Howdy — Editor Elizabeth, here. This year's State of the City theme was "Stories Come to Life in Fort Worth." Now, that will make more sense later on down the line, but first, I'd like to share an inside scoop of my first State of the City luncheon at Dickies Arena.

State of the City is the Fort Worth Chamber's most important annual event. It's where civic and community leaders gather to learn where Fort Worth stands currently and set the stage for what comes next.

This year's lineup included Mayor Mattie Parker's keynote speech and a conversation between Mayor Parker and the CEO of 101 Studios David Glasser — who works on the set of "Landman" and "1883."

Mayor Mattie Parker addresses FWISD's current position at State of the City 2025. | Photo by FTWtoday

Between shoveling bites of braised short rib and bumping elbows with some of Fort Worth's most prominent leaders, I listened with curiosity to what each presenter was telling. These points stood out to me the most.

Five key takeaways

Mayor Parker encourages residents to attend a City Council meeting. All residents may attend, even if they aren't speaking.
The safety of the city stands out as a vital effort for civic leaders. Following the welcoming of Police Chief Eddie Garcia, the Fort Worth Police Department is en route to be fully staffed by next year.
Despite awaiting a potential TEA takeover, the Fort Worth ISD is heading in the right direction with summer dyslexia screenings and improvements in math and literacy scores.
Don't underestimate Fort Worth's emergence in the film industry. Spoiler alert — it's massive. This year, Taylor Sheridan opened the largest production studio in Texas in north Fort Worth.
Panther City. The Unexpected City. "Every town has a flavor or personality, but this one seems to have more than most." Watch this short documentary by the late actor Jimmy Stewart about his love for our town with 1 million residents.

The Fort Worth Film Commission celebrates 10 years this year. | Photo by FTWtoday

Share your story

Consider this — Fort Worth is the stage, and its residents are the cast. Mayor Mattie Parker wants you to tell the story this time. Share your Fort Worth story with Mayor Parker.