The Tulsa County OSU Extension office is partnering with the Center for Public Life to host upcoming community forums to gather the concerns of local residents. (Photo provided)

Forums set to learn about community needs and concerns

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

Tulsa County residents are invited to attend a series of forums sponsored by Oklahoma State University Extension and the Center for Public Life to identify their community’s needs and priorities.

“We want to engage Tulsans in a dialogue to identify their needs and priorities, and to determine ways Tulsa County OSU Extension and the Center for Public Life can work in partnership with the community to address their needs,” said Mike Stout, OSU Extension family and consumer sciences specialist.

Four community forums are planned in Tulsa County:

July 27, O’Brien Park, 6149 N. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, 6 p.m.
July 29, virtual meeting, 6 p.m.
Aug. 3, Veterans Community Center, 903 W. Main Street, Collinsville, 6 p.m.
Aug. 10, Square One Compassion, 5323 S. 65th St., Tulsa, 6 p.m.

The forums are free to attend and registration is required for the in-person and virtual meetings.

“Through these forums, we hope to engage people who are new to Extension, as well as those who may be familiar, in a conversation about local concerns,” said Damona Doye, OSU Extension associate vice president. “The first set of forums are aimed at identifying needs, and a second session in October in each of the venues will focus on discussing appropriate actions that could be taken to help meet those needs.”

Depending on the issue, Stout said it could be a matter of expanding access to existing programs and services.

“For other concerns, it may involve creating new programs and services,” he said. “For issues that don’t fall under OSU Extension’s mission, we’ll work to bring community partners to the table to work on addressing the issue with the community.”

For additional registration information, contact Jan Dawson at the Tulsa County OSU Extension office, 918-746-3715 or via email. For general information regarding the forums, contact Stout at 918-594-8311 or via email.

“We look forward to engaging with the community to better understand local needs and how OSU Extension might best serve our stakeholders in Tulsa County,” Doye said.

Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for attendees. Individuals who aren’t comfortable meeting in person are encouraged to participate in the virtual forum.