Tulsa Women's Commission Meeting - August 7, 2026

The Women's Commission met on August 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM to discuss ongoing committee work, approve meeting minutes, vote on a liaison role, and hear updates on safety, housing, health, and community belonging initiatives. The meeting featured introductions around favorite back-to-school themes and included several guest attendees.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes was made by Meg Myers Morgan and seconded by Kate Neary. The motion carried unanimously with no opposition or abstentions.

Discussion Items

• Chair and Vice Chair Report (Laura Latta): Recruitment for the Pinnacle Awards planning and nomination committees was announced. Jackie DuPont, Meg Myers Morgan, and Kate Neary volunteered for nomination; Ashley Bro Riv volunteered for planning. The Pinnacle Awards are expected to be held in March (tentatively April 2, 2027, based on past records), with Debbie Reynolds serving as chair.
• Vote on Human Rights Commission Liaison: Marcia Bruno Todd was nominated and unanimously approved to serve as the commission's liaison to the Human Rights Commission.
• Personal Safety Committee (Meg Myers Morgan, Betsy Jackson): The committee has met two to three times and invited City Councilor Carol Bush. They are planning a March Tulsa Women's Safety Month campaign featuring self-defense classes, safety tips, and a potential proclamation from the mayor. Discussion included balancing victim safety messaging with perpetrator accountability, and leveraging existing resources like YWCA and TPD classes.
• Housing and Economic Security Committee: The committee has recruited members with lived experience, including individuals who have been unhoused, entrepreneurs, and clinicians. They are finalizing the group before setting a meeting cadence.
• Health and Emotional Safety Committee (Kate Neary): A “Donate and Dash” event for the Family Safety Center is scheduled for October 3, 2026. Volunteer shifts run from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with public drop-off from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tours of the facility will be offered every 30 minutes. The city may provide a representative to speak at 10:00 AM. An Amazon wish list for donations is being finalized.
• Community Safety and Belonging Committee (Jackie DuPont): A draft survey was presented to assess how women connect across Tulsa, covering sense of belonging, current opportunities, barriers, and gaps. Feedback was requested by August 28, 2026, with the committee meeting on that date at Pony Coffee at 9:00 AM. The vote on the survey was deferred to the September meeting to incorporate feedback on language, translation, and use of a validated belonging scale.
• Systems Rights and Institutional Safety Committee (Desiree Edwards): Two initiatives were discussed: (1) Investigating the backlog in rape cases by meeting with the Director of Public Safety to determine if the backlog is in testing, investigation, or prosecution. (2) Proposing a community screening of the documentary "No Country for Mothers" at Circle Cinema (capacity 200) followed by a panel on child care. The committee will organize a smaller screening first to gauge interest.
• Announcement: Commissioner Laura Latta announced her appointment as the first director of the Office of Children, Youth and Families, effective November 1, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting minutes approved unanimously.
• Marcia Bruno Todd appointed as Human Rights Commission liaison (unanimous vote).
• Pinnacle Awards committees: Jackie DuPont, Meg Myers Morgan, and Kate Neary for nominations; Ashley Bro Riv for planning.
• Survey draft from Community Safety and Belonging committee to be revised based on feedback and brought back for a vote in September.
• Motion to adjourn passed unanimously.