2021 - 2022
Master Plan Creation
Our Legacy Tulsa launched in 2021, moving from early coordination to public kick-off and on-the-ground outreach that introduced the Kirkpatrick Heights / Greenwood Master Plan to the community.
June 2021
Internal project kick-off for initiation of Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan efforts.
August 2021
Formal/public project kick-off of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan.
October 2021
Community Pop-Up sessions with planning team.
November 2021 -
March 2022
Ongoing community pop-up sessions with local engagement partners.
April 2022
Community charrettes with planning team.
June 2022
Presentation of draft Master Plan to community at Open House event.
July 2022 -
September 2022
Community review and input of draft Master Plan.
December 2022
Tulsa City Council adopts final version of Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. Immediate implementation actions identified as:
Establish a Technical Working Committee to study and advance technical actions (i.e., zoning)
Hire staff to manage implementation actions and additional research and actions on developing a community-led governance model.
Establish an Advisory Committee comprised of 7-9 community members with key skill sets needed to review and recommend policy frameworks for redevelopment, support development of RFPs, review proposals, and provide general guidance related to plan implementation efforts.
Identify funding for and develop an RFP to solicit services, including legal services, to support developing the business plan and legal framework for a community-led governance model.
Leverage federal grant funding opportunities.
Develop a plan and full funding strategy for the implementation of the Greenwood Plaza concept, leveraging the City of Tulsa’s implementation funds.
2022 - 2023
Master Plan Research & Design
Governance Model Analysis w/ Opportunity Accelerator and Community Governance Working Group
Community input was paired with technical analysis, exploring scenarios, testing ideas, and shaping a draft vision for future development and investment.
December 2022
Partner Tulsa applies for the Opportunity Accelerator to support advancing work on community-led governance models.
February 2023
Partner Tulsa and the City of Tulsa announce selection for Opportunity Accelerator program, advance formation of Community Governance Working Group.
The Working Group was formed directly in response to Immediate Action Item #3 and was intended to be a more robust form of community co-design for the critical aspects of researching and recommending a preferred governance model for Master Plan implementation.
March 2023 -
April 2023
Opportunity Accelerator, led by the W. Haywood Burns Institute, initiates virtual community workshops to assess perspectives on the Master Plan and potential governance models.
May 2023
Virtual Workshops hosted with Community Governance Working Group to set foundations, establish working agreements, and define shared values.
2024
Master Plan Implementation & Capitalization
Governance Model Implementation and Seeking Funding & Resources
Partners began turning plan concepts into action by pursuing funding, advancing priority projects, and aligning public and private resources around shared community goals.
January 2024 -
April 2024
The Tulsa Development Authority Board of Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the creation of an Advisory Committee to oversee the formation of a CDC. During this period, a committee of community members and the Community Governance Working Group worked with PartnerTulsa staff to develop the Advisory Committee application.
PartnerTulsa hosted a meeting with the Working Group to review draft questions and gather feedback, and members were advised not to serve on the review committee if they planned to apply for Advisory Committee membership.
In March 2024, PartnerTulsa released the application for the Advisory Committee, and a small review committee began scoring submissions based on criteria established by the Working Group. In April 2024, after reviewing 41 applications, PartnerTulsa announced a nine (9) member Advisory Committee.
May 2024 -
June 2024
The Advisory Committee held its first meeting, and the PartnerTulsa Board approved the 2024-25 budget, including $160,000 to support the establishment and launch of the CDC.
In June 2024, PartnerTulsa, in coordination with Impact Tulsa, submitted an initial application for the EPA Community Change Grant Program (Track 2) seeking more than 2.2 million dollars to support the CDC’s launch, later receiving feedback encouraging resubmission. That same month, Advisory Committee members traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, for experiential learning on national best practices in community-led economic development.
July 2024
City of Tulsa announces $2,000,000 in funding to support the launch of a CDC. PartnerTulsa will administer the funds in coordination with the CDC’s Founding Board.
September 2024
PartnerTulsa issued a Request for Quotes for legal services, soliciting proposals from three firms to help establish the proposed CDC. After reviewing responses, the Advisory Committee recommended engaging GableGotwals to support incorporation and began meeting with legal counsel. During this period, PartnerTulsa also announced a USDOT award of $990,000 to support development analysis for the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan, and the Advisory Committee worked with GableGotwals to begin drafting the CDC’s Articles of Incorporation.
October 2024
Greenwood Legacy Corporation Established
The Advisory Committee, PartnerTulsa staff, and GableGotwals continued drafting the Articles of Incorporation and began work on initial organizational bylaws. PartnerTulsa and Impact Tulsa resubmitted the EPA Community Change Grant application for Track 2, while the City of Tulsa and PartnerTulsa submitted a Track 1 capital grant application to support implementation of portions of The Stitch project identified in the Master Plan.
On October 24, GableGotwals filed the Articles of Incorporation for Greenwood Legacy Corporation, formally establishing the community-led governance entity.
2024 - 2025
Board Operations & Community Launch
Greenwood Legacy Corporation’s founding board organized, set up core governance and operations, and began engaging residents, stakeholders, and partners to guide implementation of the plan.
November 2024
GLC’s Founding Board initiates work on drafting a Purpose Statement to be included in the initial Bylaws of the organization, with the goal of crafting a Statement that reflects the key priorities and objectives of the organization and its role in implementing the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan.
On November 25th, the GLC Board meets and adopts a Purpose Statement to be included in the Bylaws. Following this meeting, PartnerTulsa notifies members of the Advisory Committee who did not continue as Board members of the adoption of the Purpose Statement and thanks them for their service:
The Greenwood Legacy Corporation (GLC) is committed to leading the sustainable and inclusive redevelopment of the districts outlined in the Kirkpatrick Heights / Greenwood - Our Legacy, Our Community Master Plan. Honoring the legacy of Black Wall Street, the GLC seeks to promote economic empowerment, cultural preservation, quality housing, vibrant public spaces, and increased business opportunities. The GLC strives to ensure that future growth accounts for past injustices and provides opportunities for ownership and intergenerational wealth creation for Black residents, while building a stronger, more connected, and equitable future for all residents of North Tulsa.
December 2024 -
January 2025
GableGotwals hosted a working session with the GLC Chair, Vice Chair, and PartnerTulsa staff to conduct a detailed review of the initial full draft of the proposed Bylaws, while PartnerTulsa coordinated with the GLC Board to plan an inaugural Board retreat for early January.
On January 4, 2025, the GLC Board held its retreat to review the draft Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy and to establish initial director terms for rolling appointments. On January 24, 2025, the Board held its first regular meeting, formally adopting the Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy and setting the 2025 regular meeting schedule.
February 2025 -
March 2025
The GLC Board approved an initial budget plan for expenditures from the City of Tulsa’s $2 million allocation and began exploring staffing options to onboard the organization’s first full-time employees. Work began on drafting GLC’s Form 1023 to pursue IRS 501(c)(3) designation.
The Board met with Project Infinite to discuss potential development within the KHGMP footprint and held a special meeting to identify community benefit priorities and review a detailed budget workbook. The Board also continued evaluating staffing pathways and directed staff to obtain a proposal from Thrive to consider using a PEO to hire founding staff.
April 2025
GLC Update Meeting
PartnerTulsa convened the Community Governance Working Group to provide an update on launching the Greenwood Legacy Corporation (GLC). During the meeting, the GLC Board reviewed a proposal from Thrive to deliver professional employer organization services and authorized the Chair to negotiate an agreement.
The Board also approved issuing a Request for Qualifications for Executive Search Services to conduct a national search for GLC’s founding Executive Director and discussed engaging the Burns Institute to help design and host the organization’s inaugural community meeting.
May 2025 -
June 2025
Community Partner & Stakeholder Meeting
In June, the Greenwood Legacy Corporation, with the Burn Institute, planned and hosted its first community partner & stakeholder meeting, drawing over 60 North Tulsa residents, organizations, and stakeholders.
The Board shared its vision, core principles, and priorities, including the search for GLC’s inaugural Executive Director and upcoming engagement opportunities.
October 2025 -
November 2025
Community Convenings
Greenwood Legacy Corporation provided public updates on the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan, highlighting progress made since the June stakeholder meeting.
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols and GLC leaders discussed advancing equitable redevelopment, board governance bylaws, and expanding leadership opportunities. Priorities included affordable housing, business support, and cultural preservation for Tulsa’s Greenwood and North Tulsa neighborhoods. GLC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and ongoing community engagement as development moves forward.