A motel room. The interstate. Winter wind. Days of walking with no plan but to witness life on the street. Nick Alexandrov set out to report on mental health along an extended-stay motel corridor in Tulsa. What he found was a quieter, more elusive, more human story.

Unfolding on sidewalks, overpasses, church steps, and in fleeting conversations with people living outside. This quarterly feature asks: How does this environment produce its own kind of mental strain? How do people cope with that stress? And what if, rather than the other way around, housing insecurity itself helps drive mental distress and addiction?

This special episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma is part of a larger quarterly effort from Oklahoma media addressing mental health. Find the rest of the quarterly and more stories and coverage from Tulsa Flyer, The Oklahoma Eagle, KOSU, La Semana, and The Frontier at TulsaFlyer.org.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU, Tulsa Flyer, & Tri-City Collective.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

The production team for this special quarterly edition of Focus: Black Oklahoma are Quraysh Ali Lansana, Bracken Klar, & Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at or FocusBlackOklahoma.com, & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

12:04 On college and university campuses, student organizations can often reflect the political conversations shaping the nation beyond the classroom. At the University of Tulsa, a newly chartered chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the organization founded by Charlie Kirk, is beginning to do just that. FBO’s Jess Grimes takes a look at how the campus community is responding.

27:04 In part two of her interview with Mike Appeal, Vice President of Spring Creek coalition, FBO’s Roma Carter continues exploring why the Arkansas based chicken poultry industry thrives on Oklahoma lands, and highlights sustainable ways rural citizens are maintaining their land.

34:10 Baseball has long been known as America’s pastime. But when you look at who’s playing the game—and where they come from—the picture is far more global than fans might expect. In the World Baseball Classic, national teams from around the world take the field, with players representing countries across Latin America, Asia, Europe, and North America. The contrast between a global tournament built around national identity and a professional league rooted in American sports culture reveals the shifting demographic of baseball itself. FBO’s Phil Childs explores how the World Baseball Classic showcases baseball’s international reach.

42:26 For many women, menopause marks a major transition—one that can bring physical changes, emotional shifts, and a new understanding of their bodies. Despite how common the experience is, conversations about menopause often remain quiet, private, or even stigmatized. For Sondra Slade, the journey into menopause brought unexpected challenges. Her story is one of adjustment, reflection, and learning to speak openly about an experience shared by millions of women.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

14:02 In part one of Anna Wilson's story, we heard the numbers, and the stories behind them, revealing how queer youth in Oklahoma are disproportionately pushed to the margins, often with nowhere safe to land. In part two, we go beyond the statistics to find young people navigating rejection, resilience, and survival in a state where support can feel scarce.

25:55 In May of 2025, Oklahoma passed House Bill 1588, creating the Spring Creek Watershed Study Act, to address waterway contamination from poultry farm waste in northeastern Oklahoma. The bill’s passage is due in part to a local non-profit which has worked for decades to protect the Spring Creek Watershed. This month, Roma Carter has the first part of the story.

37:32 On a small stage in Tulsa, big stories are being told—stories of Black womanhood, survival, joy, and reckoning. World Stage Theater is bringing a bold new production to life with For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf a production of Ntozake Shange’s 1976 groundbreaking choreopoem. First written to give voice to what was too often silenced, the work still resonates decades later. Kelli McCloud-Schingen, executive director of World Stage Theater, discusses how this production honors Shange’s legacy while simultaneously speaking directly to the current moment.

41:12 Black history isn’t only marked by struggle—it’s also filled with moments of laughter, brilliance, and pride that stay with us for a lifetime. In this story, Sondra Slade brings us back to a personal remembrance, but also a shared one, echoing the quiet questions and powerful affirmations that shape how we come to know ourselves.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

14:58 In communities across Oklahoma, far too many young people are facing nights without a safe place to sleep. For queer youth, the risk of homelessness is even greater—driven by family rejection, discrimination, and a shortage of supportive services. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a crisis that affects real kids in our neighborhoods. Anna Wilson shines a light on queer youth homelessness right here in Oklahoma.

29:21 College football has entered a new era—one where name, image, and likeness, or NIL, deals have changed the business of the game. But for Black athletes playing on predominantly white campuses, the NIL era brings both opportunity and complication. FBO’s Phil Childs shares the stories of two former college football athletes who unpack the realities behind the headlines.

37:12 In part 2 of Sondra Slade’s story on the unveiling of Clara Luper’s statue in downtown Oklahoma City, she gets personal with Marilyn Luper Hildreth, Luper’s daughter and one of the original 13 sit-inners. Slade also gains insight from sculptor Elliot Schwartz about his process, challenges faced, and what this project means to him.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

11:18 Breast cancer touches families across every community, yet the burden of this disease is not shared equally. For Black women, a breast cancer diagnosis too often carries higher stakes, revealing how survival is shaped not only by biology, but by history, access, and justice. This disparity reflects deeper inequities. Danielle A. Melton brings us more.

20:40 As Oklahoma reduces nearly $40 million from its mental health budget, community-based programs across the state are feeling the impact. In the second part of her series on mental health, Alana Mbanza examines how therapists, artists, and community organizers are creating alternative spaces for healing, connection, and support.

34:57 Clara Luper, also known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, was recently commemorated in the form of a statue honoring her legacy leading Oklahoma City’s sit-in movement. Luper and the work of her student activists will now be memorialized forever. FBO’s Sondra Slade was there.

45:36 This podcast episode closes with a poem by Tinasha LaRayeė. She read this poem at the unveiling of the Clara Luper statue in Oklahoma City.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jess Grimes, Roma Carter, and Anna Wilson.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

10:22 At the University of Central Oklahoma, student journalists at The Vista have found their independence and integrity under fire, facing administrative pressures. These moments raise urgent questions about who gets to tell the story, whose voices are heard, and what happens to democracy when student press freedom is stifled. Nico Berlin takes a closer look at the growing wave of attacks on free speech across college campuses—right here at home and across the nation.

17:30 In May of this year, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services revealed a 30 million dollar budget shortfall, which required an emergency appropriation by the state legislature. In September, the legislature announced hundreds of contracts would not be renewed to address the department’s budget going forward. FBO’s Alana Mbanza explores the human costs of these cuts.

27:37 According to the World Health Organization, “Everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye condition in their lifetime that will require appropriate care.” An estimated 2.2 billion people, or a quarter of the world’s population, live with visual impairment or blindness. In the town of Kinondo in Kenya, multiple organizations came together to provide vision care during World Blindness Month. Zaakirah Muhammad has details.

33:18 A year after the opening of Zink Lake in Tulsa, questions continue to surface about the safety and quality of water in the Arkansas River. FBO’s Roma Carter spoke with independent journalist Molly Bullock about her coverage of waterway contamination.

41:35 For generations, African American musicians have turned rhythm into revolution—using their art to challenge racism, economic oppression, and social injustice. From gospel to hip-hop, protest songs to soul anthems, Francia Allen continues her series on music & culture as she traces how music continues to impact both hearts and movements, amplifying the call for freedom, dignity, and a world grounded in love.

49:28 Finally, we pause to remember. This poem, written by Brooks Lansana, invites us into a space of reflection—of memory and reverence—for those whose names were never spoken, whose stories were buried beneath the ashes of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

51:15 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

11:24 As federal budget cuts to healthcare and education take hold, more families in the United States will have to make difficult choices. In Oklahoma, the disparities are evident for students with special needs and people with multiple sclerosis. Zaakirah Muhammad has the story.

21:48 Since the passage of Oklahoma House Bill 1775 in 2021, educators and librarians have had to carefully navigate book offerings in classes and libraries. While legal challenges to the law persist, students of all ages risk missing out on learning opportunities that are only available in some banned books. Jess Grimes has more.

30:57 What began as a town hall for Enid’s Hispanic community turned into a cross-cultural summit—bringing together neighbors from all backgrounds to tackle shared struggles and build unity. Here’s Venson Fields with details.

39:56 Nestled in the Brookside neighborhood of Tulsa is a garden that's not just for growing herbs and vegetables, but for cultivating indigenous knowledge, wellness, and community. A nonprofit called "Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness" aims to provide resources to tribal citizens living in an urban environment to promote health and cultural connection with an emphasis on growing and cooking food. Nico Berlin has details.

47:17 Here’s FBO’s Sondra Slade with a friendly reminder that sometimes driving on Oklahoma roads requires the heart of a lion.

50:59 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

9:34 Across Oklahoma, and the country, women are facing unaffordable childcare, rising maternal mortality rates, and a lack of support systems. National problems require national solutions, and Mom Congress, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is lobbying for federal legislation to address these gaps. Here’s Danielle A. Melton.

17:13 In May of this year, Oklahoma passed Senate Bill 806, otherwise known as the Food as Medicine Act. The bill aims to expand nutrition services and recognize the importance of food as a contributing factor to public health. A national organization based in Tulsa has been working to empower chefs to be nutrition leaders for their communities. Juddie Williams has details.

30:08 In our first segment about music and social movements, Francia Allen explored how gospel, blues, and songs of the Civil Rights movement helped elevate the voices of resistance for African Americans. In part two of the series, she focuses on the powerful ways Indigenous communities have raised their voices in resistance and pushed back against cultural discrimination, immigration issues, and treaty violations while staying connected to Native traditions. Here’s FBO’s Francia Allen.

40:35 The international conference Black Portraiture[s] will be hosted by New York University-Tulsa Friday October 3rd. The tenth in the series, the event will bring together scholars and artists to study the art and culture of the African Diaspora. Dr. Deborah Willis, University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University has been a co-organizer since 2006. For more information and registration online visit blackportraitures.info

44:10 Turns out finding you’re allergic to coconut after eating half your birthday cake isn’t the best party favor. For 11-year-old Sondra Slade, what started as the perfect day of pancakes, bike rides, and backyard BBQ ended with a dramatic faceplant into the condiment table – and a family still convinced that “just wiping it off” fixes everything.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jess Grimes, Roma Carter, and Anna Wilson.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

20:34 In Oklahoma, just on the border of Kansas, stands a ghost town haunted not by ghosts or evil spirits but by extreme pollution. The abandoned town of Picher is part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site, so declared in 1983 due to contamination from mining operations. Over 40 years later, little cleanup progress has been made but two non-governmental organizations are working to change that. FBO’s Roma Carter has more.

29:47 In recent months the City of Tulsa has introduced myriad solutions to address the issue of homelessness. These programs and policy changes — ranging from additional shelters, increased access to services, and the installation of boulders at the Denver Avenue bus station downtown — have many Tulsans raising questions about how these decisions are made and whether they will achieve their intended outcomes. Listen to Carlos Moreno for more.

37:57 The third annual Legacy Open Rodeo will take place Saturday August 23rd in Purcell. Focus: Black Oklahoma is a sponsor of the Legacy Open Rodeo, which is the only rodeo in the state led by a woman. Jamie Glisson tells about this Oklahoma original.

43:37 It’s been said that "laughter is the best medicine," but when Sondra Slade was trapped at an airport gate with a loquacious lady, she had to come up with a new cure of her own.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jess Grimes, & Roma Carter.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

10:35 A curfew prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 to be in downtown Tulsa on weekends was established in late June. The new policy was implemented in response to downtown business owners telling city leaders they believe the presence of youth near their establishments is harmful. A recent string of violent incidents this year involving young people downtown was the catalyst for this curfew. We hear from some young people who say that there is much more to consider with this policy. Carlos Moreno has the story.

21:22 When the Trump administration cut nearly $400 million dollars in AmeriCorps grants – almost half the agency’s budget – it left programs across the country reeling. In Guthrie, the impact was immediate: volunteer capacity plummeted, youth and education programs stalled, and staff morale sank as the community’s safety net frayed. FBO’s Jordan Sinkfield has more.

28:42 A new chapter of international friendship is unfolding. In April 2024, Tulsa signed its ninth Sister City agreement with Mwanza, Tanzania—its first new partnership in nearly 20 years. For Tulsans and Tanzanians alike, this connection offers a chance to deepen cultural ties, build business relationships, and challenge the stereotypes that often cloud perceptions of the African continent. FBO’s Zaakirah Muhammad has more.

39:59 Turns out, finding out you’re allergic to coconut after eating half your birthday cake isn’t the best party favor. For 11-year-old Sondra Slade, what started as the perfect day of pancakes, bike rides, and backyard BBQ ended with a dramatic faceplant into the condiment table – and a family still convinced that “just wiping it off” fixes everything.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jess Grimes, & Roma Carter.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming.

The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress.

To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support.

What can I do to help?

1. Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift. This is the most effective thing you can do for KOSU. Support from people like you makes up the largest part of KOSU’s budget.
2. Sign up for email alerts from KOSU so you never miss an update. You can do that here.
3. Spread the word. Share this page with your family and friends, and tell them what KOSU's news, information and music service means to you and our community.

Still have questions about how you can help?

Please reach out to us at director@kosu.org.

You can help by calling Senator Lankford and Senator Mullin to ask them to resist the rescission because of the impact it would have on Oklahoma. Here is a sample script.

Sen. James Lankford: 202-224-5754

Sen. Markwayne Mullin: 202-224-4721

Don't live in Oklahoma? Check this listing for your Senator's contact information.

Find out more on how you can make a difference at kosu.org/cuts.

6:43 A young man locked up for a minor probation violation is dead—his body battered and his family left in the dark. The case of Marquiel Ross, a 24-year-old from Tulsa, raises serious questions about a broken prison system and the deadly consequences of a culture of neglect and mismanagement. Jeremy Kuzmarov has details.

21:31 In the conclusion of our broadcast of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (full story can be found on Audible.com), we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police in the fall of 2020. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After all, this was right after the McGirt decision which returned criminal jurisdiction to tribal nations in Oklahoma when they involve Native people-like Michael. But Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series, we've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael, and his brother Mikail, who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court even though, like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen. Listen as Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez conclude the story.

29:59 In the first months of President Trump’s second term, the phrase "constitutional crisis” has routinely made headlines, but for United States military veterans it’s not just another media buzzword. Across the country a new movement has formed to give veterans a public forum to address concerns about the erosion of the federal government’s system of checks and balances and civil rights established by the U.S. Constitution. One town hall meeting was recently held in Enid. Venson Fields has the story.

40:28 Tulsa City-County Library’s, or TCCL's, annual summer reading initiative "One Book, One Tulsa" is in full swing. With the goal of promoting literacy and community conversations, the novel This Great Hemisphere by author Mateo Askaripour has been selected for the program. G. Vickers speaks with the author and brings us details on the program.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by The Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, and Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jessica Grimes, and Roma Carter.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com and on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOk and on Facebook at facebook.com/FocusBlackOk.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or where ever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

In our penultimate installment of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (full story can be found on Audible.com), we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police in the fall of 2020. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After all, this was right after the McGirt decision, which returned criminal jurisdiction to tribal nations in Oklahoma when they involve Native people-like Michael. But, Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series, we've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael, and his brother Mikail, who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court-even though like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen. Listen as Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez give us the story.

While return-to-office mandates make headlines in the United States, Kenya is developing the infrastructure and policy to become a global remote work destination. The capital, Nairobi, has earned a distinct nickname thanks in part to investment in telecommunications, education, and technology tailored to meet local needs. Here’s Zaakirah Muhammad with more.

Generosity often battles for space amid profit margins but here in Oklahoma, one small nonprofit in has managed to turn second-hand treasures into first-class impact. Park Avenue Thrift, a thrift store in Enid, didn’t just settle for selling used clothing and furniture—it became a lifeline for other nonprofits, a backbone for community arts, and a catalyst for change. Recently, Park Avenue Thrift took home a major award from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP). Venson Fields spoke with the prize winners.

This year’s Ride to Remember and Ride for Equity cycling events kick off Saturday May 31st in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. Osborne Celestain, founder of The Community Light Foundation which hosts Ride to Remember, and Linda Jackson of the Major Taylor Oklahoma Cycling Club will be cycling from Black Wall Street in Tulsa to Wall Street in New York City for the 1645 mile Ride for Equity. FBO’s Bracken Klar pulled up with Celestain and Jackson.

Throughout United States history, music has been the heartbeat of political movements, marches, and protests. For Black Americans especially, music has been a source of comfort and strength in the face of systemic injustice. For the second part of FBO’s Culture and Music series, Tulsa musicians David B. Smith and Charlie Redd share music's power to heal, inspire, and fuel social change with Francia Allen.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

As hate and division escalate globally, Holocaust scholar Dr. Carol Rittner returns to Tulsa with a call to action: remember the past and protect each other now. Speaking at this year’s Yom HaShoah Interfaith Commemoration, Dr. Rittner challenges us to reject silence and embrace moral courage. Cory Ross has details.

In our last installment of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (full story can be found on Audible.com), we heard about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police in the fall of 2020. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After all, this was right after the McGirt decision, which returned criminal jurisdiction to tribal nations in Oklahoma when they involve Native people-like Michael. But, Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series, we've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael, and his brother Mikail, who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court-even though like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen. Listen as Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez give us the story.

Throughout United States history, music has been the heartbeat of political movements, marches, and protests. For Black Americans especially, music has been a source of comfort and strength in the face of systemic injustices. For the first part of FBO’s "Culture and Music" series, Tulsa musicians David B. Smith and Charlie Redd share how music has the power to heal, inspire, and fuel social change. FBO's Francia Allen is on the beat.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In Oklahoma, as in many places, addiction carries a heavy stigma, particularly within the Black community. But as Focus: Black Oklahoma’s Cory Ross reports, the Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance is working to change that perception, offering resources and support to reduce the harms associated with drug use.

In this story Allison Herrera, one of the creator's of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (The full story can be found on Audible) we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. But, Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series. We've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael...and his brother Mikail-who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court-even though like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen.

In an era of shifting political landscapes and renewed focus on cultural identity, the stories of three Kenyan-American women offer a compelling lens through which to examine the immigrant, and emigrant, experience. From the challenges of navigating a new political climate in the U.S. to the surprising benefits of life in Kenya, they share their unique perspectives on culture, connection, and tradition. Zaakirah Muhammad has details.

Easter is a holiday steeped in tradition, often marked by new clothes and family gatherings. But for FBO correspondent Sondra Slade, the experience of shopping for the perfect Easter dress with her mother became a cherished memory that captures the spirit and anticipation of childhood.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Affordable housing and community development took center stage in Enid during a recent town hall meeting addressing a rezoning proposal. While some viewed the proposal as an opportunity for revitalization and affordable living, others raised concerns about taxes and the potential impact on their land. Venson Fields has details.

In the heart of Kinondo, Kwale County, the Al Walidayn Center stands as a beacon of hope, transforming lives through its free services amid a backdrop of high rates of sexual violence and teenage pregnancy. The center has dramatically reduced cases of gender-based violence offering young girls a sanctuary and a pathway to empowerment in a community once plagued by drug trafficking and exploitation. Zaakirah Muhammad reports from Kenya.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a steep hill nicknamed "Big Bertha" has become more than just a physical challenge. It's the centerpiece of a grassroots fitness movement led by Isaac Bennett, a local health coach and community activist. Every Saturday morning, Tulsans of all ages gather to conquer this formidable incline, finding not just a workout, but a sense of community and personal growth. Anthony Cherry has the story.

Whether it’s your fly boots or your open-toes, apple bottom jeans or boots with the fur, some outfits are meant to turn heads, but this story from Sondra Slade about a winter wardrobe malfunction will leave you in stitches.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the fourth installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

We speak with Kristi Williams about Black History Saturdays and how she's working to close education gaps in the Sooner State.

From runaway enslaved African to federal law enforcement officer, Bass Reeves lived a long and legendary life. In early January, Reeves was commemorated with a new bronze statue at the Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee. Carlos Moreno has the story.

Getting your first real job is a rite of passage growing up. Sondra Slade's story about her children finding jobs and getting their first paychecks will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the third installment of FBO's broadcast of the documentary.

Medical gaslighting can impact patients with a range of conditions and some women experiencing menopause are vulnerable. Multiple factors contribute to accurate diagnosis and treatment for a process all women will go through. Francia Allen shares the details.

FBO’s Sondra Slade reminisces with her Aunts Mae Frances Stidham Stevenson, former queen of Oklahoma City's Eastside Roundup Club, and Lovenia Marie Stidham Moham about African American rodeo culture and its vibrant community, highlighting a rich legacy of horsemanship and family values. This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo.kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich and Naomi Agnew.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the second installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

Though the holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration, for some families it can be a time of struggle and stress. The Tulsa Dream Center works to address some of these disparities. Here’s Danielle A. Melton with details.

Bishop Silvester Scott Beaman, the 139th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the AME Church, and chair of the White House's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement and longtime spiritual advisor to President Biden, reflects on his role in fostering connections between African Americans and the broader African diaspora. Here’s our recent interview at Tulsa's historic Vernon AME Church, where Beaman shared his vision for strengthening ties and addressing challenges facing Black communities both in the U.S. and across the African continent.

Greenwood Rising: The Rise of Black Wall Street is a new full-length motion picture that was released October 11th on the Fawesome and Future Today streaming platforms. This movie centers on O.W. Gurley, a visionary and trailblazing businessman whose hard work laid the groundwork for Tulsa’s Greenwood District and the prosperous Black Wall Street. The film’s director, Aaron L. Williams, and lead actress Fatima Marie, who plays Emma Gurley, spoke with FBO’s Cepeda Cheeks about the film.

Medicine, fashion, and film converge as Dawn Carter brings us the second of a three part series on Oklahoma's Black Rodeo and Culture.This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo dot kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Jesse Ulrich.

In this special episode we reflect on the distinct political climates of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions held this year. In this special episode we highlight the contrasts of the two events: the RNC's urgent call to defend traditional American values and the DNC's optimistic vision for an inclusive future. Delves into how each party's platform impacts marginalized communities, women's reproductive rights, and Oklahoma's economic challenges. Through interviews with delegates and politicians, we show the stark differences in ideology and policy proposals between the two major parties with a particular focus on Oklahoma and Oklahomans.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by The Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

This one hour special was made possible with support from KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Special thanks to Rachel Hubbard, Ryan LaCroix, Robby Korth and Lori Walden. Special thanks to FBO correspondents Jamie Glisson and Shonda Little, who brought us this reporting on location in Milwaukee and Chicago.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org, focusblackoklahoma.com, and on YouTube at Tri-City Collective. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOk and on Facebook at facebook.com/focusblackok.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

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 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In a state grappling with the boundaries of religion in public education, State Superintendent Ryan Walters' directive to incorporate Bible teaching in classrooms has sparked controversy and confusion. As schools reopen, the implementation of this mandate remains unclear, with educators, students, and religious leaders voicing diverse opinions on its appropriateness and constitutionality. Venson Fields has the story.

⁦Tuesday, November 5 as people across the country head to the polls to vote for President, and in other federal and local elections, history will be on the ballot in Tulsa. Monroe Nichols is running for mayor. FBO was at Nichols’s election watch party as the results came in showing Nichols had won the most votes in the mayoral primary. If he wins the vote on the first Tuesday in November, he will be the first Black Mayor of Tulsa in the city’s history.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera  and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the first installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

Ever been thrown from a horse? If you have, congratulations! You’ve just experienced the rodeo rite of passage: the ground’s unwavering embrace. It’s a lesson  learned from Chaz Stephens’ father, a retired cowboy with a knack for sage advice and questionable humor. But while rodeos might seem like a wild ride of bucking broncos they’re also vibrant celebrations of Black culture, where community ties are as strong as calving ropes. Chaz Stephens brings us the first of a three part series on Oklahoma’s Black Rodeos This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo.kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This year, the two new Latinos who ran for seats in the Oklahoma legislature lost their races early in the election season. They’d hoped to use a new civic energy among immigrant communities to propel them into office. But as Lionel Ramos reports, that energy didn’t carry voters to the polls during this year’s June primaries.

With high barriers to fostering children in the US, Muslim children are especially at risk of not receiving adequate support. With some children being fostered by non-Muslim parents or experiencing life in a non-Muslim society for the first time, some organizations are stepping up to ensure their needs are met.  Here’s Zaakirah Muhammad with the final part of her three part series on foster care.

The oldest continually-run Black rodeo in the U-S takes place each year in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo draws competitors from across the country. This year hundreds of attendees watched events such as the “mutton busting competition”… where kids ride sheep…The “Pony Express”… a relay race on horseback… And the “ladies steer undecorating”… where horseback riders tear tape or ribbon off a steer. Anna Pope was at the invitational and brought back this audio postcard. This audio postcard was produced by KOSU’s Anna Pope for Harvest Public Media. Harvest Public Media is a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains including KOSU.

In Enid, the Booker T Washington Community Center, once a segregated high school for Black students, is now gaining recognition as a vital community hub. Nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, this building, steeped in history since its construction, continues to serve as a beacon for local youth and a testament to resilience amid a legacy of segregation and inequality. Venson Fields has the story.

You might remember this lesson from science class: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Cepeda Cheeks made sure a schoolyard bully learned this lesson with a hands-on experiment in this next story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

One of the most controversial issues that local candidates have been weighing on is the federal investigation surrounding allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the Tulsa County juvenile detention facility. A Focus: Black Oklahoma investigation looks into a potential conflict of interest regarding an Oklahoma City based company hired by Karen Keith’s mayoral campaign with ties to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs. Keith, who has served as one of three Tulsa County Commissioners since 2008, has touted the building of the FCJJ, which opened in 2019 in downtown Tulsa, as one of her great achievements as commissioner.

For more information on these allegations, check back with us during September’s broadcast. Meantime, check out Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice’s report titled Heinous Allegations: Abuses in Youth Custody in Tulsa County, Oklahoma at okappleseed.org/investigation-into-abuses-in-tulsa-county-juvenile.

If your child has been hurt by any type of child abuse or trauma, contact Family & Children’s Services at 918-587-9471. Oklahoma State law requires every person, private citizen or professional, who has reason to believe that a child under the age of 18 is a victim of abuse or neglect, to immediately report the matter to the Department of Human Services. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, call the Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-522-3511.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

One of the most controversial issues that local candidates have been weighing on is the federal investigation surrounding allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the Tulsa County juvenile detention facility. An Focus: Black Oklahoma investigation looks into a potential conflict of interest regarding an Oklahoma City based company hired by Karen Keith’s mayoral campaign with ties to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs.

With Oklahoma ranking in the bottom 10 states for education and child well-being, teachers, administrators, and elected officials responsible for affecting these outcomes are under increasing levels of scrutiny. At the center of it all is State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Here's Shonda Little with details.

At the Indigenous Roots Symposium representatives from various tribes united to share resources and foster education, highlighting the strength of intertribal collaboration. The event showcased a commitment to preserving Native American history and culture, with discussions centered on the importance of navigating the complexities of tribal identity and heritage. Francia Allen has the story.

A collaborative initiative known as the 111 Project is leveraging technology and community engagement to address the child welfare crisis. By partnering with over 700 churches and utilizing the CarePortal platform, the project aims to connect families in need with vital resources, ensuring that every child has the support of a family. Zaakirah Muhammad shares details in part two of her three part series on the foster care system.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

11:21 In Oklahoma City, frustration mounts as state officials highlight a $400 million dollar, funding shortfall for Langston University, the state's only Historically Black College & University. Despite a $5 billion dollar State budget surplus, Langston continues to receive a fraction of the support given to other state universities, prompting renewed calls for equitable funding. Anthony Cherry has details.

25:23 In Oklahoma, where over 9,000 children are in foster care, Quinton and Danielle Melton have opened their hearts and home to more than 35 foster kids since 2016. For this Tulsa couple, it's about creating lasting memories and providing stability during uncertain times. Their journey reflects a broader effort to support foster children through innovative initiatives and community engagement. Zaakirah Muhammad has the story.

35:57 Tulsa bid Kamren Larsen, the first Black BMX Olympian, farewell in style. USA BMX hosted a send-off party at their headquarters on July 16th, offering fans a final chance to meet and cheer on four of the five Olympians before they departed for France to compete for gold. Larsen sat down with FBO to share his excitement about this historic first.

39:21 Jazz legend Freda Payne will be at Tulsa’s The Church Studio July 27th for a book signing of her new biography “Band of Gold.” Payne spoke with FBO’s Quraysh Ali Lansana about her legacy and the upcoming event.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar.

Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

https://linktr.ee/focusblackok

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Tulsa bid Kamren Larsen, the first Black BMX Olympian, farewell in style. Although this will be his first Olympic competition, Kam is an accomplished rider, having won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games. USA BMX hosted a send-off party at their headquarters, located in the historic Greenwood district, on July 16th. Fans were offered a final chance to meet and cheer on four of the five Olympians before Team USA departed to compete for gold in the Paris Olympics. Larsen sat down with FBO to share his excitement about this historic first.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Special shout out to The bART Center for Music for granting us temporary residence to produce this podcast.

In workplaces across the nation, many women quietly struggle with menstrual health issues that affect their well-being and productivity. Despite the impact of menstrual pain and the stigma that often surrounds it, necessary support and facilities like private restrooms and free sanitary products are often lacking. This gap highlights the urgent need to destigmatize menstruation and adopt more inclusive workplace policies. Zaakirah Muhammed has the story.

Whether it's finding purpose, developing new skills, or giving back to the community that once cheered them on, Beyond the Ball is there to ensure that no athlete is left behind, reminding them that the game may have ended, but their journey has just begun. Anthony Cherry has more.

Retirement usually signals a shift towards leisure, but for Katherine Penny Mitchell and Deborah J. Hunter, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Tulsa art scene. Mitchell now crafts stunning jewelry, including a permanent art installation at Vernon AME Church and Hunter has embraced spoken word, collaborating across genres. Their bold reinvention inspires women reimagining their own retirements. Here’s Francia Allen.

The Legacy Open Rodeo on June 29th will be produced by Oklahoma's only female rodeo producer. Tiffany Guess spoke with FBO’s Jamie Glisson about how she got started in rodeo and what she hopes her legacy will be.

Have you noticed the rising prices of, like- EVERYTHING these days?? Sondra Slade shares her unique perspective on gas and egg prices that blends humor with the practical realities of managing a household budget and the subtle ways in which rising costs influence family life and decision-making.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

At the end of April, Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1854 into law, criminalizing homelessness with the potential to incur misdemeanors & face a possible 15 days in jail. The new law, taking effect in November, does not provide new funding for housing Oklahomans without shelter. While Stitt & some Republicans tout the bill as a means for public protection, some Democrats say it will only amplify the problems unhoused Oklahomans face as well as add to already overburdened & overcrowded jails across the state. Shonda Little speaks with State Representative Forrest Bennett & a former unhoused Oklahoman about the law.

During the pandemic, schools received a big boost from the federal government through the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER Fund. ESSER Funds are scheduled to end soon. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis reports, when that money ends, so may the after-school programs made possible by those funds.

The recent recall election of Judd Blevins in Enid, which received national attention for his alleged ties with Nazi & white supremacist groups, led to a win for Republican challenger, Cheryl Patterson. All while Garfield County gears up for elections to be held on June 18. The Garfield County District One Commissioner seat is open- current Commissioner Marc Bolz stepped down. Three candidates are running for that position; Chris Bigbey, Assistant Lead County Foreman & Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief in Covington sat down with Venson Fields, while Joe Kegin & Jamie Hedges did not respond to an interview request. In the race for Garfield County Court Clerk, the current Court Clerk, Janelle Sharp, was run against challenger Kathy Voth, the current Accounts Manager for the Garfield County Criminal Justice Authority. Voth discusses her first campaign experience & what made her decide to run for office with Fields. Sharpe was unavailable for comment.

Colon cancer is a major concern, especially for higher risk groups, like BIPOC communities. Zaakirah Muhammad speaks with local experts Dr. Christina Booth, University of Oklahoma's Associate Professor of Surgery & Chris Evans, president of the Colon Cancer Coalition, who emphasize early detection & addressing risk factors. While Katherine Anderson, the virtual director at City of Hope (formerly known as Cancer Treatment Centers of America), & Dee Terrell, Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, & Assistant Dean at the Hudson College of Public Health, & Alana Woodson, Dallas based co-creator at the Rare Company Collective speak about the colon cancer experience & mitigation.

Thinking about protecting the environment, most of us focus on nature- plants, animals, ecosystems... For Michelle Cullom, it goes deeper. She sees it as protecting human life & spirit. From childhood vacations, bomb biscuits, & family rivalries, she connects everything through the nurturers keeping her safe. Michelle's story shows how maternal protectors guided her sometimes "boujee" journey.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

In a groundbreaking achievement Traci Manuel, who both attended and taught at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, has etched her name into Oklahoma history books, becoming the first African American educator to claim the prestigious title of Teacher of the Year. Anthony Cherry speaks with her and Milton Dean III. Dean has been in education for 16 years with Tulsa Public Schools.  He currently serves at Street School, a nonprofit, alternative, therapeutic based school. Before that he spent four years at the Juvenile Detention Center, also known as the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice to share more about Manuel's remarkable journey, from her teaching career to her statewide advocacy for a more inclusive and effective education system.

Rebecca Marks Jimerson, the Commemorative Chair and Special Projects Chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society, has a decade-long commitment to honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Recently in Tulsa Jimerson produced a powerful partnership with the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, Circle Cinema, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the National Association of Black Journalists which shed light on the intertwined histories of Black people and Jewish people through a documentary entitled Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance, directed by Jewish filmmaker, Dr. Shari Rogers of Detroit. Through her film she provides verbal accounts of how Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement were able to move forward with some of this momentum helped by support of allies of the interfaith community even coming together with Dr. King in the marches for equality. This included footage of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and other rabbis who were seen close to the front of several marches with Dr. King. This collaboration serves as a call to contemporary social justice movements to unite and continue Dr. King's vision of equality. Francia Allen attended the screening and speaks with Jimerson, Brae Riley, a board member and Chair of the Social Justice Sub-Committee of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, and Ryan Thomas, the lead film programmer at Circle Cinema to expand on this powerful cooperation. To connect with the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society visit mlktulsa.com, circlecinema.org for Circle Cinema, and the Jewish Federation of Tulsa at jewishtulsa.org. This story is part of a series exploring the relationship between the Black American community and the Jewish community in Tulsa. The series is sponsored by the Frank Family Foundation as a part of Tri-City Collective’s Acknowledge Oklahoma or A-OK project.

As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, the Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education is hosting the 26th Annual Yom HaShoah: An Interfaith Holocaust Commemoration. This year's theme, "Standing at the Threshold: Shaping the Future of Holocaust Education," emphasizes the urgency of preserving memory. Featuring speaker, scientist, education designer, and fiction writer Dr. Danny M. Cohen, the event aims to ensure that the lessons of history, both known and unknown, endure. The Holocaust Commemoration is presented by the Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa in partnership with the Tulsa City-County Library, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Congregation B’nai Emunah and Temple Israel. This event is free and will take place May 9th, 7:00PM at Congregation B’nai Emunah in Tulsa. Visit jewishtulsa.org/yomhashoah2024 to register for the commemoration or for more details.

With the impacts of climate change imposing itself across the planet, contemporary science points to the importance of protecting biodiversity as a means of promoting ecological health. Yet, around the world indigenous cultures have been passing down knowledge on the importance of sustainable practices and environmental protections for longer than climate policy became a talking point. Guatemala has worked to incorporate that cultural knowledge into national policy. Here’s Jasmine Bivar-Smith.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Daryl Turner.

In the second segment (originally aired on episode eight in August 2021) Britny Cordera explores the shared connections between Black and Native American women in their traditional birth practices and the practice of doulas. She speaks with Jaysha Lyons Echo Hawk, who is a two-spirit mother, birth worker, graduate student, and founder of Indigenous Milk Medicine Week. They are an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation and descendant of the Pawnee, Iowa, Omaha, and Creek Tribes. Britny also speaks with Ziara Kyre York who was brought to this doula activism through the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor stories.

Finally we hear from Dr. Jabraan Pasha whose story originally aired on episode 26 in February of 2023. Dr. Pasha reconnects our listeners to Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative. This time Omare Jimmerson is Executive Director, taking over that position in September of 2022. Before Joining TBEI she served as Deputy Director for Tulsa Parks. Dr. Pasha also speaks with doula Ashlee Wilson.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Daryl Turner is our production intern.

Venson Fields takes us to Enid where voters preparing for a heated city council election. Allegations of white supremacist ties emerged and swirl around Commissioner Judd Blevins of Ward 1. The white supremacist allegations include Nazi ties to a white supremacy group, Identity Evropa. That group has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, or SPLC and a white supremacist group by the Anti-Defamation League, or ADL. Identity Evropa participated in the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally in August of 2017 where three lives were taken and dozens more injured. Led by Reverend Father James Neal of the Orthodox Catholic Church of America, at the Holy Cross-Enid parish and Kristi Balden, chairperson of the Enid Social Justice Committee and one of three incorporators of the Enid LGBTQ Plus Coalition. Balden credits Connie Vickers, Nancy Presnell, and Lanita Norwood for the research that turned up the ties and the Enid Social Justice Committee for mounting a campaign for Blevins's recall, aiming to confront hate in the community. The recall election will take place on 2 April 2024 and will pit recalled commissioner Blevins against Cheryl Patterson who has served on many public boards and committees in the past including the Enid Public School Board, the Enid Public School Foundation, the Human Services Alliance, and Foster Grandparents Board.

On February 26, Texas’s largest wildfire broke out north of Stinnett in the panhandle. The next day the Smokehouse Creek fire crossed into Western Oklahoma, resulting in damaged property and the evacuation of multiple communities. The efforts of containment are being lead primarily by local volunteer fire departments with little budgetary help from the state of Oklahoma. Shonda Little speaks with survivors. The fire has amassing nearly 1.1 million acres to date and the fire is considered 89% contained. The National Weather Service and emergency management officials caution that embers and continued high winds could easily result in new fires that stem from it. Two human fatalities have been reported along with at least 3,600 dead cattle and that number is expected to grow. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaking with the New York Times said "just my prediction, but it will be 10,000 that will have died or will have to be euthanized." In Oklahoma Ellis and Roger Mills counties and the communities of Gage, Shattuck, Durham, and parts of Reydon were evacuated. Approximately 100,000 acres of western Oklahoma have burned. the deadly fire is now believed to be from a downed powerline, a constant threat during the area’s high fire risk days due to drought conditions. Xcel Energy said in a statement released on March 14th that "our facilities appear to have been involved in the ignition of the Smokehouse Creek Fire.” Shonda Little talks with Levi Blacketter the emergency management director for Roger Mills County, Derek Wood, and Kristal Slavin to relay more details from those living in the impacted areas.

The Oklahoma Eagle, the 10th oldest Black-owned newspaper in the United States still publishing at 101 years old, has engaged in a new initiative to develop stronger relationships with its readers: The Trusting News Project. This is a campaign spearheaded by the Oklahoma Media Center in partnership with The Ecosystem Engagement Project. Oklahoma Eagle Managing Editor Gary Lee explains the goals of the project.

The 25th White Privilege Conference will occur April Third through the Sixth at the Double Tree Hotel in downtown Tulsa. The conference provides an opportunity for participants to discuss how white privilege, white supremacy, and oppression affect daily life, while giving strategies to address issues and advance social economic justice. The Privilege Institute’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Eddie Moore, clarifies that the conference is about more than its title would lead many to expect. Conference Host Coordinator Kelli McLoud-Schingen, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Tulsa, shares what makes this conference special and why Tulsa makes sense as its host city.

Amidst the windswept plains of Oklahoma a rich tradition of oral history and storytelling binds together the narratives of Native American and Black communities. As the state grapples with controversial legislation like House Bill 1775, the resonance of these shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs becomes increasingly vital. Crystal Patrick explores how these interwoven tales shape the cultural fabric of Oklahoma's Oral Histories with Chris Hill, an Osage storyteller, a moniker from which he runs, and Dr. Autumn Brown, an advocate of oral histories, having worked with the Eddie Faye Gates Collection at Tulsa’s Thomas H. Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art preserving oral histories of survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

As Chaz "ThunderWof" Stephens approaches 29, he reminisces on his high school days and the antics of his old crew, DOMO. From lunchtime performances to clashes with authority, Stephens reflects on a bygone era of camaraderie and rebellion. We join him on a nostalgic journey to a simpler time in Turley. Chaz’s sold out live comedy show The Horse & Wof debuts March 22 and will be recorded for those that missed out on tickets. This will be Riverside Studio's first-ever comedy special.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Daryl Turner.

In the U.S., homeownership is the largest driver of wealth creation for families. Yet, homeownership rates for Native Americans lag 15% behind their white American counterparts. Two Oklahoma realtors, Cori Taber (also a realtor in Arizona) and Ashley Daily, are devoting their careers to helping indigenous people utilize programs through the federal government and tribal nations to close the gap. Tabor is a 2SLGBTQIA+ woman descendant of three tribes — the Osage, Muskogee Creek, and Cherokee who is also a descendant of enslaved Africans. Daily grew up on the Osage Reservation and also identifies as Latina. Shonda Little breaks this all down.

The 'Beyond Apology' report, released in early 2024, opens dialogue on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, fostering community engagement and emphasizing the need for reparative justice. These discussions and the resulting recommendations aim to collectively shape a more equitable future for Black Tulsans, acknowledging past injustices while seeking tangible solutions for healing and reparations. Greg Robinson, Bernice Alexander, and City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper further detail the report and its potential. Carlos Moreno has details.

Retinoblastoma, a rare but aggressive eye cancer affecting children, challenges the way cells develop in the retina. Treatment options hinge on early detection, which creates disparities in health outcomes in lower socioeconomic populations with limited access to healthcare. Zaakirah Muhammad speaks with Marissa Gonzalez, president of the U.S. chapter of World Eye Cancer Hope, Melissa Mills, a part-time genetic counselor at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, and Dr. Jesse Berry of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Roski Eye Institute also in L.A., to bring us new details and help us understand Retinoblastoma.

In Checotah, summers with Sondra Slade’s grandparents were filled with laughter, life lessons, and a humorous mix-up about "Arthur?" This tale encapsulates the essence of childhood innocence, the strength of family bonds, and the enduring love that weaves through generations - plus drop biscuits!

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Daryl Turner.

During the summer of 2023, Oklahoma experienced its highest heat index ever recorded - 126 degrees Fahrenheit. One method scientists are using to learn how to best adapt to climate change is called heat mapping. Last summer, Britny Cordera joined a team of scientists, including Sarah Terry-Cobo- Oklahoma City's associate planner for the office of sustainability, Hongwan Li- assistant professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma, Joey Williams- CAPA, or Climate Adaption Planning and Analytics, Heat Watch, and Andy Savastino- Sustainability Office in Kansas City, Missouri, on a heat mapping project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. Cordera follows up now the findings and analysis have been released.

Since the October seventh, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, the Israeli Defense Force’s ongoing campaign in Gaza has dominated headlines around the world, eliciting polarized reactions globally, including here in Oklahoma. Written Quincey visited Israel and Palestine in early 2023 and shares his perspective based on personal experience and conversation with Dillon O'Carroll, AKA 'JYD.'

Joy Harvey and Dr. Shavonda Pannell, two black women with gaps in their teeth, share their experiences of self-acceptance in a society that often overlooks such features. Francia Allen recalls the only representation she saw growing up was a white model named Lauren Hutton, who recently closed her gap. These stories emphasize the need for broader inclusivity and recognition in beauty standards, highlighting the slow but growing acceptance of diverse physical attributes.

Tulsa's Greenwood District is a burgeoning epicenter of hip-hop, led by artists like Mr. Burns- AKA 'Earl Hazard' when he fronted the band Freak Juice, Manifess Greatness, and 9 Milla. Each with decades in the scene, they blend personal struggles with creative expression, shaping Tulsa's hip-hop legacy and cultural identity. Anthony Cherry tells us the story of these local musical pioneers.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Daryl Turner.

Carlos Moreno introduces us to Nem Lun, a (Zomi) Myanmar immigrant, and the new Immigrant Affairs Manager with the City of Tulsa, who brings her own experiences of seeking freedom and safety to the role. Carlos Moreno shares more.

Severe weather damaged thousands of trees in the Tulsa area earlier this year. A million cubic yards of green waste was collected, and many trees were bent or broken. Britny Cordera reports on how the community is coming together to regrow the city’s urban tree canopy.

Jasmine Biver-Smith explores the growing trend among African Americans reconnecting with their heritage, inspired by Ghana's 'Year of Return.' This initiative marks 400 years since the African diaspora began and has reignited interest in understanding ancestral roots. In part 2 of this series, we highlight Ashley Yearby, who is planning a journey to Africa, in hopes of inspiring others to discover their ancestry and celebrate the deep ties between Africa and its global diaspora.

Allison Herrera has two stories that tie in local Native American issues and initiatives to the movie Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and features many Oklahomans in other rolls. The movie is directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the book by David Grann. The book tells the story of the Osage Reign of Terror, which tool place in Oklahoma. Scorsese shot much of the film on location. Herrera reports from Pawhuska and Fairfax.

In spite of the dark and cold, winter has a reputation for being the most wonderful time of the year thanks to the influx of holiday cheer. Without confirming or denying her presence on the Naughty List, Sondra Slade tells the story of the year her Christmas was a wrapper’s delight.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Shi Brown.

In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications, a Muskogee Nation District Judge in Oklahoma granted citizenship to two descendants of enslaved Africans, historically known as Creek Freedmen. This decision, aligning with the tribe's Treaty of 1866, not only overturns previous denials of their applications but also sets a precedent for acknowledging the rights of hundreds of other Freedmen descendants. Here’s Carlos Moreno with the ruling.

In the face of a steep decline in Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color, or BIPOC, farmers in the United States, a young Black woman is determined to reverse the trend by spearheading an initiative to provide scholarships for BIPOC students aspiring to careers in agriculture. Shonda Little interviews Neleh Anderson and Jekia Harrison to bring us this story.

In the spirit of Sankofa, looking back to move forward, Jasmine Bivar-Smith shares a deeply personal journey of discovery and connection. With friends like Carlisha Williams Bradley and Jeanette Biles, Jasmine’s story is a testament to the power of exploring one's roots and grappling with the profound impact of connecting with one's heritage.

After decades of being closed, Tulsa’s Big 10 Ballroom celebrated its reopening with a tribute concert dedicated to Gap Band founding member, Ronnie Wilson. Taking their name from Greenwood, Archer, and Pine streets, Wilson founded the band with his brothers, Charlie Wilson and Robert Wilson, in 1967. Shi Brown sat with Wilson’s widow Linda Boulware-Wilson to discuss Ronnie and the Gap Band’s legacy.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Shi Brown.

Free Mom Hugs, a nationwide movement of love, visibility, and acceptance for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community was born right here in Oklahoma. Love Revolution, the first Free Mom Hugs national conference, occurred in Oklahoma City in September. Shonda Little spoke with the organization’s founder Sara Cunningham, and national coordinator Amber Jensen. 

The fate of the prairie chicken becomes a symbol of a bigger environmental argument in the heart of Oklahoma. President Biden stays firm on the bird's protection as the U.S. Senate and House battle to delist it, thereby ending federal intervention. While the national debate continues, local landowners are taking steps to address the needs of this now famous bird. Britny Cordera reports.

In 1921 the resilient citizens of Greenwood, an all-Black community in Tulsa, faced a devastating racial conflict that escalated into an unstoppable tragedy. In the present day, the people of Tulsa confront a new challenge: how to comprehend and impart this history to future generations. Tulsa’s World Stage Theater is reprising the critically acclaimed production Reflections, written by two Tulsa playwrights. Anthony Cherry has more.

Have you thought you could be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines? Well so did Sondra Slade, but listen to her story and decide for yourself if she was in a show from HGTV or from Animal Planet.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Our production intern is Shi Brown.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

In 2015, the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing released recommendations on police reforms in response to unrest in Ferguson, Missouri that occurred after the police shooting of Michael Brown. Would those reforms, if embraced by state law enforcement officers, help deter police killings and help build community? Shonda Little brings us part two of her series.

State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters recently announced that the Oklahoma Department of Education is partnering with right-wing advocacy group Prager University to provide educational resources to Oklahoma classrooms. On Monday, September 11, at a church event in Tulsa, Walters said PragerU Kids would be in every classroom as a part of “continuing the MAGA agenda” but many school districts have been opting out of using the material. Dr. Kristen Oertel, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Tulsa, shares details.

In February, the US Department of Transportation announced the grant awardees for its new Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. Oklahoma’s only awardee is the North Peoria Church of Christ in Tulsa. Britny Cordera spoke with Oklahoma House District 73’s Representative Regina Goodwin about what the congregation hopes to accomplish.

Black Tech Street is ready to propel Tulsa to the top of the worldwide cybersecurity field. Who is their partner in this challenging project? IT giant Microsoft. By the end of the decade, Black Tech Street and Microsoft are providing Black professionals in the computer industry 1,000 new career opportunities. Anthony Cherry explores the revolutionary ideas that will revitalize the city's technical and cultural environment.

Sonda Slade reports that, In 2014, Tulsa’s 36 Street North corridor was rebranded the Phoenix District as part of an economic development plan. One entrepreneur is working to increase options to turn the neighborhood into a food destination and revenue generator.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

8:59 The Department of Human Services, or DHS, is a light of hope for many people, and a  lifeline for vulnerable children and families in need. But what happens if that trust is shattered? Families have been devastated as a result of allegations of corruption and malpractice, and our communities are seeking answers. Here’s Dawn Carter with more.

19:30 In the midst of the world's urgent call for clean energy, a new project in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, casts a contentious light on the fine line between economic progress and environmental destruction. At the center of this new project is the proposed LNG, Liquified Natural Gas, export facility, which is projected to provide prosperity for some while posing environmental risks to others. Two corporate titans with ties to the George Kaiser Family Foundation are behind the idea. Here’s Dr. Nick Alexandrov with his second installment of this series.

Clara Luper, a pioneering black educator and activist whose sit-ins in the late 1950s prompted state desegregation, is at the center of Oklahoma’s civil rights legacy. Educators are reviewing Luper's lectures and deeds more than half a century later, drawing parallels and lessons for today. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie delves into this legacy and its current relevance.

Between 1990 and 2020, the percentage of Black women with a bachelor's degree or higher increased from 11% to 26%, but Black women still face obstacles in higher education. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, like Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma have become safe havens for Black Women to achieve their dreams and not fall into the stereotypes leveled against them. Sharodon Jenkins has the story.

44:29 ”All the world’s a stage” and in Tulsa, the World Stage Theater Company is a new player on the scene. The company’s upcoming production of The Chinese Lady is its latest opportunity to utilize theater as a medium to explore topics that impact society locally and globally. Anthony Cherry has the story.

Would you like to work with us at FBO or pitch an idea? Email us at contact@focusblackoklahoma.com!

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

Partner Tulsa, a collaborative effort of civic leaders in the City of Tulsa, is spearheading revitalization plans for the Greenwood District. With projects like the Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood Master Plan, the aim is to honor the district's rich history while embracing future growth. Sondra Slade sits down with Partner Tulsa’s Jonathan Butler to discuss it.

For a long time, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been actively competing in sports leagues and tournaments, particularly in basketball and football. But the development of the HBCU Chess Classic marks a new era for the HBCU community. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie elaborates on this first-ever chess competition which promotes Black achievement in Science Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM fields, and was led by students and the first Black Chess Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley.

If you’ve seen a cover of Vogue or GQ magazines, you may have seen Dillon Peña’s work. Though he started out in a small town on Route 66, the Oklahoma native is now a renowned makeup artist and even created his own skincare line. Shonda Little speaks with him about his story.

In the center of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, where the echoes of history are still audible, Nuova Wright's literary work, "little wife: the story of gold," is more than a mere collection of eco poetry and memoir. Gabrielle Vickers reviews how this book gracefully interweaves the essence of Thoreau's "Walden" with Wright's personal story. With a strong sense of place as a foundation, the author carefully guides the reader through grief, resentment, and trauma that has been passed down from generation to generation.

From Florida to New York to Oklahoma, Tulsa Artist Fellow Kalup Linzy has blazed a trail across the world of performing arts. Carlos Moreno reports on his new solo album released this year.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Sharodon Jenkins is our production intern.

Tulsa has been known as a for everything from oil and gas, to art deco, and western swing music. Today however, Tulsa is at risk of becoming known as a hub for human trafficking. One local nonprofit is working to change that. Anthony Cherry reports on this horrific situation.

Even in a deep red state like Oklahoma, the Democratic Party hasn’t thrown in the towel. In the Third Congressional District, a young Cheyenne-Arapaho citizen has recently been elected as the Oklahoma Democratic Party’s vice chair. Shonda Little speaks with him and others about this recent development.

It’s Pride month and amidst the current controversy around 2SLGBTQIA+, and especially trans rights, June is a time to create spaces for reflecting on intersectionality and what it really means to feel included. Smriti Iyengar talks with two queer teens about just that.

In February 2023, we introduced our All Black Towns series exploring the history of towns established by Freedmen in Indian Territory with Carlos Moreno & Crystal Patrick. This month, Jazmine Bivar-Tobie takes us to Tullahassee for part two of our eight part series digging into the state’s historic all black towns.

Food is something that brings people together and no one knows that better than Fatouh Kablaan, a Syrian refugee who resettled here through the New Tulsan’s Initiative. Fatouh has been sharing her culture with All  Souls Unitarian ChurchCarlos Moreno has details speaks with Fatouh and her husband about their experience in Oklahoma.

What kid didn't want a pony when they were growing up? Chaz Stephens was one of the lucky ones, or so he thought. Then he met "Two Face," a miniature horse. Listen to this story, it will have you laughing until you are a little hoarse yourself.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Sharodon Jenkins is our production intern.

Education funding disparities continue to adversely impact students in underserved communities who suffer from limited opportunities for success. Anthony Cherry talks with education leaders in Tulsa who are committed to advocating for more equitable funding allocations from the legislature. Special thanks to an aspiring journalist named Harley Smith for her contributions to this story. 

Since the Dakota Access Pipeline protests that began in 2016, pipeline projects have come under wider scrutiny from the public. Now another marginalized community, in this case in Texas, faces down a natural gas giant in an effort to protect their land. Dr. Nick Alexandrov has the story.

In our March 2023 episode, Focus: Black Oklahoma covered efforts to reform the Oklahoma County jail. Since that broadcast, a grand jury released a report detailing conditions at the controversial facility. Shonda Little has the update.

A proposed bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles failed to pass in the current 2023 house session. Dawn Carter speaks to Representative Monroe Nichols, who introduced the bill, and Dr. Tameeca Rogers, a professor and filmmaker advocating for the bill's passage.

The 2023 Tulsa Jazz Fest, produced by Taylor Entertainment Group, is happening on June 2nd, at Guthrie Green from 6-10PM. John Taylor, owner of Taylor Entertainment Group, is an artist manager, booking agent, digital media entrepreneur, and impresario with a passion for spreading awareness of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s abiding relationship with jazz music. Though Oklahoma has a vibrant Jazz scene, nationwide its popularity has waned over the last few decades. Early June in Oklahoma will be filled with live Jazz around the state. The 32nd Charlie Christian International Music Festival, produced and presented by the Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc. will occur in Oklahoma City June First through the Third on the Oklahoma City Community College Campus. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.tickets.occc.edu or www.charliechristian.org.

There are a number of women rappers topping Billboard charts in 2023, winning Grammy awards, and dominating popular culture. But artists like Ice Spice wouldn’t be able to blow up overnight without the strong foundation laid by pioneers over the preceding decades. Here’s Savai with more.

Mothers: you can’t live with 'em, you can’t live without 'em. Usually we have to worry about our moms telling an embarrassing story about us, but for Michelle Cullom the shoe is on the other foot.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich. Savai is our production intern.

Parenting is hard and determining what constitutes a family is even harder. Oklahoma Law has no precedent for a same sex custody battle. Yet, Kris Williams finds herself in the midst of a struggle for parental rights. Shonda Little has the story.

The American Dream is fairly elusive, even for the people who were born and raised in the United States. Economic inclusion and self-sufficiency for refugees are priorities of the University of Oklahoma’s Humanitarian Innovation Research Group, or OU HIRG. Anthony Cherry has the story about the organization and how they are advocating for refugee rights.

The need for representation across a variety of industries has been lacking for years. In particular, Black physicians are few and far between. Dr. Jabraan Pasha has details about the Youth Medical Mentorship Program which is working to change the disparity of Blacks in medicine.

Against the backdrop of divisive social, cultural, and political rhetoric, as the state of Oklahoma continues to see a rise in legislation banning race and gender diversity in education, restricting reproductive health and autonomy, and restricting 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, the initiatives, programs, and services of social justice organizations in the state have become increasingly sought after, especially to equip and support young people in the approach and navigation of these complex conversations.

For over eight decades, one of the state’s oldest inclusivity-focused nonprofits, Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, or OCCJ, has worked to promote understanding and mutual respect through advocacy, conflict resolution and educational programs. OCCJ started as a volunteer movement chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, formally establishing the Tulsa branch in 1958. In 2005, OCCJ became independent of that national organization. Through their initiatives and programs, they continue to do the work of elevating voices and educating world citizens. On February 6th, Phil Armstrong was officially welcomed as the OCCJ’s new president and chief executive officer. Juddie Williams has the story.

In an effort to reinvigorate Greenwood and the health of its citizens, the Historic Greenwood District Main Street is launching Greenwood Go, an initiative to ensure more people have healthy bodies to walk the historic District but also spur healthy commerce in the community. Sondra Slade shares details.

Though Tulsa’s moniker as the Rose Capital has been long gone, there are still beautiful flowers all around town that highlight the history made here. As Tulsa enjoys this renaissance in arts the people of the city have committed to give its flowers  to the artists that showcase its beauty. Chaz Stephens has the story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

Since the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011, there has been a growing focus on the disparity between the wealthiest 1% of Americans and the other 99% of the population. A recently published report demonstrates how wealth inequality is a global issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nick Alexandrov details how the effects can be measured here in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has long been on the list of states that incarcerates a large percentage of its population. Prison conditions such as overcrowding and mismanagement are  just a few of the public's concerns. One group, the People’s Council for Criminal Justice Reform is working to ensure someone is held accountable. Shonda Little has details.

In 2019, Tulsa Mayor, GT Bynum announced a public investigation into potential mass graves of Race Massacre victims located at Oaklawn Cemetery. The documentary film, Oaklawn, produced by the Center for Public Secrets and Well-Told covers the events since that first announcement and more broadly the injustices Black Americans face daily including government and policing. Charlie Chadwick has the story.

The term Black Excellence has become mainstream in recent years just as Drag and drag culture have taken over our brunches and our Friday evenings. Jasmine Bivar Tobie shares the thoughts of global drag super stars and some local voices to get to the meaning of Black Excellence.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

Amidst the political rhetoric that surrounds banning abortions across the nation, mental health is often overlooked as an important aspect of maternal health . Shonda Little examines the case of a young Oklahoma woman who is caught in the center of the struggle between politics and an individual’s rights.

In 2018, Oklahomans voted to legalize medical cannabis. In March, they will have an opportunity to vote for the legalization of recreational cannabis. Jamie Glisson has details on a recent forum covering the issue.

Oklahoma means land of the “red people,” yet the state once contained within its borders more all black towns than any other. One of the lesser known facets of this history is the legacy of all black towns established by Freedmen of various Indigenous nations. Here’s Crystal Patrick with the first segment of an eight part series digging into the state’s historic all black towns.

Many genres of popular music in the United States have been influenced by Black culture: hip hop, R&B, jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll, soul, and more. However, contributions by Black artists to country music are often overlooked. In 2021, one woman established an organization to change that. Carlos Moreno has the story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

With Kamala Harris holding the office of the Vice President of the United States, Black women are arguably more visible in American politics than ever. Dawn Carter reports on a national organization dedicated to increasing engagement and representation of Black women in the political process. For more reporting on the topics discussed in this story you can listen to our episode released in January 2021 wherever you get your podcasts.

Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric along with a Molotov cocktail were thrown into a Tulsa donut shop because it was hosting a Drag Queen event. This event, and others like it, indicates performers and even their allies have reason for fear and concern. Dr. Nick Alexandrov has details on the growing instances of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.

The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark McGirt vs. Oklahoma decision in 2020 was a big win for tribal sovereignty that gave tribal nations jurisdiction over many crimes committed in their territory and by their citizens. But, working out the state of Oklahoma's role in such matters has proven extremely contentious. StateImpact Oklahoma's Logan Layden spoke with KOSU Indigenous Affairs reporter Allison Herrera about one case that highlights the complications involved.

Oklahoma health officials have surveyed high school students for decades, looking at things like their alcohol use, nutrition, and home life. StateImpact’s Catherine Sweeney reports the data have shown a spike in mental health struggles.

Being your truest self in any life situation can sometimes be challenging. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the experience of attempting to honor and protect herself in an alternative space.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

Shonda Little explores the motivations and tactics used by white supremacist gangs in the state and where they appear to be setting up shop. Here is her segment on the United Aryan Brotherhood, which we aired in January. The Washington Post picked up the story in September.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s three part series, The Battle for Greenwood, was the recipient of an award from the Oklahoma Society for Professional Journalists in the Special Programs category. This excerpt, narrated by former co-host Kolby Webster, is from the third episode, titled Reparations, and takes a deep dive into the City’s controversial efforts to identify potential mass graves that resulted from the 1921 Race Massacre. As of this recording, 19 additional adult graves and 2 child burials have been discovered at Oaklawn Cemetery.

In our November broadcast, Nick Alexandrov brought us the story of how one Tulsa Fortune 500 company has been using its money to support campaigns of politicians who proclaim, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Also from our November broadcast, Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the story of Leeman Lewis’ ongoing pledge to restore the Okmulgee Black hospital through the work of the nonprofit organization Landmark For All Generations.

It’s hard not to recognize that Black people and their contributions have touched every part of our state. In our July broadcast, Carlos Moreno reported on how the Claremore Museum of History celebrated the one year anniversary of its Black History exhibit.

In this section from our Culture Keepers series Britny Cordera takes us on a well-seasoned adventure towards decolonizing menus across the country. This story aired on Focus: Black Oklahoma in January 2022 and was further covered by The New Yorker Magazine in September.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

For 2022 midterm elections, state-wide attention was focused on what the electoral outcomes would mean for issues like Indigenous sovereignty and education. Jamie Glisson reviews this year’s results for state and national offices.

A new exhibit at the Cherokee History Museum in Tahlequah explores the history of the Freedmen, the people formerly enslaved by the Indigenous nation.  FBO's Allison Herrera visited the museum with some of their descendants.

Because of Black history and a personal commitment to preserving landmarks that are tied to Black people, Leeman Lewis bought and is restoring the Okmulgee Black hospital as a labor of love for his community. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the story of Lewis’ ongoing pledge to ensure it is a Landmark for All Generations.

Despite humble beginnings in rural Oklahoma, Jalen Dorsey has built a stellar music career and a booming new business venture that proves it’s not where you came from- it’s about where you want to go. Shonda Little has details on the life of Jalen aka DJ Lite Brite and his thriving music and entrepreneurial endeavors.

High school. Years many of us simply want to forget. Yet, no matter how old you get or how many years have passed there is always a reunion that brings all those feelings flooding back. FBO’s Executive Producer Quraysh Ali Lansana shares his anxieties about attending his 40th high school reunion.

The holidays are always a special time of year when families come together to celebrate. But when grandma is slipped the “special brownies” and decides to share the gift that keeps on giving, well, that's when true memories are made. Here’s Sondra Slade.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

Next Jamie Glisson introduces us to Joshua Harris-Till. 67 years ago a 14 year old boy was murdered based on an accusation. An accusation that was deemed false at the time and then proven so decades later. Emmitt Till was dragged from the home of his Aunt and Uncle in Drew, Mississippi by two white men with shot guns, then taken to a nearby barn and tortured for hours until he was shot in the head and then thrown into a nearby river with a large fan tied to his leg to weigh him down.

Media coverage of the recent shooting at McLain High school in Tulsa, perpetuates the narrative that our communities are dangerous and rife with violence. Anthony Cherry shares a story about how Black male mentors through organizations like Men of Power are focused on making sure more young Black men are seen as thriving- not as threats.

With a written history dating back 3,000 years, China has one of the oldest cultures in the world. As the Mandarin Chinese language grows into a 21st century lingua franca, Chinese language programs have achieved success in Oklahoma despite obstacles like budget cuts and political and cultural barriers. Carlos Moreno spoke with members of the United States Heartland China Association to discuss ongoing efforts to promote Chinese language education.

An often overlooked aspect of Oklahoma history is the legacy of Jim Crow style policies that were implemented even prior to statehood. Shonda Little traveled to Elk City to hear how members of the Black community have maintained the city’s oldest cemetery by cultivating a “for us, by us” attitude for nearly 120 years.

There’s an old proverb about friendship: as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Sometimes being sharp means having as much fun as possible while keeping each other out of trouble. Sondra Slade recounts what real friendship looks like during a cross country road trip in college.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Smriti Ayengar is our associate producer. Our production intern is Torren Doss.

Next Shonda Little examines recent tragic impacts that lagging mental health funding and unrestricted access to guns have on communities and shares more on the need for gun trigger laws in Oklahoma.

In the fourth installment of her series exploring candidates running for political office across the state, Jamie Glisson speaks with Congressional District 1 candidate, Adam Martin.

Historically, access to sustainable energy resources has been out of reach for many marginalized communities. Dawn Carter has the story about WeSolar a community solar firm that aims to change that.

We catch up with local students with StateImpact Oklahoma’s listening tour with youth across the state. StateImpact's Robby Korth and KOSU's Kateleigh Mills talked with a couple of Tulsa high school students about race, gender and how they interact with their peers at school.

Mikeal Vaughn, the founder and executive Director of The Urban Coders Guild is celebrating five years of ensuring Black and brown youth are reflected in the tech industry that gave him his start. Carlos Moreno has the story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns are Torren Doss and Smriti Iyengar.

Next up Anthony Cherry examines how most Oklahomans are unaware of the state’s early migrants from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. This often underrepresented community has long been a part of Oklahoma history. Here, he shares their story.

In our third installment of Jamie Glisson's series exploring candidates running for political office across the state, she speaks with Congressional District 4 candidates incumbent Congressman Tom Cole and his opponent Mary Brannon.

Tulsa arts organization, A Pocket Full of Hope makes big moves into a historic building so that youth can share the stage once graced by greats like Count Basie and Ray Charles. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie has details on how this organization continues to improve the lives of students in North Tulsa.

Finally we have a story about father and son dynamics. They can be challenging, but when one adds girls and snakes those dynamics can be humbling- especially for fathers. G.K. Palmer tells us his story about a kung-fu snake.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns Perla Mauricio, Torren Doss, and Smriti Iyengar.

We continue discussing Native American Nations in our next story. Allison Herrera tells us about the traumatic experiences of Indian Boarding schools, painfully brought to light in a one of a kind event in Anadarko. The testimonies are putting former boarders firmly on the road to healing.

Next we revisit local nurses and new data on the long-term effects of COVID, specifically on the health of Black people-- which is significant. A lack of mental health services and patient advocates are just some of the real concerns across North Tulsa and similar communities. Nick Alexandrov has the story.

Juddie Williams has our next story: Freedom of speech is a constitutional right that still requires protection so that people can express their political views as fully as possible. Williams brings us a story about two organizations whose sole purpose is to protect our civil liberties.

Listen in as queer farmers find community through an event called Queer Farmer Convergence. Catherine Wheeler shares just how important it is to be seen, heard, and challenged by your peers.

It’s hard not to recognize that Black people and their contributions have touched every part of Oklahoma and Claremore is no exception. From Olympians to sucessful business men, Claremore has a long history of Black excellence that is now being showcased in the Black History exhibit at the Claremore Museum of History. Carlos Moreno brings us the details.

We end with an audio diary from musicians who recently performed at the Woody Guthrie Center. Crys Matthews and her wife Heather Mae graced the stage, singing songs from each of their prestigious careers, love songs they wrote for each other, and each debuting a new song for what the couple called a small but mighty audience. As the crew broke down the stage, Matthews took some time to speak about being on the road again playing music. She is a rising star in the folk music world, winning the Lincoln Center New Music competition in 2017, and recent awards at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and the International Folk Music Awards. A preacher's kid from small town North Carolina, Matthews talked about the themes in her music of love, faith, civil rights, and social justice.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns Perla Mauricio, Torren Doss, and Smriti Iyengar.

Next Jamie Glisson has the first in a series exploring the candidates running for political office across the state. Here, she speaks with Congressional District 3 incumbent, Congressman Frank Lucas and some new challengers for that seat.

Adverse Childhood experiences are responsible for traumatizing millions of children across the state. One organization believes that a mentor can counteract that trauma with an activity as simple as bowling. Dawn Carter shares more about Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowling for Kids Sake event.

Brandy Colbert’s book "Blackbirds in the Sky" was written for young adults but doesn’t shy away from the tough topic of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Our teen correspondent Adrienne Brown has details about what’s been missing from her education and why straight talk in our classrooms matter.

Preserving the prairie system is no simple task. And now at the heart of conservation and culture is the Prairie Chicken. While it may not be as familiar as Bald Eagles, Britny Cordera has more on what makes Prairie Chickens just as iconic and in need of protection.

Finally Chaz Stephens will connect the dots from Dragonball Z to N.E.R.D. exploring how Black nerds are gaining greater visibility and acceptance in mainstream culture.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns Torren Doss and Smriti Iyengar.

Next Jamie Glisson reports that only 54% of registered voters in Oklahoma voted in the 2020 elections. As we approach key elections in the coming months, Jamie shares who’s in, who is out, and where there are opportunities to engage voters.

Lydia Jeong brings to the forefront the power of listening to our neighbors and connecting with our communities, highlighting the simple process and profound results of communication.

In our next story we ask, "what values do Oklahomans authentically share with the rest of the country and more specifically what values matter most to Black and Brown Oklahomans." Juddie Williams speaks with local surveyors who want to dig into the ideals and motivations of Black and Brown folks in the center of America.

Then Sherrita Sweet follows up on an education fund for descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre that was put in place nearly twenty years ago. Here she is with a leader looking to expand the fund and navigate the complications ahead.

As climate change continues to bear down upon the western United States, historic wildfires have wreaked havoc upon the lives of many. In western Oklahoma, and numerous other states, the elite firefighters and fire management staff from the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations have continued to answer the call. Shonda Little has the story.

Finally Michelle Collum reminds us that even when you look your best- no one knows when a wardrobe malfunction is gonna strike. Here, she shares a funny tale about a bathroom wrestling match that you’ll never forget.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

Next Jamie Glisson looks at Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was officially confirmed to the supreme court on April 7, 2022, by a 53 to 47 vote, and the political successes of Black women locally and nationally that brought our political system to this historic moment.

In the first installment intended to help us understand the McGirt versus Oklahoma supreme court case and its continued challenges by the state, Dawn Carter notes that almost half the state of Oklahoma may still be considered Native American land that was never disestablished when Oklahoma was granted statehood. The decision could have transformative impacts for citizens across what we know of as Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's rich Black history could be lost, if not for people like Damario Solomon-Simmons and Derrick Edie Smith Jr- also known as the “history influencer”- Young Black Mayor.  Crysal Patrick shares some of what led them on this journey of educating not just our state, but our world on Oklahoma history.

Then we get an introduction to a new exhibit, Woven, by Shenequa Brooks at 108 Contemporary. In this exhibit, she demonstrates where art and entrepreneurship collide. Brooks is creating art while sharing her talents and expertise with other young artists of color. Carlos Moreno shares the unique story of an “Artpreneur” with us.

In this month's final story we get an inside look at what it takes to put on the biggest art show for the youngest artists in town. Lydia Jeong takes us to Philbrook for The Big Show.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

Next, we look at the COVID-19 pandemic two years on. Oklahoma is set to begin a study looking into the long term effects COVID-19 is having on some who have contracted the virus. Dawn Carter has the story of how Long haulers or Long COVID is affecting Oklahomans and what resources may help those affected. 

We then look at a much different issue impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Escalation in anti-Asian language, violence, and hate crimes in the country continues with incidents increasing over 300% in the last year. Contributor Lydia Jeong speaks with Asian American women who are grappling with the rise in aggressions against their communities.

We follow Shonda Little as she explored the Old Settlers Reunion in Cheyanne. For some it is a chance to relive the glory days of the land run. For the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes though, it’s a painful reminder of all they have lost.

In our final story, we continue our examination of the lasting impacts of COVID. Jamie Glisson talks with local musicians who found themselves struggling to make ends meet as well as share their talents with those quarantining at home.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

Focus: Black Oklahoma has been selected to participate in the Advancing Democracy cohort with the Solutions Journalism Network, or SJN. Our series, In A Confused State, will follow Oklahoma advocacy groups navigating new restrictions on freedoms in four areas: reproductive rights, voting laws, teaching history and direct action/activism. Continuing this series, Crystal Patrick and Dr. Nick Alexandrov go in depth on Critical Race Theory and the penalties against public institutions that teach concepts that the state legislature finds problematic.

We then follow Shonda Little to the southwestern part of the state as she finds White supremacist gangs are a growing threat. She speaks with Oklahomans who have had direct experiences with the United Aryan Brotherhood terrorist organization. 

Carlos Moreno joins organizations that are holding space for the healing and processing of Black and Brown death and explains how to have conversations about it with the whole family. 

Robert Caddy and Sherrita Sweet continue our series on wellness and tell us about mindfulness techniques to fight battles within the body.

Finally, when it comes to Valentine's Day, we explore expectations, reality, and how, sometimes, less is indeed more with comedian Sondra Slade.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

We continue with Tulsa’s Martin Luther King Commemoration Society preparing for it’s annual festivities and is urging participants to seek hope, action, and the fierce urgency of now-- which is the theme for this year's celebration. Carlos Moreno brings us this story. Next Focus Black Oklahoma is proud to present a new series discussing topics of health and wellness in the BIPOC community. Contributor Robert L. Caddy is a certified health and fitness expert who brings us more on how Oklahoma ranks in the nation on health.

Contributor Britny Cordera takes us on a well seasoned adventure towards decolonizing menus across the country and finally Sondra Slade reminds us that sometimes it takes a while for good advice to soak in and, often, the credit seems to go to anyone but those closest to us.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

Carlos Moreno then shows us how the Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic is keeping the spirit of the local trailblazer alive as North Tulsa welcomes the opening of the Clinic which is already connecting with the community in big ways.

The First Americans Museum celebrated its grand opening in September. Juddie Williams took a walk through to learn what the museum hopes to accomplish in representing Indigenous communities and sharing their values. Sondra Slade talks about the holidays and how food, especially this time of year, brings us together. Finally we say goodbye and thanks to Bell Hooks, Eddie Faye Gates, and Greg Tate.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

This episode, "Reparations," looks at Tulsa Race Massacre descendants' demands that they be compensated for their trauma; the City of Tulsa's pushback against reparations; the domestic history, and global context, of these calls for repayment; and the way recent reparations plans have played out in places like Rosewood, Florida, and Evanston, Illinois.

"The Battle for Greenwood" team includes Jamie Glisson, Carlos Moreno, Jesse Ulrich, Kolby Webster, and Devin Williams and is produced by Dr. Nick Alexandrov. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar. Focus: Black Oklahoma is supported in part by KOSU, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Focus: Black Oklahoma has been selected to participate in the Advancing Democracy cohort with the Solutions Journalism Network, or SJN. Our series "In a Confused State" follows Oklahoma advocacy groups navigating new restrictions on freedoms in three areas: reproductive rights, teaching history, and direct action/activism. In this installment Shalondra Harrison breaks down the anti-protest laws that now significantly impact our communities.

Crystal Patrick uncovers some unrecognized contributions of Black WWII veterans and Britny Cordera explores the challenges of keeping Native languages alive.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production intern is Smriti Iyengar.

This episode, "What’s Next, or Is Greenwood Rising?," investigates the contentious relationship and agendas between the two Chambers of Commerce in Greenwood; the backstory of the land on which ONEOK Field resides and its impact on the economic growth of the community; and an effort to remove Highway I-244, which is divisive in many ways.

"The Battle for Greenwood" team includes Jamie Glisson, Carlos Moreno, Jesse Ulrich, Kolby Webster, and Devin Williams and is produced by Dr. Nick Alexandrov. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Vanessa Gaona. Focus: Black Oklahoma is supported in part by KOSU, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

This episode, "Street Fight," explores the complex history of the two incarnations of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and their two different missions; the status of the Greenwood Cultural Center in light of the fact the Greenwood Rising History Center wasn’t built next door; and how urban renewal has created what some consider a third massacre in the District.

"The Battle for Greenwood" team includes Jamie Glisson, Carlos Moreno, Jesse Ulrich, Kolby Webster, and Devin Williams and was produced by Dr. Nick Alexandrov. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Vanessa Gaona. Focus: Black Oklahoma is supported in part by KOSU, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

All of this and more on Focus: Black Oklahoma.

The series was made in partnership with Solutions Journalism Network, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective.

The series was made in partnership with Solutions Journalism Network, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective.

The series was made in partnership with Solutions Journalism Network, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective.

In our first story, we learn what Hunger Free Oklahoma is doing to keep children across the state fed amongst the many disruptions of the COVID 19 crisis. Executive Director Chris Bernard takes us through the connections from food insecurity to the school to prison pipeline, health outcomes, college and career readiness, and disease prevention. Find out more at mealsforkidsok.org & hungerfreeok.org.

With the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Anniversary on the horizon, and Mayor G. T. Bynum's commitment to uncover the mass graves that resulted from the massacre. Many Tulsans are experiencing polarized responses for how the city can move forward in a way that honors descendants and Black Tulsans who live with the aftermath of a destroyed community. Crystal Patrick speaks with Rev. Robert Turner (who was at historic Vernon AME Church at the time the story aired) about the complexities.

Allison Ikley-Freeman is running for re-election in Oklahoma State Senate District 37. District 37 includes parts of Jenks, Sand Springs, and Tulsa. Ikley-Freeman was first elected in 2017 during a special election. With deep roots in Tulsa, Ikley-Freeman's parents are McLain grads who still live in Sperry, Ikley-Freeman spent formative years in Turley. [As of the publication of this remastered podcast, Ikley-Freeman now goes by Taten Freeman]

Richard Baxter, also known as Negro Spiritual 121, is a formerly justice involved paralegal and activist. who has recently embarked on a unique campaign to help North Tulsa residents.

Continuing our international coverage of intimate partner violence, we explore simple solutions to combat the issue. Here is Kristi Eaton reporting from a Somalian region in Ethiopia. Could discussion over tea help prevent intimate partner violence in refugee settings? That's what two researchers, Dr. Vandana Sharma and Dr. Jennifer Scott, from Harvard University schools are trying to find out.

Musically, there are two worlds in Tulsa. The Tulsa sound, Leon Russell, J. J. Cale, and Paul Benjamin. Then there's the soul, composed of rhythm and blues, a southern touch of spirit, of call and response, and harmonious ballads. Talent, like the Gap Band, Full Flava Kings, and Fay and Bobby Moffett all of whom represent some of the artists not given the same invitation to the Tulsa Sound table. Written Quincy considers this in the second installment of his series on performing artists in Tulsa, discrimination, and what he calls the Brown Code.

Just Mercy, directed by Destin Daniel Creighton, is a film and number one bestselling true story of a man, Walter McMillan, portrayed by Jamie Foxx, who was wrongly convicted and incarcerated in 1980s Alabama. Through this story we find out about the Equal Justice Initiative, founded by the book's author Bryan Stevenson, played by Michael B Jordan. Other stand out performances include Herbert Richardson, portrayed in the film by Rob Morgan, and Oklahoma's own Tim Blake Nelson's performance of Ralph Myers. Focus Black Oklahoma film reviewer, Devin Williams, has our review.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership by Public Radio Tulsa, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective and is broadcast from the studios of Public Radio Tulsa on the campus of the University of Tulsa. Our theme music is by Moffat Music. Our contributing music artist on this broadcast is Malachi Burgess (Mali Music, Mali Motives).

Additional music is contributed by Two Piece. The executive producers of Focus: Black Oklahoma are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Scott Gregory. The Associate Producers are Bracken Klar and Ali Shaw.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Scott Gregory, Smriti Iyengar, and Jesse Ulrich.

Webster kicks of the show examining how gentrification, eminent domain, big strategic land buys and more are affecting Tulsa's downtown and adjacent neighborhoods with Becky Gligo, the housing policy director for the city of Tulsa mayor's office, touch on the basics of connecting neighbors, organizing, the characteristics of strong neighborhoods, and addressing their concerns.

Public discourse about immigration often suggests that DACA recipients are only people who entered the U.S. unlawfully from Central America. While nearly 700,000 reported DACA recipients are from Central American countries, nearly 100,000 are not. Approximately 5,000 are from countries in Africa. While the conversation can be contentious, not every immigrant has the same backstory or point of origin, as we hear in this next piece from Anissa West.

Listen to the moving, true story of a formerly incarcerated woman and how she is working to change the prison system for other women. The state of Oklahoma leads the nation in the number of incarcerated women. Crystal Patrick brings us this piece.

Mass incarceration is a national crisis. Oklahoma incarcerates more men and women than any other state. Tulsa introduced legislation to reduce the rates at which black Tulsans are arrested and incarcerated. Mika Nicole brings us a story on what Oklahoma is and is not doing on the municipal level to address this issue.

When discussing incarceration, things can sometimes become overwhelming and abstract-- because we're talking about numbers, statistics, and raw data. We now move away from the abstraction to introduce you to two Black men who were incarcerated for over 20 years for crimes they did not commit. Negro Spiritual 121 has the story.

Next, the first in a series of stories from contributor Kristi Eaton on the power of podcasting to transform torn communities. She speaks with Somali refugees and the Harvard professors behind a newly created podcast.

Kojo Asamoah Caesar has entered his name into the District 1 Congressional race. If elected, he would become the first Black person to hold that office. Kojo discussed his plans to strengthen communities by retaining untapped talent with Focus Black Oklahoma's Bracken Klar.

Over the last few years Black women across the nation are starting more businesses than any other group. In Tulsa, they are opening businesses in the historic Black Wall Street District. Kiana Smith sits down with Charity Marcus to explore this story.

Finally, we offer a story on Black artists, musicians and promoters encountering discrimination at venues across Tulsa. This discrimination is referred to as "The Brown Code." This piece is the first in a series from our contributor Written Quincy.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership by Public Radio Tulsa, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective and is broadcast from the studios of Public Radio Tulsa on the campus of the University of Tulsa. Our theme music is by Moffat Music. Additional music is contributed by Two Piece.

The executive producers of Focus: Black Oklahoma are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Scott Gregory. The Associate Producers are Bracken Klar and Ali Shaw.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Scott Gregory, Smriti Iyengar, and Jesse Ulrich.