A work in progress
The Lobeck Taylor family built its charitable foundation (LTFF) upon a dream of supporting Tulsans with big ideas. A critical part of this dream was to decrease barriers to success, especially among underestimated entrepreneurs, largely female and BIPOC, who face additional challenges accessing resources. Additionally, LTFF is dedicated to educating about present-day social issues and supporting the community around us. 2021 began with the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on the horizon, and our team felt it was paramount to provide more opportunities to the BIPOC community.
Mural by @zynb.one
In a year that saw us facing the fear and uncertainty of a global pandemic, experiencing a seismic movement toward civil rights and the dismantling of systemic racism in our society, it was important for LTFF to make clear our commitment to equity. This included actively listening, learning and identifying ways to put antiracist policies into place at LTFF, and being intentional in our commitment to better ourselves as allies to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Tulsa and beyond. Our work began from within, starting by growing Mother Road Market, Shops at Mother Road Market and Kitchen 66 to be more inclusive programs. As we head into 2022, LTFF has contracted to work with a DEI consultant to continue this growth.
To kick off 2021, Mother Road Market tested a new concept next door in Shops at Mother Road Market with LTO | MKT, Limited Time Only Market. The premise was to give artists, makers and entrepreneurs a space to pop-up for one to three month stints to try out their concepts without the financial risk of a full brick and mortar. The February curation was centered around celebrating Black History Month and featured all BIPOC entrepreneurs. This pop-up also featured a donation item, a bomber jacket designed by Frankie Zombie, with 50% of sales proceeds going to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission.
Next to pop up in LTO | MKT for April and May was Tyler Thrasher, a Tulsa science-based artist who featured crystallized pieces, art, prints and journals. Tyler’s dedication to social justice and environmental causes made him a perfect fit to lead us into summer of 2021.
LTO | MKT was honored to welcome Trey Thaxton, local activist and artist, for his own two month pop up after his wildly popular sales performance, as part of the February Black-owned business curation. With all of Trey’s sales giving back 10% to community-building efforts in north Tulsa, it was the perfect time to have 19&21 + Greenwood Ave. merchandise filling the shop as Tulsa commemorated the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial and to show 19&21’s merchandise to a new audience on Mother Road Market’s campus. As the 19&21 pop up came to an end, LTFF was eager to find additional ways to collaborate with Trey Thaxton in 2021.
With 2021 in full swing, we accepted nine new business concepts into the Spring cohort of the Kitchen 66 Launch Class, all of which were made up of BIPOC and female businesses. The Kitchen 66 Takeover Cafe & Landmark Food Truck continued to provide sales avenues to start-up food businesses, with the most profitable takeovers being 100% BIPOC and/or female owned concepts with combined net sales of over $84,500. Not only were these companies the most profitable, they also attracted a more diverse crowd to Mother Road Market, helping enhance our overall mission of Do Good x Eat Well x Shop Local.
Summer was full of celebration, along with continued growth, as we welcomed a new BIPOC business owner, Faith Walker, into the Mother Road Market family, celebrated our nine new business concepts from the Kitchen 66 Spring cohort with a record setting Meet the Makers event and opened applications for the Fall cohort of Kitchen 66. Faith, a graduate of the Spring 2020 Launch Program and owner of Curds & Whey Gourmet, drew in a large crowd of Tulsans all excited to see her dream become a reality as she opened her very own restaurant inside Oklahoma’s only nonprofit food fall. Not only did Faith begin a new chapter in her food career, she also had record breaking sales numbers during her first month on historic Route 66. It is with great joy that we were able to be a small part of Faith’s journey and proof that decreasing barriers can, and will, lead to success.
2021 began to wind down, but we weren’t finished yet. Trey made such a profound impact on both the Mother Road Market community and the entire Tulsa community during his time in the Limited Time Only Market, so it only seemed right that he would open a kiosk inside the bustling food hall. We welcomed the 19&21 / Greenwood Ave pop-up with open arms, excited to continue to support Trey in his mission of celebrating black entrepreneurship and excellence. Today, we are thrilled to have this pop-up as an influential cornerstone inside Mother Road Road.
LTFF made tremendous strides over the past twelve months toward supporting the BIPOC community, but we recognize that there are still days, months and years ahead of continual growth, investment and commitment. We are looking forward to continued collaboration with this incredibly talented community of makers, artists, entrepreneurs and creators.
“To equitably bring big dreams within reach for our entire community, we as a society must protect the ability to dream for those who’ve historically faced systemic oppression and designed disadvantages, and continue to intentionally support and uplift their right to innovate, dream and create.” - Shakori Fletcher (co-author article with Elizabeth Frame Ellison) NewsOne, June 5, 2021