City Council but that an ordinance amendment is needed to alter the seat types.

Commissioners described the practical steps for filling vacancies: the commission can submit a pool of recommended individuals to the mayor; the mayor forwards nominees and City Council's Urban and Economic Affairs committee (or similar Council committee) reviews applications, asks about applicants' attendance records and reasons for wishing to serve, and confirms appointments. Wilson said the commission will compile and provide lists of organization seats and potential nominees to help expedite replacements.

Members also reminded commissioners that attendance and active outreach are part of the review process. "When you do a renewal to get back on this commission ... they look at your record to see how often were did you were you in attendance," one speaker said, noting that the City Council asks that question during candidate review.

The meeting included community announcements and committee event planning: the community engagement committee is pivoting an upcoming spoken-word contest into a community event; the education committee's educator awards are scheduled for Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers; and several community events were announced, including a monthly "Park Pop Out" on Oct. 25 at Cheyenne Park (John Sykes), a Fulton Street Coffee and Books farewell week, and local awareness and fundraising events.

Votes at a glance: The commission accepted the minutes for September 2025 after a motion and second; the chair announced the minutes were accepted after an "Aye" vote. At the end of the meeting a motion to adjourn was made and the meeting was declared adjourned.

The commission asked staff to provide a current list of organization seats and said it will forward candidate pools to the mayor for consideration. Commissioners stressed committees as the place for in-depth work and urged peers to draw on lived experience and outside organizations to strengthen committee recommendations.