On May 27, 2026, San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) convened local leaders at the Embassy Suites at Brooks to present a vision for the East Side that places arts and culture at the center of economic growth. Organizers and speakers argued that cultural venues, educational programs and targeted retail could help translate a major public investment into lasting neighborhood benefits as plans evolve for the Frost Bank Center.
The gathering highlighted long-standing community anchors and emerging strategies to keep residents’ spending and social life on the East Side. Speakers included nonprofit and institutional leaders who emphasized how local cultural programming can stimulate hospitality, workforce training and youth opportunities.
Framing the opportunity: public investment and cultural strategy
SAGE CEO James Nortey opened the program by calling for a broader definition of economic development. Rather than focusing solely on large-scale facilities, he urged planners and funders to consider how arts and cultural infrastructure can attract visitors and create recurring local commerce. Nortey emphasized that the conversation about the Frost Bank Center must include the creative economy if neighborhood benefits are to be maximized.
Speakers and attendees discussed how the passage of Proposition A has set aside $191.8 million for work connected to the Frost Bank Center. Nortey said that portion of public funding presents a pivotal moment to include arts-based programming and community-oriented spaces in planning, sending a clear signal to entrepreneurs and investors that the East Side is a place for cultural investment.
Anchors of culture and education on the East Side
Representatives from long-established local institutions described how their programs already link culture to economic and educational outcomes. St. Philip’s College, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Carver Community Cultural Center each outlined the role they play in attracting visitors, developing talent and creating youth pathways.
Trade, hospitality and workforce pipelines
St. Philip’s College President Adena Williams Loston traced the college’s evolution from early vocational offerings to modern workforce programs in hospitality and culinary arts. She argued that these programs are not only training pipelines but also catalysts for local business growth, supplying skilled workers who can staff restaurants, hotels and cultural venues.
Events, competitions and overnight stays
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport described how large-scale events can convert out-of-town visitors into local customers who use hotels, restaurants and retail services. He noted that events and competitions often lead to overnight stays, which in turn support the tourism and service sectors on the East Side.
Culture as a pathway for youth and community benefit
The Carver Community Cultural Center’s executive director, Cassandra Parker-Nowicki, highlighted programming aimed at children and teens. She emphasized that regular exposure to performance arts can spark career interests and broaden cultural access for families who may have limited opportunities to attend live events.
Parker-Nowicki and other speakers framed these activities as part of a larger social return: arts education contributes to the holistic well-being of neighborhoods, helps retain cultural identity, and makes the area more attractive to both residents and visitors.
Scholarships, technology and youth engagement
Speakers also referenced scholarship programs and technology-based competitions supported by community partners. For example, agriculture-focused technology events sponsored by the Stock Show can expose young people to robotics and engineering, demonstrating how cultural and agricultural institutions can expand educational horizons beyond traditional classroom settings.
Retail, housing and the argument for neighborhood-led growth
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, who represents parts of the East Side, pushed for deliberate strategies to grow retail options alongside housing improvements. Calvert pointed to historic income challenges and said that as housing quality and incomes rise, retail will follow. He criticized development models that prioritize private developers without sufficiently centering community needs and local entrepreneurs.
Commissioner Calvert’s remarks connected with SAGE’s plans for a public market complex that would blend local art, food and small business stalls into a single destination. Organizers suggested that such a market could become a daily draw, not just an occasional event, helping retain local spending and creating jobs.
Next steps and stakes for the East Side
Throughout the event the central message returned to one theme: if the East Side expects to convert public dollars and major venues like the Frost Bank Center into neighborhood benefits, planners should embed arts and culture into those plans. SAGE urged developers, funders and city leaders to prioritize cultural spaces, youth programming and public markets as essential pieces of a comprehensive strategy.
Speakers closed by stressing the urgency of shaping recovery and growth in ways that preserve community identity while creating new economic opportunity. As the East Side moves forward in designing projects funded by Proposition A, the event framed cultural investment as both a moral and practical imperative for equitable development.