Fort Worth Association of Federated Women's Clubs
An organization of African American women that has always sought to bring women together to serve the underserved, strengthen the community and provide avenues for volunteerism, civic activism, education, and cultural enlightenment seeks to bring its building up to code and in step with area development.
Why It Matters
The improvements will provide a safe and welcoming community space for the club’s youth and senior programming and for local organizations to rent, which will create a revenue stream for future building maintenance. Many organizations now have to go outside of the African American community to find somewhere to host events. Our Club Home is in the heart of Historic Southside and the goal is to make this area a tourist destination. This historic facility can help do that. The only current places with meeting space in the area are either City-owned community centers and the library, all of which are institutional and very limited hours with heavy use restrictions. This Club Home provides a more inviting, flexible and cost-efficient atmosphere.
The Impact
“The historic Southside where our building is located has, like many cities across the country, seen its better days fall behind it,” wrote project nominator Coletta Strickland. “There was once a thriving community bustling with many Black-owned businesses that serviced the community with education, fresh food and groceries, an energizing night life and a wholesome sense of community and wellbeing. As time passed and generations moved out of the Southside, neighborhoods became abandoned shells of former glory replaced by dilapidated homes all around our facility. During the decline, we continued to serve the community, not giving up on being a positive light providing services and activities to bring a light in the midst of the darkness to young ladies and seniors.”
Now that our city has its eyes on restoring the Southside and investing in revitalizing the community, we want to be a part of continuing to lift as we climb by bringing our building into the new millennium to serve a whole new generation.
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