After years in apartments, Meggie wanted more: peace, a yard, a garage, and freedom to decorate. Homeownership felt out of reach—until a coworker bought a Habitat home in Tulsa.

“He said it was very affordable,” Meggie recalled. To her surprise, affordability didn’t mean sacrificing what she wanted. 

After decades in Houston, the couple moved to Tulsa in 2023 to be closer to family. For the past two years, Matthew has been a reading interventionist and Michele an educational aide at a local middle school, helping students overcome challenges. However, homeownership, a challenge of their own, always felt out of reach.

“We had gotten to the point where we were like, I guess we’re just renting until we’re dead,” they shared.

Moving to Tulsa from Iowa in 2019 was a big change for Safiya, but one she fully embraced. Since then, she has grown to appreciate Tulsa’s rich history, culture, and community. But in that time, the rising cost of rent led her to Green Country Habitat for Humanity.

As a teacher, Brittany is laying the groundwork to give her students a unique advantage through her school’s Spanish dual-language program. Outside the classroom, she embraces the challenges of raising her four children, ages 4, 6, 8, and 11. Balancing work and parenting is never easy, but with a safe and steady home, the load becomes lighter.

Now, standing in her new home, Cherokee looks forward to making the space her own — and welcoming friends and family into a place that reflects her hard work, resilience, and cultural pride.

Melissa has spent her career shaping young minds. As a teacher—and as a mother of two grown sons, she knows what it means to show up with patience, resilience, and heart. Homeownership, however, always felt just out of reach. That changed when Education Begins with Home, a partnership between Tulsa Public Schools and Habitat for Humanity, opened a door she hadn’t realized was possible.

Through this journey, Neosha has grown in self-discipline, reflection, and confidence—embracing what it means to be a homeowner and a “more learned adult.” Her advice? “Don’t give up. Don’t overthink. Save your money. Be disciplined, and it will pay off.”

Originally from Jamaica, Shelly came to Tulsa with Teach for America in 2019 and quickly fell in love with the community. As a 4th grade English Language Arts teacher, she’s been shaping young minds—and now, she’s building a future of her own.

As a music teacher for Tulsa Public Schools, Alisha inspires pre-K through 4th-grade students every day. Now, as a new homeowner in the historic Kendall Whittier neighborhood, she’s discovering fresh inspiration in the area’s thriving arts and music scene.

Francisco arrived in Tulsa five years ago through Teach For America, eager to make a difference in the lives of local students. His passion for education inspired him to stay beyond his initial commitment, and he is now a dedicated full-time teacher with Tulsa Public Schools.

Greg is a Tulsa native, Cherokee citizen, and passionate music educator. After earning music degrees from the University of Tulsa and the University of Memphis, Greg returned home to teach at Monte Cassino, where he inspires students to discover their own musical voices.