First Americans Museum topic of August Forum; Pepper Henry to provide preview

Individuals planning to attend the Chamber Forum this month will get a preview of the First Americans Museum from the museum’s director and CEO, James Pepper Henry.

The Chamber Forum will be held Aug. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vast.

Register here

The grand opening for the museum, formerly the American Indian Cultural Center, is set for Sept. 18-19, 2021. The $175 million, 175,000-square-foot museum will tell the stories, histories and cultures of Oklahoma’s 39 federally recognized tribes through various galleries and artifacts.

Pepper Henry was named the museum’s executive director in 2017 after leading other museums across the state and nation, including Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum and museums in Phoenix, Ariz., and Anchorage, Alaska, among others.

Designed to Smithsonian Institute standards, the museum complex consists of the main museum, where guests can visit several galleries, such as the Tribal Nations Gallery that tells the stories of each of the 39 tribes, and Hall of The People, the museum’s largest special events venue that welcomes visitors into the museum, as well as other spaces, including a theatre and museum store. Outside is the 40-foot-high Remembrance Gate, the Festival Plaza and the iconic earthen mound, a tribute to the mound-builder civilization.

Registration for the August Chamber Forum is $35 for Chamber members and $55 for nonmembers. To register or learn more, visit okcchamber.com/augustforum.

The Chamber’s successful Forum series, which is held on the third Wednesday of the month, brings thought leaders together to discuss major initiatives, programs and current issues that impact OKC’s business climate, economy and community.

Following the August event, the next forum is scheduled for Sept. 15 and will feature speakers Dan Straughan of the Homeless Alliance and Aubrey McDermid from the City of Oklahoma City, with additional speakers to be announced, as they share Oklahoma City’s approach to homelessness and how businesses can help.

Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor Cox Business and Corporate Sponsor ADG.

This article originally appeared in the August 2021 edition of the VeloCity newsletter.