FOREST THEATER CULTURE
Photo captions should always include the photo credit and brief explanation of why this photo helps enhance your story. They should also align Right or Left depending on what page they are on. Caption boxes can adjust sizes depending on the spread but should line up with the grid. Forest Theater for Sale in the early 2000s (Photo by: Michael Cagle)
Cornerstone and St. Philip’s helped us better understand the needs of the community. However, this information also illuminated needs already being met as well as potential gaps in services that the Forest Theater could fill. CitySquare & the Forest Theater In addition to understanding the actors surrounding the Forest Theater, it was equally important to understand our client, CitySquare. CitySquare is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization originally founded in 1990 as the Central Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Food Pantry. CitySquare has since grown into a broad community development organization offering a comprehensive array of social services that address hunger, health, housing, and hope in the city of Dallas. CitySquare’s mission “is to fight the causes and effects of poverty through 14
service, advocacy, and friendship.” Previous initiatives from CitySquare include a food pantry, community clinic for the uninsured in South Dallas, integrated health and housing programs, community garden, jobtraining program, support services for at-risk youth, and more.13 In 2017, CitySquare was given the Forest Theater by Jon and Linda Halbert. Dallasbased philanthropists, the Halberts became supporters of CitySquare after hearing Larry James (CEO of CitySquare) preach at the Richardson East Church of Christ.14 The Halberts, Larry James, and Dr. John Siburt (President of CitySquare), went on a visit to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. The mission of the Marsalis Center resonated with the Halberts, whose dyslexic son struggled in school until discovering a passion for the arts. The couple decided