Greenwood Legacy Corporation

Greenwood Legacy Corporation is a new Community Development Corporation (CDC) established to support and lead implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. The CDC was formed based upon recommendations made by a Community Governance Working Group that met throughout 2023. 

Greenwood Legacy Corporation was formed with a Founding Board of five (5) members. All five members served on an Advisory Committee that was selected earlier this spring following a public application process. 

Members of the Founding Board include: 

• Eugene Harris: Mr. Harris was born and raised in Tulsa and is a resident within the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan boundaries. Mr. Harris retired after working for ONEOK/ONE Gas for over 25 years. He has served on numerous boards and authorities and represented the University Park Homeowners Association as a member of the Community Governance Working Group. Mr. Harris brings his skills in nonprofit leadership and employee development to the committee.
• Scott Moore y Medina: Mr. Moore has lived in Tulsa since 2016, and lives within the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan boundaries. Mr. Moore is a company founder, registered architect, and community builder. He has experience as a HUD grant technical writer, architect, Community Development Corporation and most recently participated as a lead planning team member for the Envision Comanche CHOICE Grant with the Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa. Mr. Moore has received numerous planning awards and participated in community visioning for numerous projects and collaborations that support the sustainability of people and places. 
• Joshua Roby: Mr. Roby has lived in Tulsa for the past 20 years, has over 20 years of experience in banking, and is the current Senior Vice President for Grand Bank Tulsa. He has served on various boards in Tulsa and is one of the founding members of the Chamber of Commerce-led Tulsa Young Professionals. In addition to his two decades in banking, Mr. Roby has extensive experience in management, business development, financial and credit risk analysis, and community involvement. He is also a North Tulsa resident.
• Dr. Lana Turner-Addison: Dr. Turner-Addison was born and has lived in Tulsa all her life. She owns and operates a business, Pine Premiere Childcare, located within the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan boundaries. She served as a Co-Chairperson of the Master Plan Leadership Committee, and as a member of the Community Governance Working Group. She currently serves as a member of the Planning Commission and previously served as the Human Rights Director for the City of Tulsa. She is also a former member of the Tulsa Public Schools Board and is the founder of the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative.
• Daquette Wilson: Ms. Wilson was born and raised in Tulsa, lives within the Kirkpatrick Heights- Greenwood Master Plan boundaries, and is a member of the Community Governance Working Group. She is the Manager of the Be Well Community Development Corporation and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Ms. Wilson is an experienced community development, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership professional

Founding Board members were selected from among the members of a nine (9) person Advisory Committee. Efforts to establish the Advisory Committee were started in January 2024 following recommendations from the Community Governance Working Group. Advisory Committee members were chosen by a community-led selection committee, with selections being made based upon residency in the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood neighborhoods, identified priority skill sets, and an applicant’s commitment to implementing the Master Plan. 

Yes. The Founding Board serves as the body that will support further actions to establish Greenwood Legacy Corporation, including adopting Bylaws for the new organization that will govern how the CDC will function. 

Similar to how the Advisory Committee was selected, the Founding Board anticipates remaining Board seats will be filled through a public application process. The Founding Board members are legally responsible for voting to approve additional members of the Board. 

The formal incorporation of Greenwood Legacy Corporation is just the first of many steps to establish a CDC that will support and lead implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. This action establishes the legal governance mechanism, through the Founding Board, to make decisions on the work of Greenwood Legacy Corporation. 

The following areas of work will be the focus of the Founding Board for the next 3-6 months: 

• Board Governance: The Founding Board will finalize its Bylaws, elect officers, and develop its timeline for soliciting applications for additional Board members. Any additional Board seats will be filled through a public application process. Additionally, the Board will work with legal counsel to prepare paperwork for seeking non-profit status. 
• Staffing: The Founding Board will work with PartnerTulsa staff to identify critical initial staffing needs, and determine how these staffing needs will be met. It is expected that PartnerTulsa staff will continue to support the CDC and its Founding Board through an initial incubation period. Any new staff position opportunities related to the CDC will be posted publicly. 
• Operations: The Founding Board will work with PartnerTulsa to develop a recommended budget and develop contracts to access funding dedicated by PartnerTulsa and the City of Tulsa for the CDC’s launch. 
• Development Analysis: Working alongside PartnerTulsa staff, the Founding Board will begin evaluating the path to physical development within the Master Plan area, leveraging funding recently awarded through a U.S. Department of Transportation grant intended to support innovative approaches to financing development.

The following organizations supported the creation of Greenwood Legacy Corporation: 

• Community Governance Working Group: A group of 30+ community leaders who met throughout 2023 to study community governance models. After visiting four (4) national best-practice community organizations, the Working Group recommended a CDC be established to support and lead implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. 
• Community Advisory Committee: 9-member community body selected in April 2024 following a public application process. The recommendation to form the Advisory Committee was made by the Community Governance Working Group to support establishing the CDC. 
• GableGotwals: Provided independent counsel to the Advisory Committee to draft the Articles of Incorporation and By Laws. GableGotwals was recommended by the Advisory Committee given their experience supporting the incorporation of Historic Greenwood Main Street, Greenwood Rising, and their broader work with non-profit, public, and real estate law. It is anticipated that GableGotwals will continue to support the Founding Board in the coming months, serving as counsel to the Board and representing their interests on any legal matters or contracts. 
• PartnerTulsa: PartnerTulsa has provided staff support to the Advisory Committee, funding for legal services to support the formation of Greenwood Legacy Corporation, and funding for other necessary consulting services through its Operating Budget. PartnerTulsa will continue to support the launch of Greenwood Legacy Corporation, seeking to move the CDC from incubation to independence. 
• City of Tulsa: The City of Tulsa has provided $2,000,000 in funding to support the startup and launch of Greenwood Legacy Corporation. Additionally, the City of Tulsa approved $5,000,000 in the recent Improve Our Tulsa 3 program that will support future investments in the Master Plan area, and is supporting efforts to pursue major grants to support the Master Plan’s implementation. 

The following are key benchmarks representing substantial progress to advance implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan: 

• January-November 2023: Community Governance Working Group, working with national partners and PartnerTulsa, researched benchmark community organizations nationally and recommended formation of a CDC to support and lead implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan.  
• January 2024: Tulsa Development Authority Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution supporting the establishment of the Advisory Committee to oversee the formation of a CDC. 
• February 2024: Committee of community members and Community Governance Working Group works with PartnerTulsa staff to develop an application for Advisory Committee membership. 
• March 2024: PartnerTulsa released the application for the Advisory Committee. 
• April 2024: Nine (9) member Advisory Committee announced following a review of 41 applications. 
• May 2024: 
  • First meeting of the Advisory Committee hosted. 
  • PartnerTulsa Board approves 2024-2025 budget with $160,000 in funding to support the establishment and launch of the CDC. 
• June 2024: 
  • PartnerTulsa in coordination with Impact Tulsa submits application for EPA’s Community Change Grant program (Track 2) to pursue over $2,200,000 in funding to support the launch of the CDC. 
  • Members of the Advisory Committee visit Omaha, Nebraska as a part of experiential learning efforts to understand national best practices for community-led economic development efforts. 
• July 2024: City of Tulsa announces $2,000,000 in funding to support the launch of a CDC. PartnerTulsa will administer the funds in coordination with the CDC’s Founding Board. 
• September 2024: 
  • Advisory Committee recommends engaging GableGotwals to support incorporation of the proposed CDC and begins meeting with legal counsel. 
  • PartnerTulsa announces USDOT award of $990,000 to support development analysis related to the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. 
• October 2024: 
  • PartnerTulsa and Impact Tulsa resubmit application for EPA Community Change Grant program (Track 2) following feedback on application from EPA. 
  • City of Tulsa and PartnerTulsa submit a capital grant application for EPA’s Community Change Grant program (Track 1) to support implementation of portions of The Stitch project identified in the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan.

You can sign up for our newsletter list for specific updates on the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan here. 

A community development corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage in other activities that promote and support community development. CDCs usually serve a geographic location such as a neighborhood, and their Boards are traditionally composed of residents or business owners living in the area served by the CDC, in addition to individuals with expertise in areas key to the organization’s mission.