Draft:Heath Creech
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Comment: This will require WP:TNT and a complete re-write in neutral tone. Theroadislong (talk) 22:16, 29 March 2025 (UTC)
Heath Donell Creech | |
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| Born | October 30, 1967 Snyder, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2025 (aged 57) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Community Leader, Media Executive, Cultural Visionary |
| Organization | African American Leadership Institute (Founder) |
| Known for | Soulciti, MVMT50, Urban Music Fest, Black Love Texas, Soul Food Truck Fest, AALI, Black X Conference |
Heath Donell Creech (October 30, 1967 – February 24, 2025) was an American community builder, media strategist, and cultural advocate based in Austin, Texas. He was known for his contributions to civic and cultural development in Austin’s Black community. Creech founded or led several initiatives and platforms including Soulciti, MVMT50, Urban Music Fest, the African American Leadership Institute (AALI), and the Black X Conference. His work centered on amplifying Black voices, expanding leadership networks, and creating spaces for community expression and engagement.
Early life and education
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Heath Creech was born on October 30, 1967, in Snyder, Texas, and raised in Odessa and later Austin, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied business and leadership. He also served in the U.S. military prior to pursuing higher education.
Career and Contributions
[edit]MLK Celebration
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In the early 1990s, Creech co-founded the Austin Area Heritage Council and served as a founding board chair and later president. Under his leadership, the Council coordinated one of the largest MLK commemorations in the state, with participation reaching over 20,000 attendees. The celebration served as an entry point for engagement across civic, educational, and cultural sectors.
Soulciti
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In 1999, Creech founded Soulciti, a digital media platform focused on Austin's Black community. Created to fill a gap in local media coverage, Soulciti highlighted Black culture, businesses, and perspectives. It became a resource for news, opinion, and events relevant to the community.
Urban Music Fest
[edit]Creech helped develop the Austin Urban Music Festival, later known as Urban Cultural Fest. The annual event, which began in the mid-2000s, celebrated Black music, culture, and entrepreneurship. Featuring artists such as Charlie Wilson and Chaka Khan, the festival attracted thousands of attendees annually and played a significant role in Austin's cultural calendar.[1]
MVMNT50
[edit]Creech founded MVMNT50, an initiative created to connect Black professionals across industries during the SXSW Festival. The project offered programming and social events designed to build networks and elevate Black voices within Austin's creative and tech sectors. [2][3][4][5][6]
Austin Jazz Fest
[edit]In 2014, Creech founded the Austin Jazz Fest. The event celebrated Black music and jazz culture, drawing over 2,500 attendees and featuring musicians including Kirk Whalum and Jeff Lorber. [7]
Soul Food Truck Festival
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Launched in 2017, the Soul Food Truck Festival was another of Creech's cultural projects. The festival focused on Black-owned culinary businesses and drew hundreds of attendees to celebrate cultural heritage through food. It also supported economic opportunity within the Black community.
Black Love Texas
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In 2019, Creech co-founded Black Love Texas, a social network designed to foster meaningful relationships and events within Texas's Black community. The platform promoted connection, empowerment, and a sense of belonging.
African American Leadership Institute
[edit]Creech founded the African American Leadership Institute (AALI), which officially launched in 2021. AALI is a civic leadership program that builds pathways for Black professionals in Central Texas to access mentorship, civic training, and community engagement opportunities. [8][9][10]
Black X Conference
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Creech was also instrumental in launching the Black X Conference in 2022. The event convened Black professionals from across Texas to engage in collective learning, leadership development, and community impact.
Legacy and recognition
[edit]On March 7, 2025, the City of Austin officially proclaimed "Heath Donell Creech Day," in recognition of his contributions to the city.[11][12]
An interactive public tribute titled "The House That Heath Built" was launched to preserve his legacy, featuring personal artifacts and testimonials.
Honors and awards
[edit]- African American Quality of Life Task Force, City of Austin (January 2005) – Served on the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee during early citywide efforts to assess and address disparities in the African American community.[13]
- Creative Economy and Cultural Vitality Task Force, City of Austin (January 2002) – Appointed to a task force charged with advancing job creation, cultural infrastructure, and quality of life for the creative community in Austin.[14]
Personal life
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Creech was a father to one son and was widely known for his generosity, mentorship, and humor.
Creech passed away on February 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 57.
References
[edit]- ^ Lopez, Nancy Flores (September 24, 2016). "At 10, evolved Urban Music Festival carries on Afro-centric vision". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Staff (March 7, 2016). "10 Top Black Innovators to be Honored at SXSW". NBC News. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Staff (March 13, 2016). "Tech Report Proposed to Solve Diversity Problem". NBC News. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Patel, Latifah (March 14, 2016). "The Modern Civil Rights Movement Was a Major Focus at SXSW Interactive". The Fader. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Harris, A. (March 14, 2016). "Annual SXSW Hackathon Exposes Students to Tech Possibilities". NBC News. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Williams, Marc J. (March 20, 2023). "HBCU Battle of the Brains makes its mark at SXSW". Andscape. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Stith, Matthew Odam (June 23, 2014). "Jazz Fest founders aim to present quality music year-round". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Williams, Jennifer (February 25, 2022). "A possible solution to Austin's declining Black population". KXAN. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Weber, Kendall (August 17, 2023). "Austin nonprofit welcomes new class of Black community leaders". CultureMap Austin. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Woodard, Bryce (February 1, 2022). "Black Austin community leaders join forces to create solutions for community". KVUE. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "Austin remembers community leader Heath Creech". KXAN. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "City of Austin honors community advocate Heath Creech with special proclamation". Yahoo News. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "African American Quality of Life Scorecard". City of Austin. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "CreateAustin Cultural Master Plan – Executive Summary" (PDF). City of Austin. Retrieved March 29, 2025.