VIDEO: Two Tulsans are working to inspire confidence in others by helping women picture themselves in a career traditionally held by men. “They don’t know it’s a dream until the dream is put in front of them,” said Kendall Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Tulsa Metro Women on Fire.
Kendall Taylor and Tulsa Metro Women on Fire are gearing up to host Camp Fierce, to give women 16-years-old and over a taste of firefighting. “To see strong females and to know oh muscles are okay, a man’s job is okay, I can do this,” said Taylor. Sarah Swayze is putting out fires for the Tahlequah Fire Department, recently leaving her career as a middle school teacher. “My grandfather was a firefighter for keys, he actually retired after 30 years, and even then I mean I thought it was cool, but it was never really presented to me as like hey this is an option, you can do this. I saw that in school too whenever I’m teaching and whenever I first started volunteering, my students were real interested and they were like ‘wait you’re a firefighter’. We still kind of pressure women to go toward like gender roles,” said Swayze. Three years ago, Angie Retzloff left her career as a CrossFit coach and massage therapist to become Tahlequah’s first full-time female firefighter. “The physical agility test that I had to do to get on was really what spurred me into it you know what, I want to try that,” said Retzloff.
Tahlequah Fire Chief Casey Baker sees the benefits of adding women to his department and is excited to host Camp Fierce for a second year. “They did a live fire portion of it and they came out and said, they was seeing the look on their face when they was in seeing the fire really excited them,” said Chief Baker. Tulsa Metro Women on Fire says all of Tahlequah steps up with donations. “Gives us a chance to show off Tahlequah in our finest way as a community,” said Mayor Suzanne Myers. From the Cherokee Nation, to local businesses. “I’m a girl dad. My daughter’s 20 and I think us sponsoring something like this shows women/young girls that they can do anything,” said Daniel Mead acting marshal of the Cherokee Nation.
