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Tri-City Collective, Public Radio Tulsa, Tulsa Artist Fellowship and Tulsa Community Foundation launch event for ‘Focus: Black Oklahoma’ at the Tulsa Press Club in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. | Photo by Nehemiah D. Frank.
Published 12/11/2019 | Reading Time 2 min 17 sec
By BWSTimes Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar, founders of Tri-City Collective, in partnership with Scott Gregory of Public Radio Tulsa, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and the Tulsa Community Foundation, held a launch event for ‘Focus: Black Oklahoma’ at the Tulsa Press Club surrounded by a packed group of diverse supporters.
Focus: Black Oklahoma is an hour-long news and public affairs program, covering numerous topics relevant to Black Oklahomans.
The new program will also feature interviews supported by stories on current topics and events affecting Black culture, including news, politics, current affairs, education, family, health, relationships, law, finances, business, arts and culture, spirituality, technology, sports and more.
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Special segments are slated to include “Youth Voice,” an on-air platform for school-aged young people; “Spiritual Spotlight,” highlighting social justice and community programs produced by houses of worship in all faiths throughout Oklahoma; and “Creative Spotlights,” Oklahoma talent sharing original songs, stories and more.
Quraysh Ali Lansana, the co-executive producer for the new program, said, “We are exploring the issues that are often neglected by mainstream media. We are prioritizing the issues that matter to Black Oklahomans. I am grateful for the opportunity and support.”
Non-Black listeners interested in Black perspectives may also find the program enlightening and enriching.
“I was particularly excited about meeting people from across Oklahoma who are excited about contributing to the show as segment producers,” researcher and executive member of Tri-City Collective, Bracken Klar shared. He then added, “Also, the number of folks present [at the launch event] who work at Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) — or closely with — was really good to see. I think that reflects on the deep care and concern TPS workers, and by extension TPS, have for making Tulsa a better place for all.”
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Over summer 2019, Tri-City Collective held auditions for Focus: Black Oklahoma’s founding co-host; Arielle Davis and Kolby Webster made the cut.
Davis attended Rogers State University’s Communications Radio and Television program. At Rogers State, she researched and presented content that focused on race-representation in the media. Davis also worked at the college’s broadcast station – RSU Radio.
Davis also worked on Mayor GT Bynum’s Office of Resilience and Equity team, where she managed Title V Commissions. She is committed to advocating for justice and equity for marginalized groups and understands the critical role media plays in achieving those societal goals.
Arielle Davis (left) and Kolby Webster (right) |Photo by Two Sisters Photography
Webster is an urbanist who advocates for sustainability, equity and access for all Tulsans. According to the Tulsa World, he is one of Tulsa’s most outspoken activists for biking and pedestrian infrastructure. Webster is also the co-manager at Circle Cinema.
At the event, the advisory board members for Focus: Black Oklahoma were introduced: Doug Bonebrake (Production Manager KTUL), Arlene Johnson (Development/PR), Hannibal B. Johnson (Attorney, Author, and Historian), Bracken Klar (Researcher), Ali Shaw (Producer, KJMM-Radio), and Julie Skye (Financial Advisor).
Tri-City Collective Members were also present: Quraysh Ali Lansana (Executive Member), Bracken Klar (Executive Member), Nick Alexandrov, Shawn Crawford, Najah Hylton, Shadi Nadri, Crystal Patrick, Lori Walden.
The new radio program will broadcast on Tulsa’s KWGS 89.5 FM monthly from the Public Radio Tulsa studios on the University of Tulsa campus starting in February 2020.
Donations
The Tri-City Collective Fund is a component fund of the Tulsa Community Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible. To make a donation, visit us at www.tricitycollective.com/donate
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