From the sublime to the silly, from the intellectually challenging to just a big ol’ “Howdy,” Fort Worth has embraced public art in a big way. There are numerous blog posts devoted to our city’s murals, and they grace countless Instagram posts.

But some murals have a deeper meaning. Westbend’s “Y’all Means All” mural encourages us to love our neighbors. Vanessa Guillén, who was murdered at Fort Hood, is remembered in a mural at 3604 Hemphill. Atatiana Jefferson’s beautiful eyes gaze out from her mural at 1701 Evans. And earlier this year, a mural celebrating historic Black businesses was unveiled at 2800 Yeager.

Commissioned by CommUnity Frontline, the mural celebrates Fort Worth Black businesses and business owners. Amanda Davis, mother of Stop Six, is featured, as is Fort Worth ISD administrator and educator Dennis Dunkins. Black-owned businesses Hotel Dryce, Black Coffee, and The Dock Bookshop are represented.

CommUnity Frontline commissioned Texas artist Armando Castelan to create this mural, and it was completed just in time for Black History Month 2023. I reached out to the artist to talk about his background and his mural.

[Editor’s Note: In October, CommUnity Frontline announced a new mural collaboration with Armando. Stay tuned!]

Born in Puebla, Mexico, Armando grew up in Houston. When he was in high school, he knew that he wanted to be an artist, but he didn’t pursue a formal art education. “I had no additional schooling once I graduated,” Armando said, “So I began practicing with various mediums and taking commissions. After doing this for a while, I was presented with the opportunity to work for a mural company. I did well and enjoyed it… and later worked with another muralist before I decided to go on my own.”

After establishing himself as a muralist, a digital artist, and a painter in Houston, Armando recently settled in Fort Worth. And then he heard about a mural that CommUnity Frontline was hoping to commission.

“I happened to see that CommUnity Frontline was raising money for a mural,” said Armando. “I had already met Frank Moss, one of the founders of CommUnity Frontline. I approached him and asked if they needed assistance with the mural project, and he introduced me to the rest of the CommUnity Frontline team… After seeing my portfolio and having some discussions, they agreed to have me be the muralist for the project.”

Photo courtesy of Armando CastelanMa

While CommUnity Frontline had decided that the mural would depict Black entrepreneurs both past and present, they didn’t have a design. “They provided me with photos that they had collected, and I did my own research while working toward the design,” Armando said. “After some renditions and revisions, they settled on a design.”

I talked with Quinton “Q” Phillips, Fort Worth ISD trustee and one of CommUnity Frontline’s founders, about Armando and the mural. When I asked why CommUnity Frontline wanted to commission a piece of public art, he said, “Community Development and Beautification is a core pillar of CommUnity Frontline’s efforts. We believe it’s important to show pride in our historically neglected neighborhoods and to showcase their rich heritage as well as to take care of our neighbor’s surroundings.

“We decided to commission a mural on the Eastside to showcase the often forgotten history of the impact that Black owned businesses have had and continue to have on greater Fort Worth… [Armando] began to truly understand the purpose and essence of what we wanted to capture. He had a wonderful vision of the direction it should go and how to encompass all that we wanted to convey. His talent took over, and the rest is actual history. He saw our care for the community, he shares that care, and it comes through brilliantly in his art.”

Mia Moss, whose Black Coffee is featured in the mural, said, “It is an honor for my business to be mentioned, let alone forever painted in a mural next to legends and trailblazers like Amanda Davis and Dr. Marie Holliday… Watching Armando bring all these generations of black businesses together was emotional and beautiful. I am forever grateful for the gift he gave by creating this mural…”

Apart from the mural at 2800 Yeager, you can see more of Armando’s art around town. “I have one mural at 2^nd and Grove Street and a concrete pillar of a bridge over Trinity Trail Park as part of a mural project organized by local artists… I hope to do more outdoors and to continue to represent Fort Worth as an artist.”

The post Celebrating Fort Worth’s Forgotten Heritage first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

If you are wanting to help your city and all its citizens, these organizations are a great place to start.

In the fourth issue of Madeworthy, we covered Leadership ISD and their mission of educational equality across Texas.

photo courtesy of Reggie Robinson

“LISD Executive Director Patricia Arvanitis explains the organization’s philosophy. “When civic leaders understand issues, are equipped with the skills to advocate, and are connected to a mission-driven community, we believe they promote policies and practices that can eliminate disparities within our schools and ensure those we elect make the best decisions for kids.” The emphasis on diversity in every dimension creates a richer learning environment for the Fellows and produces a more representative sense of advocacy.”

Read the full story HERE.

On the cover of the same issue, we highlighted the work that Marta Plata, principal of Manuel Jara Elementary School, is doing with Parent University.

“Parent University is a ground-breaking program designed by Fort Worth Independent School District Principal Marta Plata at Manuel Jara Elementary School in Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood. Started in 2013, the program’s mission is to empower parents by teaching them the skills they need to become partners in the success of their children, both socially and academically.”

Read the full story HERE.

On TanglewoodMoms.com, we celebrated Redmond Wortham. She was the Young Women’s Leadership Academy’s first college graduate.

Photo courtesy of FWLA

“Redmond Wortham, a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth’s first graduating class in 2016, became the first YWLA alumna to earn a college degree. Wortham earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University in just three years — effectively bringing full circle the mission of both YWLA and its Foundation.”

Read the full story HERE.

Lyle Brooks wrote about Opal Lee and her mission to bring fresh produce to food deserts in the 14^th issue of Madeworthy.

Photo courtesy of United Unlimited

“Lee, Joel, and Blaylock are part of a movement that is transforming the way Fort Worth thinks about farming and food. Restaurants like Ellerbe’s and the Taste Project focus on locally sourced produce, while programs such as the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension are helping to foster the next generation of farmers. For projects like Opal’s Farm to become sustainable, however, they need donations of time and money (twenty dollars buys a bag of fertilizer) from other concerned citizens. The Opal’s Farm booth can be found out at the Cowtown Farmer’s Market, where they have a loyal following. What the farm doesn’t sell will be given away to the hungry. As the rich river bottom soil nourishes the carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes, Opal’s Farm nourishes its neighborhood and its city.”

Read the full story HERE.

Former MW/TWM writer Kam Phillips was inspired to help children in “dream deserts” by founding Dream Outside the Box.

Photo courtesy of DOTB

DOTB mobilizes college students to expose children living in dream deserts to new career possibilities. For an area to qualify as a dream desert, DOTB considers the percentage of children on free and reduced lunches, the percentage of first-generation college students, and access to mentorship and enrichment programming. They then partner with after school programs in the community.

Read the full article HERE.

Tanglewood Moms has highlighted the work that Live Thankfully does on several occasions. Here’s a bit from our first blog post on LT.

Photo courtesy of Live Thankfully

“What began as a way of marketing John’s orthodontic practice 8 years ago, has evolved into a four-part service project involving the entire community.  In the past, before Live Thankfully was established, Kelley Orthodontics gifted turkeys to its referring dentists around the holidays. In 2012, we redirected our efforts and reach out to families in our neighboring schools who were struggling to put a Thanksgiving meal on the table. That year, with the support of our dental community, we gave 60 meals to families in need.  Today, eight years later, we are an established 501c3 organization with paid employees and hundreds of volunteers. Next month will give approximately 850 meals to families adopted through 30 Fort Worth schools, while focusing on student leadership and service.”

Read the full article HERE.

CommUnity Frontline was the focus of both a documentary, 76105: Dr. King Won’t Rise, and an article.

photo credit: Jeffrey Wooten

The documentary tells the story of the Stop Six neighborhood in East Fort Worth and the growth of Community Frontline, a network of community leaders dedicated to solving the various concerns and issues that have prevented the area from flourishing for far too long. The title comes from a thesis the group returns to often: leaders from the past are gone, and it is up to current generations to actualize effective change.

Read the full story: HERE

These are only some of the stories we have featured over the years, both in Madeworthy and on TanglewoodMoms.com. Please consider supporting these organizations in their mission to help our community.

The post Supporting Those Who Support Fort Worth first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

photo credit: Jeffrey Wooten

The documentary tells the story of the Stop Six neighborhood in East Fort Worth and the growth of Community Frontline, a network of community leaders dedicated to solving the various concerns and issues that have prevented the area from flourishing for far too long. The title comes from a thesis the group returns to often: leaders from the past are gone, and it is up to current generations to actualize effective change.

This core group forged a sense of brotherhood at an early age, offering one another support and stability in an area where male involvement was at a low level. Without proper opportunities for engagement with male role models, Dante Williams, Frank Moss, Quinton Phillips, and a crew of classmates, known as “World Wide P,” leaned on one another on their way to becoming successful young men. With success and experience, they returned to Stop Six and sounded an inspiring call to action. With these young men as their these impressive subjects, TCU students have crafted a story that is emblematic of a fresh perspective on cultural and community integration.

Led by Faculty Advisor Charity Robinson, TCU’s Documentary Production class developed the project from conception into a half-hour piece showing Stop Six’s history and the positive impact of Community Frontline’s dedicated involvement in the area. Producer Brittney Cech and writer Madeline Black spoke beforehand about the technical learning process of creating of the documentary, describing the complexities of scheduling interviews and writing a script based on the myriad underlying narratives they found in those conversations. This proved more challenging than either of them anticipated. At the same time, many of the students voiced the importance of working in and with a neighborhood of Fort Worth far removed from TCU’s lovely campus and the experiences of many of their classmates. The connections that have been forged between the students and the community at the heart of their documentary was palpably transformational for everyone involved.

photo credit: Jeffrey Wooten

These students captured a story of triumph and hope that resonates with the power of friendship behind Community Frontline’s organization, which continues to activate positive change around them.

An example of this process can be seen in their approach to police engagement and race relations which had deteriorated nationally to tragic and violent levels. In the years since Ferguson, Missouri, Community Frontline has opened up a dialogue with the Fort Worth Police Department and found allies across racial lines. One of these allies is attorney Derek Carson, featured in 76105: Dr. King Won’t Rise, who moved his family to the area in order to work alongside this brotherhood and raise their families together.

Torry Finley, a member of Community Frontline, said after the screening, “Once I heard what they were doing, I couldn’t not go. It was more organized than my original expectations, and I was down immediately. We were talking to Officer Johnson about going to funerals and realized we are all losing too many people. Usually, when we have that sort of dialogue, it is from a compromised position.” He grows animated describing the organization’s momentum and his continued efforts as a representative to keep up with the story as it is unfolding in what he describes as, “cathartic and unifying meetings.”

Just as it worked for the collective World Wide P as young men, so too functions Community Frontline’s expanding involvement in the community which breaks down into units focused on including criminal justice, education, health and employment, as well as others which serve as as practical reinforcements for a population which has often found itself at odds with the institutions surrounding them.

photo credit: Jeffrey Wooten

After the screening of 76105: Dr. King Won’t Rise, members of cast and crew joined one another onstage to answer questions from the audience.

Malcolm X, another civil rights leader mentioned in the documentary, notably said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” This call to action is recursive and can be heard by anyone if they listen closely enough. Community Frontline, as seen in this documentary relaying their powerful message, represents a progressive engaged movement that will only grow as more communities see their potential realized.

An Austin native, Lyle Brooks relocated to Fort Worth in order to immerse himself in the burgeoning music scene and the city’s rich cultural history, which has allowed him to cover everything from Free Jazz to folk singers. He’s collaborated as a ghostwriter on projects focusing on Health Optimization, Roman Lawyers, and an assortment of intriguing subjects requiring his research.

The post Dr. King Won’t Rise, We Have to Rise first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.