From Ron Thompson

Dear Councilmember Gooden,

Thank you for your leadership and steadfast support of the arts in Duncanville. Your commitment has transformed the trajectory of creative enterprise in Duncanville, leading to lasting initiatives like the Duncanville Arts Commission, the Duncanville Arts Fund and the Armstrong Park Cultural District. We have made remarkable progress together, strengthening the arts and cultural landscape of our city.

To build on this momentum, the City of Duncanville will need a dedicated nonprofit partner to take the lead in galvanizing stakeholders, raising funds, and ensuring the necessary groundwork for a successful application for cultural district designation of our Armstrong Park Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts. I am establishing the Armstrong Park Cultural District Foundation to serve as that partner—working nimbly to advance this effort while maintaining strong partnerships with city leadership and the community.

As we enter the next phase, I invite each City Council member to recommend two (2) candidates from their district to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. This ensures that every district has a voice in shaping the Armstrong Park Cultural District and the future of the arts in Duncanville.

I am hosting a meet and greet at **** on ****, and I would like to invite you and your district’s recommended director to visit with me, meet with others, and learn more about the Foundation’s vision and next steps. This will be an opportunity to engage with fellow leaders and supporters who share our commitment to making Duncanville a regional leader in the arts.

Thank you for your continued dedication to Duncanville’s cultural and economic growth. I encourage you to review the organizational outline I have created to move the cultural district designation application forward. I look forward to working together to elevate our city as a regional leader in the arts.

Sincerely,

Ron Thompson
Founding Executive Director
Armstrong Park Cultural District Foundation