The society\u2019s financial strain is shared by others across the country<\/a>, with area nonprofits losing an estimated $127 million in support during the first half of 2025, according to a survey conducted by the North Texas Community Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas and The Dallas Foundation.<\/p>\n For nearly 50 years, the Historic Southside organization showcased the history of Black Americans in Tarrant County and spotlighted community leaders including neighborhood physician Dr. Marion Brooks<\/a>, jazz musician Ornette Coleman and the museum\u2019s namesake Lenora Rolla<\/a>, a longtime community advocate who worked to revitalize neighborhoods and preserve Black history in Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n Board members declined to detail the museum\u2019s budget but said they are \u201cnot in the red,\u201d thanks to donations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really had no choice since our funding became very limited,\u201d Ronnie Hunter, the genealogical society\u2019s board president, said. \u201cWe had to make some hard decisions to keep our doors open and steer in a better direction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The museum is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, down from Mondays through Fridays, until further notice. Guests can only visit other weekdays by appointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coca, who had served as director of development and community outreach since 2021, was disheartened by the layoff as she enjoyed preserving local history. But she said she is grateful for her tenure with the society where she was able to plan programming, partner with local arts groups and organize the museum\u2019s archives.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs someone who was their first-ever full staff employee, I had an opportunity to go through boxes and collections that hadn\u2019t been touched since the 1990s,\u201d Coca said. \u201cTo be able to uncover those stories was a great joy, and I am so proud of the work I did there.\u201d<\/p>\n Reduced hours impact the number of visitors who come through the museum doors since most tend to drop by spontaneously, Sanders-Wise said. The museum had to turn away a large group recently since they didn\u2019t have any staff to welcome them on an off day, she added.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one was here, so we\u2019re losing visitors,\u201d Sanders-Wise said. \u201cWe had a busload come and that doesn\u2019t happen every month, it doesn\u2019t happen every week. Those are the kind of groups that we need.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lenora Rolla museum averages roughly 120 visitors per month before the cuts, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hunter said the board aims to grow the museum\u2019s community memberships and leverage fundraisers as its primary revenue source. The board also needs to bring more awareness to the museum\u2019s community services that include its summer arts programs, annual juried art show, virtual book club and group tours, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to reimagine how we do everything. How do we increase our membership? How do we increase the number of visitors that come through that door?\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sanders-Wise hopes people who haven\u2019t learned about Tarrant County\u2019s Black history pay a visit and walk away with a richer understanding of those who built the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have sustained ourselves for 48 years, so we can do it with the ups and downs,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are people who have never been to this part of the city, and they don\u2019t know the history. There\u2019s an opportunity to learn and to understand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lenora-Rolla-museum-1-1.jpg\")
The Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum is at 1020 E. Humbolt St. in Fort Worth\u2019s Historic Southside. (David Moreno | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lenora-Rolla-museum-.jpg\")
A section inside the Fort Worth museum is dedicated to Lenora Rolla who became a civil rights leader and community activist in North Texas. She was the granddaughter of former slaves who grew up in poverty. (David Moreno | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
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