TCC Student Shares Story of Resilience at Vision Dinner

Sheann Stokes-Gilmore, known on campus as “BMC” (Blind Man Can), overcame a childhood in foster care, homelessness, addiction, and a traumatic injury that left him blind. He shared his story with nearly 400 guests at the TCC Foundation’s annual Vision Dinner to a standing ovation.

Sheann Stokes-Gilmore, better known around Tulsa Community College as “BMC” (short for Blind Man Can), is a familiar presence at both TCC’s Metro and Southeast campuses. He navigates hallways with his walking stick in hand, often stopped by classmates and staff who greet him along the way. A traumatic injury left BMC permanently blind six years ago, but it also fueled the resilience that defines him today.

In September, BMC shared his life’s story with nearly 400 guests at the TCC Foundation’s annual Vision Dinner, where his perseverance and uplifting spirit made him a natural choice to represent students and inspire the audience. The fundraiser raised more than $415,000 for resources to help students succeed and soared past the evening’s $75,000 scholarship goal.

Struggle and Survival

BMC was not born blind. He grew up in Houston, Texas, where he entered the foster care system after losing his mother as a teenager. By his own count, he attended nearly 20 schools before striking out on his own at 18, boarding a Greyhound bus to Tulsa.

Instead of stability, he faced addiction and homelessness, often sleeping beneath the Meadow Gold Pavilion at 11th Street and Peoria Avenue.

“I lived a life where you had to be strong just to survive,” he said. “You don’t get soft in a life like that. You either get strong, or you don’t make it.”

In 2019, BMC was critically injured in a shooting that left him in a coma for two months. He survived after multiple surgeries, but the long recovery eventually left him permanently blind.

Doctors told him he would never see again. BMC said at first, he felt broken. But gradually, he reframed his life with a simple mantra: The Blind Man Can.

“I asked myself ‘What can a blind man do?’ Well, a blind man can wash dishes. A blind man can cook. A blind man can keep moving forward,” said BMC.

Finding Community at TCC

BMC enrolled at TCC determined to rebuild his future. He is pursuing a degree in Communications, drawn to the power of storytelling and the chance to use his voice to uplift others.

On campus, he serves as a New Student Orientation leader, welcoming incoming students and helping them navigate the transition to college. He also serves as vice president for both TRIO and the African American Student Association, where he has become a trusted peer and advocate.

He credits TCC with giving him an education and a sense of belonging.

“When I came here, people didn’t see me as broken. They saw me as capable. That changed everything.”

Center Stage at Vision Dinner

When organizers sought a student speaker for Vision Dinner, staff recommended BMC. Known for his charisma and passionate storytelling, he captivated guests at the Arvest Convention Center with his story of perseverance.

Because he could not read a prepared text, BMC and a TCC staff member devised what he called a “dance”—she read lines into his headset while he delivered them to the audience. The five-minute speech brought attendees to their feet and drew personal thanks from many afterward.

BMC hopes to continue sharing his story to inspire others.

“It doesn’t matter what I’ve lost,” he told the crowd. “Blind Man Can. And if I can, then anybody can.”