The nonprofit has supported more than 700 entrepreneurs and deployed nearly $20 million in capital — primarily to founders who have minimal access to funding.
Author Archives: Ismael Lele
Ismael Lele is the business reporter at The Oklahoma Eagle. He is a Report for America corps member. Ismael has been reporting since he was in high school, where he channeled his interest for writing into the school newspaper. While at the University of Oklahoma, he wrote for the OU Daily as a sports and city reporter and, finally, as a news editor. Ismael found his passion for community journalism while attending city council meetings in Norman. He went on to spend a summer in Phoenix, Arizona as a Carnegie Knight News 21 fellow and researched the state of American democracy. Before joining The Oklahoma Eagle, he interned at The Tulsa World. Now, his reporting highlights Tulsa’s Black community and the north Tulsa area.
Posted inNews
Greenwood Rising marks 5 years of teaching Black Wall Street’s history
Greenwood Rising opened in 2021, as the city marked 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. It teaches the history of the district from its establishment and destruction to rebuilding.
Posted inCulture
‘They’re not going to sell to you.’ Why Black women have struggled to own the natural hair industry
Black women have dominated as buyers in the industry, but not on the supplier side. The only Black-owned beauty supply store in Tulsa hasn’t let that stop them.
Posted inBusiness
Black Wall Street Rally attracted thousands, but the economic benefit was uneven
The festival has attracted about 20,000 riders and fans every year since it began in 2022. Rally organizers said it’s helped bring in $2.1 million in economic impact.
Posted inBusiness
Greenwood Cyber AI Lab opens at tech lab at former Moton hospital
In 2024, Tulsa’s Tech Hubs coalition received $51 million in federal funding to establish the region as a national center for advanced autonomy technologies.
Posted inBusiness
A grocery store boom is arriving in Tulsa’s food deserts, including downtown
Three micro grocery stores have opened around Tulsa, with a full-service grocery store coming to downtown this summer. The challenges to solving food insecurity remain.
Posted inCulture
Tulsa attorney represented massacre survivors in court. Now he’s making the case in a new book.
Damario Solomon-Simmons is a Tulsa native but says he didn’t learn about the massacre until he left town. Now, he hopes his book advances the fight for justice.
Posted inBusiness
Oasis Fresh Market to open third location in south Tulsa along with downtown store
Oasis announced it has acquired Cox Cash Saver and will transform the grocery store into a “higher-quality” Oasis location at 62nd and Peoria.
Posted inBusiness
Downtown Tulsa’s The Boxyard will close its doors after a decade of ups and downs
Tenants of The Boxyard were told to vacate after a stream of late-night violence in the area. The venue also suffered from pandemic-era closures.
Posted inHealth
Tulsa trainer didn’t see Black representation in run clubs. So he started his own.
Dozens of Tulsans gather every Monday to participate in a free run and walk club. Isaac Bennett wants the group to be the center of a fitness community.
Posted inNews
Meta reveals it’s behind east Tulsa data center attracting praise and protests
State and city officials trumpeted $3.3 billion in economic activity over the next three years. But protesters worry about the impact on resources.
Posted inBusiness
A decade in, Tulsa’s Gradient says its economic impact is approaching $2 billion
A decade after launching and two years after rebranding, the Tulsa entrepreneurship hub is home to more than 40 companies.