Posts by Ashley Thornton
First of Its Kind: City-Level Health Dashboard makes getting the data you need easy
By Christina Helmick Have you ever been working on a project, article or something else in the health-realm of things, and wanted to see how Waco stood against other cities? If so, you were met with the reality that health data is only available at the county level, until now. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,…
Read MoreJoin the Health Cities Challenge! Learn to cook a traditional Hispanic meal the healthy way!
By Courtney Restivo Wollard As a follow up to a previous healthy blog post, I wanted to highlight one of the partners in the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge (HCCC) – The CenTex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the years, the Chamber has hosted free family funfests and women’s conferences during the month of February.…
Read MoreAre You Smarter Than a 4-Year 0ld? In Waco ISD – Maybe Not!
By Bruce Gietzen Remember the Jeff Foxworthy TV show “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” I remember watching, and too many times the answer to that question was a resounding “No”! That was old school. Waco ISD has a newer – and younger version that may make you feel even more embarrassed unless you’re…
Read MoreWho lacks access to books?
By Janessa Blythe When I was a kid, my parents placed a bookshelf next to my room and my brother’s room. Every night, we’d pick a book, pick a parent, and spend a little time in another world. I remember always reading Amelia Bedelia with my dad, fairy books with my mom, and Harry Potter…
Read MoreDepression, anxiety, grief, anger, PTSD — Acupuncture Might Help
By Jamie Graham Twenty-two years ago, I found myself lying on a massage table with fine thin needles being inserted into various parts of my body. The problem that had brought me to this unusual position was a monthly fluctuation in moods called Premenstrual Syndrome, accompanied by severe debilitating cramps. During my monthly cycle, I…
Read MoreFebruary is Career and Technology Month and Groundhog Job Shadowing Kick-off
(The Heart of Texas P-20 Council includes representatives from K-12 education, higher education and employers. They meet regularly to help coordinate efforts to launch our young people into productive lives as workers and citizens. This post is one in a monthly series of posts intended to share information about the work of this important group…
Read MoreThe Art of Order
By Jenuine Poetess There is an age-old stereotype that artists thrive in chaos…or maybe not thrive, but that artists exist in disorganized mayhem. And admittedly, I have my fair share of disorderly conduct around my home and studio. The good news is, that there are more and more creative solutions for implementing and maintaining order…
Read More2017 Greatest Hits #5: God, Gender and Shortcuts
(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 MoreBonding through Music in Friday Band
by Jessica Shelton It has been my experience that most people have at least one thing that really lights them up. Something that, when they participate in it or observe it, creates a feeling of joy in that person. Their emotions run high and they lose track of time. For some it is dance; for…
Read More2017 Greatest Hits #9: Changing The Community, One Mentor At A Time
(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…
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