Posts by Ashley Thornton
New MCC project aimed at increasing success of Hispanic and underserved students
By Olivia Evans McLennan Community College has a long-standing focus on providing quality education to under-served populations in Central Texas. The College will continue those efforts with the help of a $3 million Title V grant from the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Program of the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will fund a project entitled…
Read MoreCivic Insights: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Coming to a Road Near You
(City council, school board, planning commission, county commissioners – these groups and several others represent us. They do the day to day work of running our community. It is our responsibility to keep informed about their work so that we can help them represent us effectively. “Civic Insights” by Jeffrey Vitarius is a regular feature…
Read MoreFoster Care to Adoption: Our family’s story is unique and precious
By Anna Futral November is National Adoption Month. CASA volunteers stay by a child’s side throughout the case, advocating first for reunification with the child’s parent(s) when safe and possible. If reunification is not safe or possible, CASA volunteers will advocate for the child to be adopted by, or live with, other relatives or family…
Read MoreAmerica Recycles Day and Scrap Tire Collection
by Anna Dunbar America Recycles Day (ARD) has its 23rd anniversary this year. What many don’t know is that ARD has its roots in Texas, central Texas in fact. Texas Recycles Day began in 1994 as the idea of two Texas Commission on Environmental Quality employees, Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis. I had met them…
Read MoreCivic Insights: What is “Annexation by Request?”
(City council, school board, planning commission, county commissioners – these groups and several others represent us. They do the day to day work of running our community. It is our responsibility to keep informed about their work so that we can help them represent us effectively. “Civic Insights” by Jeffrey Vitarius is a regular feature…
Read MoreWHOLE Enchilada Subscription Drive: Will you help us grow? (And, no, we’re not asking for money!)
It’s You – the people of Waco – that make Waco a terrific place to live! You are the not-so-secret ingredient that’s making Waco better and better. Our job at Act Locally Waco is to help you do that! Will you help us help you? Every Friday Act Locally Waco pumps out the information you…
Read MoreSome tips for managing campaign pain and the post-election blues
By Becca Muncy With just a few days until Election Day, tensions may be running high around you. A new study from the American Psychological Association found that 68% of American adults, across all political affiliations, say that the election is a significant source of stress in their lives. So, if this election season has…
Read MoreCivic Insights: Who Pays for that Pipe, Part V
(City council, school board, planning commission, county commissioners – these groups and several others represent us. They do the day to day work of running our community. It is our responsibility to keep informed about their work so that we can help them represent us effectively. “Civic Insights” by Jeffrey Vitarius is a regular feature…
Read MoreSmall faith community offers big-hearted resolutions
By Jo Welter Although members of the Baha’I Faith all across the United States have been working at and toward race unity for well over 100 years, even including the small Baha’i community here in Waco, Texas. There are clearly certain times when people are more open to racial issues and recognizing we must do…
Read MoreFall into a good book!
By Becca Muncy While any book lover will tell you that reading is a year-round activity, there’s something special about getting caught up in a new book during the fall. The cooler temperatures, the longer nights – it makes me want to hibernate under a cozy blanket by a roaring fire (even if a fireplace…
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