OKC Human Rights Commission to host volunteer event March 28

Published on March 13, 2026

The event will help identify discriminatory language in land documents

Oklahoma City's Human Rights Commission (HRC) is calling on community members to join a hands-on effort to modernize plat language, which is detailed land documents and maps. On March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, the HRC will host a volunteer event at the Ron Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., to support the ongoing Plat Amendment Project.

The project aims to identify and flag discriminatory language—such as historic racial covenants—that remains embedded in local land records. While these clauses are no longer legally enforceable, addressing this language makes the public record accurate and up to date. 

"The HRC is excited to keep this important project moving forward and is grateful for the community's interest and help in this important work,” HRC Compliance Officer Emma Winiski said. “By spending just two hours with us, volunteers can help ensure that Oklahoma City’s public records reflect the values of our city today." 

This volunteer opportunity is open to everyone; no legal or real estate experience required. Because the event is hosted in the library’s dedicated computer lab, volunteers do not need to bring their own laptops. 

The event will begin with a brief training session to teach volunteers how to navigate the County Assessor’s website. Following the training, participants will review plats and flag those that contain exclusionary or discriminatory language for further review. 

Plat background

Plats are detailed documents and maps that show how land is subdivided into individual parcels, the arrangement of streets and alleys, and the restrictions, covenants, and limitations that govern how and for what purposes the land may be developed. 

Oklahoma City contains over 6,000 plats, which all need manual review. 

Historically, plats often contained restrictions that would prohibit Black, Asian, Jewish and other marginalized groups from buying or occupying properties within the subdivision. In the Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948, the Court ruled that courts could no longer enforce these restrictions, and in 1968, the Fair Housing Act fully outlawed them. Despite these changes to the laws, many plat documents still contain these historical restrictions today. 

The Oklahoma City Plat Amendment Project is moving forward in partnership with University of Oklahoma graduate student William Willson, who is earning a dual master's degree in city and regional planning and public health. Learn more about the project at vision.okc.gov.