The Legacy of City Lights Tulsa: Empowering Our Neighbors

City Lights Tulsa began with a simple yet powerful mission: to serve our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, and to provide more than just a meal or temporary shelter. It started in 2013 with the Night Light Tulsa program, a grassroots effort that brought together a group of volunteers to serve meals and provide care under the bridge in Tulsa. Sarah, who now leads the organization, saw firsthand how this simple act of service was more than just providing food—it was about connection, dignity, and humanizing the people they served.

The Early Days: A Response to a Growing Crisis

In those early days, Sarah and her team would spend time with our neighbors under the bridge, offering not only food but also a listening ear and a sense of belonging. The work was deeply personal, and the more they served, the more they realized that their efforts couldn’t just be about quick fixes. As Sarah recalls, “It became clear that as we met people and heard their stories, just offering food wasn’t enough. We needed to do more. We needed to understand the bigger picture, the root causes of why our neighbors were returning to homelessness.”

The question that plagued their minds was: Why were people coming back to homelessness after being on waitlists for years? This question fueled City Lights Tulsa’s evolution. It spurred the creation of the Housing Stability Program, where the organization not only helps individuals get housed but also provides continued support, ensuring that they have the tools to stay housed and thrive.

Expanding the Vision: From Night Light to City Lights Village

As the Night Light Tulsa program gained momentum, City Lights began to realize that they were providing a critical service, but there were gaps they needed to address. The organization’s success in meeting immediate needs like food and clothing revealed a larger, more complex issue: the chronic cycle of homelessness. With this in mind, City Lights Tulsa sought out innovative, long-term solutions.

They found inspiration in Community First Village in Austin, Texas—a program focused on providing dignified housing and creating a community for people who had been living on the streets for years. Sarah says, “We realized the importance of not just providing a roof over someone’s head, but offering an entire ecosystem of support. We needed a solution that not only addressed housing but also helped people heal and rebuild their lives.”

This vision led to the creation of City Lights Village, an ambitious housing project that will house 75 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. But City Lights Village is more than just a place to live. It’s designed to provide dignity, safety, and community for our neighbors—offering on-site support services, including medical care, mental health support, and opportunities for dignified employment.

Sarah explains, “City Lights Village is a place where people can live out the rest of their lives with dignity, stability, and the support they need. It’s not just about housing—it’s about providing a community where people can heal, grow, and thrive.”

The Heart of the Work: Relationship and Trust

One of the most profound aspects of City Lights Tulsa’s work is its focus on relationships. Sarah and the team don’t just provide services—they build relationships. The act of foot washing, introduced through Sarah's nursing background, has become a symbol of the organization’s commitment to serving our neighbors with humility and care.

John Christner, a volunteer, describes his own transformative experience: “The beauty of washing feet for me was realizing that it wasn’t just about serving—it was about meeting people eye-to-eye, on the same level. It softened my heart. I realized that the people we serve have stories just like me, and they’ve been through unimaginable challenges.”

Sarah echoes this sentiment: “It’s a mutual relationship. It’s not just us giving to others—it’s about receiving and learning from our neighbors. There’s a beauty in the give-and-take. When someone comes back to wash your feet after you’ve washed theirs, it’s a profound moment of mutual respect and understanding. That’s what our work is all about: walking with people, not doing things for them, but with them.”

Dignity and Community: The Future of City Lights Tulsa

As City Lights Village nears completion, the vision for the future of City Lights Tulsa continues to grow. The village will be a unique place—75 homes, each designed to offer a safe, dignified living space. But the village isn’t just about providing shelter—it’s about building a sustainable, thriving community.

In addition to housing, residents will have access to on-site support services: mental health care, medical services, and employment opportunities. There will be community gardens, game nights, movie nights, and more to foster connection. As Sarah explains, “Our goal is to help people transition from surviving to thriving. We want to create a culture of belonging and dignity, where people don’t just live—they live with purpose.”

One of the most unique aspects of the village is its commitment to dignified income. City Lights Tulsa will partner with trauma-informed employers, ensuring that residents have access to stable work that supports their ongoing healing journey. “It’s about providing jobs where people are understood, where they don’t have to hide their struggles,” says Sarah. “Here, they can have a job and the support they need to maintain it.”

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action

As City Lights Tulsa continues to grow and evolve, they remain committed to their mission of supporting our neighbors through every stage of their journey—from homelessness to stability to independence. With City Lights Village on the horizon, the future is full of hope, opportunity, and a brighter tomorrow for Tulsa’s most vulnerable.

Learn more about City Lights here.