Overview:
The South Dallas Cultural Center, in partnership with the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Davis, hosted a creative empowerment workshop called "Build Your Own Superhero," which allowed South Dallas youth to explore identity, imagination, and self-expression through art and Lego building. The event was part of the "Built Different" exhibition, which focuses on children as innovators and leaders. Anthony Davis, who participated in the workshop, emphasized the importance of giving back to the community, and the event was a reminder of the power of professional sports, art, and community intentionally intersecting.
On December 13, the South Dallas Cultural Center partnered with the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Davis to host “Build Your Own Superhero,” a creative empowerment workshop that invited South Dallas youth to explore identity, imagination and self-expression through art and Lego building. What unfolded was more than a workshop, it was a reminder of how powerful it can be when professional sports, art and community intentionally intersect.
For VanAnthony Williams, Manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, the day reflected exactly what SDCC stands for.
“The event was a celebration of imagination, identity and the brilliance of our youth,” Williams said. “Bringing together families from South Dallas, this event created space for our young people to see themselves as heroes, creators and leaders. We were deeply proud to host such a powerful and affirming event at the SDCC.”
The workshop took place within the framework of “Built Different,” an exhibition centered on children as innovators and visionaries. Guest curator Daisha Board played a key role in bringing the collaboration together, facilitating the partnership between the cultural center and the Mavericks organization.
“This exhibition focuses on children being innovators, creators and leaders,” Board said. “We really wanted the Mavericks to be a part of this because they promote all of those things.”
Board was joined by fellow “Built Different” artists Leo Hendrix, Maurice Pacius and Joshua Gordon, who led the hands-on creative experience and guided the youth through building superheroes that reflected their own identities and aspirations.
The presence of Anthony Davis, fresh into his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, added another layer of significance. The All-Star big man didn’t just stop by; he sat with kids, built alongside them and engaged in real conversations.
“This is my first community event as a Maverick, so I was excited for this all day, to get here and interact with the kids,” Davis said. “It was important for me to be here because I love giving back. I’ve been blessed to be in the position that I am, and there’s nothing greater than giving back to the community.”
Davis spoke candidly about the importance of stepping outside the insulated world of professional sports.
“As basketball players, we live in a bubble,” he said. “So, to get out of that bubble, interact in the real world, especially events like this with kids, I had a great time.”
Board emphasized how rare and impactful moments like this can be for young people.
“Anthony Davis is an amazing human being, an amazing creative who loves Legos,” she said. “It’s very rare that we have these sort of individuals come and visit, let alone engage and give gifts. So, this is very impactful. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives.”
For the South Dallas Cultural Center, the partnership aligned seamlessly with its mission to uplift Black voices and honor cultural legacy through the arts.
“At the SDCC, our mission is rooted in uplifting Black voices and honoring our cultural legacy through the arts,” Williams said. “Partnering with the Mavericks and Anthony Davis has amplified our mission in a meaningful way. Through their presence and support, it sent a clear message: our community matters, our stories matter, and our children’s dreams deserve to be nurtured and seen.”
That message resonated throughout the building — in the Lego creations, in the laughter between kids and artists, and in the intentionality behind every interaction.
Through [the Dallas Mavericks’] presence and support, it sent a clear message: our community matters, our stories matter, and our children’s dreams deserve to be nurtured and seen.
VanAnthony Williams, Manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center
The SDCC is now inviting the community to continue that celebration at the closing reception of the “Built Different” exhibition, set for Saturday, January 3, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will honor the artists, the vision behind the exhibition and the impact it has made on both the space and the city.
“This kind of programming is more than engagement,” Williams said. “It’s empowerment. And it’s exactly the kind of work we’re committed to continuing in South Dallas.”
In a city where community investment can often feel distant or symbolic, “Build Your Own Superhero” was tangible and intentional. It gave young people permission to imagine themselves boldly, to see creativity as a form of power, and to understand that their stories already matter. Inside the South Dallas Cultural Center, the message was clear: the future is being built right here — brick by brick, idea by idea, and child by child.