PartnerTulsa Trustee Highlight: Welcoming Martha Zapata, PhD, MA, to the Board of Trustees
Martha Zapata, PhD, MA is the newest member of PartnerTulsa’s Board of Trustees. With extensive experience as an organizational psychologist and community leader, Dr. Zapata has dedicated her career to fostering growth, equity and opportunity within Tulsa’s Hispanic community. As the founder of The UMA Center Inc., a nonprofit offering vital health services and entrepreneurial education, and as co-founder of the Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she is committed to supporting Hispanic business owners and addressing the challenges they encounter.
Tell us about your professional background, personal journey and what has shaped your connection to Tulsa.
I’m an organizational psychologist, by training, in Colombia. In the United States, I earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from OU and a PhD in Human Sciences from OSU. I worked as a research scientist at OSU for 10 years.
In 2020, I founded The UMA Center Inc., a non-profit that provides physical and mental health services, as well as entrepreneurial education and technical assistance in Spanish.
Last year, I co-founded the Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support small business owners and companies serving the growing Hispanic community.
What do you see as the most significant opportunities for Tulsa’s Hispanic community to thrive, and what are the key challenges that still need to be addressed to ensure equitable access to economic growth, education and community resources?
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the Hispanic community, and it’s one of our biggest strengths. Organizations such as the Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (TAHCC) and others in the ecosystem provide opportunities for Hispanics to start and grow their businesses, which did not exist before 2021. Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs face linguistic, cultural, and legal challenges to start and grow their businesses. However, TAHCC and other organizations are working to address these challenges via education, technical assistance, and advocacy.
What inspired you to join the Board of Trustees for PartnerTulsa? How do your personal and professional passions align with the mission of the organization?
I was honored when Mayor Bynum asked me to join the Board of Partner Tulsa. I saw it as an opportunity to learn about city government and economic development and bring that knowledge back to our community, as Hispanics aren’t well-represented on city boards and committees. I want to change that by encouraging business owners, volunteers, and lesser-known community leaders to serve on these boards and committees. But first, we need to be invited, of course.
What is your vision for the future of Tulsa? What goals or opportunities do you see for our community, and how do you hope to contribute to shaping that vision?
The future is bright for the Hispanic business community. The Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is eager to collaborate with Partner Tulsa and the new mayor, whoever Tulsans elect in November, to continue supporting Hispanic business owners and enabling them to give back to Oklahoma through employment growth, revenue, and taxes. Both candidates for mayor have shown interest in engaging with our community, learning more about our concerns and dreams, and working together to advance Tulsa’s economic development and quality of life. I see a future where it doesn’t matter if you are an immigrant or not or if you are Hispanic or not because you have the same chance of achieving your version of the American Dream as everyone else if you apply yourself and work in good faith.
Which PartnerTulsa project or initiative excites you the most right now?
I’m eager to see what Partner Tulsa can contribute to East Tulsa. This area generates significant income for the City of Tulsa but lacks better infrastructure investment. The Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce offices are located in East Tulsa. I envision a more prosperous East Tulsa.
Please share a fun fact that helps us get to know you better!
A fun fact: I have lived in Tulsa longer than anywhere else, 27 years and counting.