Our mission
Preserve history. Support health. Strengthen connection.
To preserve and promote the rich and diverse history of Historic Terrell Heights and support community health and neighborhood cohesion for current and future residents of 76104.
About the House
01A living institution for 76104.
Renaissance House is a neighborhood hub rooted in the Black history of Terrell Heights and organized around a clear future: stronger health, deeper connection, and a community whose story remains visible.
Mission
Honor the past. Support the present. Build a thriving future.
The origin
A home reclaimed by people who understood what it held.
Jennifer Giddings Brooks knew the house through childhood visits with May Pearl Flint. Decades later, after the home had sat vacant, she and longtime friend Marnese Elder saw a rare opportunity to preserve the property and reconnect it to neighborhood life.
Public reporting says the co-founders acquired the property in February 2023 and restored it with preservation, health access, and education in mind. The doors opened to residents on February 8, 2024.
Walk the historyOur vision
A community that remembers and thrives.
A 76104 community that honors the past, supports the present, and builds a thriving future for every resident.
How the work is held
Four values, practiced together.
Community power
Create belonging and meaningful opportunities for neighbors to connect, engage, and support one another.
Collaboration
Work with residents, health providers, educators, and partners because no institution creates lasting change alone.
Culture
Celebrate the history of Terrell Heights and make room for neighbors of every age to add their perspectives.
Care
Address the conditions around health while treating every resident with dignity and practical concern.
Co-founders
Jennifer Giddings Brooks & Marnese Elder
Brooks and Elder brought the House back into service by joining a personal connection to the property with a shared vision for historic preservation, public health, and neighborhood belonging.
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