Mayor G.T. Bynum was joined by Tulsa City Councilor, Vanessa Hall-Harper, for a press conference announcing an executive order to establish the Beyond Apology Commission.
The Commission was a key recommendation of the 2023 Beyond Apology Report which resulted from a community-led process by the same name.
The purpose of the Commission is to reconcile, restore, and unite Tulsa in a goal of shared prosperity for all Tulsans by advancing and restoring economic mobility, prosperity, and intergenerational wealth for the 1921 Race Massacre survivors, their descendants, and residents of North Tulsa, particularly those in the historic Greenwood District and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Commission will have 13 members, appointed by the Mayor. Two members will serve by direct appointment by the Mayor and the City Councilor representing the historic Greenwood District. The remaining 11 members will apply to be members of the Commission. A working group of City staff and community members will make recommendations to the Mayor for these 11 seats. Those seats are designated as follows:
Youth (18-24 Years Old)
Elder (60 Years and Older)
1921 Race Massacre Descendant
North Tulsa Community Leader
Policy and Legislative Expert
Housing Equity Expert
Health Equity Expert
At Large (4)
Duties of the commission will be to:
Review the City of Tulsa's Equality Indicators Report, as updated annually, the Beyond Apology Report, and the 2001 Report by the Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, as foundational documents informing the Commission's work.
Engage in planning processes to annually set priorities and objectives for accomplishing the purpose of the commission by January of each year. An annual report on Commission activities, accomplishments, and recommendations shall be submitted to the Mayor by January 30th of each year.
Engage experts and stakeholder groups in the work of the commission to further the aims of educating, uniting, and reconciling our community, providing regular updates on the work of the commission.
Engage in research, data collection, interviews and other information gathering activities to inform the work, including referencing existing documents related to historic Greenwood District and surrounding North Tulsa neighborhoods, such as sector plans, master plans, etc.
Create rules and regulations governing the conduct of its meetings.
Produce a recommendation and implementation plan for a housing equity program to advance the goal of creating intergenerational wealth among Race Massacre survivors, their descendants, and residents of North Tulsa by November 30, 2024.
How to Apply for one of the 11 Seats on the Commission:
Complete the application at Beyond Apology Commission Application. A resume or professional bio and two personal or professional references will be needed to complete the application.
The application process will be open until Friday, August 30.