Anthony Archie
Tulsa, OK
Matthew 5:9 Outreach Manager
Q: You are a Chicago native and love that area but live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. What drew you to the Sooner state, and what do you love most about living and working in Tulsa?
I am a huge fan of Tulsa. What drew me to the city was Oral Roberts University. When I told my parents I wanted to attend a university in Oklahoma, they gave me a puzzled look. I don’t think anyone in our family had ever said the word “Oklahoma”. So, it was definitely a geographical and cultural adjustment, but well worth it.
Tulsa has a rich history, and we are competing globally in many sectors. The Greenwood District, (Black Wall Street), is here, and America’s top-ranked food hall – The Mother Road Market is here. The city is investing in infrastructure, incubating new businesses and world-class parks. Natural resources like oil and gas provide great-paying jobs, and the city is the most family-friendly in the region.
I also like Tulsa because there is so much potential for progress. There is a racial reckoning that needs to happen between blacks and whites. We occupy Osage, Cherokee, and Creek land, and the native tribes have much to teach us. I feel like Tulsa is a growing city with so much energy. I am glad to be part of it.
Q: You and your wife own a toffee company (Oklahoma Toffee), and you donate a portion of your proceeds to school teachers in the Tulsa community. Why did you choose education as the recipient of your profits?
My wife and I believe Oklahoma’s most incredible natural resource is its teachers. When we had the historic Oklahoma Teacher Walk Out of 2018, our nation was able to see the state’s education struggle firsthand. Still, for a long time, teachers had voiced concerns over the funding of education in the state. When our 2016 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year announced that he was moving his family to Dallas because of Oklahoma’s lack of support, supplies, and salary, it was an indictment of our state’s priorities. My wife taught middle school science at the time, and I saw how these issues were personally affecting us.
We wanted to start a business that would address this issue. We wanted it to reach lots of people, and affect teachers directly. Toffee is my favorite candy, I love to make it, and it’s a popular gift so I said, “We can make toffee, and we will use part of the proceeds to fulfill the Amazon wishlists of teachers across the state.
We started small in 2017, just going to local trade shows, selling online, and fulfilling a few dozen teacher supply requests. When the 2018 Teacher Strike happened, we got a lot of press, and some local retailers picked us up in their stores. Today, we have five employees and are expanding our retail footprint. We recently received the Oklahoma Education Association’s Tuskahoma Miller Brown Education Award, which recognizes a business that significantly contributes to the advancement of Oklahoma Education.
Oklahoma still grapples with properly prioritizing education and supporting teachers, but we are building an organization that uses its resources to make a significant difference in that fight.
Q: What made you decide to join the One America Movement team?
I was a youth pastor and educator in Tulsa for about 10 years and built friendships with many leaders in the city. Shortly after the One America Movement was formed one of these friends joined the organization’s board.
When the Outreach Manager role for the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship Initiative became available, this board member shared the vision of One America Movement and said it would be a place to use my passion and experience. That was some of the best career advice I’ve ever received. I am glad to be part of the team.