2026 Is Here! The Hopes, Dreams, & Resolutions from Downtown Tulsa Partnership for the New Year

January 16, 2026

Happy New Year! As we dive into 2026, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership team wanted to reflect on the past year and create goals, desires, and dreams for the upcoming calendar year. Read below to review the list of goals set by the team and Downtown Tulsa Partnership. Learn more about each staff member here.

Emily Scott; Vice President, Urban Development + Interim President + CEO

At Downtown Tulsa Partnership, I hope 2026 is a year where our progress is visible and tangible - reinvestment in the public realm that people can see, touch, and use. Safer, more welcoming streets. Better lighting. Activated public spaces. Improvements that show up in daily routines, not just long-range plans. The work of neighborhood improvement is never finished. Downtown is living and layered, and that requires ongoing listening, adjustment, and reinvestment. But 2026 should be a year where we can point to real, on-the-ground progress: spaces that feel cared for, infrastructure that supports small businesses and everyday activity, and public places that reflect the creativity and character of the people who use them. If in 2026 people say Downtown feels more supportive of local businesses, more expressive of its identity, and more intentional about its shared spaces, then we’ll know we’re building something that lasts. I also, still, selfishly, really want a Sweetgreen!

Cassie Williams; Marketing & Communications Manager

I hope 2026 is the year Downtown feels welcoming, vibrant and truly a place for everyone, especially families. I want people to spend the weekends and weekdays in Downtown because they feel like they belong, whether they are attending a community event, going to a local restaurant or spending time with friends.

From a marketing and communications standpoint, I would like Downtown Tulsa Partnership to have more authentic storytelling, highlighting the people who make this city shine. I would also like to see DTP be the go-to source for what’s happening in Downtown and our signature events like the Midweek Market, Namastreet Yoga and 918 Day Festival continue to be spaced where people feel welcomed and connected. On a personal level, 2026 is the year of becoming a working mom, and I hope Downtown continues to be a place that supports family, flexibility, and balance, maybe even finding a great Downtown daycare I can walk to during a lunch break.

Daniel Jackson; Communications & Engagement Coordinator

The new year is here, and I want to continue supporting the important stakeholders that make up the Downtown community. Whether you work, visit, or live in Downtown, DTP’s mission is to make this ecosystem more accessible, engaging, and efficient. I have a desire for Downtown to be the go-to place for Tulsans and beyond: to see a show, grab a bite to eat, go out for drinks, or to attend a special event. Our employees and residents deserve a Downtown that is welcoming, safe, and communicative, and I’m proud to be a part of the organizations spearheading those goals.

Downtown Tulsa has a lot in store in the coming year: New planning projects are underway, special shows and events are scheduled, and local businesses continue to invest in our community. No matter what’s going on in our Downtown, I will strive to make sure that the Downtown community feels supported and highlight those who make this community shine.

Jamie Pierson; Public Realm & Placemaking Manager

As I begin my time at Downtown Tulsa Partnership, I look forward to investing in local art and artists who can bring our infrastructure to life and make Downtown streets feel vibrant and welcoming. I plan to streamline maintenance and improvements to our infrastructure to improve the day to day lives and safety of Downtown Tulsans. And I hope to cultivate relationships and trust with all our Downtown neighbors, from the property owners to the once-a-season visitors to ALL our residents. And lastly, I pledge to work tirelessly until there is an amazing, innovative playground in Downtown Tulsa.

Cyrus Carter; Tulsa Service Year Fellow, Community Engagement

My hope is that 2026 is a year where I can continue to personally and professionally grow within my role at DTP. Many of the projects I have worked on, such as ArtWraps and Echo Alley, are coming to fruition this year. Therefore, the opportunity to complete public activation projects and see the tangible outcomes of investing in our local urban environment is a goal for me this year.