TroubleNation Tuesday

They are making Good Trouble in Tulsa

Diane Perkins and Bonnie Hammond started Good Trouble in Tulsa in 2024 to create a space for progressive women in the area. They held the first meeting in July in Diane’s living room, where ten women attended. Flash forward to this month and over 160 women attended their meeting!

Leader Teresa Gawey (and daughter of Diane) describes living in Tulsa as “living in the heart of MAGA country,” which definitely presents some challenges. Women were so hungry for a sense of community in Tulsa that Good Trouble really resonated. Throughout 2024 the group met every other week — and at each meeting they welcomed new faces to their burgeoning group. As the group expanded, members described Good Trouble in Tulsa as a refuge during the craziness of the 2024 election cycle. Together the members started to feel less afraid and alone.

That’s truly the amazing part of local organizing. Through your efforts you make new friends and create a place of community where so many people feel welcomed.

Last year, Good Trouble in Tulsa hosted their largest event ever with a free screening of the movie “Bad Faith,” about the threat of Christian Nationalism. Over 200 people attended that screening, and membership of Good Trouble exploded! And it’s not just for big events like the movie screening that they’re seeing attendance skyrocket. In February, they had 130 women attend their regular meeting, and this past month they had 160! Each month they continue to grow their community and they now have almost 400 members.

Through their organizing, the members of Good Trouble in Tulsa have become active in the political process, including on the local level, and they learned how to make their voices heard. That’s something that is going to stay with them as they continue to make a difference in their local community.

If you’re feeling inspired and would like to learn more about Good Trouble in Tulsa, you can visit their page.

And if you aren’t in the Tulsa area, remember that Good Trouble in Tulsa is just one of the more than 700 TroubleNation groups we have across all 50 states. If you’re interested in finding a TroubleNation group in your community, or starting a new group, check out TroubleNation here.