CDFI Friendly Tulsa

Check out what we've been doing in the last 6 months, with this progress report! We have been busy meeting with Tulsans who need financing and technical assistance options and connecting them to CDFIs who can help. We look forward to helping more borrowers access capital to start their businesses, expand their organizations, and develop affordable housing!

Please join the CDFI Friendly Tulsa Board in welcoming our new Director of CDFI Financing, Isaiah Coleman! Isaiah was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, but has found a second home in since attending Oral Roberts University and continuing to work in Tulsa for the decade following his education. His passion for community development and experience in the financial sector make him a perfect fit to help connect Tulsa's borrowers with .

To see Isaiah's bio visit: CDFIFriendlyTulsa.org/about

We are hiring our first employee, Director of CDFI financing. Be a part of the racial economic justice strategy in Tulsa, OK, and join the growing national effort to expand CDFI lending. Launching in January 2024, this role will work with more than a dozen community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to finance small businesses, consumers, mortgages, community facilities, commercial real estate, and more in Tulsa, OK.

View the full job description here: https://lnkd.in/eEsQVmzP
Apply on LinkedIn here: https://lnkd.in/ezqJAhWj

“It is wonderful to see a room full of folks focused on what we think is the greatest challenge in Tulsa right now, which is the need for housing across all sectors of our city”, Mayor GT Bynum said during the kickoff of today's event “Bringing New Capital to Tulsa: The Role of CDFIs”. Today, we came together with CDFIs, Non Profits, Banks, and other community leaders to inform on the CDFI Friendly strategy to bring more flexible capital to Tulsa to address financing gaps in our underserved communities.

This week marks an important step forward for CDFI Friendly Tulsa! Today, we gathered 18 CDFIs from across the nation in Tulsa to show the potential and need our city has for financing. After a kickoff meeting at Tulsa Tech, the participants embarked on a tour to learn about the history and future of North Tulsa. The tour included stops at Greenwood Rising, a remarkable, interactive museum showing the history of Black Wall Street, Oasis Fresh Market, the only grocery store in the food desert of North Tulsa, and visits to several in-progress community development sites. Tomorrow, the CDFIs will join local community leaders across sectors for an event and public panel.

Through our work on CDFI Friendly Tulsa, we continue to learn about pioneering Black entrepreneurs who built up the Greenwood neighborhood in North Tulsa, commonly called Black Wall Street, prior to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This area was a symbol of growth and prosperity for Black Tulsans including Ottawa W. Gurley, a businessman who not only became one of the wealthiest men in the city but also provided initial financing for many other Black-owned businesses in Tulsa. Gurley proved through action the constructive power of community investment. Learn more about his story here: http://blackwallstreet.org/owgurley

CDFI Friendly Tulsa was in Chicago visiting local CDFIs and CDFI funded projects. Here is the group at The SoulFood Lounge, an upscale, black-owned restaurant. It was great to see lending in action! Thank you for having us!

Another highlight of our time in Chicago the other week was a tour of Homan Square, led by executive director Kevin Sutton! We learned about several projects the Foundation has underway in the North Lawndale neighborhood, including affordable, supportive housing and commercial spaces.

CDFI Friendly Tulsa was in Chicago visiting local CDFIs and CDFI funded projects. Here is the group at The SoulFood Lounge, an upscale, black-owned restaurant on Chicago's west side. It was great to see lending in action! Thank you for having us!