The best change comes from within.
Closing the door on adversity. Opening doors so others can find the way out.
VNN held two in-person events to explore 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.
VNN partnered with Big If True to provide contextual reporting necessary to understand the roots of adversity within Oklahoma and American Indian reservations.Â
Survey results
Community Resources
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
- Hispanic Small Business Owners Association Entrepreneurship Academy HERE
- ACT House Accelerator for Black and Latino led startups (6 months)Â HERE
- Business Skill Development through the Tulsa Economic Development Corp. Small Business University (4-6 weeks)Â HERE
- TEDC re(Build) Developers Academy for aspiring BIPOC developers (3 weeks)Â HERE
- MORTAR Tulsa for Commercial/Retail business owners (15 weeks)Â HERE
- Kitchen 66/Cocina 66 for food entrepreneurs HERE
- 36 Degrees North coworking space and education HEREÂ
- The Forge for high-growth start-ups HERE
- Nest Collective for creative businesses HERE (9 weeks)
OKMULGEE
Thank you to our collaborators













