Today’s communities face problems whose solutions often exceed the reach of a single local government. Crime, transportation, water and air quality, and solid waste disposal are among many issues that can more effectively be solved on a cooperative, area-wide basis. Pooling human, financial and physical resources among cities and counties means less duplication and more efficient, effective solutions. In 1967, in an effort to promote cooperation and coordination, the City of Tulsa began working with the private sector, and the surrounding counties to form the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG). Many of the cities and counties of Northeastern Oklahoma have been cooperating for more than 30 years through INCOG, a regional council of governments. Today, INCOG is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional providers of services to the public and private sectors in the nation.

The Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa (CSC) has also served as a resource for community planning and action to address health and human service needs. Primary functions of CSC include community research and planning, policy and resource development, community mobilization, information and referral, and promoting volunteerism.

While much of the regional leadership comes from government agencies, there is one public-driven initiative working to better the region through cooperation of the citizens. The purpose of Step Up Tulsa! is to assess problem areas and point out bold ideas for change. Step Up Tulsa! engages citizens and sectors, assesses the needs, then formalizes one plan that can be acted upon to measurably solve and improve the quality of life in the region’s neighborhoods, communities and cities.