By Leroy Adams

A cultural institution or cultural organization is an organization within a culture or subculture that works for the preservation or promotion of culture.

Have you ever wondered what lies at the intersection of history, art, and community vibrancy?

In a previous chapter of my life, I was a teacher and community developer in the Peace Corps. I served in Ethiopia, specifically in a small town called Endabaguna, which you might need help finding on a map. Ethiopia is no stranger to historic cultural institutions. It is Africa's oldest independent country with over 3000 years of history. For context, the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, making it 235 years old. I often reflect on my time in the East African country, getting lost in the many cultural spaces and events that connected me to the country's history and local culture.

If I wanted to learn how injera, a porous, sponge-like sourdough bread that is quite literally the foundation of Ethiopian cuisine, became the centerpiece of Ethiopian meals, a visit to the National Museum of Ethiopia would satisfy my intellectual curiosity while making me hungry for Injera and lamb tibs.

How about if I wanted to sit within the actual walls of colonial opposition?

I'd take a visit to The Hager Fikir Theater. The oldest indigenous theater in Africa, also known as "Hager Fikir Maheber" (Association for the Love of the Motherland), was founded by the people of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia's capital city) to stand against the upcoming Italian invasion.

Known for having the wealthiest tradition among Ethiopian theaters, it has been home to more than 70 years of cultural life in Addis Ababa. It is a playhouse where modern Ethiopian music and drama were born and nurtured.

In Ethiopia, I learned the immense value cultural institutions provide to visitors looking to connect to a place's history, art, and culture. Since then, I have visited more than 20+ countries, always searching for one place I could see that would satisfy my appetite for community and cultural enlightenment. In 2018, I moved to San Antonio, and it took me only a short time to find the place that would serve as my connection to local culture and community.

In the heart of East Side San Antonio lies a gem that epitomizes this blend - The Carver Cultural Center. Here's why your next visit to San Antonio should include a trip to The Carver. And if you're a local, here's your answer to:" What should we do this weekend?"

The Carver Cultural Center: A Beacon of History and Resilience

The Carver Cultural Center, nestled in the East Side of San Antonio, is not just a building but a historic landmark serving as San Antonio's Eastside gathering place of cultural exchange and performance arts for over 90 years. Initially erected in 1918 as a community center for African Americans, the building was repurposed as the Colored Library and renamed the Carver Library and Auditorium in honor of Dr. George Washington Carver. A step through the front doors brings you to the center of their art gallery, housing the work of a local artist or a visiting exhibit.

True to its mission, the cultural center is where visitors can experience art reflecting a commitment to "celebrating the diverse cultures of our world, nation, and community." At the core of that mission is their emphasis on celebrating "African and African-American heritage," offering a window into the past with walls donned with pictures that tell the story of the building's history and namesake - Dr. George Washington Carver - while embracing contemporary artistic expressions like Step Afrika, the San Antonio International Film Festival or 23-year-old Tik Tok sensation Samara Joy known as the first Gen Z jazz singing star.

GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE

Has there ever been a time when Black communities have not had to fight for the preservation of their culture? The Eastside and The Carver are no different. Standing as a testament to the community's resilience and cultural preservation efforts, the Carver was not always viewed as an untouchable landmark. In 1973, the city of San Antonio moved to have the Carver demolished, but in true [Black] fashion, the community galvanized in civil disobedience or "good trouble," using their bodies as human shields to protect the building from bulldozers. The Carver was eventually renovated and reopened in 1977 as the Carver Community Cultural Center.

A Hub for Diverse Cultural Experiences

If you're hosting the fifth annual San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) with iconic artists like Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen being honored and featuring local filmmakers whose work carries the voices and experiences of their community, where do you go?

The Carver.

A few months ago, I attended SABIFF at The Carver, an event showcasing the talents and narratives of Black filmmakers worldwide. On opening night, the front doors led me to the gallery and a sea of people anxiously waiting to sit in the main auditorium to kick the festival off with a celebration and honoring of Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen. SABIFF and the Carver could not be more aligned in their missions to showcase the work of African Americans. Still, what you love about them is their ability to sit you between generations, connecting you to the people who paved the way with their artistic contributions to the culture and today's artists who stand on their shoulders, adding to the treasure trove of Black art.

Over the festival weekend, the audience was treated to a global diversity of films from filmmakers representing every corner of the globe - from the U.S. to Jamaica to Egypt. Connecting it back to the Carver's mission of "providing community outreach activities and educational programs," the film festival offered experiences like a tour of local HBCU, St. Phillips College, or acting workshops with artist Luke Charnele Brown Youth, who plays Kim Reese on the popular 90's sitcom A Different World. And that was just day 1!

From panel discussions with writers and producers responsible for some of our favorite TV shows and movies like "The Proud Family" or Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" to workshops on how to land your next acting role to an endless list of black food vendors and restaurants to support, SABIFF belongs on the list of anyone who considers themselves a lover of film, creativity, and culture and on the itinerary of anyone who considers themselves a "cultural traveler."

About a week after the film festival, I took my fiance on a date to see a cultural gem in the form of a step show, Step Afrika. Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, it is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. I walked into the dimly lit auditorium, searching for our seats, and was greeted by Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, the Executive Director of The Carver.

She was standing with and introducing me to Mr. Williams, the visionary behind Step Afrika. I shook Mr. Williams's hand, of course, shocked because my fiance and I were watching an interview he did with Good Morning America on the growth and cultural impact of Step Afrika. And now, here he was, here we were, talking with him and about to experience step tradition and culture through a renowned show.

And what an experience it was. Rest appropriately before the show if you plan to attend Step Afrika in your city. STEP Afrika is a high-energy performance that blends traditional African dance with modern step culture, offering an electrifying experience that pulls you out of your seat, stepping in rhythm and joy with the gifted dancers on the stage. My fiance and I stepped back to our car, as did everyone else who couldn't shake the urge to relive what they had just watched.

SABIFF and STEP Afrika are perfect examples of how The Carver is the cultural hub for the local community, bringing diverse cultural experiences, community outreach, and educational enrichment through these types of events.

More Than Just Walls: A Community's Heartbeat

What makes the Carver special is its deep integration with the community. It's a place where culture is observed, actively lived, and breathed. A place that local artists call home, expressing their appreciation for, perhaps, the only place that would make room on their walls for artwork that "didn't fit" in other galleries. A building once called the "Colored Library" served as a place for reading, learning, and community gatherings for African Americans. A theater whose stage once hosted iconic musicians like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. A center so loved and revered by its community that they were willing to place their bodies in harm's way to protect and defend this cultural treasure.

The Carver offers something tangible and enduring in a world where experiences are increasingly digital and transient. It's a reminder of the importance of cultural institutions in preserving heritage, fostering community, and enriching our lives. As we plan our next trips, let's pay attention to these institutions and the immersive experiences they offer people of all ages and backgrounds. So, to my lovers of culture: let's support, participate, and celebrate vital community treasures like The Carver that are deeply rooted in and committed to their communities.

Before you visit San Antonio, visit The Carver's website to see if there's a show or event that piques your cultural interest. If not, add a visit to The Carver on the Eastside to your itinerary anyway. It is your best chance to see what lies at the intersection of history, art, and community vibrancy.