Serving Our Area...By The Numbers.

A Third Place Community Foundation

Service Area Demographics and Ethnographics: 46^th St.to 76^th Sts. North, and Osage County Line to Highway 75, including one report for the Far North City of Tulsa demographics of incorporated area within our two mile service region and one report for the Unincorporated Turley Community Platted Areas. Plus notes on the combined demographics. We also serve 74073 in our Food Pantry service area, but it is north of our primary focus.

April, 2012, using 2010 census, from PerceptData

In general, one of our zip codes, 74126, the one in which our own properties lie, are in the area of lowest life expectancy within the Tulsa area, 14 years lower than the area of highest life expectancy in the midtown area, just six miles south from our boundary along Peoria Ave.  

I.                   Our Far North  City of Tulsa Area Data

General Data.....

Population: 10,237, a decrease of 6.9 percent since 2000 census. Projected to continue decline by 2.8 percent to 2015 compared to U.S. growth of 5.1 percent.  Population grew slowly from 1990 to 2000, though had declined sharply as part of overall Far North area decline from mid-60s to 1990.

Households: 3,388  decrease of 7.6 percent from 2000 and projected decrease of another 2.5 percent by 2015.

Shopping Areas of Suburan Acres Center and McLain Village Center have both become virtually abandoned since the 1970s. Recent school closures: Cherokee Elementary in 2011 that once was Turley High School then a TPS school since mid-30s and junior high then elementary only since mid-60s; Morse School was built in 50s and closed in mid-60s; Alcott Elementary closed in 2011; Houston Elementary closed in 2011 reopened as Bunch early education center; Greeley Elementary closed 2012 leased to The Lighthouse Charter school pk-4, adding a year each year is planned up to grade 12; Monroe Junior High closed in 90s reopened 2011 as dual immersion and as demonstration school, much smaller populations; Gilcrease Junior High closed 2011; McLain Jr. High opened 2011.

Population by Race/Ethnicity: White (nonhispanic) 7.0 percent and projected to decrease to 5.9 percent by 2015.  African American (nonhispanic) 85.5 percent to increase to 86.4 percent by 2015; Hispanic 2.2 percent to increase to 2.7 percent. American Indian/Asian/other 5.3 percent to decrease to 5.0 percent by 2015. While overall city of Tulsa in this area population expected to decline, the ethnic diversity will become slightly higher as hispanic population rises. This geographic area which is going to be 86 percent African American was almost 0 percent African American in the late 1960s.

Population by Gender; 53.6 percent female down from 54.2 percent female in 2010 projected to decrease to 53.3 percent by 2015. 46.6 percent male up from 45.8 percent projected to increase to 46.7 by 2015.

Population by Generation: Generation Z (born 2002 and later)—19.1 percent and projected to be 29.2 percent in 2015; Millenials (1982 to 2001) 34.1 percent, down from 39.7 in 2000 and projected to decrease to 28.8 percent in 2015; Survivors (1961 to 1981) 22.9 percent down from 25.9 percent and projected to be 22.2 percent in 2015; Boomers (1943 to 1960) 16.4  percent down from 21 percent and projected to be 14.5 percent in 2015; Silents (1925 to 1942) 6.8 percent down from 10.8 percent projected to be 4.9 percent in 2015; Builders (1924 and earlier) 0.7 percent down from 2.6 percent and projected to be 0.3 percent in 2015...Over half (55 percent) of the population by 2015 expected to be younger than 33. Average Age: 31.4 up from 30.4 and projected to be 31.9 in 2015; Median Age 27.3 up from 26.7 and projected 27.6.

Average Household Income $33,891 up from $29807 and projected to increase to $36372; Median Household is $26,476  up from $23,266 and projected to increase to $28,245; Per Capita Income $11,217  up from $9,946  and projected $12,074.

Lifestyle Diversity: very low with only 12 of the 50 U.S. Lifestyles segments represented. Top segment is Metro Multi-Ethnic Diversity 46.3 percent of all households compared to 2.7 percent nationally. Struggling Black households 35.8 percent compared to 2.5 percent nationally. Building Country Families 7.1 percent compared to 2.8 nationally. Laboring urban diversity 2.2 percent compared to 0.5 percent; Working Country Families 2.1 percent compared to 1 percent.

Metro Multi-Ethnic Diversity: younger segment than most, still contains a number of individuals in 40s and 50s. single parent families and households with five or more persons ranks high, and overall household size is somewhat above average. Income and education levels low. Use of public transportation is double the national average and car pooling is primary transportation. Faith involvement far above average in this segment:  Rather than have a strong leader they prefer to be left on their own without interference; twelve step programs, youth social programs, personal or family counseling, church sponsored day school preferences.

Struggling Black Households: This segment is concentrated in urban areas particularly in the South. Almost half of adults are without high school diplomas, median household income is far below the national average, and four in ten households own no vehicle. This segment leads all other groups in watching Saturday mid-day and afternoon television. Strong faith involvement and belief in God are well above the national average. Primary concerns are Racial/Ethnic Prejudice, Affordable Housing (ranks number one), Neighborhood Gangs, Neighborhood Crime and Safety (ranks number two), Abusive Relationships and Alcohol/Drug Abuse. This segment ranks nearly last in concern for Recreation or Leisure Time. Contributions to religious organizations, charities and educational institutions are more or less average. Asked to identify programs and characteristics they would prefer in a church, these households are more likely to indicate Bible Study and Prayer Groups (ranks number two), Spiritual Retreats, Twelve Step Programs, Food Resources and Daycare Services.

Building Country Families (the third highest segment in both of our service areas): one third adults not graduated from high school; above average number of divorces, single parent families and families with one or no workers. Primary concerns: finding a good church, spiritual teaching, adequate food, health insurance, divorce and affordable housing. Looking for food resources, sports/camping, bible and prayer, parent training programs, global mission.

Racial Ethnic Diversity: Somewhat High. Hispanics/Latinos projected to be the fastest growing group at 19.4 percent increase from current rate.

Education: very low. 73.3 percent of population 25 or over have graduated from high school compared to national average of 80.4 percent; college graduates 7.6 percent compared to 24.4 percent nationally.

Household Concerns that are above the national average for these concerns: Race/Ethnic prejudice, finding spiritual teaching, neighborhood gangs, neighborhood crime and safety, finding a good church, affordable housing.

Marital Status: Married 41.8 percent, Single never married 37.7  percent, Divorced/Widowed 20.6. Female head of household 32.5 percent compared to 11.2 national.  Household with children 56.7 percent compared to 23.2 national.

Population by Occupation: 56.9 percent blue collar, higher than national average of 39.7 percent; 43.0 percent white collar primarily administrative support and clerical.

Owner Occupied Housing Units 58.8 percent; Renter occupied 42 percent; median rent $513

Vacant Units: 41.8 percent abandoned, not for rent or for sale; 21 percent for sale; 37 percent for rent.

  II.                 Our Adjacent Unincorporated Far North, Turley, Platted Areas Demographics

Population; 2,748. Decrease from 3,034 in 2000, projection of continued decrease by 2015 to 2,643

Households: 1,070 decrease from 1,168 in 2000 and projected decrease to 1,035 in 2015

Population by Race/Ethnicity: White (nonhispanic) 56.3 percent down from 63.5 percent in 2000 projected decrease to 52.4 percent in 2015; African American (nonhispanic) 21.9 percent increase from 16.3 percent in 2000 projected to increase to 24.7 percent in 2015; Hispanic/Latino 5.3 percent increased from 2.8 percent in 2000 and projected to increase to 6.4 percent in 2015. This geographic area which was almost 100 percent White and smaller percentage of American Indian in the late 1960s will soon be a "minority majority" area.

Population by Gender; 50.1 percent female, up from 49.5 percent in 2000, projected 50 percent in 2015; 49.9 percent male decrease from 50.5 percent in 2000, projected 50 percent in 2015.

Population by Generation: Generation Z (born 2002 and later)—15.4 percent and projected to be 24.2 percent in 2015; Millenials (1982 to 2001) 26.8 percent, down from 27.8 percent in 2000 and projected to decrease to 24.5 percent in 2015; Survivors (1961 to 1981) 26.2 percent up from 25.1 percent and projected to be 25.4 percent in 2015; Boomers (1943 to 1960) 20.5 percent down from 28 percent and projected to be 18.4 percent in 2015; Silents (1925 to 1942) 9.5 percent down from 13.2 percent projected to be 6.9 percent in 2015; Builders (1924 and earlier) 1.6 percent down from 5.9 percent and projected to be 0.6 percent in 2015. Average Age: 36.7 up from 36.3 and projected to be 36.3 in 2015; Median Age 35.8 up from 35.7 and projected 35.1.

Average Household Income $46,620 up from $41,592 and projected to increase to $50,275; Median Household is $34,511 up from $28,507 and projected to increase to $37,509; Per Capita Income $18,153 up from $16,012 and projected $19,688. Note the some $7,000 annual income increase as you go from city of Tulsa to unincorporated area in far north Tulsa; this difference exists even within the unincorporated area as you go from the 74126 to 74130 zip code, which has higher income average than 74126. Reflects ethnic difference, also age differences with more retired income in unincorporated area, also home ownership vs. rent, and property size increases from cityside to countyside.

Lifestyle Diversity: very low with only 14 of the 50 U.S. Lifestyles segments represented. Top segment is Laboring Country Families 36.0 percent of all households compared to 2.7 percent nationally. Working Country Consumers 16.1 percent compared to 4.1 percent nationally. Building Country Families 8.1 percent compared to 2.8 nationally. Surviving Urban Diversity 7.9 percent compared to 4.0 percent. Laboring Rural Diversity 4.4 percent compared to 1.5 percent. Cautious and Mature 4.3 percent; Mature and Established 4.3 percent; Metro Multi-Ethnic Diversity 3.7 percent; Working Country Families 3.3 percent; Struggling Black Households 3.1 percent; Rural Working Families 2.9 percent; Working Suburban Families 1.2 percent; Mature Country Families 1.0 percent; Country Family Diversity 1.0 percent; Exception Households .8 percent; laboring urban diversity .7 percent; Struggling hispanic households .6 percent; established country families .4 percent; mature and stable, .2 percent.

Laboring Country Families: With a fairly average age distribution, this segment is above average in blue collar employment and below average in median household income. Little more than half of the women are in the labor force. Home ownership is high, with housing units typically being single family dwellings, though property values are lower than most. Faith involvement is above the national average in all categories. Belief in God is high, and acceptance of the changing racial/ethnic face of America is low. The primary concerns of this group are Divorce, Finding Spiritual Teaching, Abusive Relationships, Finding a Good Church, Teen/Child Problems and Parenting Skills. Contributions to religious organizations are high, support of charities and educational institutions low. Asked to identify programs and characteristics they would prefer in a church, these households are more likely to indicate Divorce Recovery Programs, Bible Study and Prayer Groups, Food Resources, Personal or Families Counseling and Family Activities.

Working Country Consumers: This segment is evenly split between urban and rural populations. It consists of persons of all ages, with income and education somewhat below average. Blue collar employment is high, as are precision production and craft occupations. Over two-thirds of all homes are single-unit structures and mobile homes make up a noticeable percentage of the total. While strong faith involvement is only slightly below the national average, a significantly higher percentage than average say they are not involved. On the other hand, significantly more than average believe that God is actively involved in the world including nations and their governments. The primary concerns of this group are Adequate Food, Health Insurance, Day-to-Day Financial Worries, Finding Spiritual Teaching, Abusive Relationships and Stress. Asked to identify programs and characteristics they would prefer in a church, these households are more likely to indicate Bible Study and Prayer Groups, Family Activities, Parent Training Programs, Youth Social Programs, Care for the Terminally Ill and Church Sponsored Day School.

Building Country Families: See Above in Report One.

Racial Ethnic Diversity: Extremely High. Hispanics/Latinos projected to be the fastest growing group.

Education: Extremely low. 67.3 percent of population 25 or over have graduated from high school compared to national average of 80.4 percent; college graduates 5.9 percent compared to 24.4 percent nationally.

Household Concerns that are above the national average for these concerns: Dealing with Alcohol/Drug Abuse, Dealing with Teen/Child Problems, Dealing with Abusive Relationships, Dealing with Divorce, Dealing with Problems in Schools, Dealing with Neighborhood Gangs, Finding a Good Church, Finding spiritual teaching

Marital Status: Married 53.5 percent, Single never married 22 percent, Divorced/Widowed 24.4

Population by Occupation: 56.9 percent blue collar, higher than national average of 39.7 percent; 43.0 percent white collar primarily administrative support and clerical.

Owner Occupied Housing Units 74.4 percent; Renter occupied 25.7 percent; median rent $461. Vacant Units: 36 percent abandoned, not for rent or for sale; 35 percent for sale; 29 percent for rent.

Combined Data For Our Total Service Area

12,985 Total Population In 2010. Projection for 2015: 12,590

Population Density, 2010: Far North 2605 per square mile, Turley 1033 per square mile; projection for 2015, Far North 2531, Turley 994

White Population: In 2010 it was 2265; by 2015, projected 1,971, or 15.6 percent of our overall population; of that 1,971 total some 1,386 will be in the now unincorporated Turley area.

African American Population: In 2010 it was 9,356; by 2015, projected 9,245, or 73.4 percent of our overall population; of that 9,245 total, some 8,593 will be in the incorporated Far North Tulsa area.

American Indian, Asian, Other: In 2010, it was 990; by 2015, projected 930, or 7.3 percent of our overall population; of that 930, 435 will be in the unincorporated Turley part.

Hispanic Population: In 2010, it was 374; by 2015, projected 442, or 3.5 percent of our overall population; of that 442 total, some 273 will be in the incorporated Far North Tulsa part.

Total Per Capita Income: In 2010 there were 1,158 households out of total 4,458 households with an annual income under $15,000. In Far North Tulsa section that amounted to 28.4 percent of the households there, and in the Turley section that amounted to 18.3 percent of the households there. In both cases, the income category with the highest percentage was the category of those below $15,000….By 2015, projected 1,045 households out of total 4,337 households will earn less than $15,000 annual income. In Far North Tulsa section that will amount to 26.4 percent of households and in Turley it will amount to 16.7 percent of households there. In Far North Tulsa it will still be the income category with the highest percentage of households; in Turley it will have dropped to the third highest percentage; those earning in the category of $35,000 to $49,999 will be 19.1 percent of households in Turley or top percentage of income categories.

Population by Phase of Life: By 2015, the population based on phase of life will still be basically unchanged from 2010: the most populous phase will be those in formal school years, five to 17 years old, followed by families and empty nesters between 35-54 years old; those two categories combined will amount to 46 percent of all persons in the Far North section and 44 percent of all in the Turley section. In the Far North side, the third most populous category will be singles and young families 25-34 years old while on the Turley side those in retirement years, 65 and over will be the third most populous category.

Minors compared to Adult Population. By 2015, some 3,633 residents of total population of 9,947 of Far North will be under 18 years old, or 36.5 percent of the population; which means voting age population will amount to 63.5 percent of the population, 6,314 adults. By 2015, some 786 residents of Turley’s projected 2,643 residents will be under 18 years old, or 29.7 percent of the population, leaving 70.3 percent for the adult voting age population, 1,857 persons. (Need to find the number of registered voters in these two sections if possible, and the number of votes cast in the 2008 presidential race). For the Total Service Area: By 2015, some 4,419 of the 12,590 population will be under 18 years old, or 35 percent. (Think of the changes over the decades in employment opportunities for those in school years; they have been declining, adding to the financial burden and stresses of poverty on families). In the Far North section, the increase will come primarily in those under 10 years old as the percentages fall slightly of those between ages of 10 and 17; in the Turley section, the increase will come in those 14 and under and the percentage of those 15-17 years old is projected to stay steady.

Seniors 60 and above between now (2010) and 2015: While the population is projected to decline during the working years categories, the population is projected to rise among those 60 and older in both the Far North and the Turley section: In Turley, 60-64 rise from 5.1 to 5.6 percent; 65-69, rise from 3.9 to 4.4 percent; 70-74, a slight decline from 3.5 to 3.4 percent but by comparison in 2000 this was at 1.8 percent; 75-84, slight decline from 4.3 to 4.2; and 85 plus, increase from 1.8 to 2 percent, and in 2000 it was only at 0.6 percent. In the Far North section, the 60-64 year old group should hold steady at 4.4 percent but that’s an increase from 3.9 percent in 2000; 65-69 a jump from 3.3 to 3.6 percent, 70-74, 2.7 to 3.0 percent; 75-84, 2.6 to 3.0; and 85 and over, 0.8 to 1.0 percent. In Turley, those 60 and over will amount for 19.6 percent of the total population, and in Far North it will amount for 15 percent of the total population.

So in Far North some 50.5 percent, over half of the population, will be under 18 or over 60; in Turley, some 49.3 percent, or just about half of the population, will be under 18 or over 60. These age groups are most economically vulnerable, and least served in our area with no senior nutrition sites currently active, and due to school closures this past summer our daily meals for those under 18 years old were limited as we were unable to host our summer long daily lunch; we are planning to find a new home for this service by next summer. Even our parks which offer some services for both of these groups have been affected with budget cutbacks and threatened pool closures. Our churches in the area which hold potential and do some service outreach with these groups are often served by bi or tri vocational leadership and offer no or limited programs except on Sundays. Up until the opening this month of the new health department facility in our area, and with the closure of our own OU Health Clinic in our facility in 2011 after three years, there was virtually no medical clinic available in our service area (one physician who moved out of the area still has a one morning a month for existing patients); there are no dentists or other health professional in our service area anymore for the 12,000 plus residents we serve as a community renewal organization.

Food Statistics from the survey we conducted with the OU Graduate School of Social Work in 2009, and which is why we operate our new and growing Food Pantry and our Community GardenPark and Orchard:

...55 percent worry about the amount of food they have
...6 percent use spoiled food
...29 percent use a food pantry
...31 percent receive food from church
...35 percent borrow food from family
...25 percent borrow food from friends
...25 percent adults skip entire day from eating
...29 percent adults skip meals
...26 percent did not eat and are hungry at time of survey
...43 percent eat less than they should
...60 percent eat low cost foods
...52 percent cannot afford nutritious meals
...57 percent run out of food
...60 percent cannot afford healthy food

The Food Environment:
...29 percent have no affordable source of food in community
...63 percent know about a food pantry
,..56 percent rate the food quality in Turley area as fair or poor
...59 percent indicate food in Turley area expensive or very expensive relative to budget

Overall Health:
...56 percent not currently healthy
...41 percent health is fair or poor
...54 percent are overweight
...66 percent should weigh less
...47 percent smoke or use other tobacco

September 2012 Major Calendar Events: Resurrecting Community Life on the Northside

Please share with others these upcoming events and reflections...

Make A Difference in our Far North Community and in Your Life, Connect with us, Donate To Our Mission, www.turleyok.blogspot.com

Hi all. Many opportunities coming up in the next weeks to help us as we seek to renew community, empower our residents on the northside, and grow healthy lives and neighborhoods; if we do these things, our other issues that more often make news headlines---school issues, crime issues---they will take care of themselves. It is about growing organic life. If we have school test scores much lower than they should be (though they are rising slowly), or if we have domestic violence, drugs, gangs, juvenile crime (though those are much lower than people stereotype), the way to focus on them is to focus on the soil in which they are planted: that is community life, neighborhood spirit, and justice for those most neglected, abandoned, wounded, left out. Let September be a month when we turn our attention and time and resources to making sure we have healthy soil in which to grow our communities.

Recently, some people visiting our area described our Turley and far northside area as "a dying community." If you look at the statistics, and the stereotypes, it is hard to counter that description. But if you look at the stories and the spirit of the people living in, moving into, resisting, and if you look at just this small glimpse of what is happening here in just one piece of the picture, it would better be described as a "resurrection community." Bless or curse, choose life or death, which vision of life calls out to you?

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 9 am to 2 pm, North Tulsa Farmers Market at TCC Northeast Campus, apache and harvard. And every Tuesday and Friday morning, 9:30 am to Noon, our Food Pantry, clothing room, community center. Also we are blessed to host the Legal Aid Society most Tuesdays and Fridays with us also during these hours. Free legal advice on a multitude of issues. Spread the word.

Wednesday, Sept. 5: At McLain High School 1:30 pm grant announcement of a $100,000 award for the school from AT&T. Lots happening in the next few months at McLain; see below. It is a privilege to serve on the School Foundation Board; we pray for the new principal Darrius Kirk and all there this year as they face many challenges of growth and change, serving more students.

Thursday, Sept. 6, GROW TURLEY deep planning meeting, 3:30 pm, at the community center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave. Focusing on disaster response, incorporation into a city research, abandoned buildings and connecting leaders to coordinate planning for this area.

Friday, Sept. 7 Day of Caring at our community center and community gardenpark and orchard, as we host people from Nordam, Hillcrest Medical Center, and Legal Aid Society of Eastern Oklahoma volunteering to make a difference with us. Come volunteer to work on our center and grounds, getting ready for our big fundraiser auction, and improving the gardenpark, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. Come and see what's going on; come help us host; come serve alongside these helpers; thanks to the United Way. It all begins at dawn and goes to dusk; come for as long or as short a time as you can, and spread the word.

Saturday, Sept. 8, Community fundraising breakfast 8 to 10 am Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy; 7 am on GardenDay at our gardenpark. Last day also to register for the Cherokee School reunion on Sept. 22; see below.

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 6 pm at the Community Center, the first Turley Area Disaster Response Network Orientation Session and free dinner; come be a part of building our network of neighborhood leaders, begin mapping our resources, and helping prepare and spread the communications information our residents need for a multitude of potential disasters, natural or otherwise. Be a leader in your immediate area.

Wednesday, Sept. 12 I will be meeting in the evening at OU Tulsa Graduate Social Work class to help orient them to our service area and help them get started on this semester's service-learning projects. If you have connections with other universities and classes in all kinds of departments that might be interested in working with us to serve our area and educate new leaders, contact me.

Friday, Sept. 14, 1 pm the real estate auction of the old feed store and old fire dept building and adjacent lots on North Peoria; an opportunity to turn abandoned blight back into places of community transformation or economic development; these are historic buildings in our area that have been neglected for years; we painted over graffiti and mowed the weeds and hope to see them put to good use. http://www.williamsauction.com/property-auctions/turley-lots/332563

Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 am. at the Center. Our Big Community Benefit Auction and Fun-Fest. Help us raise funds for our projects and our partners. Charity auctioneer Jay Litchfield will be coordinating. We have many wonderful items donated from law firms, homes, businesses; looking for more. Lots of items small to large. Everything goes so we can begin renovating the biggest part of our building space for community kitchen and other use. Children's activities and community information booths, refreshments.

Also on Saturday Sept. 15 we will have a crew at the gardenpark building our new tool and storage shed. And that day I will be speaking at Suburban Acres library on our sustainability and food justice work as part of the Library's year long Food for Thought focus.

Also on Saturday, Sept. 15 we will be making our big announcement about the next online voting event to help us win our kitchenshelter rain water collection greenhouse. Get your networks primed to turn out and vote for us again as you did when we won the orchard from the national fruit tree planting association.

Tuesday, Sept. 18, the Disaster Response Orientation Session at 6 pm at the Fire Dept building; again we provide free dinner for those who couldn't make the first session or wish to attend and connect and go deeper and help our resource mapping.

Friday, Sept. 21, McLain High School Homecoming Game and Event. Come support our local high school.

Saturday, Sept. 22, Cherokee School every four years Reunion, this one may be the last one in the school building at 6001 N. Peoria, from 9 am to 4 pm. (I am setting up a meeting between now and then, I hope, to talk further with TPS officials about a possible lease use of the school for our growing food justice center and as a site for community meals and events; if your non-profit or business is interested in partnering with us to turn this newly abandoned but wonderfully equipped building into community use again, contact me).

Sunday, Sept. 23, McLain all grades reunion picnic at Shelter 2 at Mohawk Park, an informal bring your own everything from 1 to 4 pm; a chance to build bridges and connect with old friends and meet new ones.

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6 pm Disaster Response Orientation Session at O'Brien Park, free dinner, followed by the monthly 7 pm Turley Community Association TownHall; hear local officials report on activities in the community, your chance to ask questions.

Coming Up Not To Miss in October: We will again be a part of helping plan and put on the Fourth Annual Taste of North Tulsa event on Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:30 pm at McLain High School. Great local food, stressing healthy eating, with community fair, and great music. Free.

And Saturday, Oct. 13 our Far North Community Renewal Conference, featuring a tour of our two mile service area, questions and response, free lunch, keynote presentations by Ann Patton, author of Dan's War on Poverty about Father Dan Allen, founder of Neighbor for Neighbor, and by Terry McGee, community business leader and activist on the northside, followed by small group planning sessions focusing on the major issues facing our community, helping to move us forward as a community renewal organization and joining with others to become a movement for this far northside region, from 46th St. North to 76th St. North.

On the Welcome Table missional community side of things, August was splendid and fun. While I was on vacation and study leave, but enjoying worship with the group from time to time, we focused on worshipful support of the Leadership of Women Religious Conference, the "radical nuns" seeking justice for the poor and the oppressed; we visited and worshipped with St. Aidan's Episcopal Church here in north Tulsa, we worshipped with All Souls Church, and our new Board member and resident of Turley, Rev. Eliza Galaher, recently moved here from Austin, Texas, led worship and conversation at the community center...For September, we will be focusing again on a theme for the month: this time "The Spirit of the Bible and The Vision for the Church." Each Sunday I will take a pivotal story from the Bible and teach on its missional meaning and we will discuss a facet of our radical vision for what church is and can be. We gather at the community center, or the garden park, at 9:30 am and go with study and communion and common meal until the noontime hour, or so. We invite people to come be a part even of this one day only aspect of our missional community even if you are unable to be with us for our many communal gatherings throughout the week. On Sunday morning Sept. 30 I will be travelling to Stillwater to preach on "Inward/Outward: The Synching and The Salting of the Soul" and invite you to our missional road trip.

Also being launched in September will be our Praying the Hours with The Welcome Table. Look on both www.progressivechurchplanting.blogspot.com and www.missionalmonastics.blogspot.com for more information coming, and for when you can join us either virtually on those sites, via Skype group, or with us in face-to-face contemplative centering prayer sessions to grow and deepen our inward lives to sustain us and shape us as we live our outward lives in mission in the ways listed above, and in the myriad of ways in our worklives, our families, and our times with friends that we "meet God and serve God wherever we go, especially to be with the abandoned places and people of the Consumer Market Empire. We are already developing this time to go deep together on our facebook; follow me at revronrobinson there; using resources from Thomas Merton, Rainer Marie Rilke, Joan Chittister and others.

blessings, thanks for all you do and hope you will find ways to do more of it in community with us, and more soon, Ron Robinson

The GiveBack Place, Events, and People

Anniversary of Fires and Grow Turley Meeting, Thurs. Aug. 2, 3:30 pm

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the wildfires that swept through from 56th St. North to 61st St. North just east of N. Peoria Ave. and burned and damaged several homes, caused some 200 homes to be evacuated, and was close to burning down more of our area but for the great response of the local volunteer Fire Dept. and area responders, local residents helping for hours, and a local business contributing equipment and labor to make an important fire break. Our Community Center was the first place for evacuations and Red Cross Center. Ever since then we have met the first Thursday of the month to work on a disaster response network of community residents and leaders, as well as exploring our other infrastructure and community needs. We will be getting an update and planning our first round of disaster response network community orientation meetings when we gather tomorrow Thurs. Aug. 2 at 3:30 pm at our Welcome Table Community Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave, for the next Grow Turley meeting.

Mobile Van Food Giveaway Event, Tomorrow Thurs. Aug. 2 10 am to Noon

But first tomorrow we have an opportunity for people to come help us give out more than 3 tons of food to some 125 households during our Mobile Van Food Giveaway at Cherokee School parking lot, 6001 N. Peoria It is going to be another scorching hot excessive heat emergency day so we hope to get enough volunteers to help so all can take breaks and not work for long as we sack and bag the food to give away, and as we then start loading the cars and other ways people will be getting their food beginning at 11 am. We will have plenty of cold water and fruit for volunteers and the families. Other volunteers are needed to help with traffic and hand out fliers and take the vouchers for the food we have been handing out for the past two months through our pantry. Our pantry is open every Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9:30 am to Noon; volunteers are needed to help during those hours; some in the pantry, some in the clothing room, some in the library and computer center.

 

Cooling Station for Far Northside and Turley at O'Brien Park Recreation Center

During these excessive hot days, let people know that the Recreation Center is a good place to go to stay cool, to use their facilities, materials in the crafts and game room, etc. They are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm and Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 6 pm. Located at 6147 N. Birmingham Ave.

 

New Legal Resource Center Assistance and Spiritual Listening at our Community Center

We are very pleased to announce a partnership with the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Oklahoma, which has been providing some advisors to meet with our area residents during the hours of our Food Pantry on Tuesday and Friday mornings 9:30 am to Noon, and have provided a good brochure center of resources for people on a variety of family and civil and personal legal issues. They may not be available at the Center every Tuesday or Friday so call to check first. Help us spread the word to all who could use this important resource close to home. We have also been thrilled that many days during the Food Pantry being open we are blessed with the peaceful presence of the Rev. Debra Garfinkel, a spiritual director, who helps us greet and serve and listen to and with our neighbors.

Community Benefit Dinner for Our Projects and Our Partners Sat. Aug. 18, 5-7 pm

Please come enjoy a "Super Spud Spectacular" benefit dinner and help raise funds for us and our partners on the northside. We will have a baked potato buffet dinner at the Lodge building, 6227 N. Quincy Ave., on Sat. Aug. 18 from 5-7 pm. $5 all you care to eat and children ten and under for free. Bring friends. A good chance to share your projects and dreams for our community; help us bring neighbors together in our multi-ethnic community by eating together.

Community Pancake Breakfast To Benefit Turley Volunteer Fire and Rescue Dept, Sat. Aug. 11 8 to 10 am

Come help raise funds for our local fire dept. so they can help offset all their water costs during the drought and fires of the season. Breakfast sponsored by the Turley Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy Ave.

Mark it Now, part One: Our Foundation FundRaiser Community Benefit Auction and FunFest Sat. Sept. 15 10 am

Come to our Auction at the Community Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave. and help us raise funds for the Center, Food Pantry, and Kitchen Garden Park and Orchard and many other projects and partners in the community. We have house and office furnishings, appliances, books and tapes and building materials and much more. Thanks to Jay Litchfield of BidLoud for his services during the auction. We will have activities for children and community information. Great bargains and great opportunity to give back and help us keep going and growing in service with our neighbors.

Mark it Now, part Two: Far Northside Community Renewal Conference, Sat. Oct. 13, at our Community Center.

Come be a part of our community building introduction to our neighborhoods and the many issues, and many partners and projects underway to address them. We will have an extensive tour of our service area, 46th to 76th St. North and Highway 75 to Osage County Line, the McLain High School region, followed by question and answer and free lunch and a keynote talk by Ann Patton, activist and author of "Dan's War" about Father Dan Allen and his history of community organizing in our area and founding of Neighbor For Neighbor, and with northside business leader and activist Terry McGee, and small group work sharing plans for the issues we surface during the event. Let me know now if you would like to be a part of our planning group or will be coming, bringing others from your own groups.

Pool Party, GardenPark and Orchard, Schools, and More....

We were thrilled that the community pool party we helped organize with O'Brien Park recently was so well attended and everyone had a great time; our community needs chances to relax and come together and play together. Our 57 people was by far the most who attended the pool events at all of the county parks. We are hoping to do more in order to show the county officials how important and needed our pool is to our area that has suffered so many closings lately from schools and post office....

We enjoyed buying the Welcome Back Lunch for the new The LightHouse Academy Charter School that has gone in where the former Horace Greeley Elementary School was at 63rd and N. Cincinnati Ave. and getting to meet the new faculty and staff and talk about ways to partner with them in the coming year. They will be joining our partnering with Gilcrease Elementary School at 56th and N. Cincinnati Ave. and with our work with the McLain High School Foundation. If you would like to help us be a partner in education, please let me know and we will find ways to connect your passions with the schools.

We continue even in the heat to harvest from our community gardenpark, and have received fresh vegetables also from vendors at the farmers market and from our friends at The Living Kitchen Farm. Come help us garden and harvest every Saturday beginning at 7 am; call Bonnie Ashing at 918 346 3475 to verify or ask how you can help. Bring cardboard if you can. Stop by during the week to help us care for our chickens which are giving us fresh eggs for our pantry....And support our partner North Tulsa Farmers Market which meets indoors during these hot days at Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus, Apache and Harvard, from 9 am to 2 pm. Also go by the house under renovation at 1370 E. 53rd St. N. on Saturdays at 9:30 am to help the good folks with Sarah's Residential Living Center in their mission of renovating abandoned houses into small intimate homes for seniors living together.

Worship with Missional Community

This Sunday we will begin a month of Sunday gatherings in August around the theme of exploring other faith communities, and drawing from their rich traditions. This Sunday Deb Carroll will lead us in exploring the worship by the Women Religious Leadership Network of Roman Catholic nuns and others as they share their worship and mission. It will be our way as progressive Christians and others to show solidarity with their work and struggle. We begin at the Community Center on Sundays at 9:30 am and include conversation and common meal as well as our worship. This month will be a fun church with other churches focus. Don't miss out.

How You Can Help....beyond coming to see, to share, to serve

We can do all of this only because we get the support of people like you, and sometimes thank you from you yourself, who donate to our programs and events through online contributions at www.turleyok.blogspot.com, or by sending a check to A Third Place Community Foundation at 5920 N. Owasso Ave. Turley, OK 74126. To experience more about us add me, revronrobinson, on Facebook; and besides the website just mentioned, check out www.progressivechurchplanting.blogspot.com, www.missionalprogressives.blogspot.com, www.missionalmonastics.blogspot.com, and www.uuchristian.org.

We have updated the coming events calendar, and added in correction on dates

Please reread the post below to get the latest information on the upcoming events and ways you can be a part of growing the Turley Area.

You Are Welcome At Our Important Upcoming Events You Won't Want To Miss, and We Need You; Share This Post With Others

We are entering another round of Excessive Heat Alert and Ozone Days beginning tomorrow so we are hoping to keep the Community Center here at 5920 N. Owasso Ave. open as a Cooling Station on those days this week from 1 to 5 pm to give people here in our area especially without means and transportation a little place to get a small break from the heat and their own utility bills. Call 918 691 3223 or 918 794 4637 to make sure we are open; volunteers needed to help us keep it open this week. The Turley United Methodist Church at 6050 N. Johnstown Ave. across from our community park will be open Saturday Sunday and Monday from 2-6 pm as a cooling station as we will be closed those dys. Donations for us to keep it open appreciated online at www.turleyok.blogspot.com.

We also have ongoing volunteers working at the Food Pantry on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Also at the Kitchen GardenPark and Orchard at 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Also volunteers are needed at Sarah's Residential Living as our partner works to rehabilitate abandoned houses into small intimate homes for seniors by McLain High School, this current project at 1370 E. 53rd St. N. beginning on Saturdays at 9:30 am. Please support the North Tulsa Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 9 am to 2 pm at Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus at Apache and Harvard, and also on Saturdays from 8:30 am to Noon at the Newsome Community Farm at 2620 E. 56th St. N. We need to keep dollars turning over in our abandoned place of Empire; it is a social justice action to come volunteer or support people and events in our area. We also have our weekly Recovery Group sessions at the Center at 6 and 7:30 pm on Saturdays; and the local Neighborhood Watch group will meet Thursday, July 26, at the Center at 6:30 pm.

We have begun a local Souls and Soles walking group which meets most Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 am either at the Center to walk on the Osage Prairie Trail or at O'Brien Park Center to walk on its trails. Call or text 918 691 3223 to verify on particular dates, or email me if interested; we may move it up to 7 am in these extra hot days. We also may walk in neighborhoods, and sometimes bring dogs along.

This Saturday, July 21, from 7 am on: Work Day at the Community Center at 5920 N. Owasso Ave. to prepare for our big Auction Fundraiser (see below on it for Sept. 15).

This Saturday July 21 from 5-7 pm the monthly community benefit dinner at the Odd Fellows Lodge 6227 N. Quincy Ave. Spaghetti Dinner $5 all you care to eat and children under ten eat free.

We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Oklahoma who will have representatives here to meet with our residents about various legal issues, and who have left us with a legal resource center of information to give out to residents. They are here most days during the Food Pantry Hours on Tuesday and Friday mornings but feel free to call 918 691 3223 or 918 794 4637 to verify or set up a time to speak with one of their advisors. There are tremendous needs for this in our area, and much misinformation about legal issues, and we are glad to open up this service.

Wednesday, July 25 from Noon to 3 pm Pool Party for the Community at O'Brien Park Recreation Center and Pool; we are trying to raise funds to give away the $5 per person tickets to families and persons in our area to go relax and find relief. We are also raising funds to help send families to the pool on their own schedules when it is open between now and Aug. 12. We also need to help show that the pool is useful and needed here even if people don't have the means to take advantage of it, because like our schools here and post office here it too could be in danger due to money cutbacks; communities matter, especially communities where people don't have the same alternatives as in other places, and pools are not just for kids, but this one is used also by our seniors and others for water aerobics, for example. Donations at the same website above.

the very important Turley TownHall Meeting on Tuesday July 31 at 7 pm at O'Brien Park Recreation Center, 6147 N. Birmingham Ave; we will be adding names to our list of neighborhood leaders and disaster response network leaders so please come and help us, as well as get the latest updates about our area from local and county and state officials; bring your concerns and thanks to share....

And any or all are welcome to join us for any or all of our missional community group gatherings on Sunday from 9:30 am on, as we will continue to hold prayer workshops on various practices before our communion and then our common meal and little service projects. This Sunday July 22 we will have a study on the Psalms and Praying the Psalms as a followup to this past Sunday's class on Praying the Hours, renewing and refreshing the soul in simple living for the service of God to others. On Sunday July 29 we will focus on the contemporary application of the Benedictine "Rule of Life" through the new book and DVD series by the new monastic leader Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

Thursday, Aug. 2 10 am to noon volunteers especially needed for our next Mobile Van Food Giveaway Day at Cherokee School, 6001 N. Peoria Ave. with the Food Bank and our local Pantry at the Community Center. We will need volunteers to rotate through because of the heat of the outside event; donations of water and ice are also appreciated. The event is from 11 am to Noon and we load into cars of our neighbors some three tons of food in just one hour. We are down to our last 15 vouchers for the event we have been holding every other month; those in need who are in our northside zipcodes of 74126, 74130, 74073 need to come to the Food Pantry to pick up their vouchers. Our regular Pantry hours are from 9:30 to Noon every Tuesday and Friday.

Thursday, Aug. 2, on the anniversary day of the Turley Wildfires, our Grow Turley group will meet at 3:30 pm to commemorate the date, assess where we are, and engage in our ongoing disaster response and abandoned properties and other community issues work such as incorporation, etc. Here at the Center.

Super Spud Spectacular!! Community Dinner to raise funds for our foundation and our work at the community center, food pantry, kitchengardenpark and orchard, and with our partners in the area; Saturday, Aug. 18 5 to 7 pm at the Lodge at 6227 N. Quincy Ave. Please plan now to come build bridges across the neighborhoods and peoples and raise funds for our missional work here in our zipcodes.

Sat. Sept. 15, 10 a.m BIG BENEFIT AUCTION here at the Community Center, by Jay Litchfield of Bid Loud, helping us auction off many donated wonderful pieces of furniture and appliances and materials and books and mis. This will be our big fundraiser of the year; we need all to participate and help us carry it off; and afterwards we will have our great large space in the South Building to begin remodelling for community use. Help us take our next step forward. Plan now and share the news. We will also have an event page on facebook for you to join and share there also.

Sat. Oct. 13 an all day anti-poverty Far North Community Renewal Conference. More details coming. But a free event for all partners and local residents, like the ones we had with the OU Graduate Social Work Dept. the past few years. This one will begin with a morning detailed tour of our two mile service area from 46th to 76th St. and Osage County Line to Highway 75, followed by lunch and questions and answers,and an inspirational and educational talk and reading by Ann Patton, author of the recent book Dan's War on the life and lessons and legacy of Father Dan Allen who was a community organizer and activist in our area for many years, and with community leader Terry McGee, with small groups meeting to plan responses and continuing projects with our many partners. RSVP and let us know also if you would like to be on the planning committee. More details soon.

We can only do this with your help. Neighbors helping neighbors. Supporters from all over the world being a part of our presence here through their support at www.turleyok.blogspot.com. Find one way to help support one of our projects. Bring your dream or project to us to help nurture. Become a partner if you are in our area.

Images of Our Food Pantry...Help Us Keep It Full

Our food pantry at The Welcome Table Community Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave., often has empty shelves because of the tremendous food insecurity and hunger needs here in the 74126 74130 and 74073 zip codes, especially for healthy food. Our life expectancy is 14 years lower than it is just six miles south of our area in mid-town Tulsa.

The images on this post show a little of what we can offer to people in need here, where the numbers of people we serve has grown a third in just the past month during the summer months when families here don't have the free meals at schools during the rest of the year, and because of school closings we haven't been able to yet this year offer our Summer Cafe presence as we have in recent years where we served more children than anywhere else in the greater area. Because of our arrangement with the Food Bank, our funds can go so much further in buying food than what individuals can buy at the store and donate to us, so please help us keep our pantry looking as good as this by donating to us, even on a regular basis if possible through the online donation button here on this page; or grow an extra row in your own garden for the hungry and donate to us; and come help volunteer with us on Food Pantry days Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30 am to Noon, and/or come harvest for the pantry with us at our KitchenGardenPark on Mondays and Thursdays 6 pm and plant with us on Saturday mornings at 7 am on.

A little of your life goes a long way here in the life of others. And we have fun!!.

Images of The TurleyNorthTulsa Welcome Table KitchenGardenPark and Orchard

Channel 6 News Story on Turley and our Food Pantry Projects; Next Giveaway Day Aug. 2

http://www.newson6.com/story/18899743/food-banks-and-farmers-markets-aim-to-provide-fresh-food-to-those-in-need Go see the latest Channel 6 News Story on our Foundation and our Renewal work on the northside.

Our next Mobile Van Food Giveaway Day will be Thursday, Aug. 2 from 11 am to Noon at Cherokee School. We need more volunteers than ever on that day from 10 am to Noon so we can cycle volunteers through shade because of the summer heat. Those receiving food do not have to leave their cars to get the food donations. The goal, as is the goal of our twice a week food pantry days, is that we make life a little more bearable for vulnerable families and persons so they can spend their energy and money on making life changing actions without having to worry so much about food, especially healthy food. To make the most lasting effect on the health of families and to save the most money, we have our KitchenGardenPark where people can learn to grow and cook their own food for free, and have fun in community doing so. We harvest at the park on Monday and Thursday beginning at 6 pm and on Saturday mornings at 7 am. All are welcome.

The "Before The Park" Video of KitchenGardenPark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhgFKD6_i_w

This is a video taken before we bought the property of abandoned homes and trashed out yards of debris; thanks to the OU Graduate Social Work Class who helped us to envision what we now have, and helped us to start something great for our area that we are adding to all the time. This doesn't even show most of the damage and blight. Our Miracle Among The Ruins project is still going on. You will be hearing more soon about new ways to help. But already we have more than 20 garden beds and more on the way, and more than 40 fruit trees, and many berries planted, and places for people to rest and relax and enjoy one of the area's most scenic sites where people used to turn their heads away. From blight to beauty. Much still to be done, not only at this site but also all around where the abandonment and health hazard properties continue to plague us in the 74126 zip.

Come to our Juneteenth Benefit Dinner Sat. June 16; and other upcoming events in Turley Area

Hi all. This week we have many exciting events and partnership news and a link to my recent lecture in the Dallas area this past Saturday.

First, thanks to volunteers who helped us give out three tons of food in one hour this past Thursday morning; come volunteer any Tuesday or Friday morning from 9:30 am to noon at our food pantry days at the Welcome Table Community Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave....And thanks to those who walked with us in the recent Tulsa Gay Pride Parade, carrying our banner and letting all know that we welcome all here in the 74126 and northside area....

1. This Saturday June 16 from 5 to 7 pm come to the Odd Fellows Lodge at 6227 N. Quincy Ave. to help us celebrate Juneteenth with a Soup Smorgasborg to raise funds for our northside renewal efforts, particularly for our kitchengardenpark and orchard and food pantry and environmental justice events. Suggested donation is $5 per adult minimum and children under ten eat for free. If you have wanted to find a fun way to help support our mission, and enact it at the same time by breaking bread together and lifting up our multi-ethnic future, come to this event. And bring a friend.

2. Tomorrow afternoon we are pleased to host a class from Phillips Theological Seminary to discuss social ethics in the community on the ground, and how it can help grow communities and lives of soul and service.

3. Wednesday I will be meeting with the director of the Tulsa Health Department to go over future projects together, to celebrate what we have done together in the past, and to grow our ties with the coming of the North Regional Wellness Center to our neighborhood.

4. Also Wednesday, June 13, 6:30 pm join us for free meal and spiritual and missional movie Vision, based on the life of the medieval mystic, community leader, breaker of expectations and set roles, artist, Hildegard of Bingen. RSVP if you can for the meal, but come for sure to the Center, 5920 N. Owasso Ave.

5. My lecture this past weekend in Dallas on community renewal, trends in American culture and religion, and the missional church, One Mission, Many Communities: What the Post-Congregational World Requires of Us can be read and shared at http://www.missionalprogressives.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-mission-many-communities-what-post.html

6. Our northside community kitchengardenpark and orchard is making huge leaps forward. We recently put up the new fence (not to keep anyone out, but to help slow down the little ones who are inside and keep them safe) and are continuing to now move into second phase of the project, constructing the social areas and working on grants for the kitchen/shelter/greenhouse/rainwatercollection and for the many community art projects we want to have at this site which overlooks downtown Tulsa and our beautiful area. Let community artists know we want to provide them an outside gallery. Stay tuned for more updates. We gather at the garden to harvest for the food pantry and to meet neighbors on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6 pm and on Saturdays at 8 am. Thanks to Hope Unitarian Church volunteers who worked all morning and then ate with us during lunch.

7. This Sunday for Fathers' Day our worship gathering will start at the Center at 9:30 am with a study of the parable of the prodigal family and then watching and discussing the movie Parenthood and its lessons for communities and lives, followed by communion and a common meal.

8. I will be gone the rest of the month, just about, to Phoenix to represent the Christian Fellowship at our UUA General Assembly. For more on us see www.uuchristian.org. We are also now selling online our Revival DVDs from the event this past March featuring feminist authors and professors and speakers, Dr. Amy Oden of Wesley Theological Seminary, Dr. Mary E. Hunt of the Women's Alliance For Theology, Ethics, and Ritual, and Margaret Starbird, best selling author of books on Mary Magdalene; and CDs of our many worship services featuring communion, prayer and healing, and opening and closing worship. All for just $30 for a set of six DVDs. You may also order yours by email by replying to me via email.

9. Remind you to support our partners the North Tulsa Farmers Market on Tuesdays 9 am to 2 pm at the Northeast Campus of Tulsa Community College Apache and Harvard, and on Saturday mornings at the Newsome Community Farms on 56th St. N. just west of Highway 75...Our condolensces to Board Member Elaine McDondle on the loss of her sister...We had a good interview by Channel Six this past Thursday at our food giveaway event and it should be a part of a series they are doing on food for hungry children in our town. It may be a part of coverage of the new community garden at the Jewish Federation building on 71st Street tomorrow in south Tulsa. Also great to hear of the progress on the community garden at the Dept. of Human Services building on North Peoria also.

10. Don't Forget the next Turley Area TownHall will be held on Tuesday June 26 at 7 pm at O'Brien Park recreation center; give back to community and hear about issues and connect with local officials. Also that is Election Day. Remember the freedom we have based on lives lost and rights fought for.

Support Turley and Area at these Coming Events; Check Back for More Updates

1. Food Pantry at The Center, Tues. & Fri. 9:30 am to noon (for residents in 74126, 74130, 74073). volunteers always needed. Clothing room and computer center and library open.



2. Food Bank Mobile Food Van Day, Thurs. June 7, 11 am, at Cherokee School, volunteers come at 10 am, for those in 74126 74130 74073. Get your required voucher from the pantry before the event while they last. We are looking for donations of water and lawn chairs for our volunteers to keep them from getting over-heated. We give out 3 tons of food in just one hour; come be a part of this great event every other month. Help us provide food and meals by donating safely and easily, no paypal account needed, by clicking the button on the right of this page. Or bring checks or cash donations by the Center or our events.


3. “GROW TURLEY” Planning Meeting, Thurs, June 7, 3:30 pm, community center. working on disaster response network, incorporation of Turley as a city, economic development, and other issues.


4. Community Pancake, eggs and sausage plus, Breakfast, Turley Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy Ave., Sat. June 9, 8-10 am, $5 suggested donation. Every Second Saturday.


5. Monthly Community missional Movie Night: featuring the film Vision, the radical life of the Medieval Mystic and Nun Hildegard of Bingen, Wed. June 13, 6:30 pm, free meal included.


6. Community Juneteenth Celebration and Benefit Dinner, at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy, Sat. June 16, 5-7 pm; $5 all you care to eat; kids under 10 eat free; raise funds for the Food Pantry and GardenKitchenPark and other projects to bring people together in our community as one people. Every Third Saturday the dinner will be held for projects by A Third Place Foundation or the Odd Fellows Lodge. Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the receiving of the news of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. 


7. Volunteering at the GardenPark, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. west of Cherokee School, Monday and Thursdays 6 pm, Saturdays 8 am. Come Saturday June 2 and meet the volunteers from across Tulsa, this time from partner Hope Church.


8. Turley Area Public Town Hall Meeting and Community Association, Tuesday June 26, 7 pm O’Brien Park Recreation Center, 6147 N. Birmingham. Last Tuesday of every month.


9. Turley Area Alliance Against Crime: Personal, Home, and Neighborhood Safety meetings last Thursdays of each month, May 31 and June 28, 6:30 pm at the community center.


10. Recovery 12 step groups. Saturdays, 5 pm and 7:30 pm, community center


11. Turley Water Board Public Meeting, LAST WORKING DAY OF MONTH 8:30 AM AT THE WATER DEPT. 6108 N. Peoria Ave.


12. Turley Fire Dept. Meetings THURSDAYS 7 PM, Fire Station, 6408 N. Peoria.

Park Dedication Words for Today: The Miracle Among The Ruins Address

Dedication Address for the Welcome Table Kitchen
GardenPark and Orchard, Sat. May 12, 10 am to 2 pm, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. (west of Peoria Ave.)



By Ron Robinson, Executive Director


For those from whom we have inherited this land, from its first native inhabitants and later the Cherokee Nation, to those who built their homes here and who lived here, gardened here, struggled and thrived here, protecting the land, this own good place of the earth, for those in our past who have taught us much about how to live and who are still alive in our hearts, we dedicate this park, these gardens, this orchard, this community space.


For those who have given of their lives, their volunteer effort, their money, their time and attention, in so many ways these past two years since we began the drive to acquire the property, who have given of their sweat and tears and laughter in planting and playing, who have kept us in their hearts, minds, and souls no matter if they live across the street or live across the world, we gratefully dedicate this vision to them, of a place where people will continue to give back to others.


For those who live in our neighborhoods, and for those whose heart breaks for those who live in our neighborhoods, for whom this park has and will become a daily reminder of the power of hope over despair, of healthy choices in a culture that surrounds them with so much that produces illness of the mind, body, and spirit, and for whom this park will be a place of rest and community connection and the launching pad for whole new dreams and renewal projects, for all of you we dedicate this place of deep peace as a presence in your life.


Finally, for those who are not yet born, for those who live in the undiscovered country of the future, for those lives we cannot imagine, for those who will inherit this place, this moment even, from us, and who will make of it what their world requires, for them and for the mission of their lives, we dedicate this community on the hill, this bridge from us to them, this small act of justice done with great love.

Celebrate With Us as We Dedicate Our New Northside Community KitchenGardenPark and Orchard

All are invited to Come To The Dedication Celebration of The Northside Community Welcome Table KitchenGardenPark and Orchard

Sat. May 12 from 10 am to 2 pm with Public Ceremony at 11 am

6005 N. Johnstown Ave.

This has been a Major Part of our Miracle Among The Ruins project, taking a block of abandoned homes, trashed properties, overgrown weeds and immense tree damage from 2007 icestorm and transforming it into community space and food justice projects. Our food pantry routinely gives out some 11,000 pounds or more of food each month in our 74126 and nearby zipcodes; the food grown here not used by neighbors who work the beds goes into the pantry for all. We encourage residents, but also anyone who wishes to help grow healthy food for and with the poor, to be involved. Come see the transformation of the block, and have your family or civic group, or church take on a bed to grow and give away.

We are now Completing the first phase of the project to address food insecurity in far north Tulsa, and to build community connections and empower residents in neighborhoods. Site preparation nearly complete, Raised Vegetable garden beds, 20 completed another 20 ready to be built; 40 fruit tree orchard; plus berries; some of the social areas and play areas completed already as part of the second phase; Native Plant prairie trails area across the street for residents in Suburban Hills addition and the other neighborhoods as they walk the mile plus from their homes to the stores on North Peoria. New fence will be completed this coming week.

Such projects bridging diverse neighborhoods, and providing healthy food in our area where it is hard to find or afford healthy food, are needed now more than ever.

Three years ago we were in the planning stage working with OU Graduate Social Work students; two years ago we were involved in planning with OU Graduate Design Studio students, and were raising funds to try to buy the block of abandoned and trashed out homes and properties with overgrown weeds and much damage from the ice storm back in 2007;

After raising the funds and buying the property, with the help of Tulsa County and INCOG and the Turley Community Association we got the homes torn down; with the help of the Tallgrass Resource and Conservation District of the USDA, and Freedom Bank and the federal Home Loan Bank our $25,000 grant was received to begin site preparation; with help from the Indian Health Care Resource Center, and the Tulsa Community Gardening Association we began creating with our neighbors in Suburban Hills and Northgate and Turley the raised beds and tranforming the property;

Last summer with the assistance of many across the country we last year won the free 40 fruit tree orchard from the National Fruit Tree Association and Edy's Fruit Bars, and with help from many organizations such as Up With Trees we had great volunteer help on the Orchard Day. Since then we have been finishing site preparation (all done except for fence which will be erected next week), added more beds, and built new areas for people while they are in the park working. We also have our prairie trails almost done across the street from the park alongside where many residents walk on their long trek to the store and back, or shopping, etc, creating a safer and more restful area here in the 74126.

This will be the first of many new starts for community health on the northside this summer, with the expected openings soon of the Tulsa Health Dept Regional North Wellness Center on 56th St., and the OU Wayman Tisdale Specialty Clinic on 36th St.

 

There will be activities for children, tours of the property, refreshments, garden work for those who want to help or learn, and lots of information about upcoming community events and resources in our area.

 

 

The Shootings in North Tulsa, The Turley Connection, Good Friday and Easter

Commentary: Events Old and New and Easter on the Northside

This is a repost of an email, but updated now, which I sent out with our calendar of events just this past week, on Wednesday. It was about racism and poverty and our area and continuing struggles for justice for all of all races, and the challenges of our schools, and our history in far north Tulsa including the Turley area, and about some personal history with these issues. Two days after the email the issues were now national and worldwide news as five of our African American neighbors here were killed or injured in shooting in which two of our "white" neighbors have been arrested; one of those arrested had suffered from violence against his own family members in our area; it is so much proof of the truth that "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

I hope that such Good Friday suffering and injustice as we have experienced here, and the Easter news about the arrests which we hope will bring some relief to our community, will all be just the first steps in some needed whole northside healing in this multi-ethnic community. The new demographics for the Turley area alone show that the white population is decreasing and is now at 56 percent and is projected to be down to 52 percent by 2015 and soon after that there will not be a single majority ethnic group here in our area, especially as the percentage of blacks and hispanics both are projected to increase in the coming years.

We see this diversity as a tremendous opportunity for growth in the area, economic and spiritual, but also of course as challenging. We are committed to fighting racism, as the sign on our front door says, and so I hope we can continue to be leaders in the healing process that is needed. I hope all community groups in our northside area can find ways to be together with one another in the coming days and weeks to show the world that the people who want to bring about a world free from oppression and racial injustice will stand up and stand with one another across the racial and ethnic divides and send a message to all that all the races who live together on the northside see ourselves as blessings to one another and to the world.

Here again are my comments sent out on Wednesday, part of a presentation I made on Turley and Far North Tulsa to two classes at the graduate social work department of OU in Tulsa. Much here is about our high school McLain which has been in the news, a school that was the last of those in Tulsa to get a community foundation to help support it and I am proud to have been on the start of that foundation and to serve on its board, but there is also much below about the Klan, Turley, and roots of our struggles which I hope will put even the events of the past few days into a bigger picture.

Today is the day back in 1968 when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated; it is also the day my father celebrates his 80th birthday. They both have taught me about race and justice and shape my work today. Let me talk about them in light of recent events about Trayvon Martin and also about our high school here, Tulsa McLain...

When the events unfolded in Memphis in 1968, and across the country afterwards, I was in school in the recently and newly integrated Monroe Junior High here on the northside. Tulsa schools and the city, and also our unincorporated community of Turley on the northside, had been seeded by racism and segregation, and also by people who all along were working to bring about justice and liberty for all, even here. Segregated schools had meant some of our near neighbors who were black had had to go to overcrowded and underfunded schools miles from their homes instead of to the newer schools built on the northside for the baby booming generation. When the federal courts forced Tulsa schools to act justly, the northside schools were the first to be integrated, each year more rapidly and fully. I was graduated by McLain High School in 1972, forty years ago, the year McLain elected its first black homecoming queen and while Booker T. Washington was in its final year of being a segregated high school. But we had little real multicultural education or conversation or official learning and guiding back then. What I remember especially of April 4 and the days after it here on the northside was fear and heightened drama and excitement, and adrenaline and testosterone in junior high students, and some of the racially-motivated violence that would come to be a fairly regular part of school life for all of us, regardless of ethnicity, for all of the years in junior and senior high school. But the non-violent spirit of Dr. King, the models of some of our teachers, and the friendships some of us made reaching across racial divides back then, amidst the culture of violence and us vs. them mentality, were also always present.

Those were the beginning days of the "white flight", that along with the changing economics and war on the working class, led to the emptying out of far north Tulsa which has lost more than 50 percent of its population, and resulting services and community organizations, since then. Realtors and banks seeking sales, and the new television culture that brought the biased views of violence elsewhere into all of the living rooms, all spread and fueled fear and racism through our neighborhoods like a prairie fire. It didn't take much. The fact that once the northside schools like McLain were integrated, and especially when the magnet program at the BTW high school also on the northside was begun and many of the academically gifted students whose brothers and sisters had gone to McLain were now going to BTW, the curriculum offerings at McLain began to be cut, its struggles began to be deepened as the community and the student body demographics changed and the struggles were highlighted in the media in ways that its continuing strengths were not. The cycle picked up that has continued to this day.

Changes at the school created change in the community; now changes needed at the school require changes in the community. There is a simple symmetry to it, but also a despair for the lack of will and directing resources that it will take to make the changes. Now the state department of education, which has in tandem with the state legislature been cutting funds to schools consistently, and cutting community resources consistently, is talking of a kind of state intervention in McLain, or at best guided partnership. No one is too sure yet what will be done. We know this: McLain has only been on the needs to improve list at the state level for one of the past several years, this year, where other Tulsa high schools have been on the list for six of seven years, but there was outrage when talk of intervention by the state was mentioned for other schools. And we know this: that the standardized test scores at McLain reflect the students backgrounds leading into their years at McLain; they are behind in reading when they get to McLain, and McLain actually over the four years that those who will stay in school stay there catch them up so that a high percentage of those who are graduated by McLain are going on to college. And we know this: an accreditation team just this past month reviewed the operations at McLain and gave the school an overall good rating for its educational efforts. And we know this: transformation takes time and intentionality, and bold beyond the box thinking, and commitment of resources. And so I am hopeful that this new attention to McLain will build on its current strengths (which as history on the northside has shown are always undernoted in favor of a "fix the problem" mentality that perpetuates the anxiety and problem), and will at the same time break down boundaries between school and community, and neighborhoods, so that the healing of the community will become the focus, and the school transformations will be seen as a way to do that, for that is where the lasting change will come. Focusing on communities by McLain, and focusing on the schools feeding into McLain, and doing something about stopping the "brain drain" of students who live by McLain but who transfer to other public and public charter schools out of our community, a fact which with the increasing privatization of what once was loftily called "common education" for a "common society", is increasing the fragmentation of our neighborhoods, focusing on all of those "beyond McLain" things will have the greatest impact on McLain itself. While pumping in resources of time, talents, and definitely treasure into McLain and its strengths and giving it permission to teach not to test but to transformation, to make the last first, will help change the community.

Which brings me to my Dad celebrating 80 years today. Dad was born 80 years ago at home literally in the shadow of the Turley High School building, the old red brick building that was torn down a few years ago on the Cherokee School property, a school now abandoned too. That three story building erected in 1920 was built at a time when Oklahoma was in the throes of control by the Ku Klux Klan; it was a time near the time of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921; the Klan was controlling who was in the Governor's Mansion; there were sundown towns, and although the Turley area was not officially incorporated, it was certainly an unofficial sundown town perhaps made moreso because of the black families, and the freedmen families, that lived not too far away especially after the 1921 massacre and the exodus or refugees. My dad often told me he was raised prejudiced in that environment, the air in which he breathed, and his Dad was a member of the Klan, but that he did not want to pass on the prejudice and racism to his own kids, and instead was committed to breaking the cycle. His own Christian faith understanding of all as children of God, the role models of others in the family and elsewhere, all worked against that racism that seemed so inherent here, but it was not and could not have been easy; he remained in relationship with racists while refusing to let them set the culture for us and his community. When others fled in fear and fed into the prejudices of white flight, he intentionally remained on the northside even though he had to drive further over time to get to work and back, and he kept working in and with and for the northside. He became one of the first coaches of integrated sports teams on the northside; to this day I have many of my African American friends from those days ask me how he is doing, and tell me how important it was that he opened his life and our home, and went into their homes, became friends with their parents, coached with their fathers, especially at that time in their lives and the life of our wider community; and he often still asks me about them, how they are doing.

And he was and is concerned about the white kids too, those whose poverty and whose broken families or struggling families have made their education difficult, and who have not been able to find supportive community here in our community. His concern reminds me of the concern expressed by the also in his 80s African American civil rights leader John Perkins who said he most felt worried about the poor white kids who were left in the abandoned places of Empire because they had no community to turn toward, their white churches had left them for the suburbs, they had nothing like the black church in the neighborhood that could be alternatives to nurture; their test scores were just as bad; their dropout rates as bad; plus he said they had the shame increased that they were minorities now themselves, struggling culturally as outcasts, feeling that there was something wrong with them or else they would be living elsewhere, all conditions he says that makes them too easily turn toward racist groups like the Klan. We seek to be a place that sends out a different signal here in our abandoned place, our area of high ethnic diversity, that we embrace it not try to fight it.

Our area is the kind of area that Trayvon Martin was "supposed" to be in; here he would not have been seen as "different" and "dangerous." And so I believe his killing seems to have been as much about the way society has created social locations and stereotyped people within them as it was about other stereotypes. If we did not have the abandoned places, where we abandon people too, then he would not have been "out of place" in the gated community. I have called for people wishing to show support in his spirit, especially those of privilege living in safe communities, to do more than wear hoodies to the safe places in their lives; they need to come erase the dangerous places where he was socially relegated to; they need to come here where they too might be in the minority and feel the kind of discomfort to a degree that he might have and increase their own comfort zone by shopping here, walking through neighborhoods here, playing with their kids here, working with others here. In this way, we grow ourselves and grow the spirit of abundance in our community.

We are heading into the Easter weekend once again. This time of celebrating the journey of community and our bonds of love (maundy thursday), of facing our heartbreak and our betrayal, our violence, our turning away and denying justice (good friday), when we open ourselves up to all the grief and all the abandonment and the fears we have to face, and of the easter kind of surprise that comes in the ways small and great that people and this place continue to be hopeful, hopeful gardeners of the spirit as the poet says when new life and healing leaps up in our midst, when projects begin to take off when they have been plateaued, when new partners are made, when people find a second wind in their lives and find it in giving of themselves to others, and when that second wind in our lives begins to let us breathe again a little easier in our lives. In the past year here since just one Easter ago, in so many ways we have chronicled, we have had the wind knocked out of us as a community, and yet we are breathing again, sometimes deeply, and helping others to find breathing space too.

Thanks for your partnership, blessings on all you do, and more to come in the weeks ahead. Stay in touch,