Steering Committee Sets Vision in Motion for South End Cultural District
On the evening of August 21, 2025, community voices once again filled the room as the South End African American Cultural District Steering Committee gathered to take meaningful steps toward building the district’s identity, structure, and community presence. The meeting was facilitated by Tresha Silva, who brought both warmth and structure as she guided participants through the evening’s agenda.
The group was welcomed with a clear focus: to establish working committees and prepare visible community engagement for the upcoming September festival. The conversation reflected a shared sense of urgency, pride, and responsibility as the steering committee continues to shape a district rooted in African American heritage, memory, and the future of Bastrop’s South End.
Laying the Groundwork
Early in the meeting, attendees revisited their committee commitments. To maintain clarity and effectiveness, members were asked to select one committee to dedicate their efforts to—ensuring balanced energy across four key areas:
Design – tasked with creating visual representations of the district, including proposed names, boundary maps, signage ideas, and branding elements.
Legislative – responsible for outlining the district’s nonprofit structure, recommending a board of directors, and leading the effort to raise the initial $500 needed for legal filing.
Programming – focused on preparing and distributing the community survey, developing a framework for the oral history collection, and identifying elders and families whose personal narratives should be recorded and preserved.
Development – charged with organizing fundraising opportunities and coordinating district visibility at the September festival.
These groups will work independently over the coming weeks before reporting back to the larger committee.
Turning Discussion Into Action
A major milestone ahead involves collecting community input through a digital and paper survey—designed to let residents vote on the district’s name and geographic boundaries. The Programming Committee is collaborating to finalize the content, with Shelton Legacy Press DBA Lulu-writes.com and city staff offering support to distribute the survey via grassroot efforts, a city’s landing page, social media, and festival booths. The deadline to submit materials for inclusion in the Bastrop County Weekly is August 29, with survey results expected by the end of September.
Committee members also explored ways to raise the $500 filing fee to establish the district’s nonprofit status. A grassroots idea emerged: each steering committee member would contribute $25 to reach the goal collectively, reinforcing the district’s foundation as community-driven and self-sustaining.
Next Steps
While the date of the September festival is tentatively set for Saturday, September 27, further coordination is required between the Kerr Center and the Bastrop County African American Cultural Center. The Legislative Committee will also soon present options for the type of nonprofit entity the district should pursue—a decision that will guide the governance structure and long-term sustainability of the project.
The committee will reconvene via Zoom on Thursday, September 4 at 6:30 PM, where updates from each committee will be shared, and critical decisions can be advanced. In the meantime, each team is tasked with meeting independently and moving forward with their assigned responsibilities.
A Collective Commitment
As the meeting came to a close, the mood in the room was one of determination and care. Ideas were met with encouragement, disagreements gave way to consensus, and the shared belief in preserving the legacy of Bastrop’s South End remained at the heart of every exchange.
The South End Cultural District is still in its formative stages, but thanks to the dedication of those gathered, its future is beginning to take shape—with clarity, creativity, and community at its core.
