On making Tulsa more inclusive - Jonathan Long, Tulsa Regional Chamber VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.

Through my writings for TulsaPeople, I often get to share stories of people from all walks of life. For the past two years I wrote a monthly piece called I Am. I’ve shared the stories of Tulsans who are trans, blind, gay, Buddhist, and the list goes on. If you’re a longtime listener to this podcast, you’ve heard a wide range of guests in conversation.

I love how diverse our city is. Diverse people offer diverse ideas. We’re not all supposed to share the same views or beliefs, but we should be able to live together successfully. That’s what makes a community and makes it thrive. 

The reason I’m talking so much about diversity is because my guest on this episode is Jonathan Long, Tulsa Regional Chamber’s new VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

As you’ll hear Jonathan is passionate about his work and understands what we need to do to keep growing in a positive way and why DEI is so important for future success.  

Jonathan talks about the easy steps every Tulsan can take whether as an individual or business owner to grow your circles with more diversity and inclusion. He also discusses why it’s important that we all continue to do measurable actions that go beyond making pledges or commitments to be better to ensure we have an optimal community full of thriving diversity. 

Not all the talk is about DEI. We also talked about why the 40 under 40 honoree chose to leave Wichita to come to Tulsa and what he’s found that he loves since moving here this summer. 

I had a great time getting to know Jonathan and look forward to checking in down the road to see how we’re all doing. 

Following my conversation with him, hear a new single from Beau Jennings and The Tigers. More on that later.

OK, let’s get this going. 

This is Tulsa Talks with Jonathan Long. 

Beau Jennings and the Tigers  just released the EP “Feel the Sun.” They will celebrate it with a release party on Nov. 19 at Mercury Lounge. Speaking of the Merc, we twice highlight them in the November issue. It is among the best places to catch a show in Tulsa and they also have a new beer they partnered with Heirloom Rustic Ales to make.

Beau has long been one of the staples of the Tulsa music scene, and if you catch him live you’re guaranteed to have fun time. If you want to learn more about him visit his website at beaujennings.com and Facebook.com/beaujenningsok. And that’s Beau spelled BEAU.

And with that here is the EP title track, “Feel the Sun.”