On August 6th, the 2016-17 Provisional Class of the Junior League of Tulsa (JLT) gathered for their annual Provisional Retreat.  This year’s Provisional Class is comprised of 82 women. Lauren Bradley, 2016-17 Provisional Chair, says “This year’s retreat was a huge success. From what I can tell the Provisionals are a group of enthusiastic, motivated women who are ready to start giving back to the community and continue our rich tradition of building a better Tulsa!”

Before the Saturday retreat, the Provisionals enjoyed a social on Thursday evening at Stokely Event Center.  The space was kindly and generously donated by JLT’s own Jill Stokely.   

The Provisional Retreat started off with a tour of Harvest Market and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. At the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, the Provisionals learned who the Food Bank serves and the amount of food that comes in and is later distributed. This year JLT is partnering with the Food Bank to provide monthly community dinners to local elementary schools where students are experiencing food insecurity. During the bus tour, the Provisional Class also drove by Take 2 Restaurant and received information about the volunteer work of the Resonance Take 2 Committee.

This year’s Provisional Project partner is the Westside Harvest Market, a non-profit grocery store located near Eugene Field Elementary School.  Each Provisional small group will organize and host a cooking class designed to offer affordable and healthy recipes for members of the community.

Below, a few Provisionals share more about themselves:

Kacie Frazier

JLT: Where are you from?  

Kacie: I grew up in Oklahoma, then moved to Nashville, TN after college.  In 2011, my husband was relocated to Broken Arrow, so I am an Okie again.

JLT: What’s your occupation?

Kacie: I represent The Children’s Hospital Foundation at Saint Francis.  

JLT: Why did you decide to join JLT?

Kacie: My husband and I have set our roots down in Tulsa, and I want to personally invest in my community.  I plan to raise my daughters in Tulsa, so I want to be a contributor, not just a consumer.

JLT: What’s your placement this year?

Kacie: IMPACT! 

JLT: What are looking forward to most in Junior League?  

Kacie: I am excited to learn about service opportunities and organizations I wouldn’t otherwise by exposed to, and I hope to build new and lasting relationships along the way.

JLT: What other volunteer work do you do?  

Kacie: I am super involved at church and serve at my daughter’s elementary school.  

JLT: What do you like to do in your spare time?  

Kacie: Spare time?!  I have a six year old and a six month old – I don’t understand the question. If I had some spare time, first I would catch up on some sleep, ha!  After that I would travel to a new city and do nothing but eat delicious food!  I am also a huge football fan and a Netflix junkie.

Ebony Anthony

JLT: Where are you from?

Ebony: Alabaster, Alabama

JLT: What’s your occupation?

Ebony: Community Network Project Manager on a cardiovascular study with OU’s Health Sciences Center

JLT: Why did you decide to join JLT?

Ebony: My best friend introduced me to JLT by asking me to join her at a recruiting event. I did not know much about Junior League, but I am very happy that I went to the event and learned more. I was instantly sold on JLT and all it had to offer!

JLT: What’s your placement this year?

Ebony: I am on the IMPACT Committee 

JLT: What are you looking forward to most in Junior League?

Ebony: Since I have only been in Oklahoma for a year, I am looking forward to a number of things: 1) Learning more about my new city, 2) Increasing my volunteer efforts around Tulsa, and 3) making new friends. 

JLT: What other volunteer work do you do?

Ebony: I have not done as much volunteering as I would have liked since I moved to Oklahoma. However, I have had the opportunity to volunteer at ‘The Little Lighthouse’ and ‘Night Light Tulsa,’ and I absolutely love doing both! Back in Alabama, my volunteering efforts focused mostly on homeless/lower income individuals and those with special needs.

JLT: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Ebony: Life keeps me so busy that when I get free time, I like to spend as much of it as possible with friends and family. The older we get, the more difficult it is to organize everyone’s schedules, so whatever time we get together is precious. I also love to travel, and I read whenever I can.

Laura Bryant

JLT: Where are you from?

Laura: I’m from Tulsa, and I’ve always lived here except for my time at OU. 

JLT: What’s your occupation?

Laura: Realtor with McGraw Realtors 

JLT: Why did you decide to join JLT?

Laura: Rania [Nasreddine] is a close girlfriend of mine and she suggested I join. I also wanted to volunteer and get to know more people. 

JLT: What’s your placement this year?

Laura: Hawthorne Art 

JLT: What are you looking forward to most in Junior League?

Laura: I’m most looking forward to getting my fingers involved in the community and getting to know like-minded women and establishing friendships. 

JLT: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Laura: In my spare time I like to run and have coached the marathon groups for Fleet Feet Tulsa. I also enjoy cooking and gardening.