Innovation News

Partner Feature: Lauren Sivak, Executive Director, The Opportunity Project 

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As Executive Director of The Opportunity Project, Lauren is passionate about providing transformative opportunities to Tulsa students. The Opp Project operates Pathways to Autonomy, a citywide STEM initiative supported by TIL and PartnerTulsa, which gives students hands-on experiences and opens the door to careers in tech, regardless of school funding. Keep reading to witness the powerful impact of investing in STEM programming: 

1. To start, can you share a bit about your background and the path that led you to your work with The Opportunity Project?

Prior to moving to Tulsa in 2022, I worked in arts education in Chicago, developing and piloting afterschool programs at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and 2nd Story. A firm believer that quality education should not be contingent on zip code or economic status, I felt called to and inspired by the mission and vision of The Opportunity Project. 

2. For those who may be new to the initiative, how would you describe Pathways to Autonomy and why is it such a vital part of preparing Tulsa’s next generation of tech talent?

Pathways to Autonomy is a citywide STEM initiative designed to prepare the next generation of Tulsa youth for careers in autonomous systems, robotics, and advanced mobility technologies. Through partnerships with Google, Tulsa Innovation Labs, PartnerTulsa, and Atlas School, Pathways to Autonomy is building a future-ready workforce, starting in afterschool. 

3. What inspired the inception of Pathways to Autonomy, and how did the team identify the need for youth-focused programming within the Advanced Air Mobility space?

Pathways to Autonomy was launched to create a coordinated, citywide approach to STEM-focused expanded learning. From the earliest days of school through graduation, Tulsa students can access hands-on STEM experiences, regardless of which school pattern they attend. Through Pathways to Autonomy, young people are coding, designing and building robots, exploring space, and solving real-world problems together, while discovering pathways to high-demand careers in Tulsa’s growing tech sector.

4. What feedback have you heard from students and educators involved in Pathways to Autonomy? Any standout stories that highlight the program’s impact?

Just weeks into the program at Booker T. Washington, one student has already earned a spot on Rocket Drones’ national e-sports leaderboard. According to our contact at Rocket Drones, this is the fastest any student has ever advanced into the program at this level. The early engagement and enthusiasm from students has been incredible, and further emphasizes the momentum we hoped to see: high-interest, skill-building programming that hooks students quickly and shows them what’s possible.

5. As you look to the future, what excites you most about Tulsa’s advanced mobility and tech innovation—and how do you see Tulsa’s youth shaping that future?

I am most excited about the sheer number of STEM opportunities we are bringing to youth across Tulsa and making sure that they know vibrant careers await them.

By the numbers:

• For the Pathways to Autonomy program in Fall 2025, there were 30 club applications across 26 schools, indicating early demand. 
• Among those applications in Fall 2025, 25 clubs were accepted across 22 schools and 7 feeder patterns. 
• The Fall 2025 Pathways to Autonomy clubs have 418 students involved and engaged. 

6. How can people get involved with the Pathways to Autonomy initiative?  

People can support Pathways to Autonomy by helping us make connections to school partners who do not currently offer STEM-focused out-of-school time programming. For local STEM career professionals, our club leaders are frequently looking for guests to demonstrate in real ways the real opportunities that await Tulsa youth.