| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, For the better part of a century, the Carver |
|
|
Community Cultural Center has played a prominent role in the social |
|
|
and civic life of San Antonio's historic Eastside area; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, When the center was built in 1929, it was the only |
|
|
library and performance venue available to the city's African |
|
|
American residents; from the 1930s through the early 1960s, it |
|
|
played host to legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington, Ella |
|
|
Fitzgerald, Paul Robeson, Louis Armstrong, Charlie "Bird" Parker, |
|
|
and Dizzy Gillespie; it also served as the location for high school |
|
|
graduations, debutante balls, weekly social dances, weddings, |
|
|
political rallies, club meetings, and a plethora of other events |
|
|
that shaped the lives of generations of area citizens; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Due to the impact of desegregation, as well as |
|
|
changing housing patterns and inadequate maintenance of the |
|
|
building, the Carver Community Cultural Center was closed in the |
|
|
late 1960s; during the next decade, a number of Eastside civic |
|
|
leaders lobbied for the restoration of the center; after |
|
|
discovering that the city planned to demolish it in 1973, employees |
|
|
and clients of the United Citizens Project Planning and Operating |
|
|
Committee, under the leadership of director Nova Hill, placed |
|
|
themselves in front of bulldozers until the mayor rescinded the |
|
|
demolition order; after the center was saved, negotiations for its |
|
|
renovation began in earnest; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1976, the newly renovated Carver Community |
|
|
Cultural Center reopened under the ownership and management of the |
|
|
City of San Antonio; city officials introduced a new vision that |
|
|
transformed the facility into a multiethnic and multicultural |
|
|
performing and visual arts center primarily focusing on the |
|
|
artistry of African Americans; today, the center continues to bring |
|
|
nationally and internationally acclaimed artists to San Antonio and |
|
|
hosts exhibits, artist residencies, master classes, workshops, and |
|
|
private functions for individuals and organizations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Carver Community Cultural Center has long served |
|
|
as an essential resource for residents of San Antonio's Eastside |
|
|
and a living link to their shared history, and its continued |
|
|
existence is a testament to the collective will of many individuals |
|
|
with a desire to preserve the community's rich cultural legacy; |
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize the Carver Community Cultural Center |
|
|
for its historical significance and ongoing civic contributions and |
|
|
commend all those associated with this iconic facility; and, be it |
|
|
further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |