During the holiday season, Fort Worth Report journalists are remembering their favorite stories of 2022. Click here to read more essays.
Having our office near the Historic Southside of Fort Worth means we get to see firsthand all the efforts of the city, local organizations and residents to help their community thrive.
As the growth reporter, I have had the privilege of sharing their efforts through my writing, from the smallest of projects to the most ambitious developments.
Among those stories, one of my favorites is an effort by a local Black fraternity to purchase an abandoned school building and refurbish it into a space that will lift up the local community.
The local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., Beta Tau Lambda, is looking to acquire the property after it has sat vacant for decades and is now often used as a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Even the city has set its eyes on this historic part of town. This spring, a $70-million urban village project is expected to break ground and is described as a “catalyst” for redevelopment in the Rosedale and Evans area.
Community leaders are calling it a Renaissance and is one of the many solutions-based approaches to encourage investments in neighborhoods that were neglected for years.
I want my stories to reflect those solutions. While a part of my job is to write about issues affecting our communities, I also want to highlight the positive work taking place in our own backyard. These types of stories show us that there is hope for the near future.
Sandra Sadek is a Report for America corps member, covering growth for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at sandra.sadek@fortworthreport.org or follow her on Twitter at @ssadek19. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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