Eight Years and Still Growing: August at Crosswinds
Happy August, Crosswinds Community!
School is back in session, summer is winding down and fall is around the corner. We hope you’ve found a little relief from the heat.
August certainly didn’t slow down for us. This month brought an eighth birthday, new opportunities for young storytellers, community gatherings, reporting across Tulsa and travel for members of the Crosswinds team.
Eight Years of Community-Centered Work
We started August by celebrating eight years since Talking Circle launched, and the work that grew into Crosswinds News.
In 2018, co-founders Kelly Tidwell and Brittany Harlow (Tidwell) launched Talking Circle with a goal of empowering underserved communities across northeast Oklahoma. Since then, our team and our work have grown, with an increasing focus on listening to, reporting alongside and creating opportunities with Native communities.
Most importantly, we haven’t done it alone.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our birthday campaign and to every reader, community member, partner, funder and friend who has supported our work over the past eight years.
We would not be here without you.
Missed your chance to donate? Never fear, you can donate right here!
Creating More Ways to Connect
Registration officially opened this month for the expanded Indigenous Roots Community Summit, taking place October 2–4 in Tulsa.
This year, Indigenous Roots will expand across multiple locations along the Peoria corridor and bring together Native organizations and community partners for three days of gathering, learning and celebration.
Programming will include an opening gathering, workshops and discussions, a benefit dinner and comedy show, and a Family Fun Day.
REGISTER, VOLUNTEER OR LEARN ABOUT SPONSORSHIP
We are also preparing for the next generation of StoryKeepers.
Crosswinds is partnering with Green Country AISES for a 10-week cohort introducing Native and ally youth ages 12–20 to reporting through a STEM lens.
Participants will learn interviewing, reporting and multimedia storytelling skills before having the opportunity to produce their own final project. Those who complete and publish a project will receive a $300 stipend.
Applications are open through September 1.
How Native Community Centers Build Connection
Crosswinds continued examining what community connection has looked like historically for Native people living in urban areas this month.
Rachael Schuit reported on the role Native community centers played during the federal relocation era, when Native families were moved away from their homelands and into cities across the country. The story explores how those centers became important places for preserving culture and connection, and what that history can teach Tulsa as community members work toward establishing an intertribal Native community center today.
READ: NATIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS HELPED PRESERVE CULTURE AND CONNECTION DURING URBAN RELOCATION
Reporting From the Community
Crosswinds continued showing up for important community conversations throughout August.
We attended the City of Tulsa’s community listening session on the search for a new Tulsa Police Chief, where Mayor Monroe Nichols heard from residents about priorities for the department’s next leader.
For Native community members, the conversation included issues of Tribal sovereignty, jurisdiction and surveillance. Nichols also acknowledged Tulsa’s relationship with the Muscogee Nation and the need for continued cooperation between the two governments.
Nichols has since selected Jonathan Brooks as Tulsa's 42nd Chief of Police.
Trista Vaughn also attended the Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations (WEWIN) Conference at River Spirit Casino Resort.
The annual gathering brought Native women from across Indian Country together to celebrate leadership, culture and community through workshops, presentations, prayer circles, a fashion show and more.
Brittany Harlow, Russell Sun Eagle and Maja Brencic joined hundreds of Native families at Tulsa Indian Education’s Back to School Bash, where Crosswinds shared opportunities for young people and families, including StoryKeepers and the new Crosswinds Club.
MORE LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Tulsa Arts Commission: Russell Sun Eagle attended the commission’s August meeting, where members discussed Tulsa’s public art master plan and efforts to strengthen the commission’s role in the city’s cultural development. Commissioners also approved artwork recommendations for the new Animal Services shelter.
- Tulsa Indian Education: Committee members discussed the annual parent needs assessment, language-learning opportunities and future programming. Cherokee language classes remain under development, and members also discussed plans to reopen a Native Studies teacher position next year.
- Greater Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission: Commissioners received updates on efforts to establish a Native American community center and continued planning for Native American Day on October 12. Registration is open, parade entries are coming in and vendors are signing up.
Hitting the Road
Crosswinds co-founder Kelly Tidwell and Report for America corps member Russell Sun Eagle both traveled on behalf of the newsroom this month.
Kelly headed to Chicago for the kickoff of the Local Media Association Lab for Journalism Funding. Over the next six months, Crosswinds will work alongside other local news organizations to strengthen philanthropic fundraising and explore new ways to make our newsroom more financially sustainable.
Russell traveled to New Orleans to gather with roughly 200 other Report for America corps members. The convening offered an opportunity to learn from journalists working in communities across the country, build new relationships and share more about Crosswinds and journalism in Indian Country.
Coming Up in September
Our reporting is already looking ahead to several September events and conversations.
On September 2, My Tribe Print and Promo will host a Promo Pow Wow at River Bend Hotel and Casino in Wyandotte. The event is designed to help Tribal departments think more creatively about promotional products and the ways they communicate with their communities.
Later in the month, Tulsa Tech Week returns for its second year.
Crosswinds recently spoke with Native technology entrepreneurs about the journeys behind their businesses, the ways technology can expand access and why more Native voices are needed in the industry.
The Crosswinds team will also head to San Diego in September for the LION Publishers conference. Crosswinds is a finalist for two LION Sustainability Awards this year, so send some good luck our way!
September Community Calendar
There are plenty of opportunities to gather, learn and connect in September. Here are just a few:
- August 31-September 2: The Gathering Business Summit
- September 3: Native Owned Business Expo
- September 4–6: Cherokee National Holiday
- September 4–6: Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival
- September 8: AI Needs Native Minds
- September 11–12: Art as Sovereignty Symposium
- September 20: Seminole Nation Powwow
And these are only a few of the events happening across our communities.
Eight years in, we remain grateful for every person who reads our stories, attends an event, shares our work, sends us a tip, makes a donation or simply tells someone else about Crosswinds.
Thank you for continuing this journey with us. We look forward to seeing where September takes us!
With gratitude,
The Crosswinds News Team
