District 1

Vanessa is a Tulsa Native who graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1989. Vanessa attended Jackson State University in Jackson Mississippi where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Pre-Law in 1993. She also received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from The University of Tulsa in 1995.  In preparation for running for the office of City Council, District 1 (2014), Vanessa returned to school and earned her Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree in 2013 from Southern Nazarene University.

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Vanessa Hall-Harper has served as the Tulsa District 1 City Councilor since 2016. She is also a Political Science Adjunct Professor at Tulsa Community College as well as a private consultant.  Vanessa worked over 25 years in the Tulsa County system. She was employed with the Tulsa Health Department for over 20 years.  Prior to working in public health, Vanessa was an Intake Counselor at the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau for over 6 years. Vanessa has been married for 25 years to Lt. Marcus Harper (Tulsa Police Department) and they have one 19 year old daughter, Kaylyn.

Vanessa is also a community activist who is passionate about uplifting her community.  She volunteers and serves on a plethora of boards and committees such as the:

• City of Tulsa’s Sales Tax Overview Committee (2014-2016),

• The Institute for Developing Communities (TIDC),

• Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma (2016-2019),

• North Tulsa Clean-up Campaign,

• Theatre North,

• Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce (co-founder),

• Power Group Community Development Corporation,

• Historic Greenwood District Main Street Board

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She has also been involved in several community initiatives such as the creation of the African American Affairs Commission within the City of Tulsa infrastructure, the rebuilding B.C. Franklin Park, the creation of the Tulsa Expungement Expo, the District 1 Housing and Policy Committee, the Tulsa Black Contractor’s Association, Public Hearings on Tulsa’s Equality Indicators related to Policing and the need for an Independent Monitor Office to monitor the Tulsa Police Department. In addition, Vanessa led a successful campaign for a moratorium on discount dollar stores and the implementation of a Healthy Neighborhoods Overlay to address the proliferation of dollar stores in District 1. She further addressed the food security problem in District 1 by bringing a quality grocery to District 1 which opened in May 2021.  Vanessa is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Vanessa also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, playing dominoes and spades, singing in her church choir at Paradise Baptist Church and watching her Dallas Cowboys!

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Disclaimer: The opinions or policy positions expressed on District webpages, either directly or indirectly, does not necessarily represent the view or position of the Tulsa City Council or the City of Tulsa.