Mollie Williford

Volunteerism and the Arts

Williford, longtime Tulsa businesswoman and a non-profit volunteer veteran of 29 years, stressed two important points to summit participants, that volunteerism is alive and well, and the arts are integral to a successful, alive and prosperous city.

“People are volunteering and they are doing it smarter, getting more results for their efforts by working through community and religious groups as well as national and international organizations,” she said, adding that the combination of professional staff and dedicated volunteers creates a powerful force in helping those in need.

“This combination is the heart of our community — indicative of the Tulsa Spirit — evidenced by the tremendous participation in this Summit.”

She exhorted those “volunteers for Tulsa today” to “make it enjoyable and productive.” Our job, she said, “is to invent a better future. Together, we can build the future we want.”

Williford said that Tulsa “continues to be a good place to live and work” in spite of recent economic changes, and that Tulsans enjoy a an average cost of living that is lower than 68 percent of all metropolitan areas nationwide. In addition, she said, more than 400,000 visitors find their way to Tulsa each year.

Citing the large number of quality arts and entertainment venues in the Tulsa area, she singled out the latest feather in Tulsa’s cap, Tulsa Ballet, “the only ballet company in the United States to be invited to perform at the prestigious Sintra Festival in Portugal.”

“A survey conducted in Denver found that on a per capita basis, out of town arts visitors bring in more revenue than visiting sports fans,” Williford said. “The ballet, opera, music, and museum patrons stay at more expensive hotels, eat at more expensive restaurants, as well as do more shopping with local merchants.”

“I am so pleased that Mayor LaFortune is dedicated to making our arts groups first class, accessible, and affordable to all Tulsans,” she concluded. “This is an asset now and for the future that must be protected and nourished. Without this, our city will never be a great city.”

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Contents

Introduction

The Mayor’s Objectives

Small Group Discussions & Questions

Glen Heimstra
The Shape of Things to Come

William Hudnut III
A Vision for Urban America

Q&A: Hudnut and Heimstra

Clayton Vaughn
You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But...

Rodger Randle
The Demographics of Today’s Tulsa

The Branding of Tulsa

Robert LaFortune
Investing in the Future Generations of our City

Mollie Williford «
Volunteerism and the Arts

James Goodwin
Leaving No One Behind

Kathy LaFortune
Continuing the Vision

Credits