My mother, Ruby Wilson, is my primary source of inspiration. Despite having only, a high school diploma, she demonstrated an exceptional understanding of community service and the importance of investing in future generations. As an active member of our church community, she held leadership positions including usher board member and served as a Blue Bird mom.
My commitment to community engagement began in childhood, when my mother would bring my siblings and me to local nursing homes to visit older church members who received limited or no family contact. This early exposure to compassionate outreach established a lifelong dedication to serving others. During my high school years, I served as a peer mentor which allowed me to develop leadership skills while making a meaningful impact during a critical period in students' academic journeys.
Today, I continue this legacy of service. I actively mentor college students and young educational professionals, providing guidance as they navigate academic and career transitions. Additionally, I serve on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, with a particular focus on educational equity. Notably, I serve on the Teach Not Punish Board, which implements positive behavior modification programming in Tulsa Public Schools. This work directly addresses a critical challenge: African American students in Tulsa have only a 7 percent college-going rate. My mission is to ensure these students have the necessary tools, support, and resources to succeed in higher education.
By focusing efforts on the most vulnerable populations, those who may not fully recognize the barriers they face or the potential they possess, we create transformative changes that resonate on both local and national levels. I remain optimistic that when people engage directly in meaningful work and maintain focus on shared goals, our generation and our country will move forward together. My hope is that each person who benefits from community investment will, in turn, pour into others, creating a sustainable cycle of support and empowerment that transcends individual circumstances and strengthens our collective future.
My commitment to community engagement began in childhood, when my mother would bring my siblings and me to local nursing homes to visit older church members who received limited or no family contact. This early exposure to compassionate outreach established a lifelong dedication to serving others. During my high school years, I served as a peer mentor which allowed me to develop leadership skills while making a meaningful impact during a critical period in students' academic journeys.
Today, I continue this legacy of service. I actively mentor college students and young educational professionals, providing guidance as they navigate academic and career transitions. Additionally, I serve on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, with a particular focus on educational equity. Notably, I serve on the Teach Not Punish Board, which implements positive behavior modification programming in Tulsa Public Schools. This work directly addresses a critical challenge: African American students in Tulsa have only a 7 percent college-going rate. My mission is to ensure these students have the necessary tools, support, and resources to succeed in higher education.
By focusing efforts on the most vulnerable populations, those who may not fully recognize the barriers they face or the potential they possess, we create transformative changes that resonate on both local and national levels. I remain optimistic that when people engage directly in meaningful work and maintain focus on shared goals, our generation and our country will move forward together. My hope is that each person who benefits from community investment will, in turn, pour into others, creating a sustainable cycle of support and empowerment that transcends individual circumstances and strengthens our collective future.
