The people who help hold a neighborhood together aren't always the ones standing at a podium. On Thursday, October 8, North Tulsa recognized 24 of them.

As Shaunicy Muhammad reported for The Oklahoma Eagle, the Honoring Our North Tulsa Jewels ceremony brought families and community members to First Baptist Church North Tulsa to recognize elders who have spent decades serving the neighborhood. Presented by Black Wall Street Tours, the breakfast honored residents age 80 and older whose contributions reach across education, faith communities, businesses and everyday neighborhood life.

Among those recognized were Theatre North executive director Maybelle Wallace and longtime Oklahoma Eagle publisher James O. Goodwin. The Oklahoma Eagle's report from the ceremony includes the complete list of honorees.

The Eagle reported that students from Booker T. Washington High School also attended. The Eagle also spoke with relatives who described what can be learned from people who have lived the area's history, not just read about it.

Black Wall Street Tours says the recognition effort also connects to its work to preserve the stories of North Tulsa's elders. The ceremony recognized their service in public; the preservation effort aims to keep their experiences available beyond that morning.