TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation will host career and small business fairs in Muskogee and north Tulsa in March, open to all, as part of its outreach to Cherokee Freedmen communities.
“Our 2020 Executive Order on Equality challenges us to engage in very purposeful outreach in communities with high concentrations of our Cherokee citizens of Freedmen descent,” said Chief Hoskin. “We are committed to serving all of our citizens equally, but we are acknowledging that Freedmen descendants were denied access to basic rights for generations and we must fill an urgency to make up for lost time.”
The event in Muskogee will be on March 10, from 2-7 p.m., at the MLK Center located at 300 W. Martin Luther King St. Muskogee, OK 74401.
The event in north Tulsa will be on March 12, from 2-7 p.m., at the tribe’s new community building, located at 1205 E. 46th St. N. Tulsa, OK 74126.
The events are open to the general public and will feature staff and information materials relating to getting jobs and contracts with the Cherokee Nation as well as information about the tribe’s small business assistance programs.
The events will also feature a presentation on Cherokee Nation’s bid process for contractors and service providers and a presentation on the tribes new “Opportunity Zone” program which enhances small business loan opportunities for entrepreneurs investing in high poverty parts of the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
Times of the special presentation will be posted on the tribe’s social media platforms.
Chief Hoskin has designated Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan and liaison to the Freedmen Community, Melissa Payne, with coordinating outreach to the Freedmen community.
“Melissa travels across the reservation and across the country helping educate people about Freedmen history and opportunities for Cherokee citizens of Freedmen descent,” said Duncan. “I am honored to work with her to bring these resource fairs to Cherokee Freedmen communities because I know they will translate into job and entrepreneurship opportunities.”
Payne says the events will help people connect beyond jobs and small business opportunities.
“At each of our events in Freedmen communities we always run across citizens looking for ways to serve, participate or those who have issues we can help resolve,” said Payne. “So, anyone interested in feeling a stronger connection to Cherokee community life is encouraged to stop by.”
Deputy Chief Warner encouraged anyone interested in a job or a small business opportunity to attend the events.
“At any given moment our government and our entities have thousands of jobs available here at home, across the country and around the world,” said Deputy Chief Warner. “We also have tens of millions of dollars to lend for small business start up and expansion. Taking these opportunities to these communities is the right thing to do because these opportunities are for everyone.”
Chief Hoskin announced the events during the tribe’s Black History Month celebration on February 16 in Tulsa.
For more information on the events, stay updated with Cherokee Nation’s Facebook page and other social media platforms.
Job seekers can view job opportunities for Cherokee Nation and its entities at CherokeeJobs.org.
Those interested in business loans and other entrepreneurship support can contact Cherokee Nation’s Commerce Services Department at 918-453-5536.