It is clear that Oklahomans are living with “above average” trauma. The state leads the nation in both incarceration and inequity. Margaret Black, VP of Clinical Services for Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) in Tulsa, says domestic violence is the highest rate it has been in 20 years. Tulsa specifically is home to some of our nation’s most heinous crimes: The Tulsa Race Massacre and those of the Allotment Era.

In 2022, Verified News Network (VNN) spent three months conducting research and talking with Oklahomans about poverty, domestic violence, and drug addiction.

Following the response and results of our inaugural learning series, FATE returned in Spring 2023 with a new theme: Trauma Informed Business Development.

The 2023 FATE Trauma Informed Business Development Learning Series invited local community members and experts to engage in conversation about the hardships of balancing trauma with entrepreneurship, as well as possible solutions. The goal was self-care in action.

READ THE FULL STORY: FATE is success- and women want more

Special thanks to our community partners!

VNN spent three months surveying people nationwide about their trauma experiences, the hardships of balancing trauma with entrepreneurship, and what they view as possible solutions.

READ THE FULL STORY: FATE survey tracks with present data, pinpoints informed needs and solutions

VNN also worked with local collaborators to produce reports on the effects of trauma on the brain and other trauma-related topics as part of this learning series.

Thank you to VNN Expert Alexie Foster for contributing these stories, and to Builders and Backers for funding them as part of VNN’s Idea Accelerator experiments.

JUSTICE INVOLVED

• Just The Beginning, Inc. HERE

RECOVERY

• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Treatment List HERE
• Creek Health Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services (Muscogee Creek Citizens) HERE
• CHESS Connections App (To help support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder and their loved ones) HERE

DOMESTIC

• Domestic Violence Intervention Services HERE
• Housing Assistance through Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services HERE
• Social Services through Deep Fork Community Action HERE

EMPLOYMENT

• Employment Services through Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services HERE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

STATEWIDE

• Free Skill Development through the Small Business Administration Learning Center HERE
• BetaBlox in-person and digital offerings HERE

TULSA

• SCORE Free Business Mentoring and Education HERE
• Build In Tulsa HERE
• Hispanic Small Business Owners Association Entrepreneurship Academy HERE
• ACT House Accelerator for Black and Latino led startups (6 months) HERE
• Business Skill Development through the Tulsa Economic Development Corp. Small Business University (4-6 weeks) HERE
• TEDC re(Build) Developers Academy for aspiring BIPOC developers (3 weeks) HERE
• MORTAR Tulsa for Commercial/Retail business owners (15 weeks) HERE
• Kitchen 66/Cocina 66 for food entrepreneurs HERE
• 36 Degrees North coworking space and education HERE 
• The Forge for high-growth start-ups HERE
• Nest Collective for creative businesses HERE (9 weeks)

OKMULGEE

• Green Country Technology Center Business and Entrepreneurial Services HERE
• Mvskoke Fund Small Business and Entrepreneur Services (Citizens of federally recognized tribes only) HERE

VNN held two in-person events exploring the path from adversity to entrepreneurship, the community benefits of taking that path, and the barriers that stand in the way. One was held in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 18, 2022. The other was held in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, on July 16, 2022. Tulsa is Oklahoma’s second largest city. Okmulgee is considered a rural area.

During both events we heard from community members, as well as recovering addicts turned entrepreneurs. Topics included stigmas surrounding drug addiction, myths about entrepreneurship, and job creation for justice-involved men and women.

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