Ongoing online survey finds many Oklahoma believe state doesn't welcome diversity

While there have been instances where intolerance has affected economic development, officials who are or have been responsible for recruiting and retaining businesses and workers say Oklahomans generally do a great job of selling their state.

Commerce Secretary Dave Lopez said Oklahomans are renowned for their warm hospitality, although some widely publicized events may leave the impression that the state doesn't embrace people of other cultures or backgrounds.

“I think because there may be perceptions that Oklahoma is not welcoming, it just gives us even more reason for leadership of the state to be clear that Oklahoma is a great place to work and live and that includes us showing how welcoming it is to people of different backgrounds,” Lopez said.

In at least a couple of instance, companies that were contemplating setting up shop in Oklahoma reconsidered or asked for more information based on diversity issues, he said.

A firm that launched operations in Oklahoma City did so only after state officials assured company officials that one person's intolerant statement regarding “gender preferences” did not represent the entire state, Lopez said.

Former Commerce Secretary Natalie Shirley, now president of Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, said the survey reflects a need for more education and more exposure to people with different backgrounds.

“I think that education and exposure and opportunity are the ways that we combat fear and narrow-mindedness,” said Shirley, who also is an adviser to the X Out Exclusion! group that created the survey.

Mike Neal, president of the Tulsa Metro Chamber, said the state's ability to embrace diversity and inclusion is important to its continued economic growth.

“As we look at the demographics of Oklahoma's educational system, which is already minority majority, it is evident that our workforce will follow the same trend,” Neal said.

Survey origins

The OUR Oklahoma Survey is the brainchild of Risha Grant, head of a Tulsa PR firm, who wants to present the survey's results to policymakers and business leaders to develop a plan to address diversity after the survey closes at year's end.

Grant said the survey was born out of meeting with then-Gov. Brad Henry and business executives that included a discussion of the perceptions of Oklahoma outside the state.