Tulsa Women’s Commission reviews first inquiry term, plans outreach briefings and next speakers

The Tulsa Women’s Commission on March discussed next steps after completing an initial “term of inquiry” into women’s economic security, housing stability and technology training, approved its meeting minutes by voice vote, and directed staff and volunteers to prepare short outreach materials for schools, adult learners and the mayor’s office.

The commission’s chair, Laura Latta, said the group has finished its first short study series and will distill the findings for broader distribution. “So our first term of inquiry, we spent time really, delving into women's economic security and housing stability,” Latta said. She told members she will ask the city about available communications channels and consult with commissioners on producing a one‑page digest of learnings.

The decision to create a concise brief is aimed at multiple audiences the commission identified during discussion: high school students, adult learners and Mayor G. T. Nichols’ administration. Kate Neri, the commission’s vice chair and chief executive officer at Community Health Connection, said the brief should be usable in school career fairs and by counselors. Lexi, resilience and equity program administrator for the city, said the city’s Resilient Tulsa Facebook page and the commission’s website are available channels and that the city communications team can be asked to post material on official platforms.

Commissioners and guests discussed tactics to make tech careers more visible to students, including partnering with existing women‑in‑technology conferences, arranging company tours and using social media formats produced by students. Desiree Edwards, who spoke about workforce training during the inquiry sessions, emphasized spreading awareness of existing resources such as NACA and local training and credentialing options, and urged the group to explain clear entry pathways into tech careers.

For immediate next steps, Latta said she will request information about the channels the commission can use, work with staff to create a one‑page “digestible brief” of the inquiry findings, and coordinate with partners who can help distribute it. Commissioners offered concrete distribution ideas: the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium has a counselor listserv, Resilient Tulsa and the city communications office can post, and local nonprofits and partner organizations can circulate printed flyers.

The commission also scheduled subject matter speakers for the next inquiry term. Betsy Jackson arranged for a representative from the Family Safety Center, Suzanne Stewart, to appear at a future meeting, and the commission has invited Dr. Rebecca Hubbard, the city’s chief mental health officer, to the April meeting. Members discussed pairing expert presentations with lived‑experience speakers and ensuring sufficient time for questions.

Action recorded: the commission approved the meeting minutes. A member moved and another seconded; the record shows a voice vote with members saying “aye” and no opposition voiced. The chair declared the minutes passed.

Commissioners said they will reconvene to refine the brief’s content and distribution plan and to finalize speaker invitations and meeting agenda items. Latta asked members to email any follow‑up suggestions so they can be included in the final product.