Posts by Debrah Wright
Rising Waters, Rising Resolve: Recovering from Texas’ Deadly Flood
By Darryl Thomas Texas is reeling. Over 100 lives were lost during the catastrophic flash floods that ravaged the Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend. Kerr County bore the brunt — 96 confirmed deaths and more than 160 still missing, including dozens of children who vanished at Camp Mystic.(MySA) The tragedy galvanized the…
Read MoreWaco Independent Film Festival Preview
By Elizabeth Riley Belly Belly- Short “I’m obsessed with food.” This short film production uniquely captures the daily struggle with food noise, disordered eating, and the obsessive battle with thoughts about the body. Depicting two queer femmes reconnecting over dinner, “Belly Belly” produces a tender balance of fear and excitement with disturbingly unexpected turns. In…
Read MoreFlood Relief for Texas Hill Country
By: Elizabeth Riley The Texas Hill Country has been wrecked beyond measure by natural devastation. Here are ways to help those affected in Hunt and Kerrville without interfering with active search and rescue teams and professional first responders. The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund is a collective set up by the Community Foundation of the…
Read MoreChristmas in July
By: Elizabeth Riley This July, we are striving to find ways that reinvigorate the Christmas spirit of lighting the world through giving at the halfway point of the year. Perhaps you’ve been bogged down with mid-year reviews at work, anxious over the outcome of assessments, or tired from wrangling children all summer long. Get outside,…
Read MoreFreedom Ain’t Free
Breaking the Emotional Chains that Bind Us BY: Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. When we celebrate Independence Day, we pledge pledging allegiance under a banner that declares our freedom. Yet, for countless Americans, freedom is merely surface-deep. Emotionally and psychologically, they remain imprisoned — not by walls or guards, but by trauma that echoes in their…
Read MoreUnseen Battles: A Call for Fathers to Protect Their Peace and Family
By Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. A Battle Worn Long After the War What if I told you that men are five times more likely than women to apply a permanent solution to a temporary problem? Would that shock you? Afterall, we as men like to get the job done, right? Well in this case it…
Read MoreWaco Strays and Adoptable Pets
By Elizabeth Riley Spring is the season of rebirth for all creatures alike, leaving our summers filled with numerous displaced animals throughout the streets of Waco. On any walk or drive around town, these animals are bound to cross our paths, seeking help and a little bit of love. Texas summers are sweltering hot, with…
Read MoreBalancing the Burden: Young Men’s Mental Health in an Age of Expectations
June is a month where we celebrate Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month! As demands surge — school, work, college, extracurriculars — young people are increasingly bearing mental health strain especially young men aged 16–24. Among men of color, the pressure is profound: suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for Black males aged…
Read MoreJuneteenth in Waco
The second weekend of June is busy for all of Waco! As summer temperatures return after a week of rain, expect neighbors and tourists alike to be soaking up the sun, tearing up the town, and gathering together in community. FUN FACT: The earliest documented Waco celebration occurred in 1876, which included a two-thousand-person procession…
Read MoreHope for the Underdogs:Empowering Texas Youth Through Literacy and Leadership
Written by: Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. In the heart of Texas, a transformative movement is taking root—Hope for the Underdogs, a summer initiative by Committed 2 Win. This program is more than a seasonal project; it’s a lifeline for justice-involved youth, aiming to break the cycles of illiteracy and recidivism that have long plagued our…
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