Virtual Panel Discussion: The Importance of Creating An African American Museum In Fort Worth Update. 12-1:30pm, CST, January 15, 2022

Spend your lunch hour viewing a Virtual Panel Discussion: The Importance of Creating An African American Museum In Fort Worth Update.

Date: Thursday, January 13, 2022

Time: 12 Noon-1:30PM Central Standard Time

Location: Zoom

Admission: Free

PANEL MODERATOR | FERNANDO COSTA

Fernando Costa serves as an Assistant City Manager for the City of Fort Worth.

PANEL MODERATOR | FERNANDO COSTA

Fernando Costa serves as an assistant city manager for the City of Fort Worth, overseeing a group of five departments and four units of the city manager’s office. He also serves as a part-time faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, where he teaches courses in public finance and organizational management as they pertain to city planning.

Before accepting both jobs in 2008, Fernando worked for ten years as Fort Worth’s planning director, eleven years as planning director for Atlanta, and eleven years as a planner for the Middle Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission in Macon. He studied civil engineering and city planning at Georgia Tech and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM PANEL PARTICIPANTS

Dr. John L. Barnett, Jr., Fort Worth African American Museum Project Steering Committee Co-Chair

Owner - Kids Stop Dental

Dr. John L. Barnett, Jr. began his practice of Pediatric Dentistry in 1978 in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in New Orleans, Dr. Barnett was very active in organized dentistry: A member of the American Dental Association, National Dental Association and the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Barnett has served as President of the Pelican State Dental Association, President of the Louisiana Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Chairman of the Medicaid Task Force for the Louisiana Dental Association. Dr. Barnett also worked at the LSU School of Dentistry, for over ten years, as an Associate Professor. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Dr. Barnett moved back to his childhood home of Fort Worth, Texas and opened Kids Stop Dental Care in 2007.

Andy Taft, Fort Worth African American Museum Project Steering Committee Co-Chair

President - Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. (DFWI)

Andy joined Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. (Texas) as President in 2003. DFWI is Fort Worth’s downtown advocacy organization and it manages the downtown planning process, two Public Improvement Districts, the downtown Tax Increment Finance District, two city parks, the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and Parade of Lights. DFWI developed the JFK Tribute in Fort Worth and is currently leading the $30M Heritage Park development effort. Andy is a past Chairman of the International Downtown Association, Past President of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth and served on the Board of the National Civic League.

Christina Brooks

Diversity and Inclusion Director, City of Fort Worth

The City of Fort Worth’s Diversity and Inclusion Department promotes the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access as they apply to the City's employee and labor relations, its provision of municipal services and capital investments, and the quality of life that all Fort Worth residents experience.

Victor Turner

Neighborhood Services Director, City of Fort Worth.

The Neighborhood Services Department strengthens families and neighborhoods through social services, community development and affordable housing programs. Neighborhood Services consolidates services and programs that focus on building better neighborhoods and improving quality of life for residents.

Dr. Harry Robinson

Director & Chief Executive Officer, Dallas African American Museum

In 1974, the Dallas African American Museum was founded on the campus of Bishop College. The original name of the Museum was the “Southwest Research Center and Museum of African-American Life and Culture.” The founding director of the Museum is Dr. Harry Robinson. Dr. Robinson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in rural Louisiana, attended and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge. He earned his graduate degrees from Atlanta University and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. As of 2021, Dr. Robinson has served as the Museum’s only director and chief executive officer.

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