Tulsa Mayor Announces Appointment Of New Resilience Officer

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum announced Friday he's selected DeVon Douglass to be the city's new chief resilience officer.

Bynum said Douglass will oversee the city's comprehensive resilience strategy with a focus on racial disparities in Tulsa.

Douglass will lead Tulsa’s partnership with 100 Resilient Cities, a program pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation.

The City of Tulsa started working with 100RC in 2015.

“In Tulsa, we are serious about bringing all the resources at our disposal to address racial disparities in our city. If our city is to be truly resilient, we must address these honestly and strategically,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “DeVon brings the experience, knowledge, and will to help Tulsa build a stronger and more resilient community for the next generation of Tulsans.”

Before joining Bynum's administration, Douglass worked as the Economic Opportunity and Poverty Policy Analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute. She was also lead organizer for a series of community forums named, Tulsa Talks, which addressed racial disparities and safety in Tulsa.

Douglass has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Political Science from Missouri State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa.

“I’m excited to begin working with the many community partners that will have a direct impact on our resilience efforts in Tulsa,” Douglass said. “I want to thank Mayor Bynum for entrusting me with this responsibility and I look forward to implementing a strategy that will enable and empower all Tulsans to rise to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Douglass will receive personnel and technical support from 100RC.