EDISON ARTS FOUNDATION INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Edison Arts Foundation (EAF), an African-American, Female-led organization is to produce cultural and performing arts programs for children, adults, and families throughout the Fort Bend Houston community. Our core values are family, community, and the arts, and our motto is: Strengthening the Family. Bridging the Community. Developing the Arts.
About This Cause
The Edison Arts Foundation is a Black-led 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to produce cultural and performing arts programs for children, adults, and families throughout the Fort Bend Houston community. Our core values are family, community, and the arts, and our motto is: Strengthening the Family. Bridging the Community. Developing the Arts. We are committed to revitalizing this historically underserved area of Southwest Houston through access to healthcare, education, economic development, and expanded fine arts for residents of all ages. Community Context Most Fort Bend Houston residents are economically disadvantaged and struggle to make ends meet. Local schools are low performing, and young people have very limited access to the kinds of educational and enrichment opportunities they need to succeed and thrive over the long term. Fort Bend Houston demographics: • Nearly 100% of residents are Black/African American or Hispanic/Latin • 22% of households are ALICE population • 91% of students are economically disadvantaged • No schools with A/B rating • Low percentages of students perform at or above grade level in reading and math • Only 16% of high school students are considered college-ready Programs and Impact Since its founding in 2013, EAF has addressed the inequities that exist in access to the arts and the lack of quality after-school programming in the community by providing high-level year-round, arts, culture, and educational enrichment programs that promote and exemplify excellence, to underserved, economically-disadvantaged and foster care youth and teens with the following programs: In 2024, we served 400+ youth (ages 4-18), over 90% of whom are economically disadvantaged. Nearly all are children of color. We provide free transportation, a sliding scale fee, and scholarships to ensure no one is turned away. Over 90% of students receive scholarships. After School Arts Academy - The Academy provides daily after-school dance, music, and theater programming for children between the ages of 5 and 13, as well as academic enrichment to support participants’ educational success. Summer Theatre Arts Repertory (STAR) - This program provides high-quality theater, music, and dance training and performance opportunities as well as academic skill development. Children and youth ages 7-17 are referred to the STAR program by Fort Bend ISD, Boys & Girls Club of Fort Bend, the Texas Department of Family Services, Child Advocates, the City of Houston, and Missouri City. ANDance Jr. Company - The Alice Nealie Dance (ANDance) Junior Company is a pre-professional dance company that builds participants’ dance skills as well as their self-esteem and confidence. Lauren Anderson Ballet Master Class - This program provides free technical ballet training for youth ages 12-18, opening a world of experiences rarely available to Black teens. Career Readiness & Education Works (C.R.E.W) – This summer program for youth ages 16-18 provides training in resume writing, interviewing, time management, computer use, customer service, career skills, and financial management to prepare participants for job placement and career development. Partnerships EAF collaborates with several organizations to enhance its existing programs. These partnerships enhance EAF’s arts, education, healthcare, and social service offerings, driving positive community transformation and improving residents’ quality of life. • Advocacy Now Institute • AccessHealth • City of Houston Housing and Community Development • Creativity Shell • Culture Arts Initiative • Fort Bend ISD • Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra • Houston Ballet • Houston Business Development, Inc. • Houston Community College • Jazz Houston • Texas Culinary Institute • The Ensemble Theatre 2. Details of the project The Edison Center Campus is a $56 million initiative transforming an abandoned shopping center into a 12.5-acre hub for affordable housing, early childhood education, and a destination for arts, culture, and community-building. Guided by a creative placemaking model—a proven economic development strategy—EAF will transform 7100 West Fuqua Drive in Southwest Houston into a cultural and economic hub over three phases. Phase I (Completed, $26.2M, Funded, Open) 126-unit Edison Lofts (affordable housing) High-quality early childhood education center Phase II (Under construction, 60% complete, $30.5M total cost) 7,100 sq. ft. After-School Youth Center for arts, tutoring, and sports 5,300 sq. ft. FQHC Clinic operated by AccessHealth 12,000 sq. ft. Festival Park for year-round community events 32,000 sq. ft. Cultural Arts Center, including performing arts theater and black box theater Community Benefit Spaces for small business incubators, nonprofit hub, retail, and restaurant With demolition and blight remediation completed in November 2023, we aim to finish renovations for the after-school youth programming, Festival Greenspace, and FQHC Clinic by the start of the 2025–2026 school year. Once fully activated, EAF and other program providers 60,000+ residents across a spectrum of services including: After-School & Summer Youth Education Programs for up to 7,000 participants. Health Services for 5,000 patients annually at the onsite FQHC operated by AccessHealth. Arts & Culture programs for 59,400 visitors plus 20,000 Festival Park attendees. Small Business Incubation, with at least 22 new minority-led businesses, 350 jobs, and 10 student internships. AccessHealth, a certified FQHC provider will deliver affordable primary and behavioral health services to over 5,000 patients annually including Annual exams, Sick visits, Family planning services, Chronic disease management, Referrals, Preventive healthcare, Counseling, On-call providers, On-site lab services and more. Plans for The Edison Center were developed with extensive input from Houston City Council, the City of Houston's Fort Bend Complete Communities, Pastor David Sincere Jr. (founder of Advocacy Now), Super Neighborhood 41, and others. Studio RED Architects completed the design and architectural renderings for Phase II, and EAF selected Arch-Con Corporation for construction and George E. Johnson Development Inc. for project management. This project holds national significance as a trailblazing, Black-led, place-based cultural arts town center— the first of its kind in Texas and one of only a handful across the nation. This visionary project, designed to be largely self-sustainable when fully operational, sets a powerful precedent for how arts and culture can drive equitable community revitalization, particularly in historically Black neighborhoods that have long endured disinvestment. Combining affordable housing, healthcare, youth development, economic opportunities, and a vibrant cultural arts hub, the Edison Center presents an innovative and replicable model for advancing economic and social mobility in underserved communities. Here’s how you can help: Give – Your donation provides scholarships for children in need, supports after-school arts programs, and helps complete our state-of-the-art cultural arts center. Volunteer – Share your time and expertise! Whether you’re an artist, mentor, or business leader, your involvement can inspire the next generation. Spread the Word – Help us amplify our mission by sharing our story with your colleagues, friends, and networks. Every gift, every volunteer hour, and every voice raised in support of EAF fuels a brighter future for Fort Bend Houston. Together, we can create opportunities, inspire dreams, and uplift an entire community. Join us today! Support EAF through Benevity and be a part of this transformational movement.