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Topics of interest to Tulsans by MORGAN PHILLIPS
ROOT TULSA LAUNCHES
Locals and visitors have access to an “urban field guide” to Tulsa, thanks to the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Root Tulsa is a mobile website and free app for iPhone that invites users to explore their surroundings based on their location and interests. Through a partnership with The Tulsa Voice, Root also features a citywide calendar of events and curates articles from local media such as TTV and TulsaPeople. Although much of the app’s initial content is focused on downtown, Kate Hofland, Root Tulsa editor, says GKFF wants the app to be a citywide resource. “We don’t want to be Yelp,” Hofland says. “We want to provide more insight and a deeper narrative to what Tulsa is like.” Email events@roottulsa.com to add events and business listings to Root Tulsa.
Courtesy Lois Ahrend
Mariachi students at East Central Junior High.
TPS OFFERS MARIACHI PROGRAM
A program at Tulsa Public Schools is gaining popularity among students interested in mariachi, a type of Mexican folk music that traditionally uses string instruments and trumpets. Through a partnership with VH1 Save the Music, TPS began offering the mariachi program at seven sites in November in response to the high number of Hispanic students in the district, says Ann Tomlins, TPS director of fine arts. Approximately 125 students at elementary, junior high and high schools participated in the program during the 2015-16 academic year. Students receive instruction during the school day as part of their music curriculum. “There are many students who are not interested in traditional marching band,” Tomlins says. “Programs like mariachi make us more nimble and give us more opportunities for kids.”
Jim Lyall, Phil Dessauer Jr., Ginny Utter, Carol Collins and Karen Smith.
CSC CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
This month, the Community Service Council will celebrate 75 years of improving early child development, education and health along with providing employment and housing opportunities. Few understand the CSC’s mission better than Phil Dessauer Jr., who recently retired as executive director after 40 years at CSC and 32 years at its helm. During that time, he oversaw CSC’s growth from 25 staff members to over 100. CSC now serves 200,000 people per year. “This growth is due mainly to the vision, wisdom and hard work of our board members and the tremendous commitment, energy and talent of staff at all levels,” says Dessauer, who calls his four decades at CSC challenging, yet fulfilling. “I will miss the magic of regularly seeing what can be accomplished when egos are left at the door and people bring their best, working together and putting helping others and the community first.” Aug. 4 • COMMUNITY SERVICE COUNCIL’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
6:30 p.m. Christiansen Aviation Jet Center, Richard L. Jones Airport, 8605 S. Elwood Ave. Cocktails, dinner, dancing and auction. Honors Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, Judge Rebecca Nightingale, Principal Chief James Floyd and Mary Lignon. Guests also are welcome to honor their own veterans. $75, tickets; sponsorships available. Benefits Community Service Council. Visit www.csc75th.com.
VOICES OF O K L A H O M A www.voicesofoklahoma.com “Voices of Oklahoma” is an oral history project supported by the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities at the University of Tulsa.
Courtesy Miss Oklahoma
Miss Tulsa Sarah Klein was crowned Miss Oklahoma on June 11 and will represent the state in the Miss America pageant in September. Klein is a graduate of Victory Christian School and the University of Oklahoma. 10
TulsaPeople AUGUST 2016
“I was teaching a course in social problems, and I talked about it to my class … My class just exploded: ‘There was no race riot!’ I said, ‘Will you go home and ask your parents? They’ll tell you about it.’” Nancy Feldman, on teaching about the Tulsa Race Riot at TU in the 1950s
Courtesy
TULSAN CROWNED MISS OKLAHOMA 2016