OCCJ Staff
Phil Armstrong: President and CEO
Irissa Baxter-Luper: Programs Director
Danielle Walker: Operations and Engagement Administrator
Jeremy Wright: Director of Development
Phil Armstrong
President & CEO
Phil Armstrong (He/Him), a native of Ohio, has lived in Tulsa for over 25 years. The son of a Baptist Preacher, Phil accepted a call into ministry and was licensed in 1997 shortly after moving to Tulsa and was fully ordained in 2014. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications from an HBCU, Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Akron.
Phil’s lifelong experiences have been centered around developing communal collaboration and trust which motivates people to find commonality among their differences. 2019 he was hired by the Tulsa Community Foundation as Project Director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission which led to the building of the world-class Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center. He was tasked with leading the history center through its infancy as the Interim Executive Director. In January 2023, Phil accepted the role as President and CEO for the Oklahoma Center for Community & Justice (“OCCJ”). He is tasked with its overall direction and organizational leadership, community engagement initiatives, donor & grant support for programs and board governance relationships.
Phil serves on various community boards, namely Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Arvest Bank Board of Directors, Tulsa Opera Board and past board chair of the Greenwood Cultural Center. He is a Leadership Tulsa graduate, a Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club of Tulsa, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Irissa Baxter-Luper
Programs Director
Irissa Baxter-Luper (she/her) was proudly born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began serving as the Programs Director for OCCJ in February 2026. She strongly believes in working to create spaces of justice and liberation for all Oklahomans through education, advocacy, community organizing, and youth development. She holds a Masters of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania as well as a Bachelors of Arts from Hampshire College. She began her career at Oklahoma State University, serving for six years as the Coordinator of Women’s and LGBTQ Affairs as well as a campus Victim Advocate. After leaving OSU, she was the Postsecondary Initiatives Manager at Take Control Initiative, a Tulsa-based birth control non-profit, where she facilitated youth and volunteer programs.
In her free time, Irissa enjoys analyzing horror films with her spouse, spending time with her queer community, creating and enjoying art, and playing video games. She is a doting parent of one rambunctious dog and a very large cat
Danielle Walker
Operations and Engagement Administrator
Danielle Walker (She/Her), a Tulsa native, graduated from Tulsa Community College with an Associate in Arts Degree, majoring in education. She has spent over 20 years working in education, mental health, and nonprofits, always guided by a heart for people and a belief in the power of process. Outside of her professional life, she’s a proud mom to a busy teenage son and an enthusiastic track and soccer supporter. Known as a “Protector of People Through Process,” she finds joy in quietly championing missions and visions from the background, helping others shine while staying grounded in her own values.
Jeremy Wright
Director of Development
Jeremy Wright (He/Him), is a Tulsa-born musician and arts leader dedicated to strengthening community through nonprofit development and creative collaboration. A graduate of the University of Tulsa with a degree in Vocal Performance, he is passionate about the power of the arts and community to foster connection, healing, and inclusion.
Alongside his partner, Jeremy co-founded Tulsa Peoples' Orchestra (TPO), a nonprofit community orchestra grounded in the mission “Music for All.” This organization is dedicated to making orchestral music accessible to both local musicians and audiences beyond traditional concert halls, intentionally meeting people where they are. At TPO concerts, you will also find Jeremy performing in the cello section!
Outside of his community-centered work, Jeremy remains an active musician, performing jazz throughout Tulsa. He finds balance and inspiration in Oklahoma’s natural landscapes, spending time kayaking and camping with his partner and their dog.
