Overview:

Nijeul X, a producer, organizer, and builder of arts infrastructure, has been appointed as the new executive and artistic director of Forest Forward, a nonprofit leading the historic revitalization of the Forest Theater and the surrounding South Dallas community. X’s role is to guide the Forest Theater’s restoration, a $75 million effort aimed at making the iconic landmark a cultural and economic hub for generations to come. He has a portfolio that includes collaborations with the NAACP, the Kennedy Center, Google, and Gilead Sciences, and has worked alongside legends such as Andra Day, Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Debbie Allen, and Amiri Baraka.

When Nijeul X speaks about South Dallas, his words carry the weight of both reverence and resolve. “When I saw everything that was going on, I had to be a part of that,” he said, reflecting on his decision to return home to Texas after more than 15 years in Los Angeles.

That “everything” is Forest Forward — the nonprofit leading the historic revitalization of the Forest Theater and the surrounding South Dallas community. And as its newly appointed executive and artistic director, X represents the next phase of a movement: one rooted in equity, creativity, and the collective power of Black culture.

Inside the Forest Theater, history meets renewal. Construction crews and community visionaries are bringing new life to this 1949 landmark, set to reopen in 2026. Credit: Forest Forward

RELATED: Elizabeth Wattley’s Forest Forward Revitalization

Born in Port Arthur, about 90 miles from Houston, Nijeul X’s return to Texas is both a homecoming and a calling. After years of producing, organizing, and building arts infrastructure in Los Angeles, X saw something transformative happening in South Dallas — something he wanted to help shape. 

“I never thought I was coming back to Texas,” X shared with Dallas Weekly. “But when I saw what was happening with Forest Forward, I knew I had to be a part of it. This is about transformation. This theater is an economic generator that can change lives — through job creation, creativity, and skill-building.”

In his new role, X joins Elizabeth Wattley, president and CEO of Forest Forward, to guide the Forest Theater’s restoration — a $75 million effort that aims to make the iconic landmark a cultural and economic hub for generations to come.

“Nijeul brings a rare blend of artistic vision and community-driven leadership that makes him the perfect choice to guide the Forest Theater into its next chapter,” Wattley said.

Creating a Legacy of Leadership and Imagination

Before joining Forest Forward, X spent years cultivating creative ecosystems that centered the stories of the African diaspora. As director of artistic programs, communications, and strategy at the WACO Theater Center — founded by Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson — X led the organization’s most ambitious expansion: securing a five-year partnership with the City of Los Angeles to operate the Vision Theatre, the largest venue on the West Coast dedicated to Black storytelling.

His portfolio includes collaborations with the NAACP, the Kennedy Center, Google, and Gilead Sciences. He’s worked alongside legends such as Andra Day, Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Debbie Allen, and Amiri Baraka — but to X, the true measure of leadership lies not in proximity to fame, but in proximity to community.

“I’m an organizer at heart,” he said. “After my time at Howard University, I was introduced to the idea that you could organize for your community and use your art to do it. My leadership in this role draws directly from that.”

That Howard experience — where he produced the 2010 Poetry Cypher before legends like Phylicia Rashad, Amiri Baraka, and Daniel Beaty — taught him that creativity and coordination can coexist. “When two or three are gathered,” he smiled, “Black magic can happen.”

Defining Community, South Dallas Style

Community is not abstract, X reassures us — it’s tangible, grounded, and collective. Just weeks after his appointment, he moved into a home on Pennsylvania Avenue, just blocks from the Forest Theater. He encourages residents to text him directly — 469-389-2326 — with ideas, concerns, or just to connect.

“When I come [to the Forest Theater] it’s not just me coming,” he said. “It’s the whole community behind this thing. Everybody’s welcome to come through the door. But the mandate is clear — the people who have been divested from for years are the ones this is for.”

Forest Forward’s community meetings and listening sessions have long centered South Dallas residents in the revitalization process. Under X’s leadership, that approach will only deepen. “I want people to know this is a place for community,” he emphasized. “We can only do this together. This isn’t about me — it’s about the collective.”

Inside the Forest Theater, history meets renewal. Construction crews and community visionaries are bringing new life to this 1949 landmark, set to reopen in 2026. Credit: Forest Theater

And for those wary of gentrification or cultural erasure, X’s stance is firm: “We are some of the most resilient, creative, and dynamic people. With our collective power, we’ll remain true to this neighborhood — its values, its spirit, its future. The art and stories we make here have stood the test of time. No one can take that away from us.”

Building the Future, Together

With the Forest Theater’s restoration set for completion in 2026, Forest Forward’s work represents more than bricks and mortar — it’s a declaration that South Dallas deserves investment, beauty, and belonging.

Once a beacon of Black entertainment and culture in South Dallas, the historic Forest Theater stands ready for its next act — a full-scale restoration led by Forest Forward. Credit: Forest Forward

X holds a Master of Fine Arts in Management from the California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Howard University. He also serves as chairman of the board for artEquity, a national nonprofit at the intersection of art and activism.

But beyond the credentials, his commitment is clear: to create space where the people of South Dallas can thrive — not just spectate.

“Restoring the Forest Theater is about more than preservation,” X said. “It’s about reimagining what this landmark can mean for South Dallas and beyond. This is an invitation to come build with us.”

Forest Forward’s next chapter is one of restoration, and not just of a building. The team on MLK Boulevard is all about tapping into a community’s faith in its own creative power. And with Nijeul X at the helm, South Dallas is poised to write its most visionary act yet.

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