Episode 21

On this episode, we start off with a closer look at Oklahoma’s teacher shortage, which has reached critical levels, and finding Black teachers is almost impossible. Anthony Cherry has details on how finding representation in education is the new challenge for school districts. Next Shonda Little examines recent tragic impacts that lagging mental health funding and unrestricted access to guns have on communities and shares more on the need for gun trigger laws in Oklahoma. In the fourth installment of her series exploring candidates running for political office across the state, Jamie Glisson speaks with Congressional District 1 candidate, Adam Martin. Historically, access to sustainable energy resources has been out of reach for many marginalized communities. Dawn Carter has the story about WeSolar a community solar firm that aims to change that. We catch up with local students with StateImpact Oklahoma’s listening tour with youth across the state. StateImpact's Robby Korth and KOSU's Kateleigh Mills talked with a couple of Tulsa high school students about race, gender and how they interact with their peers at school. Mikeal Vaughn, the founder and executive Director of The Urban Coders Guild is celebrating five years of ensuring Black and brown youth are reflected in the tech industry that gave him his start. Carlos Moreno has the story. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns are Torren Doss and Smriti Iyengar.