TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Leaders from the Cherokee Nation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka celebrated the grand opening of a new community center at the Sequoyah Heights Housing Addition for elder Cherokees in Tahlequah.
The community building provides a gathering space for the residents of the Sequoyah Heights housing addition to host activities and dinners. The 3,000 square-foot building includes a commercial kitchen, large seating area and a safe room. There is a covered porch for shaded seating and outdoor space with a playground.
“This beautiful community center is one of many safe spaces for our elders to join together. If we continue to provide safe spaces like this for our citizens and communities, I am convinced we will be building the Cherokee Nation from the grassroots level up, now and for the next seven generations,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “Not only do we build more housing, but we also focus on the community life of the Cherokee Nation. For this project in particular, we are very grateful to our friends at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka for helping fund this project.”
New sidewalks and 23 new parking spaces with improved site drainage have also been added to the addition. There is an adjacent maintenance building, and additional turnaround roadway to support a fire engine in case of emergencies.
“Stewardship is making sure that we feel connected to one another. That’s what makes this a great project,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “The Cherokee Nation is blessed to be in a position that allows us to work with friends and organizations to further our Cherokee values and create stronger communities.”
A $500,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka was used to help fund the more than $1.3 Million building. The majority of the construction project was funded by grant funds from Housing and Urban Development as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
District 3 Councilor of the Cherokee Nation Lisa Hall said this is the fifth community center to be built in her district.
“This community building will bring people together for gatherings, cultural events, and to speak the Cherokee language. It took a lot of partners to make this possible, but I know for the residents of Sequoyah Heights, this place will be filled with fellowship, shared meals, community events, shared conversations and stories that will last generations to come,” said Councilor Hall.
Sequoyah Heights’ rental units were constructed in 2019, with 14 individual rental units located on the property.
Sequoyah Heights Resident Karen Woody said she is grateful for the new playground at the community center, as it will keep children from playing near the street, and she hopes her great-grandchildren will get to visit her and play there.
“I’m thrilled,” said Woody. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. This last storm that we had, it went right over my house, so I’m really happy that we have a storm shelter now. I’m so grateful to everybody’s part in this. It’s nice for us to have a space to gather for food."