Beyond Apology Commission Meeting - September 18, 2026

The Beyond Apology Commission of Tulsa met on September 18, 2026, at 1:06 PM to discuss the progress of a reparative ordinance, the structure of the upcoming Tulsa Reparation Summit, and to receive a report from the Education Subcommittee. The meeting included votes on the minutes and the summit structure, with several agenda items postponed due to time constraints.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the August 21, 2026, meeting were approved with a motion and second, all in favor with no opposition noted (though a brief procedural interruption occurred).

Discussion Items

• Chair's Report (Chairwoman Christy Williams):
  • Reparative Ordinance: The commission continues developing a local reparative ordinance addressing the discovery, protection, consultation, and appropriate treatment of Black ancestral remains and historically significant materials (artifacts). The ordinance was submitted to city legal and remains under review. Williams noted that this work is historic, as no federal law (like NAGPRA for Indigenous nations) exists for African Americans; other entities (e.g., New York mass graves archaeologists) have sought federal policy, but Tulsa is working on a local level.
  • Internal Structure & Bylaw Updates: Williams emphasized strengthening committee workflows, clarifying how recommendations move to the full commission, and improving communication and accountability. A six-month report was shared with commissioners documenting committee work.
  • Tulsa Reparation Summit Planning: The chair reported on meetings with national partner First Repair and local stakeholders. A proposal was presented to change the summit from a Beyond Apology-led event to a community-led "Tulsa Reparation Summit" with First Repair as national partner and Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce as fiscal sponsor. This structure avoids city restrictions on fundraising, event planning, and administrative burdens. Commissioners discussed whether a vote was needed; it was determined a vote would clarify the commission's role as a civic partner only (not lead organizer). The commission voted to accept the proposed structure. The summit is scheduled for April 16–17, 2027 (third weekend in April). Key points: commissions may volunteer individually, committees may offer workshops, and the summit will count as one of the commission's required community engagement events.
• Education Subcommittee Report (Dr. Ramona Curtis):
  • The subcommittee presented a framework for education in North Tulsa, focusing on cradle-to-retirement lifelong learning. Two formal recommendations were offered:
    1. Recommendation to the City of Tulsa: Adopt a coordinated place-based education and opportunity strategy for North Tulsa, using city facilities, departments, data, and convening authority to connect residents with education, workforce, cultural, and family supports. Goal: reduce fragmentation, measure outcomes.
    2. Recommendation to the Greenwood Trust: Establish a competitive community partner funding process aligned with eight education priority areas (generational education, cradle-to-career scholarships, neighborhood learning hubs, youth career pathways, barrier removal fund, education navigation system, Greenwood history/cultural identity, measurable outcomes). Emphasis on removing barriers for grassroots organizations, requiring measurable outcomes, and including community voice in proposals.
  • Chair Williams noted that the recommendations would be discussed at the next meeting due to time constraints. The subcommittee plans to gather community feedback at the upcoming Reparation Summit.
• Health & Wellness Committee Report (Commissioner Monday): The committee has structured meeting times and is following the land/economic development committee's model of working groups, examining community partners and equity indicators to advance recommendations.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: The August 21, 2026, meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• Reparation Summit Structure Approved: The commission voted to accept the proposed structure for the Tulsa Reparation Summit, with Beyond Apology acting as a civic partner, not the lead organizing entity, to be held April 16–17, 2027, in partnership with First Repair and with Black Wall Street Chamber as fiscal sponsor.
• Committee Reports Tabled: The Education Subcommittee's recommendations, along with any other committee reports not presented, were tabled to the next meeting due to time.
• Next Meeting: The chair indicated that future meetings will include discussion of committee bylaw updates and workflow strengthening. The next subcommittee meeting for education is scheduled for October 20, 2026.
• Announcements:
  • The BC Franklin Lecture Series at the University of Tulsa featuring Thomas W. Mitchell (Director of the Initiative on Land, Housing, and Property Rights at Boston College Law School) will be held on October 20, 2026; commissioners were encouraged to attend.
  • Visitors from Kenya (David and Eunice Tanui) were introduced.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:14 PM after a motion and second.