Corey Payne jumps on every opportunity he can. When he does, the KIPP Tulsa senior goes all-in.
Payne is the varsity basketball captain at KIPP, a member of My Brother’s Keeper, Terence Crutcher Foundation, Tulsa Changemakers and Student Leadership University, a Christian youth leadership program. He’s currently wrapping up an internship with Ascension St. John Medical Center where he’s paid to work 20 hours a week.
“I do want to grow as much as I can so in the near future, I can help as many people as I can,” he said. “If I want to help someone, I have to be confident to go up there, have a conversation with them, be in a relationship with them, in fellowship.”
Payne’s got plenty to brag about, notes Joseph Onema, a volunteer at My Brother’s Keeper. It’s Payne’s humility that sets him apart.
“He is involved in a lot, and you rarely hear him talk about all his things he’s involved in,” Onema said. “He does a lot of really cool things, but isn’t super flashy about it. I think that’ll take him super far.”
Onema met Payne through My Brother’s Keeper, a nationwide program launched by President Barack Obama in 2014 to support young men of color and help them overcome gaps in opportunities. Tulsa’s chapter includes a Youth All Stars program for high schoolers, helping them develop their leadership and community impact.
“If you’re fed one type of stereotype, one type of idea of what you can be in the future, that does impact your choices and the paths that you might select,” Onema said. “We prioritize showing our students other men of color in positions that they might aspire to step into.”
Payne’s confidence and closeness with his peers was evident when Onema first met him this fall. The KIPP senior brought classmates with him to learn more about the program and didn’t take much convincing.
“He was pretty involved in the community, but he was still looking for ways to kind of just impact other people and further develop,” Onema said. “Even though he was somebody who came in with a lot of energy, he’s still grown a lot.”
Payne says his confidence has skyrocketed in the program.
“MBK taught me, like, when you’re talking, you have a voice, let it be heard,” Payne said. “It makes me feel like I deserve to be in the room, you know what I mean?”
Payne joined leaders from MBK at The Gathering Place Thursday in a meeting about summer safety protocols with Tulsa’s park leaders.
He emphasized the importance of including youth in conversations and embedding them in the events they host. The most important thing, Payne told city leaders, was giving youth a sense of ownership.
“They were actually interested, leaning in and asking me questions,” Payne said. “For them to just hear my voice and know what I have to say, I think it shows the importance of putting yourself out there.”
Payne exemplifies the growth possible when young men of color are surrounded by mentorship, Onema said.
“What you put in is what you’re gonna get out of it,” Payne said. “You can have a great opportunity. But if you don’t put yourself out there, then, it’s kind of a waste.”
Payne’s faith and evangelical goals drew him to Oral Roberts University, where he plans to study theology. He sees himself dedicated to missionary work, at home and abroad.
On Friday, he’ll head to his future campus for KIPP Tulsa’s graduation ceremony, set for 7:30 p.m. at ORU’s Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.
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