T.J. Owens
T.J. Owens is Program Manager and Facility Director of the African-American Cultural & Heritage Facility who works to engage the community via strategic partnerships that spur creativity and economic empowerment. Having spent over 8 years in the Small Business Development Program and now as a leader in the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin’s innovative Economic Development Department, T.J. knows that to eradicate factors in communities that prohibit growth, there must be vehicles for inventiveness, inspiration, and financial stabilization must exist.
T.J. has brought a new awareness of the African-American Cultural & Heritage Facility to the Austin community by bringing light to the critically acclaimed murals onsite and the historically recognized Dedrick-Hamilton House. By working with various commission boards, universities, and community-based organizations, the African-American Cultural & Heritage Facility has become a cornerstone of the community under the stewardship of T.J. Owens.
T.J. holds two Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration in Marketing and in Management from Prairie View A&M University. He has over ten years of commercial and residential real estate assessment experience, and he has taken NDC & IEDC coursework with the aim of becoming a certified Economic Developer.
"The African American Cultural and Heritage Facility (AACHF) plays an integral role in the City of Austin’s long-term commitment to protecting and enhancing quality of life for African Americans. The facility fosters development of cultural activities, business opportunities, and creative collaboration within the African American community and beyond.
"In 2017, the faclity was added to the portfolio of the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, part of the Economic Development Department. The move created synergy with the Cultural Arts Division’s programs and aligned with the City’s priorities of ensuring equity across Austin.
"The AACHF houses the City’s Office of Arts & Cultural Resources, the Greater Austin Black Chamber, and the histroic Dedrick-Hamilton House Visitor's Center."