Not Restoring a Building. Returning a Soul.

What happens when a community decides its history is worth saving? In this Season II premiere of Making Black History Today, we sit down with Elizabeth Wattley, Dallas native and President and CEO of Forest Forward, to discuss the restoration of the historic Forest Theater and the future of South Dallas. For decades, the Forest Theater stood as a symbol of culture, entertainment, and community. Then it sat silent. Today, that story is changing. Elizabeth shares the vision behind one of the most significant redevelopment efforts in Southern Dallas, the challenges of preserving history while building for the future, and why revitalization is ultimately about people, not buildings. This conversation explores: • The history and legacy of the Forest Theater • What equitable community development looks like in practice • The importance of preserving cultural landmarks • The future of South Dallas • Why leadership begins with listening to the community you serve ───────────────────────────── 🕐 TIMESTAMPS ───────────────────────────── 0:00 Intro 6:40 Forest Forward 15:10 History of Land 25:00 Paul Quinn Farm 35:01 City Square 41:20 Place-based work 51:30 What Does Making Black History Today Mean to You? ───────────────────────────── 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION ───────────────────────────── What insight from Elizabeth's story challenged or expanded your perspective? Share your thoughts below. 👇🏾 ───────────────────────────── 🎙️ ABOUT ELIZABETH WATTLEY ───────────────────────────── Elizabeth Wattley serves as President and CEO of Forest Forward, the organization leading the redevelopment and revitalization efforts surrounding the historic Forest Theater in South Dallas. ───────────────────────────── 🎙️ ABOUT MAKING BLACK HISTORY TODAY ───────────────────────────── Making Black History Today is a Dallas-based podcast documenting Black history as it's being made. Hosted by Liz and LaToya Porter, the show features conversations with leaders, innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are making an extraordinary impact in their communities. ───────────────────────────── 📲 CONNECT & FOLLOW ───────────────────────────── 🔔 Subscribe:    / @makingblackhistorytoday   🌐 Website: [www.makingblackhistorytoday.com](http://www.makingblackhistorytoday.com) 📩 Sponsorships & Partnerships: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) 📸 Instagram: @MakingBlackHistoryToday 🎵 TikTok: @MakingBlackHistoryToday ───────────────────────────── 🎧 LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMS ───────────────────────────── Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeart #ForestForward #MakingBlackHistoryToday #Community #southdallas #BlackLeadership