Women’s History Month Activation Features Interactive Community Art + Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs
Contacts:
Cheena Pazzo: 918.625.1937 // cheena@one80.us
Sarah Lorenzen: 918.261.9006 // sarah@lobecktaylor.org
Carly Fussell: 918.845.7623 // carly@lobecktaylor.org
Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation Launches Women’s History Month Activation
Interactive community art project and scholarship supports female entrepreneurs
Tulsa, Okla. | March 8, 2022 - The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation (LTFF) launched a scholarship program and community art installation today in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
Through an interactive floral display on the patio of Mother Road Market, individuals can recognize notable women and contribute to a scholarship program supporting the women of Kitchen 66 and Cocina 66, English and Spanish-speaking incubator programs that provide training and resources for Tulsa food entrepreneurs.
During the month of March, individuals can make a suggested donation of $5 for a flower and place it on the wall with a special note to recognize important women in their life. LTFF will match the community donations to support the women entering the 2022 Fall Launch Programs of Kitchen 66 and Cocina 66.
“I discovered the benefits of the Kitchen 66 Launch Program at a time when I was ready for my business to grow. This education program gave me the knowledge and tools to take my business concept to the next level,” said Sami Cooper, owner of Big Dipper at Mother Road Market and Kitchen 66 graduate.
The project was unveiled today at Mother Road Market by Cooper and LTFF board member Kathy Taylor, who also serves as Dean of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa and founding member of VEST, a network for expanding the pipeline of women in positions of influence. All women in attendance were invited to place inaugural flowers on the wall to officially dedicate the installation.
“Women play a crucial role across industries, sectors and career levels. Honoring women in the community helps to empower those currently in the workforce and inspires our next generation of daughters, nieces and sisters just as my mom’s career inspired me,” said Elizabeth Frame Ellison, president and CEO of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation. “Since the opening of Mother Road Market in November 2018, women participants in our Kitchen 66 and Cocina 66 programs have generated more than half a million dollars in sales revenue, reinforcing the value of providing resources and training for women to launch successful food businesses.”
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Break The Bias’, is focused on imagining a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Individuals are encouraged to strike the IWD 2022 ‘Break The Bias’ pose in front of the floral display and share on social media using #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias to encourage further people to commit to helping forge an inclusive world.
Committed to decreasing barriers for underestimated groups, including female entrepreneurs, LTFF is dedicating the month of March to Women’s History Month by celebrating the stories of women-owned merchants. More information is available here. Last year LTFF held a women-owned pop up at LTO | MKT in Shops at Mother Road Market and launched community-wide interactive floral displays at sites throughout Tulsa on IWD to recognize influential female leaders and women-owned businesses throughout the city.
ABOUT LTFF: Founded in 1997 by Bill Lobeck and Kathy Taylor, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation (LTFF) has grown into a second generation investment in making Tulsa an innovative, collaborative and thriving city. Under the leadership of CEO Elizabeth Frame Ellison, LTFF aims to decrease the barriers associated with Tulsans achieving their goals. To fulfill this mission, LTFF acts as a grantmaker, innovator, and convener. LTFF supports the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems in Tulsa through its owned-and-operated programs including Kitchen 66, Mother Road Market and Shops at Mother Road Market, as well as through grants to organizations. For more information about LTFF, visit www.lobecktaylor.com.
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