North Tyler Residents Gather to Discuss Community Development

New coalition aims to clean, rebuild, and beautify north Tyler neighborhood

Mar. 11, 2026 at 3:36am

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A group of Tyler, Texas residents and business owners are coming together to form the North Tyler First Coalition, which will focus on improving the north Tyler area through initiatives like neighborhood beautification, supporting local businesses, preserving community history and culture, promoting youth programs, and increasing community engagement.

Why it matters

North Tyler has faced challenges with cleanliness, lack of youth programs, and a need for more investment and economic development. This new coalition represents a grassroots effort by residents to take an active role in revitalizing their community and addressing longstanding issues.

The details

The Empowerment Community Development Corporation hosted the first meeting of the North Tyler First Coalition, which will consist of five working groups: a neighborhood beautification team, a business and economic development team, an arts, culture and history team, a youth and education team, and a community engagement team. Each group will be led by a resident of the north Tyler community. The coalition plans to use grants, donations, and advocacy to implement changes and improvements in the area.

  • The first meeting of the North Tyler First Coalition was held on March 11, 2026.
  • The coalition will hold meetings every second Tuesday of the month at the Texas African American Museum in north Tyler.

The players

Marcie and Rodreck Lee

Lifelong Tyler residents who attended the first coalition meeting, raising concerns about cleanliness and wanting to see more youth programs in the north Tyler area.

Stanley Cofer

The President of the Empowerment Community Development Corporation, which hosted the first coalition meeting and hopes to engage the community and address issues through grants, donations, and advocacy.

Empowerment Community Development Corporation

A local organization that hosted the first meeting of the North Tyler First Coalition, aiming to bring residents and business owners together to improve the north Tyler neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“For us, it was very interesting, very refreshing, to see that other people care.”

— Marcie and Rodreck Lee, Lifelong Tyler residents (KLTV)

“I believe if there are more programs the children can attend and parents as well, then we can get everyone involved. Then we can make sure the community is clean.”

— Marcie Lee, Lifelong Tyler resident (KLTV)

“In the next five years, gods willing, we are going to see a very different north Tyler.”

— Stanley Cofer, President of Empowerment CDC (KLTV)

“That's really exciting to me that people are just not talking about it, they want to see something done. The passion that many of them showed tonight is extraordinary.”

— Stanley Cofer, President of Empowerment CDC (KLTV)

“We don't have to mumble and grumble about it all the time, we can use this already established platform to get some things in motion now. So if you serious about making a change here in north Tyler, then here it is.”

— Rodreck Lee, Lifelong Tyler resident (KLTV)

What’s next

The North Tyler First Coalition will hold meetings every second Tuesday of the month at the Texas African American Museum in north Tyler, where residents are encouraged to attend and raise concerns, as well as learn more about the coalition's efforts.

The takeaway

This new grassroots coalition represents an important step for north Tyler residents to take an active role in improving their community, addressing longstanding issues through initiatives focused on beautification, economic development, preserving history and culture, supporting youth, and increasing community engagement.