Global Vision Awards 2025: Celebrating Connection

Apr 14

On April 3, 2025, the ballroom of the DoubleTree Hotel at Warren Place was filled with warmth, elegance, and a shared spirit of global connection as Tulsa Global Alliance hosted the Global Vision Awards Gala — a signature celebration of international friendship, cultural exchange, and community impact.

With longtime Tulsan and award-winning journalist LeAnne Taylor as emcee, the evening welcomed a full room of supporters, including city and state leaders, international guests, and passionate advocates for global citizenship. We were honored to be joined by Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, State Representatives Ronald Stewart, Mark Tedford, and John Waldron, City Councilors Anthony Archie, Christian Bengel, and Lori Decter Wright, Special District Judge Theresa Dreiling, and Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes, as well as former Tulsa mayors Rodger Randle and Kathy Taylor.

Before guests even entered the ballroom, the atmosphere reflected TGA’s global mission. The reception hall featured a colorful display of our Sister City banners and a beautifully curated table of artifacts from our culture boxes, offering a hands-on glimpse into the cultures and histories of Tulsa’s nine Sister Cities. It quickly became a favorite gathering spot, inviting guests to read, reflect, and connect more deeply with the global communities we celebrate.

Among our most honored guests were members of the Mwanza Sister City delegation, visiting from Tanzania to celebrate the recent formation of Tulsa’s ninth Sister City relationship — our first on the African continent and the first new partnership in nearly 20 years. Their presence underscored TGA’s mission of fostering deep, people-to-people connections across the globe.

This year’s Global Vision honorees were shining examples of international impact at both the organizational and individual level.

Circle Cinema was recognized as Outstanding Organization for its commitment to cultural storytelling and its mission to elevate community consciousness through film. Co-founder Clark Wiens reflected on the power of global perspective, sharing, “We want this world — our Tulsa world — to know about the rest of the world.”. Through thoughtful programming and inclusive dialogue, Circle continues to be a cultural gateway connecting Tulsa to stories from around the globe.
Eva Unterman, Holocaust survivor and educator, received the Raymond and Nancy Feldman Lifetime Achievement Award for her unwavering dedication to remembrance and education. Encouraged by a local teacher who discovered a Holocaust survivor was living in the Tulsa community, Eva began speaking to students across Oklahoma, using her story to illuminate one of history’s darkest chapters. She considers teachers the stewards of history, playing an essential role in ensuring that future generations never forget.

The evening also featured a moving keynote from Samara Rosas, a Youth Ambassadors alumna from Brazil who is now studying international relations at Oral Roberts University. She shared how her experience with TGA transformed her life and opened doors she once thought impossible. One of the most touching moments of the night: her host mother from that original exchange was in the audience, celebrating how far she’s come.

As Board Chair Kaitlin Flinn and Executive Director Micah Keyan shared in their remarks, the past year has been a powerful season of growth and reconnection for TGA. From welcoming delegations from 56 countries to relaunching outbound student programs to Japan, our work continues to thrive, but not without challenges. With federal funding uncertain, community support has never been more crucial to sustaining TGA’s programs.

We are deeply grateful to our Honorary Chairs, Lauren C. and Hamel B. Reinmiller, for their leadership, and to our many sponsors, volunteers, and guests who made the night possible. Your belief in a more globally connected Tulsa fuels the work we do every day.

As we look ahead to the 45th anniversary of Sister Cities in Tulsa and our organization’s 50th anniversary in 2026, we are inspired, hopeful, and more committed than ever to our mission. Thank you for celebrating with us and being part of this journey.