Kimberly Francisco

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Kimberly Statum Francisco is a lifetime resident of Northeast Oklahoma City.  Her professional experience and roots in Oklahoma City advance economic and social resources in areas of Oklahoma City that have traditionally been under-resourced or disinvested, as ED of Progress OKC. In her previous 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. Working with and for families navigating systems not created with their lived experience in mind, has been central to her professional work; ranging from Seattle Central Community College working with migrant and immigrant communities to Eagle Ridge Institute providing parent education to incarcerated mothers at Mable Bassett Correctional Institute to families at risk of loss of parental rights through DHS.

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.

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. Married for 35+ years to Anthony Francisco, with three adult children and four grandchildren.