What Once Was Austin
The What Once Was (WOW) Heritage Center is where Austin’s history and future come together. Rooted in East Austin’s cultural legacy, the Center is a place for young people, educators, and community members to learn, create, and share stories that matter.
Through immersive media, workshops, and community events, the WOW Center preserves heritage while opening doors to new opportunities in the creative economy.
Our Roots
For more than a decade, E4 Youth has been unlocking the creative potential of young people. What began as a vision to connect students with mentors in the creative industries has grown into a thriving community where talent, culture, and opportunity intersect. Through mentorship, storytelling, and real-world projects, we’ve helped thousands of students discover their voices and step into creative careers.
Placemaking Through Storytelling
In recent years, our work has grown beyond classrooms and into the very fabric of Austin’s cultural landscape. Through immersive storytelling projects, our students have helped to:
Map and preserve the rich cultural heritage of East Austin.
Design interactive tours that bring hidden histories to life.
Built digital archives that safeguard community voices for future generations.
These placemaking projects have empowered students and emerging leaders to see themselves not just as learners, but as creators and cultural stewards. By honoring the places and stories that shaped Austin, they’ve gained professional skills while helping their communities feel seen and valued.
Rosewood Courts: Stories That Built a Community
Rosewood Courts has always been more than brick and mortar—it has been a home, a gathering place, and a foundation for countless families in East Austin. Built in 1939, it became the first public housing community for Black families in the United States. But for the people who lived there, it was never just “housing.”
Over the past year, E4 Youth has been working alongside the Rosewood community. Our staff and students have sat down with elders, residents, and community leaders to record first-hand memories of life at Rosewood—capturing the laughter, care, and everyday acts that knit the neighborhood together.
These personal stories are being preserved through a video oral history archive and will be highlighted through place-based immersive experiences, guided tours, and digital storytelling workshops—inviting young people and longtime residents to explore, reflect, and add their voices.
This work honors the people behind the place and helps ensure Rosewood’s legacy continues to shape Austin’s future.
