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TULSA, Okla. — Jerry Goodwin, an educator, a communications executive and a community leader has officially announced his campaign for City Council District 1 in Tulsa.
“It’s our time. Our community has gone too long without access to what so many other districts have and receive. We need leadership that can forge relationships across the city and rebuild our community to serve all of its residents. I plan to do that when elected to City Council for District 1,” said Goodwin.
In education, Goodwin is an assistant professor in journalism, communications and business at Tulsa Community College. He is a former adjunct professor in marketing at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Research at Langston University-Tulsa. He has been a college professor for 20 years.
In business, he serves as director of communications for Morton Comprehensive Health Services. He oversees public relations and community engagement for the largest community health care system in northeastern Oklahoma. Additionally, he is president of Goodwin & Grant, a public relations and diversity communications company, founded in 2000. The firm has represented a broad base of clients including American Airlines, Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Oklahoma Centennial Commission and Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and former professional athletes, including John Starks and R.W. McQuarters among other corporations, organizations and individuals. Prior to his current positions, Goodwin served as assistant to the publishers at The Oklahoma Eagle newspaper for 15 years.
As a community volunteer for more than 30 years, Goodwin has served on a variety of national and local boards and commissions. He currently is board secretary for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. He also is a board member of the City of Tulsa/Rogers County Port of Catoosa, where he has served for 25 years. Goodwin is the first African American to be appointed and the youngest to be named to the board.
As a member of the City Council, one of Goodwin’s key goals will be to boost economic development within Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. Goodwin’s “It’s our time” philosophy aims to further connect the district by unifying the interests of various business interests in the area, such as the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce.
“Business, religious and non-profit communities within the district are not united to build a common agenda for the community. There is disunity because our leadership believes in disharmony and disruption rather than working toward togetherness and unity,” Goodwin states.
In addition to the 1921 TRMCC and the Port of Catoosa, Goodwin serves as a board member of the Christian Ministers Alliance and the Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center. He is a founding member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Tulsa chapter. He has also served as a board officer, board member and consultant for numerous journalism, business, and non-profit organizations – locally and nationally, including the American Red Cross in Washington, D. C.
“I’m excited about the direction of Tulsa, but I do believe we can do more, especially in City Council District 1,” Goodwin says.
Goodwin also plays a prominent role regarding the unique racial history in Tulsa. He serves as the board secretary and a board member of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. He is not only seeking to shed light on the past, but more importantly, to bridge the gap in order to prevent future controversy and chaos within the district. He is presently on the frontline submitting live feedback to the mayor and newly appointed police chief to improve transparency and implement data programs to track when crimes are occurring in citizens’ neighborhoods. He is concerned with the current approaches to interacting with and engaging support from law enforcement.
“Nothing materially has been done to improve relations between the law enforcement community and the public other than to demonize the officers,” says Goodwin.
Goodwin is 100 percent pro-public education with an extensive background in undergraduate and graduate journalism and business education courses. He has worked as an assistant professor in the Digital Media and Mass Communication, and Business and Information Technology divisions at Tulsa Community College since 2000. He is teaching and has taught courses in advertising, media, news writing, public relations, public speaking, and business. Formerly, he was an adjunct graduate college professor in marketing, E-commerce and corporate venturing at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Research at Langston University-Tulsa.
“From my years in education and business, I have noted that we have such great diversity – in our people, cultures, faiths and business – in Tulsa that is not being fully realized and utilized. I want to help bring together the different communities we have, then celebrate it, promote it, and invite others to join us, especially helping to recruit new companies here for better paying jobs,” Goodwin states.
The City Council election is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2020.
To learn more, visit electjerrygoodwin.com or Jerry Goodwin for Tulsa City Council Facebook page or email goodwinforcouncil@gmail.com.
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