The Greenwood Trust

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

We are still inspired and energized by the gathering of the inaugural Black Wall Street Symposium. Local and national leaders came together with a shared commitment to economic mobility and generational prosperity.

On Saturday, we held panels examining what it will take to further entrepreneurship, housing, education, cultural preservation through intentional investment, drawing from evidence-based strategies and creating a roadmap for legacy cities across the country.

We are grateful to every speaker, partner, attendee, and community leader who contributed their voice, vision, and experience to these conversations.
Thank you,

Dr. Andre Perry, Mayor Monroe Nichols, Ashli Sims, Chipo Sachirarwe, Dom Williams, Dominick J. Ard’is, AJ Johnson, Dwan Dandridge, John W. Rogers, Jr., Shanelle Smith, Anthony Scott, Amber Guipttons, Tim Newton, Ashley Thomas III, Dr. LesLeigh Ford, Dr. Derrick Hamilton, Dr. Michael Lomax, Dr. Ebony Johnson, Dr. Kimberlyn Leary, Dr. Jocelyn Imani Ph.D, Shanita Brackett, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, Asali Ecclesiastes, Dr. Carolyn Johnson, Rukaiyah Adams, Damien Dwin, Errin Haines, Maisha Simmons, Joe Scantlebury, William Buster, and Paris Rain

06/01/2026

Today, on the 105th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, we remember, honor, and we recommit to the work of community building.

On this Day of Observance established by Mayor Monroe Nichols, a wreath is laid at the unmarked graves as a declaration to the world that we will never forget.

We acknowledge the resilient spirit of Greenwood and Black Wall Street. The story did not end in 1921. Through generations, Greenwood’s people chose to rebuild, restore, and move forward together.

Our work continues.

As we pay homage to our ancestors, The Greenwood Trust recommits to the work ahead through investments in housing, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation so Greenwood continues to thrive for generations to come.

June 1,1921 - June 1, 2026

05/29/2026

We are honored to welcome leaders from across the country to Tulsa for our inaugural Black Wall Street Symposium.

As we help write Greenwood’s next chapter through investments in entrepreneurship, housing, education, and cultural preservation, we’ll spend this weekend learning alongside leaders, builders, and visionaries committed to creating generational prosperity.

Tomorrow begins the first of many conversations about what it takes to build sustainable economic power that lasts for future generations of Greenwood.

05/29/2026

05/01/2026

Statement from the Greenwood Trust on the Supreme Court Ruling in Louisiana v. Callais

This week, in Louisiana v. Callais, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a devastating blow to our democracy, eviscerating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. After the Court struck down Section 5’s preclearance requirement, Section 2 became one of the nation’s last remaining safeguards for full participation, fair representation and the primary tool for challenging discriminatory voting rules and redistricting plans.

By requiring proof of intent, the Court has made it substantially harder to address discriminatory voting practices or procedures that are built into policy design, even when not explicitly stated.

For places like Greenwood, where pernicious racial violence and deliberately constructed systems have long worked to enforce oppression and erase economic power, this moment is profoundly saddening. Communities across the country that have endured a legacy of racism and discrimination in voting are painfully aware that discriminatory intent is rarely broadcast when systems can produce a wholesale discriminatory result.

At the Greenwood Trust, we understand clearly that civic participation and economic opportunity are deeply intertwined. The policies that determine access to capital, housing, education, infrastructure, and community investment are shaped by democratic representation. When communities are structurally excluded from the democratic process and the ability to elect candidates of their choice, their priorities are less likely to be reflected in the decisions that govern their future.

The right to vote is fundamental to every right, including economic freedom. With one ruling, the Supreme Court has turned a blind eye and a hardened heart to our history, to the long-fought battles, and the sacrifices that made the Voting Rights Act possible. It has squarely undermined the ability to ensure representation for communities of color.

Moments like this demand clarity about what is at stake and renewed commitment to ensuring that all communities are seen, heard, and represented.

04/16/2026

This week, the Greenwood Trust was proud to be at the Main Street Now Conference Legacy Mixer hosted by , , District.

Our Executive Director, Alaina Beverly, joined a panel moderated by Elijah Davis (HAANDS), alongside Metris Batts (Overtown Business Association), Andrea Blackman (City of Nashville), and Burlinda Radney (Historic Greenwood Main Street Program) to talk about the work of the Greenwood Trust.

Black Wall Street was a vibrant, locally owned business corridor grounded in identity. It was driven by entrepreneurship and sustained by the community. Greenwood Ave. was the artery of prosperity. It exemplifies what Main Street America champions today.

It also demonstrates what happens when a thriving ecosystem is devastated by racism, dismantled, and denied reinvestment. The future Greenwood is still being written and through capital, narrative, and deep community investment, it is a blueprint for what is possible.

We are grateful to be in community with partners who share this vision.

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02/27/2026

In 2024, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre seeking reparations for the destruction of Greenwood in Tulsa.

The plaintiffs argued that the lasting impacts of the massacre constituted a public nuisance. The court ruled that the legal claim did not meet the requirements under Oklahoma law.

The decision marked a significant development in ongoing legal efforts connected to the history of Greenwood.

02/27/2026

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a formal review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

The investigation examined historical records, eyewitness accounts, and available evidence related to the destruction of Greenwood.

In 2025, the DOJ released a report outlining its findings, noting that while no living perpetrators could be prosecuted, the events were documented as a coordinated and racially motivated attack.

The report contributes to the federal historical record of the massacre.

02/24/2026

Robert F. Smith has supported efforts to document and address the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa.

Through his philanthropy, he has contributed funding to initiatives focused on historical research, descendant support, and economic opportunity connected to Greenwood. His involvement reflects a broader commitment to expanding access to capital and advancing long-term economic equity.