Event Details
Date: Thursday | 11.20.25
Time: 10:30am - 11:20am
Description
Human-Centered Problem Solving
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion on design thinking—a creative, human-centered approach to solving complex challenges and driving innovation. Hear from local professionals as they share how design thinking principles have transformed their work, improved collaboration, and sparked meaningful solutions. The event also celebrates the achievements of The Mine’s graduating cohort, who have applied these methods to create real impact across Tulsa’s nonprofit and business communities.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the core principles and real-world applications of design thinking
- Gain insights from local innovators using this framework to drive meaningful change
- Celebrate the accomplishments of The Mine’s graduating teams and their community impact.
Nesha Brown is a passionate founder, strategist, and changemaker dedicated to building pathways to economic freedom in underserved communities. Her project, PurposeMint, is a tech-for-good platform helping individuals build emergency savings and healthier money habits through culturally relevant coaching, behavioral nudges, and community support.
Stacy Y. Thomas, MDiv is a faith-driven coach, author, and advocate who helps women rebuild their lives after heartbreak and major transitions by blending psychology, faith, and emotional intelligence. Her project, Faith & Emotional Wellness, creates a sacred community where women transform pain into purpose through guided support, honest conversation, and soul-centered tools that inspire healing and renewal.
Vera Burgess is the Executive Director of the American Dream Center and a former ESL teacher devoted to helping immigrants feel welcome and supported in the U.S. Her project, Removing Barriers to U.S. Citizenship, empowers eligible immigrants to overcome obstacles to naturalization by identifying common challenges and providing practical solutions and personalized guidance.
Hieu Lê is an educator and advocate who founded Empower-ED to help underserved students navigate their path from high school to higher education and beyond. His project, We Invest as They Grow (W.I.G.), introduces 529 college savings plans as tools for generational wealth and financial empowerment, teaching families to invest together in education and long-term success.
Deja White is a workforce innovation strategist and founder of Breakroom Buddha, a career design studio bridging the gap between education and employment through creativity and technology. Her project features Scouta and Career CoPilot, AI-powered career discovery and coaching tools that reimagine how communities prepare for the future of work through storytelling, technology, and experiential learning.
Jameelah Stuckey, M.B.A. is a connector and visionary leader who creates frameworks that elevate emerging leaders and advance equity across education, community, and corporate spaces. Her project, Building as We Rise: A Trust Movement, is a community gathering that fosters honest dialogue, deepens connections, and builds collective trust to inspire a more united Tulsa.
