Youth today have less access to afterschool programs than they did a year ago. Join us for a pivotal conversation exploring the future of expanded learning in Tulsa and the critical role afterschool programs play in our community.
Featuring:
LAURA BELLIS
Tulsa City Councilor
TANGELA EKHOFF
Invest North Tulsa
SARA FITCH
Community School Coordinator, Union Public Schools
JOHN WALDRON
OK House District 77
STACEY WOOLLEY
Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education, D1 Representative
This free event, Afterschool Special: Keeping The Lights On, will explore the critical role afterschool programs play in shaping the future of our community. The evening features a powerful panel discussion focused on securing the long-term sustainability of Tulsa’s youth-serving ecosystem through effective advocacy and decisive action. As a bonus, the first 50 people to arrive will get a free beer on us.
Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs, and in past years, Mayor G.T. Bynum has officially recognized this day in Tulsa with proclamations in 2018, 2019, and 2023. This event is a chance for community leaders, educators, and advocates to come together and make a lasting impact on the future of expanded learning in our city. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation and help shape the future for Tulsa’s youth! As a bonus, he first 50 guests will enjoy a free beer on The Opp!
When: Thursday, October 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Heirloom Rustic Ales (2113 E. Admiral Blvd.)
Help us send out 150 postcards to local and state officials demanding long-term funding for expanded learning!
Get to know the panelists!
Laura Bellis is a community health access strategist and organizer who focuses on breaking down social and political resource barriers. As the Executive Director of the Take Control Initiative (TCI), the longest-running local contraceptive access program in the nation, Bellis has worked to expand access to quality care in coalition with over 200 clinic and community partners. Under her leadership, TCI has developed and scaled strategies to ensure reproductive health access in a restrictive environment, including creating a statewide women's health think tank, Metriarch. Prior to joining TCI, Laura was an English teacher for five years at Nathan Hale Junior High.
Laura is an elected official; she began serving as Tulsa City Councilor for District 4 in December 2022. Her public service policy-making is focused on housing and homelessness, childcare access, accessibility, economic opportunity and environmental resilience.
Tangela Ekhoff is Program Manager for Invest North Tulsa leading work in Youth Development and Community Wellness. Prior to joining Invest North, Tangela was Program Manager for Family and Community Engagement with the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance where she was instrumental in building the coalition for the North Tulsa STEM Hub. The bulk of her career has been in public education as a teacher. Although she should never be allowed to touch an Excel spreadsheet, Tangela has always been an early adopter of technology and its uses for learners both in the classroom and in out of school learning. As a former English Language Arts teacher, she is a big fan of “Reading, Writing, and Robots,” and now finds herself exploring how underserved communities can harness the power generative A.I. to improve learning, earning, and community impact. Tangela designs and facilitates workshops on Family and Community Engagement and is working on a new passion project at the intersection of A.I. and North Tulsa. She enjoys container gardening, spending time with her 3 children, and binge-watching holiday movies, because she is literally married to Santa.
Sara Fitch has been at Union Public Schools for 10 years and most recently has served as a Community School Coordinator at Roy Clark Elementary. She has the unique experience of both working with Community Partners and operating as a Community Partner with the local schools. Sara is passionate about connecting people, whether through partnerships or engagement, and creating experiences and opportunities for students. After school programs are the celebrated focus of Clark Elementary and there are currently 30 after school programs that serve 225 students with both tutoring and enrichment.
John Waldron began his teaching career in Washington DC and came to Oklahoma to teach social studies at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa in 1999. In his twenty years at Booker T., he received awards including Tulsa Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2003, the National Council for International Visitors Educator of the Year Award in 2006, and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Secondary Teaching Award in 2013. In 2016, he ran for State Senate because he was frustrated about the state of education policy in Oklahoma. He lost, but subsequently won election to the House of Representatives in 2018. He currently serves on the Committees for Common Education, State’s Rights, Wildlife Conservation and A&B Select Agencies. Most recently, he was awarded the Inspiring Excellence in Education award from the University of Oklahoma Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. He lives in Tulsa with his wife Krista and their son Van, aged 12.
Stacey Wooley is the Tulsa Public School Board President. She is a dedicated mom and public school advocate. Woolley has lived in District 1 for more than 10 years and is a licensed speech-language pathologist. She told the Tulsa World she ran for her seat because, "I believe in education as the great equalizer - a way in which all students can reach their fullest potential, becoming thriving members of society."
With three of her five children currently enrolled at Tulsa Public Schools, Woolley said she is very involved and passionate about working to provide "exceptional and free public education to all students regardless of demographics." She also said she wants to make sure all families in her district have a seat at the table. Woolley told the Tulsa World she intends to have "office hours" at various locations throughout the district so families can easily share their ideas, suggestions, and concerns.