About Us

What Are Thick Descriptions?

Our Purpose – The purpose of Thick Descriptions is to provide science empowerment and cultural intelligence for all.
Our Mission: Thick Descriptions disrupts traditional educational methods with anthropology, building stronger communities.
Our Values: Lifelong Learning, Sustainable Access to Educational Resources, Provider of Tools and Implementation to Navigate Resources.

Importance

A “thick description” reaches beyond a group or stereotype often assigned to a person and provides a full, humanizing illustration of an individual. Each person is more than a categorization.

What We Do

Our Commitment

Thick Descriptions is committed to humanity thinking. This role of engagement empowers people to shift the gaze of how we have historically viewed ourselves in the world. This process is inspirational, teaching humans how to build and sustain relationships, explains how to use our power strategically and with accountability, ethics and academic strength. It is understood that issues of power are complex, however, humanity thinking is tailored to each community to increase awareness and skillfulness, leveraging our individual and collective power for educational growth, career advancement and civic-minded geographic spaces.

How It All Began

Thick Descriptions is a response to an experience for its Founder/CEO, Suzette Chang. She moved to Oklahoma from California in 2002. At that time her children were 8 years old and 2 years old. Suzette enrolled her 8-year-old into 3rd grade. On the first day of school, Suzette Chang received a call from Mrs. Dukes, her daughter’s teacher, stating “effective immediately your daughter is no longer in my class. She will be moved to the advanced studies class.” Later that day, Suzette had a conversation with the school administration and asked “why was my daughter placed in that class? I ask this question because my daughter’s academic transcripts have not arrived from California.” The administrator embarrassedly looked at Suzette and replied, “we always place the black students together.” It was transparent that the administrator’s intentions were/are genuine. She did not understand the impact of her words and did not know how to operate differently.

Our Services

The Services That We Render

s.t.e.A.m. Learning Journeys

s.t.e.A.m. Learning Journeys – Thick Descriptions’ flagship program, steAm Learning Journeys, is an opportunity for students to interact with science, technology, engineering, Anthropology, and math. It offers a holistic approach to learning and is tailored to specific communities. Learning Journeys pay attention to the culture, language, educational background, history, religion, race/ ethnicity, physical environment, and other factors that contribute to the student’s unique identity. See photo below.

Elephant in the Room – Unboxed

Elephant in the Room – Unboxed is a monthly forum for adults that provides a safe, brave, and humane space for community members to unpack and discuss sensitive socio-cultural topics. Launched as a podcast in 2023, each episode respectfully addresses ‘elephant in the room’ topics that are difficult but necessary to build equity in communities. With each episode featuring a different guest, the podcast delves into uncomfortable conversations and topics, offering resources on how to navigate them. Speakers include spiritual leaders, civic officers, medical professionals, researchers, and professors, bringing unique points of view to conversations about topics such as diversity in language, intersectional feminism, biases in American institutions, representation, and the criminal justice system. Below is an episode with Kendra Wesson. See photos below and link to podcast.

Crowns Tea

The Crowns Tea helps us understand and learn about human experiences. This Signature Event is centered with the book, “The Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, a black and white pictorial about African American women and their hats. This disrupter provides awareness and engages community leaders/members to discuss pressing topics that are germane to each community. Topics may include red lining, sundown towns, historic ethnic tensions, voter registration, civics, othering, censorship, historical cultural context and Dawes Rolls/blood quantum. Each topic is directly connected to stories within the book. Attendees are encouraged to wear hats.

Listen to our Podcast Elephant in the Room – Unboxed On Spotify And Apple Podcast

Our Advantages

Reasons For Choosing Us

Thick Descriptions disrupts traditional educational methods with anthropology to help humans three (thrive) where they are.

(stem+Anthropology) = steAm

steAm Learning Journeys during school breaks to bridge the learning gap.

Elephant in the Room – Unboxed

A monthly conversation that provides methods on “how” to have uncomfortable conversations.

Oklahoma Educators Evolve

Humane educational methods for teachers and educators.

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Our Statistics

Building Healthier Communities – Outcomes

Thick Descriptions partners with educational institutions and community organizations to teach the skills needed to build healthier and more sustainable communities.

From January 2023 to August 2025, Thick Descriptions have impacted over 20,000 humans and our numbers continue to increase.
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8,000 youth participated in
s.t.e.A.m.

Learning Journeys, gaining the opportunity to interact with science, technology, engineering, Anthropology, and math hands-on and in the real world.

13,000 attended Elephant in the Room

Unboxed or Engagement Sessions and acquired a deeper understanding of how human identity is fluid and influenced by many factors.

1,000 school educators

1,000 school educators participated in Oklahoma Educators Evolve (OKEE) to learn how to convey information to Oklahoma’s diverse communities in an equitable way.

Meet the Team

Thick Descriptions is a team of individuals invested in the meaning and execution of anthropology. We address in particular broader questions of science, both natural and social, providing rich, in-depth and provocative examinations of human identity and how the complexity of our identities influences, impacts and engages with each other independently and collectively. Our team acknowledges and untangles “those elephants in the room” providing transparency with a goal to attain mutual understandings.

Suzette V. Chang

Suzette V. Chang

Founder & CEO

Suzette is an Information Advocate. Her focus is the politics of human identity and how “labels” influence and impact humans as we function and interact with each other. Read More

Gulnaz Tabynbayeva

Marketing and Project Assistant

Gulnaz Tabynbayeva is civic activist and dedicated gender advocate with track record of implementing projects addressing gender-based violence. Read More
Brandy Myles

Brandy Myles

Science Empowerment Leader

Brandy lives in Oklahoma City, loves her dog, children, grandchildren and, comes from a multi-ethnic background. Read More

Aafrin Yaseen

Legal Advocate

Aafrin Yaseen is an LLB (UK) degree holder who is reading her Attorney-At-Law at Sri Lanka Law College. Read More

Julissa Caro

Project Manager

Julissa Caro is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that support youth development and social-emotional growth. Read More

Olivia Johnson

Educator

Olivia Johnson began volunteering with Thick Descriptions over ten years ago. Read More

Imani McGill

Intern

As an Oklahoma native and Oklahoma State University alumna with a Master’s in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Imani combines scientific expertise with a passion for local community. Read More

Volunteers

The work of Thick Descriptions would be impossible without the partnership of amazing and talented volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, click here for adult leaders.

Board Members

Bill Fink

Corey Walker

Corey Walker is a general member of the Board of Directors for Thick Descriptions. Corey is originally from Austin, Texas- but his family has called Oklahoma home for… Read More
Monica Hardman

Monica C. Hardman

Monica C. Hardman is a retired Master Sergeant from the Oklahoma City Police Department. She retired from there after 23 years in 2011. Read More
Jasmine Bogard

Jasmine Bogard

Jasmine currently works in Japan for the US Department of Defense. She also works part-time as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. Read More

Kamri Johnson

Kamri Johnson is a native Oklahoman. After graduating from Harding Charter Preparatory High School, she continued her education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Read More

Kyle Golding

Kyle Golding is a born entrepreneur who started his first business as a teenager. Over his 35+ year career, he has owned and operated businesses in multiple industries. Read More

Dr. Kriss Kemp-Graham

Dr. Kemp-Graham has taught in higher education for over two decades. She is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Texas AM University- Commerce. Read More

Dr. Robin Miles

Robin Miles is an executive leadership coach and organizational development consultant with over 25 years of HR leadership experience. Read More
Elisha Oliver

Dr. Elisha Oliver

Dr. Elisha Oliver is a bio-cultural anthropologist, visual ethnographer and folklorist, artist/potter, and occasional flautist. Elisha identifies as a Texas girl with Oklahoma roots. She was born in… Read More
Dr. Wonderful Faison

Dr. Wonderful Faison

Dr. Wonderful Faison is the director of the Richard Wright Center for Writing, Rhetoric, and Research at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Read More

Jorge Chavez

Jorge Luis Chavez is a first-generation Oklahoman. He has lived in South Oklahoma City since the age of four and has developed a deep connection to the thriving Hispanic… Read More

Lauren Marie Riepl

Lauren has already been a valued part of our organization through her service as a committee member, and we are excited for her to continue making an impact… Read More

Dr. Wallace Johnson

Wallace Johnson is dedicated to unlocking humanity's potential. Fashioned to speak life, he serves as a catalyst for transformation and transfiguration. Read More

“This is a wonderful program, offering opportunities for the kids to be engaged in topics/activities that can prepare them for a future in aviation. Also, the teacher training is very effective; the guidelines are very helpful”.

Dr. Thomas Roy

Professor at Oklahoma State University/Oklahoma City

Boley kids love Thick Descriptions’ STEAM Camp. Every year our kids learn something new and cool. WE LOVE IT!!

Dr. Francis Shelton

Mayor of Boley, Oklahoma

“Thick Descriptions’ presentation ‘Moving Beyond Politeness,’ provided employees, a large auditorium and breakout session, with tools to interact, and have those brave conversations re: diversity and inclusion.  The district connected; 300 people were engaged in authentic discussions surrounding inclusion and diversity.  It was powerful and memorable training.“.

Gerald Scott

Nondiscrimination/Title IX Coordinator

“The Norman Arts Council worked with Thick Descriptions to facilitate a 2-day workshop on DEI awareness for the entire arts community of Norman, OK. Our experience with Thick Descriptions was fantastic! Their engagement and content is thoughtful and supportive, providing patience and kindness to all of our participants. These topics can be challenging discussions and Thick Descriptions made everyone feel at ease, giving agency to speak in anyway that made them comfortable. We will definitely be working more with Thick Description and highly recommend their services.“.

Erinn Gavaghan

Executive Director, Norman Arts Council

Our Sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors, Thick Descriptions can continue to provide humanity-thinking programming to Oklahoma’s diverse communities. In return, we are proud to offer ongoing recognition of their support. Please contact us for more information about becoming a sponsor! All donations are tax deductible and allow you to do the work with us.

Let’s Work Together

Contact Us

+1 (405) 508-0271

3810 N. Tulsa Ave. • Oklahoma City, OK 73112

hello@thickdescriptions.org

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