For the past four years, my work as a real estate agent has afforded me the opportunity to work with many people moving into our community. Part of my job is to conduct community tours for people seeing Texarkana for the first time. As I planned the first tour, I wondered what of interest I could possibly show anyone about our sleepy little community that some consider a "spot in the road" on the interstate between Dallas and Little Rock. What once terrified me has become the favorite part of my job.
I love getting to know these newcomers and the various reasons they are considering a move to Texarkana. Depending on their family situation, we talk about the obvious: schools, neighborhoods, churches, and home requirements.
My ten cent tour begins with a southbound drive on Stateline towards downtown. People are continually fascinated that just a change in direction takes you from one state to another!
On the way to downtown I outline the four local school districts, and the three opportunities for higher education: Texarkana College, TAMU-T and UACCH. I mention our outstanding medical care while touching on other topics people ask about when moving to a new area.
Once downtown, my job becomes a little trickier. Here I can only try to help people see downtown Texarkana through my eyes.
I want them to imagine the excitement of stepping out of the historic Perot theatre after the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra's Christmas show and strolling over to the Silvermoon on Broad for a reception, or having dinner at Pecan Point Brewery before attending a performance of the Texarkana Community Ballet's "The Nutcracker," or having a beer at Hopkins after a hot day spent at the Railfest.
I try to give a little history lesson of Texarkana being a railroad town as I take them by the train station while I point out the beautiful churches and the cool "loft living" opportunities.
I brag about the Texarkana Museums system including The Discovery Place and our unique Ace of Clubs House. I talk about TRAHC and Tex-Rep and the wonderful visual and performing arts we have right here in Texarkana.
Selling Texarkana is easy when we are surrounded by the shiny new developments north of the interstate. The sales pitch is more difficult when the scenery is the towering and crumbling Hotels McCartney and Grim.
This is the part of the tour where I introduce what I believe to be Texarkana's greatest asset- the people in our community who give their time and efforts into making all of the aforementioned programs possible, and who are working to revitalize the sometimes bleak downtown area.
Recently, I was presented an opportunity to do some work for Leadership Texarkana. I spent the day with the current class as they toured downtown, listening to city officials and community volunteers talk about all the wonderful things that were happening on both sides of the line.
I was privileged to see plans presented by David Orr concerning the NEA supported Arts Park that will add to the revitalization of downtown.
Exciting things are happening in our community, and the common denominator is our people who are willing to step into an activist role to bring about change.
A perfect example of this is the recent Dine on the Line. Close to 1000 people crossed the state lines, coming together on a rainy Friday evening with one purpose in mind: to make Texarkana better.
At the conclusion of my tours, I always ask people, "What do you think?" Their first answer is typically, "I didn't realize how big Texarkana is," usually followed by, "I didn't know Texarkana had so much to offer."
I recently helped two different families relocate from large metropolitan areas: one family from the East Coast with small children and the other family, empty nesters, from the West Coast. I am convinced that if you asked them today how they like Texarkana, they will give you a laundry list of reasons why they love it. They recite the lifestyle, the supportive community, the strong arts program. Both would tell you that they don't feel they have "given up" anything because Texarkana has so much to offer and the lifestyle is well worth the trade-off of living in a cultural mecca like NYC.
Ongoing renovation of the downtown area is slow, and, although I don't know the answers, hearing from the bright and talented people who were part of the Leadership Texarkana session gives me hope. In the meantime, I will continue to do what I do not just try to sell someone a house, but sell them Texarkana.
Leadership Initiative for Texarkana (LIfT) is focused on creating a community that works together for maximum benefit AND in support of taking action to make it happen. For more information go to supportlift.org. Support a community that Works Together for maximum benefit AND in support of taking action to make it happen. Go to
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