Councilors hear from Anna Barrows for Human Rights Commission appointment

Anna Barrows, a Tulsa educator-turned-community worker, appeared before the City of Tulsa Public Works Committee to introduce herself as a candidate for appointment to the Human Rights Commission.

Barrows said she moved to Tulsa in 2018 to teach middle-school social studies and spent six years in the classroom. "My entire life's work is about ensuring that young people reach the outcomes that they deserve," Barrows told councilors. She said her classroom experience showed her how systems can fail Black and Brown students and that she wants to help coordinate support across systems.

Barrows told the committee she now works at Impact Tulsa and described herself as a first-generation American whose family is from Brazil. She said she speaks Portuguese and Spanish and that "bridging multiple cultures" informs her perspective. Councilors asked about the schools where she taught; Barrows said she taught at East Central Middle and later at TSAS.

Committee members praised Barrows's experience teaching junior-high students and encouraged her to bring policy recommendations to the council if confirmed. Councilor Doctor Wright told Barrows the committee will take up her confirmation at 5 p.m. on April 30 on the second floor; the meeting will be livestreamed.

The committee did not vote during the discussion; the item was presented as an appointment to be considered for confirmation at a future meeting.