City Leaders Celebrate Grand Opening of MAPS 4 Diversion Hub

OKLAHOMA CITY — City officials cut the ribbon Wednesday on the MAPS 4 Diversion Hub, a 35,575-square-foot facility that will provide comprehensive support services to people and families impacted by the criminal legal system.
With the new $19-million facility, Diversion Hub can expand its work to transform the City’s approach to the criminal legal system and relieve pressure on the Oklahoma County jail. Diversion Hub helps people navigate and exit the legal system while addressing needs to prevent future justice contact.
“In 2019, the voters of Oklahoma City made a statement that they wanted to see the power of MAPS impact an even broader spectrum of the human experience,” said Mayor David Holt. “In the MAPS 4 Diversion Hub, the people of Oklahoma City saw the opportunity to alter the trajectory of lives that were in crisis. The proposal to bring together a hub of services that could divert residents away from jail or prison was immediately recognized as a MAPS project that could impact our community for generations. The Diversion Hub will be a national model and the fact that our residents have made this investment with our own tax dollars is something that speaks volumes about this community.”
Programming offered through the Diversion Hub includes case management, justice navigation, recovery support, workforce assistance, emergency basic needs, assistance enrolling in benefits, housing navigation, family services, behavioral health and substance use services, civil legal assistance and education support. Partner agencies share space in the Diversion Hub and provide essential complementary services that improve life outcomes for clients and the community.
“This is a critical milestone for Diversion Hub and for Oklahoma,” said Meagan Taylor, chief executive officer of Diversion Hub. “System change happens when communities come together to realize a shared vision. What we are truly empowering our clients to achieve is economic and social mobility while increasing public safety.”
The first floor includes a lobby, client meeting rooms, a conference room and a spacious training space. Its second floor includes staff offices, a break room and additional meeting spaces.
The lobby features a series of glass sculpture butterflies titled “Our Words are Wings” by Detroit-based artist April Wagner. Tulsa resident and artist Ebony Iman Dallas and Los Angeles artist Floyd Strickland were selected to create two large paintings for the building, titled “Rise” and “It Takes a Village,” respectively. Both pieces evoke hope and restoration. All three artworks are funded through Oklahoma City’s 1% for Arts program.
The building also features privately funded artwork from local artists, including a mural by Carlos Barboza, artwork at the bus shelter by Joe Slack and multiple paintings by Joshua McDaniel.
Operational costs will be supported by endowments created by the Arnall Family Foundation and held at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
“The Diversion Hub has already impacted tens of thousands of individuals, helping them escape cycles of incarceration and regain lives as thriving members of our community,” said Sue Ann Arnall, president of the Arnall Family Foundation and Diversion Hub founder and chairperson of its board of directors. “I’ve been looking forward to this day since we established Diversion Hub as a pilot project in 2018. I am confident that they will continue to eliminate systemic barriers and change lives for the better.”
In total, the Arnall Family Foundation has provided more than $56 million to support Diversion Hub in addition to donating the land for the new facility.
The new facility, located on Linwood Boulevard between N. Western Avenue and N. Klein Avenue, sits on 2.59 acres with parking allocated for staff and visitors. The MAPS 4 Restoration Center and supportive housing are planned for the lot south of the Diversion Hub.
Rees Associates was the project architect, and Wynn Construction was the contractor.
Visit okc.gov/maps4 and diversionhub.org to learn more.