In a week marked by the celebration and preservation of cultural heritage, two American communities—one in Texas and one in California—took significant steps to honor their artistic and historical legacies. On September 6, 2025, the Texas Commission on the Arts officially named Austin’s Govalle neighborhood and the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor as two of the state’s newest designated cultural districts, a move that could transform the artistic landscape of the city. Meanwhile, in Delano, California, the Filipino American National Historical Society Delano Chapter gathered at Robert F. Kennedy High School to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Delano grape strike, a pivotal moment in American labor history.
The recognition of Govalle and the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor by the Texas Commission on the Arts is more than just a ceremonial nod. It opens the door to tangible, year-round support, including access to coveted state grants and marketing resources that can help sustain the area’s unique character. For artists and entrepreneurs who have long called Govalle home, the designation could be a lifeline in a city where creative communities are often pushed out by rising costs.
Lisa Crowder, founder of the Lisa Crowder studio, expressed hope and relief at the news. “I think that it means that artists will be able to stay in this area,” Crowder told local reporters. “If we can make money and help our businesses and art practices grow, we can stay here.” Her jewelry studio, nestled among other creative enterprises, is part of what makes Govalle special—a rare enclave where artists live, work, and showcase their talents.
“It’s one of the few left in the city that is a concentration of artists in one particular area,” Crowder added, underscoring the urgency of preserving such spaces as Austin’s urban landscape continues to evolve.
At the heart of Govalle sits the Canopy Arts Complex, a bustling hub for galleries, studios, a café, and retail spaces. With the new cultural district status, Canopy and its tenants could soon benefit from increased visibility and state support. The Texas Commission on the Arts has already approved the first round of cultural district funding for the 2026 fiscal year, which includes more than 1,000 grants totaling nearly $17 million statewide. Govalle is now eligible to compete for a share of those funds, a potential game changer for the neighborhood.
Tabria Williford, artist and founder of Taba Threads, has noticed a surge of interest in the area. “They’re coming from Westlake, they’re coming from even as far as Buda sometimes,” Williford said, referring to the growing number of visitors to Canopy. “It’s really awesome to see that people know Canopy and know the energy—and know that there’s such a diverse group of artists here.”
Williford believes that the cultural district status will only amplify what Govalle already offers: a rich blend of creativity, inclusion, and community. The hope is that with state support, the neighborhood can resist the pressures of gentrification and remain a haven for artists and cultural entrepreneurs.
While Texas was celebrating new beginnings, California was looking back on a storied past. Nearly 60 years after Filipino farmworkers sparked one of the most significant labor movements in American history, the Filipino American National Historical Society Delano Chapter gathered to honor that enduring legacy. The event, held at Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, featured tours and seminars designed to educate attendees about the Delano grape strike and its far-reaching impact.
The Delano grape strike began on September 8, 1965, when several hundred Filipino farmworkers walked off the job during the height of the table grape picking season. Their bold action drew national attention and soon inspired Mexican workers, led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, to join the picket lines. The strike evolved into a nearly five-year struggle for better working conditions and fair pay, ultimately transforming the landscape of American labor rights.
Dominador Tomate, a member of the Historical Society, highlighted the importance of remembering this history. “We worked hard and we earned a living, and we created families, people from the cities currently, and they have no idea that their roots came from places like Delano, Stockton, Salinas, because this is where our my father came in in 1920s they lived here and they created communities that has a rich history that the people today may or may not know most of the time, I guarantee you they don’t know,” Tomate shared with participants.
Saturday morning’s tour took attendees inside key landmarks associated with the strike, offering lessons in labor history that resonated deeply. For Pierre Igoa, the experience was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by previous generations. “What I learned a lot is mainly that and that that we can’t forget the struggles that are our elders, our ancestors, have done on our behalf so that we can live a better life,” Igoa said.
For Jodrell Dimaculangan, the day’s events underscored the broader significance of the Delano grape strike. “It’s not just a Filipino story, it’s not just a Mexican story, but it’s an American story. And to understand that history brings a certain level of pride as a Filipino American, right?” Dimaculangan reflected. “We took a stand in many parts and many points of history that had significant ramifications and echoes even to this today.”
The commemoration in Delano was not just about looking back, but also about ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to inform the present. The tours and seminars aimed to provide insight into Filipino American culture and preserve its legacy for future generations. By visiting key landmarks and sharing personal stories, participants sought to keep the memory of the strike alive and relevant.
Both the events in Austin and Delano highlight the ongoing struggle to preserve cultural identity in the face of change. In Austin, the designation of new cultural districts is a proactive step to protect the city’s creative core, while in Delano, the remembrance of a historic labor movement serves as a reminder of the power of community and collective action.
As these communities look to the future, their efforts offer a blueprint for others seeking to celebrate and safeguard their own unique histories. Whether through state support for the arts or grassroots commemorations of pivotal moments, the message is clear: cultural heritage matters, and it is worth fighting for.
In a nation as diverse as the United States, stories like those from Govalle and Delano serve as vital reminders of the importance of honoring the past while building toward a more inclusive future. The echoes of history, whether in the form of a newly designated arts district or the memory of a labor strike, continue to shape the present in ways both seen and unseen.
