MestizaLens

Yesterday, we were warmly welcomed to our new neighborhood with a Fourth of July block party invitation. It was kind of our neighbors to include us, especially as the newcomers on the street.

As we made our way to the gathering, the young man who takes care of our lawn arrived for his regular visit. This time, his wife joined him—gracious, cheerful, and carrying the bright energy of someone who has known both joy and hard work. As we chatted under the shade of a front porch, enjoying food and fellowship, I couldn’t help but notice: The only people working on the holiday were this immigrant family—quietly, diligently, doing the kind of work that sustains so many aspects of our daily lives.
It made me reflect deeply.

How is it that, in a nation that proudly calls itself Christian, so much hatred is aimed at the very people who clean our yards, prepare our meals, make our hotel beds, care for our elderly, build our roads, harvest our food, and keep the engines of daily life running? The people who ask for so little but contribute so much?

I believe we are better than that.
Today reminded me that true patriotism is not just about fireworks and flags—it’s about seeing the dignity in every person, and honoring the hands that labor—especially those who are too often overlooked. 🇺🇸

Reflections After a Violent Weekend in Tulsa

After reading about the multiple violent incidents that shook Tulsa over the weekend, I felt compelled to share a few thoughts. Honestly, I hadn’t heard about any of it until late Sunday evening. I spent the long weekend volunteering at an event, and each night I came home completely drained, unplugged from the news, and went straight to bed. Like many, I don’t regularly watch TV, so the news hit me all at once—and it was heartbreaking.

My heart goes out to the families affected. To those who lost loved ones, and to those recovering from injuries—especially gunshot wounds, which are not only physically but emotionally traumatic—my deepest sympathies. I’m also thinking of the first responders and medical teams who jumped into action and continue to care for victims. Thank you for your service in the face of such tragedy.

Violence—especially when it involves youth—is never simple. These events aren’t isolated. Community violence has deep, systemic roots. It reflects layers of social, economic, and structural issues. It’s easy to react with blame or frustration, but finger-pointing won’t heal our wounds or prevent the next tragedy. Lasting solutions require systemic change, and that means collaboration across every sector.

The good news is that Tulsa has the people and potential to make change happen. We have a young, dynamic mayor who is deeply committed to improving our city. We have a capable, professional police force. We have business owners, faith leaders, nonprofits, and everyday citizens who care deeply about our neighborhoods and are already working toward equity and safety.

I trust that working groups will study the data and seek out patterns to identify real, effective solutions. But policy alone won’t solve this. It takes people—leaders from government, business, faith communities, and grassroots organizations—coming together, listening to one another, and taking action.

Is that overly optimistic? I don’t think so. I believe in Tulsa. I see the talent, the heart, and the momentum that already exist in this city. We’re capable of confronting our hardest challenges—and building a brighter, safer future for everyone.

🎊 I had an amazing day celebrating Kendra’s birthday, Veronica and Elsa’s new store, and Dr. Delgado’s graduation. It’s a blessing and a joy to celebrate the successes and milestone of the people in our life. 💙🙏🎊

🌟 We were thrilled to attend the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship graduation this evening at The University of Tulsa! 🎓✨ has proudly hosted three cohorts of Schweitzer Fellows and is gearing up to welcome a fourth—an incredible partnership that’s helped us serve over 200 of our neighbors. 🏥🤝

Huge congratulations to Christopher Coronado for successfully completing his Schweitzer Fellowship at UMA! 🎉👏