Six Tulsa neighborhood associations showed their love for their area by envisioning and submitting a volunteer-led revitalization project to the City of Tulsa’s Working in Neighborhoods as part of the Love Your Block program. Each neighborhood association received a $1,000 grant for their ideas – and affection.
Mayor G.T. Bynum presented Love Your Block certificates of award to representatives of each neighborhood as part of a mini-grant program funded by Cities of Service. The program encouraged neighborhood leaders to develop a revitalization plan using volunteers to solve local problems and do work that may minimize the impact of blight in their areas.
The program was offered to neighborhood associations registered with the WIN Department and required that the projects be led by volunteers.
“These projects will improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and work toward our long term goal to reduce blight and its detrimental impacts on the health and safety of neighborhoods,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum.
The six neighborhoods chosen will complete their projects by June, 2018. The type of work involved ranges from tree planting to murals to building restoration. The grant recipients were honored at a ceremony with Mayor Bynum on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at City Hall. They are:
Longview Lake Estates
Marica Humbert
Mickie Brooks
Kendall-Whittier Neighborhood Association
Jesus Villarreal
Maria Barnes
Northgate Action Group
Lynda Chaplin
Lillie Spears
River West Resident Council
Brian Beebe
Pat Nash
Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association
Patty Foster
Tersa Raybourn
Tracy Park Neighborhood
Jeffrey J Noftsger
Cities of Service provides funding for Tulsa’s Love Your Block program as part of a larger partnership with the City, entitled Serve Tulsans. The umbrella program encompasses three initiatives: A volunteer portal to match organizations and volunteers to projects, Love Your Block mini-grants and a home weather and efficiency resilience program. The Home Resilience program will be operated in tandem with the City’s existing home rehabilitation program for low-income residents based on existing need and applications already received. The Serve Tulsans website was launched today.
About Cities of Service
Cities of Service is an independent nonprofit organization that helps mayors and city leaders tap the knowledge, creativity, and service of citizens to solve public problems and create vibrant cities. We work with cities to build city-led, citizen-powered initiatives that target specific needs, achieve long-term and measurable outcomes, improve the quality of life for residents, and build stronger cities. Founded in 2009 by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cities of Service supports a coalition of more than 235 cities, representing nearly 55 million people in the citiesofservice.org U.S. and more than 10 million people in the U.K. Visit at or follow Twitter @citiesofservice.