Tulsa students help beautify Woodward Park for Day of Caring Event

Students from KIPP Tulsa traded a school day for shovels and soil as part of a community-wide push to give back.

At Woodward Park, kids spent the morning pulling weeds, planting flowers, and learning that some of the biggest lessons can grow from the smallest seeds.

“Oh, look at how cute he is. He’s so tiny,” Akeaia Harris said, pointing at a bee in the flower bed.

Among the buzzing bees and blooming beds, students like Akeaia were hard at work.

“We’re doing some community service—actually giving back to Tulsa right now,” she said.

Her group was focused on clearing out old annuals to make room for new life.

“That way we can grow some more,” she added.

But what they were growing wasn’t just in the soil—it was pride, ownership, and a sense of community.

“I love community service work, and I love my community. And also, these flowers are really beautiful,” Akeaia said.

Tulsa Area United Way’s Student Day of Caring brought more than 30 students to the park, along with volunteers from the energy company Williams. The Woodward Park event was just one of 13 projects happening across the region.

“I’m Allison, and I’ve worked at Williams for 18 years,” one volunteer said, greeting a student with a handshake.

Allison Anthony, president and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way, says the organization has partnered with KIPP and Williams for years—and it’s about more than just planting flowers.

“We just love to see people growing in confidence that they can do something to improve lives and to beautify our already beautiful city,” Anthony said.

For Akeaia, the experience was about learning how to care for her city—and maybe someday, her own garden.

“No, I don’t have a garden,” she said. “But I wish I did.”

She might not have soil at home, but she’s already cultivating something deeper.

“It gives me hope—the belief that tomorrow can be better than today and that we each have a role to play in making it so,” Alison said.