On June 1, 2026, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols announced the creation of the Greenwood Trust to raise and invest $105 million in private funds for community repair. The move came on the first Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day, a new city holiday. Nichols addressed survivors of the 1921 massacre during the event at the Greenwood Cultural Center.
Nichols, Tulsa's first Black mayor, spoke directly to the two known remaining survivors in the audience. He quoted from the book of Isaiah to emphasize themes of renewal and reconnection. The announcement marked the city's first formal step toward financial compensation for harms from the 1921 massacre that killed about 300 people. The Greenwood Trust will operate as a private charitable entity focused on restoration efforts. Nichols said the city had worked with its legal department to establish the fund. This positions Tulsa to potentially become the second U.S. city after Evanston, Illinois, to pursue reparations for historical harms to Black communities. City councilors Vanessa Hall-Harper and Lori Decter Wright welcomed the private funding approach but called for additional public contributions. Hall-Harper noted ongoing concerns about police practices and land use in the Greenwood area. Nichols indicated the council could play a role if public assets become involved in future decisions.
