GREENWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 A Beacon for the People “Message from the Chair”

Dear friends of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce,     
I am honored and humbled to serve as the Chair of the Historic Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. I follow a strong legacy of leaders such as Freeman L. Martin, the President of the “Negro Chamber of Commerce” located on Greenwood as early as 1913. Freeman, a prominent attorney, was a visionary who assembled businesses and entrepreneurs for commerce and workforce development. The Greenwood District has changed greatly in the last years as we have learned that we can use the best resource we have-- our people-- to improve economic and community development.

Over the years we have faced challenges, but, we are better because of the challenges we overcame together to make the Greenwood Chamber what it is today. Throughout it all, the Chamber has endured, serving as the last bastion charged with preserving the rich history of “Black Wall Street,” while inspiring our people to be proactive and create our own legacy, built on the foundation of Black Wall Street, but, I dare say, greater!

We have looked back.  Now, let us “Launch into the Future." 

To start, let's reflect on ourselves personally and professionally.  Where are we? 
Let’s put our differences aside to work toward the good of our community, not forgetting to help those coming behind us. This kind of self-evaluation isn't always easy, but, we must remember "We're all in this Together." 

As the Historic Greenwood Chamber of Commerce moves in the direction of sustainability and accountability, let us build up the Greenwood District together!
Together we can continue to make Historic Greenwood one of Tulsa’s best locations for businesses, and one of the state’s most historical districts, as we find new and exciting ways to welcome visitors to “Black Wall Street.”  

The Greenwood Chamber serves as the beacon for commerce and workforce development for the African American community in Tulsa, and for that reason, in the works for late 2017-2018, our Greenwood Business Resource Centre is partnering with Tulsa Tech to launch the “Pop –Up Small Business Assistance Center,” assisting historically underserved and underrepresented communities with starting and maintaining businesses.

This fall, GCC and the Greenwood Cultural Center will present reenactments of the “People Places and Happenings” of Historic Greenwood -1913-1963.  Tulsa’s own Leon Barre’ will portray Barney Cleaver, Tulsa’s first African American Deputy Sheriff, and yours truly will be portraying Greenwood’s pioneer African American businesswoman,    California “Sunshine”  Taylor, who, by the way, bought her own train boxcar to travel in comfort on shopping excursions to Chicago with her friends.

Joining me, young thespian extraordinaire-Garrett Bland. Among the many guest appearances; Attorney Jim Goodwin, CEO of The Oklahoma Eagle newspaper, discussing the Goodwin Family’s century on Greenwood, Dr. Lester Shaw and the Pocketful of Hope Players and Princetta Rudd, the Greenwood Chamber’s Black Wall Street Historian.

I will be reaching out to many of you this year to get your opinions because I sincerely want to hear them. 

All the best,
Rebecca Marks-Jimerson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Photo: Freeman L. Martin, early Chamber of Commerce President, Tulsa Star, August 8, 1913/The Gateway to Oklahoma History.

PEOPLE PLACES HAPPENINGS ON GREENWOOD

..................................................

 A Conversation With Wendy Williams and Rickesha Clark, co-owners,                  A NEW DIRECTION ACADEMY/HEALTH & SAFETY EDUCATION CONSULTANTS    

GCC  Why did you select Greenwood as the location for your school?
HSEC  First, we wanted to be in the heart of the community.  Second, we thought Greenwood would be a great place to try to bring back the energy of Black-owned businesses. 
GCC  Greenwood has a legacy of workforce development training institutes dating back to the early 1900s, among them the American Business and Technical Institute. Were you aware of the history of workforce development on Greenwood? 
First, we wanted to be in the heart of the community. 
HSEC Not particularly workforce development, but, for sure, businesses for economic development.
GCC Your school has grown rapidly, is this because the demand is so great and few offer the training?
HSEC Yes, the demand is great, but, there are other schools for training, but, we offer a unique program tailored to the needs of our students.
GCC  Why did you choose to become entrepreneurs?  
HSEC We both are professional nurses who had gotten to the point that the knowledge we were giving to the workplace we felt we could do on our own and be of service to our community.
GCC “Thank You” Wendy and Rickesha for continuing the legacy of historic Black Wall Street by providing career training for workforce development.

HGCCBWSC Archives   
 ...............................................................                                                                  ON GREENWOOD                                           KING ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS

GCC   Why Greenwood?
MATT KING   I had been looking for space for quite some time. I love the configuration of the buildings and the history of it. The square footage of the space was just right and I’d always wanted a conference room...and it’s proximity to all the activities going on Downtown. I just thought ‘this is a great location.’ I love it. Primarily, my favorite thing is the racial harmony, so it was a no brainer.

GCC  Matt King, Tulsa BTW graduate, you are a prime example of an entrepreneur breaking out on his own. Walk us from your decision to build a firm to an overview of King Architectural Solutions, including your awesome staff.
MATT KING  I worked for a lot of firms in Tulsa, moving horizontally & vertically...decided it was time to try it on my own and it has not been easy. I got a late start in life...a lot of responsibilities, a lot of expenses and it continues to be a challenge everyday, but, you know it allows me to foster some really special relationships with people [including the other architects in his practice...Grant Newby, Brandon Bissran and Katie Thompson].   Also, I have some control over the outcome.   Photos: GCC

_________________________________________________________________________

ONEOK FIELD

T   U   L   S   A      D   R   I   L   L   E   R   S
 
Visit Tulsa Drillers @  http://www.milb.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                   

Hey 2017 Grads!
Study 2 weeks at HEALTH & WELLNESS EDUCATION CONSULTANTS at 124 North Greenwood Avenue.
CNA Academy.  Take your first steps in the door to healthcare.     918.829.0257


___________________________________________________________________________________

GREENWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 BOARD OF DIRECTORS   
REBECCA MARKS-JIMERSON  Chair/Interim Director    DREW DIAMOND  Vice Chair/Vice President
JOHN SASSIN PhD, C.R.C.  Treasurer    BRANDON JACKSON  Secretary
JACK HENDERSON                   HENRY PRIMEAUX   
  PRINCESS BROWN                   JASON KIRSEY, PhD   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------