Executive Director John Hall says the Council of Elders will help preserve history, build Black generational wealth and guide the 56-acre Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood redevelopment.
John Hall, Executive Director of the Greenwood Legacy Corporation, shares more about nominations for elders, Juneteenth, new Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood redevelopment.
TULSA, Okla. - Today is Juneteenth, and in Tulsa, Greenwood’s history carries special meaning. Greenwood Legacy Corporation Executive Director John Hall joined News on 6 at 9 a.m. to discuss the holiday and the future of the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood redevelopment.
Q: What is the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood redevelopment?
Hall says the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood Master Plan was adopted several years ago.
“It’s taken a look at what could be done to restore this historic area,” Hall said.
He says three opportunity sites totaling 56 acres were identified for redevelopment. Hall says community members came together and shared a vision for the area, including more housing and economic opportunities.
“We want to build Black generational wealth, we want to see more businesses restored, and we want to see the Greenwood from before 1921 restored and vibrant,” Hall said.
Q: What is the purpose of creating a Council of Elders?
Hall says the Council of Elders is rooted in the redevelopment of the 56-acre area.
“It’s to restore the 56 acres, but to help build the cultural values and keep them intact within the Black community,” Hall said.
He says being an elder is based not only on age, but also on wisdom and service to the community.
“We view our elders as sharing knowledge and being the keepers of our culture through the oral stories they tell and the institutional memory of things that have happened, but they also hold us accountable to this master plan implementation,” Hall said.
He says the group is focused on building Black generational wealth rather than individual gain.
Q: What is the nomination process?
Hall says nominees must be 65 or older and be recognized by the community for their moral authority, leadership and years of service.
He says nominees should be actively involved in the Greenwood and Kirkpatrick Heights area.
“We’re looking for them to be willing to share their wisdom, to help us grow and preserve our history, but also to learn from that history so that we can carry out the development of the 56 acres,” Hall said.
The deadline to submit nominations is June 30. You can submit nominees here.
Hall says the organization will host a community meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Emerson Elementary Auditorium to provide more information.
Q: What will the Council of Elders do?
Hall says the council will serve as a collective body with one voting block on the Greenwood Legacy Corporation Board of Directors.
“We’re looking for people who will work well with others, share their wisdom with the board and hold us accountable to make sure that we are doing the right things for the community as a whole,” Hall said.
Q: What does Juneteenth mean to you?
Hall says the holiday reminds him of learning parts of history he did not know growing up.
“It brings back that memory of learning what I didn’t know about our history, and that until we are all free, we cannot take advantage of the great freedoms that we have in this country,” Hall said.
Hall says he is a Tulsa native who did not learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre until he was an adult.
“I’m a Tulsa native, grew up here and didn’t know anything about the race massacre until I was an adult, which is just heartbreaking,” Hall said.