At the beginning of 2021, Angela Harris had no idea that her life would soon change in ways unfathomable. After the sudden passing of her husband, she embarked on a journey of grief, self-discovery, and personal transformation that ultimately led her to a new chapter in Tulsa.
Widowhood brought profound changes to Angela's life, both personally and professionally. Through it all, she found herself continually asking one question: "Who is Angela?" Soon after her husband's passing, her daughter became pregnant. Angela relocated from the Atlanta suburbs to the Houston area to be closer to her daughter and grandchild, but she still didn't feel at home. After hearing about the Tulsa Remote program during a news broadcast, she decided to apply. "I'm in a 'why not?' phase of my life, so I said, 'Let's do it!'" Angela recalls.
In September of 2024, as a birthday present to herself, she took the leap of faith and made Tulsa her new home. Shortly after relocating, she decided to embrace a new look as part of her new season and shaved her head. That decision led to an unexpected encounter with a stranger who encouraged her to enter the Ms. Bald & Beautiful pageant. Standing alongside several other women on similar journeys, Angela proudly represented Tulsa, OK in the pageant and placed as First Runner Up! She credits the overwhelming support of the local community for making the experience especially meaningful. "That just wouldn't have happened anywhere else," she says, noting that her pageant dress was custom-made by Tulsa designer Marie' Grace, and her jacket was customized by Black Wall Street Tees & Souvenirs.
Tulsa has been more than just glitz and glamour for Angela, however. “Tulsa is like a breath of fresh air…like a remix to your favorite song,” she says. Working remotely has given her the space to do the often difficult work of processing her grief. Looking back, Angela realizes she was "just surviving…and didn't know that until moving here." She explains, "Moving to a new place where you don't know anyone forces you to face the things you've been putting on a shelf, and grief was one of those things for me."
As a Senior Compliance Specialist at DISA, Angela calls remote work "the bees' knees." On days when grief feels especially heavy, the flexibility of working from home allows her to continue showing up professionally while prioritizing the self-care she needs.
Beyond the benefits of remote work, Angela enjoys many of the spoils that Tulsa has to offer. Living downtown, she appreciates the city's walkability and the freedom to navigate much of her daily life without relying on a car, an experience that would have been difficult in both the Atlanta suburbs and Houston. Her Tulsa favorites include Black Wall Street, The Gathering Place, the Philbrook Museum, and brunch at The Vault and Misfit Kitchen.
As she continues writing this next chapter, Angela is committed to helping other women navigate their own. Her work focuses on helping women rebuild after loss, centering the question: “Who am I now?”
Angela's story is a testament to resilience, courage, and renewal. Through Tulsa Remote, she found more than a new place to live. She found the opportunity to rediscover herself, with Tulsa serving as the backdrop for a remarkable new beginning.
