Posts by Ashley Thornton
Signs of Hope
by Donald Felice Hope is an amazing thing. It can take a person by the hand and lead them out of the depths of despair. It can raise up a community out of unthinkable disaster. And it can bless us with immeasurable spiritual riches in the midst of desperate times. When Hurricane Harvey…
Read MoreChanging the Game by Levelling Up
By Liz Ligawa Waco has been my home for a while now, but I am still learning how much there is to this beloved city. For instance, did you know that there are an estimated 700 non-profit organizations in Waco? I know- that’s a lot, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. With the existence…
Read MoreTami’s Big Do Over: “Howdy” It’s Welcome Week
(Tami Nutall Jefferson, a married mother and grandmother, is going back to school and she has invited us all along to enjoy the ride. For more posts in this series, click here: Tami’s Big Do Over. – ABT ) By Tami Nutall Jefferson In the middle of a conversation about nothing, I said, “Honey, I’m…
Read MoreQR FIT Trail Systems in Waco Parks
By CeRon Ford The summer climate and abundance of parks with green meadows make the City of Waco an ideal location for outdoor fitness. On a typical day, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the breeze feels divine! Why confine yourself inside a gym for a workout? The QR Fitness Trail System…
Read MoreCaregiver Empowerment Groups: That they would know their own power, collectively and individually
by Sara Beth Stoltzfus My name is Sara Beth Stoltzfus and I am a case manager at MCH Family Outreach. At MCH Family Outreach, we provide support to families through in-home case management services, parent education and caregiver empowerment groups. Until recently, what we now call our Caregiver Empowerment Groups were only open to relative…
Read MoreOfficial Statement of The Waco NAACP on The “Unite The Right” Hate Rally In Charlottesville, Virginia
By Peaches Henry To be clear, this is not a Right or Left, Republican or Democratic, North or South, or Black or White issue. This is a matter of right or wrong. We are confronted with a life and death moral dilemma. We must decide whether to take a stand against those who advocate racism,…
Read MoreDiscussing Death
By Sarah Miller When people hear that I’m a hospice chaplain, they often say “OH that sounds so hard!” or they immediately tell me their death story. Most people have a story about someone in their life who has passed away. After telling me their story, they thank me for listening and for being curious…
Read MoreExhibit on Women in STEM Fields Opens at the Mayborn Museum!
By Emily Carolin This fall, the Mayborn Museum at Baylor University will host the exhibition, Find a Way, Not an Excuse: Women in STEM. Focused on the lives of 19 women and their contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math fields, the exhibit also includes women with local connections. This project would not have been…
Read More2017 Greatest Hits #6: Four Things I Wish I Had Known in High School
(During December we will be reprising some of “2017’s greatest hits” from the Act Locally Waco blog. I couldn’t possibly pick my favorites – so I used the simple (cop out?) approach of pulling up the 10 blog posts that got the most “opens” according to our Google Analytics. It is an intriguing collection that…
Read MoreWelcome to Waco, Dr. Nelson! I think you’ll be glad you came.
By Ashley Bean Thornton A few weeks ago I attended a welcome and “get to know you” reception for our new Waco ISD Superintendent, Dr. Marcus Nelson. The event, sponsored by the Waco NAACP and the local chapter of educator sorority, Phi Delta Kappa Inc., was a terrific success. Dr. Peaches Henry, NAACP president, told…
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