Kimberly Statum Francisco
Executive Director
Kimberly Statum Francisco is a lifetime resident of Northeast Oklahoma City. Her professional experience and roots in Oklahoma City will help Progress OKC advance economic and social resources in areas of Oklahoma City that have traditionally been under-resourced or disinvested. Kimberly’s background positions her perfectly for the leadership position. In her most recent role as manager of the Ralph Ellison Library, she worked with state and local agencies, community-based nonprofits and local school systems to provide programming and services based on community needs. She led a systemwide effort to curate a hundred-year history of the Ralph Ellison Library in collaboration with community stakeholders, leaders and individuals. Other experience includes work for nonprofits in the areas of education, advocacy and training, federal, state and foundation grant acquisition and administration and fundraising.
She understands the time and energy required to rebuild trust and inclusion. A lifelong resident of northeast Oklahoma City, she has seen a disconnect between the leaders, financers and developers and the needs and desires of underrepresented people who live in the impacted neighborhoods. She is motivated to build on the inroads made by Progress OKC and the Alliance in visioning and developing with community inclusion.
Ms. Statum Francisco received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma City University.
Melva J. Franklin, M.P.H., CED
Program Director
Melva Franklin, has enjoyed a long career in public service developing and implementing several innovative data-driven strategies to address critical social and economic issues impacting underserved and under-resourced communities. Ms. Franklin is professionally and academically trained in non-profit management, public health practice, and community economic development. She is skilled in strategic planning and operations, program development and implementation, research, and data analysis. Her efforts have been focused on root causes that impede access to basic needs and that create barriers to equitable economic opportunity. Her work has been applied across multiple disciplines and quality of life issues including, housing access, public safety, crime abatement, healthcare access and expanding the healthcare provider pipeline, and, post-secondary education completion. She has developed and managed programs within local, state, and federal government systems, major universities, a national foundation, and community-based initiatives. Her experience will now be applied to increasing workforce housing, and, stabilizing and sustaining small businesses in our local communities.
Ms. Franklin received a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University, a Master’s degree in Public Health, Administration, and Policy from Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, and a post-graduate certification in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University.
Progress OKC's board includes stakeholders from across the metro:
· Ashley Dickson – Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma
· Kelly Gray – McLaughlin Family Foundation
· Joseph H. Allen – Kings Worldwide Transportation
· Teresa Goggins – Keller Williams
· Reverend Ray Douglas – Great Mt. Olive Baptist Church
· Louis Almaraz - Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort