Tulsa Hispanic/Latino Commission Meeting – April 9, 2026

The Tulsa Hispanic/Latino Commission met on April 9, 2026, at 11:45 AM (local time) to discuss community outreach, immigrant support programs, committee reports, and planning for upcoming events. The meeting included a presentation from the Tulsa Visa Network, committee updates, and a vote to draft a letter seeking pro bono legal support for the immigration committee.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously without modifications.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Chair/Vice Chair Report: Chairwoman Jackies Gonzalez reported that she and Vice Chair Chris Chavez will table at Union High School on April 10, in partnership with the Asian Affairs Commission. The African American Affairs Commission has requested collaboration on a research project focusing on the non-native-born Black and African immigrant population (4.2% of Tulsa’s Black population). The commission also shared the Fourth Amendment Worksites playbook with the Asian Affairs Commission.
• Community Presentation – Tulsa Visa Network: Stan Kerpak, lead of the Tulsa Visa Network, presented the program’s mission to support immigrants through legal, employment, and community integration services. The program is sponsored by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, serves about 80 members (nearly half in computer science), and has an average salary of approximately $100,000. It began in 2022 and issued its first green cards in 2025. The program has 30 employer partners and works primarily with STEM professionals. Kerpak expressed openness to collaborating with the commission to connect Latin American community members. Commissioner Chris Chavez noted the network does not currently include many manufacturing companies and offered to share an engineering guide created by the city’s Office of Equity and Resilience. The commission invited Kerpak to an upcoming awards event.
• Committee Reports:
  • Community Advocacy: The committee is revisiting membership composition and planning tabling events.
  • Public Safety: The committee met with low attendance; they will invite municipal court staff to the next meeting. They are supporting the National EMS Week event at the Tulsa Zoo on May 17 (12–4 PM) and will have a commission table. They also discussed three objectives for 2026: bylaws amendment, a Move Over Law awareness campaign (October), and collaboration with other commissions. The Tulsa Fire Department graduated 23 new firefighters; Spanish proficiency testing is pending.
  • Immigration: The committee reported a concerning case where a person with a DUI at the municipal jail received an ICE hold, which was previously unusual. The committee plans to invite the sheriff to discuss policies and procedures. They also noted that many parks already have Spanish signage, and they are working to identify gaps. The committee is seeking pro bono attorneys for habeas corpus cases. A motion to draft and send a letter requesting pro bono support was passed unanimously.
  • Education: The Tomas Rivera awards ceremony is scheduled for May (date not specified). The committee received 56 nominations and selected 30 awardees: 12 from Tulsa Public Schools, 6 from Union Public Schools, 10 from Tol Sanders Academy, and 2 from Glenpool. The ceremony will begin at 6 PM, with commissioners arriving at 5:30 PM. Keynote speaker Jesse is confirmed. The committee is considering expanding the number of awards in future years and exploring a scholarship program. The Asian Affairs Commission will be invited to the June meeting to discuss their scholarship model.
• New Business: The commission voted to authorize the executive team or immigration committee to draft and send a letter soliciting pro bono legal support (motion passed; no opposition noted).
• Announcements:
  • The Union High School cultural showcase (April 10, 5:30–8 PM) will feature international performances; commissioners are invited to table.
  • A city resource fair with financial empowerment services will be held May 7, 6–8 PM at Rudisill Library; volunteers are needed for the Title V commissions table.
  • A commission fair will be held in July in partnership with Tulsa Young Professionals.
  • The Rising Together Tulsa Recovery Summit (May 16) will offer training on opioid overdose response; interpretation availability is to be confirmed.
  • TCC is hosting a Spanish for bilingual teachers conference (registration deadline May 1; $30 fee).
  • Commissioner Mimi Martinez is recovering from a car accident; a card will be sent.
  • The commission has two open seats; members are encouraged to submit qualified applicants.

Key Outcomes

• The minutes were approved.
• The commission voted to draft a letter seeking pro bono legal support (passed unanimously).
• The public safety committee will coordinate a table at the EMS Week event (May 17).
• The education committee will proceed with the Tomas Rivera awards ceremony with 30 honorees and a keynote speaker.
• The commission will invite the sheriff to a future meeting to discuss ICE hold policies at the municipal jail.
• The commission will explore collaboration with the Asian Affairs Commission on scholarship funding.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:45 PM (local time).