Twenty-one east Tulsans are stepping up to share their community project addressing persistent problems in their neighborhoods. The group spent two months learning how to be more civically engaged through The Neighborhood Network.
Participants will take turns presenting their project — in English and Spanish — filled with solutions to yard maintenance issues and code violations. The presentation is 7 p.m. Monday at Hannah Hall. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP here.
“The Neighborhood Network’s success boiled down to three actions — respectful communication, intentional listening and aligning on goals — which turned a group of strangers into problem-solving neighbors,” said Robert Harmon, an east Tulsa resident and network participant, in a press release. “We’re excited to present our final project to the broader community to build more support for investment in our neighborhoods.”
Network facilitator Ana Barros told network participants the presentation aims to explain the issues to the audience and get them invested in possible solutions.
The eight-week program taught participants a range of skills to help them understand local government, including identifying local representatives and how to reach them, how to connect with their neighbors on issues and more.
Tulsa Area United Way supported the program through a $45,000 Social Innovation Grant, with $20,000 of the grant used to support the group’s selected project.
City leaders are expected to attend the event, including city councilors Karen Gilbert and Christian Bengel, who represent districts 5 and 6 in east Tulsa. Members from the City of Tulsa’s code enforcement team and George Kaiser Family Foundation, which helps fund Eastside Rise and Tulsa Global District, will also be in attendance.
The Tulsa Global District, an organization focused on economically revitalizing the area around 21st and Garnett, and Eastside Rise, an organization aimed at empowering east Tulsans and connecting them to resources, launched The Neighborhood Network program in September.
Eastside Rise will create a community council advisory board in early 2026 to manage The Neighborhood Network project, scheduled to launch in April 2026. Network participants are encouraged to join the council to stay engaged with the project and help the organization support local neighborhoods.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
Eastside Rise and The Tulsa Global District are funded by the The George Kaiser Family Foundation, which has also provided funding for the Tulsa Flyer. News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
