tulsaworld.com
O2 Sunday, February 23, 2020
TULSA WORLD
OUTLOOK2020
The west bank of the Arkansas River offers a sweeping view of downtown Tulsa’s skyline. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World file
Tulsa’s time to shine is now Gloria Fletcher World Publisher gloria.fletcher @tulsaworld.com
T
he beginning of a new year always brings positivity, but a new decade? Now that can be a bit daunting and intimidating! As our mothers always told us, time really does fly by us. But time is precious, and even though I’ve only been a Tulsan for a couple of years, I know that Tulsans “get it.” Progress is moving quickly, and Tulsa’s time to shine is now.
As we move toward the commemoration of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, more and more discussions are taking place about how we come together as a city with citizens of many diverse backgrounds. How can we learn from the mistakes of the past and build toward the future? These are discussions that make us stronger and build our community. They are discussions that help us confront other issues that may divide us. But we will learn together as we work together. And Tulsans have worked together amazingly over the past year. You can see signs of this everywhere you look. While all of us tend to complain about our streets and highways being under construction, these are good problems to have. I don’t like all the orange cones and flashing lights any more than you do, but they are a sure sign of progress and cohesive planning and thought. Our schools are making changes that will make it easier to ensure our children and grandchildren have an excellent education with many options available to them. We’re taking the time to have open discussions and find answers to questions being raised in our ever-changing environment. Just the other day, I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of board members from Gilcrease
Museum. I was struck by the passion in their voices as they talked about not only the Gilcrease we know now but also the Gilcrease of the future. We hear the same kind of passion when people talk about the Philbrook Museum of Art, Route 66, Woolaroc and many other Tulsa-area treasures. And I haven’t yet mentioned the beauty along the river and the laughter and giggles you are sure to hear when you are in and around Gathering Place. So yes, I’m sitting at my kitchen table on a frightfully cold, dreary morning, thinking … just thinking. I’m looking outside and quietly pondering what the day may hold. The sun begins to peak out from behind the clouds, letting glimmers of blue, pink and yellow shine through. I have such hope for today and for all the todays and tomorrows in our future. Tulsa’s time to shine is now, and I’m one proud Tulsan! Gloria Fletcher moved to Tulsa from Seattle, where she was president of Sound Publishing. She started her career at her hometown newspaper, the Woodward News, and became publisher of the paper at 26. She was named publisher of the Enid News and Eagle a few years later. Fletcher is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.
INSIDE
Downtown Tulsa’s architecture is just one aspect of its treasured history. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World file
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Gov. Kevin Stitt: Economic “wins” are University health clinics provide care to Oklahoma’s oil and gas production More banks adapting to fit consumer diverse in Oklahoma.................................O4 underserved Tulsans................................. O5 continue upward march..........................O15 needs.........................................................O23 City’s 2020 economic development to Casino gaming plays key role in local Cannabis business still evolving in “Another exciting year” expected for area focus on life-expectancy gap.................. O5 economy.................................................... O14 Oklahoma .................................................O21 housing developments...........................O23
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