By Madiha Kark
On a Monday afternoon, about four weeks ago I walked nervously towards the Liberal Arts building at McLennan Community College. It was sometime in 2013 that I had last stepped into a classroom before completing my master’s degree. There were two reasons I was walking into Spanish 1411 that day. First, my lovely husband not so subtly pushed me into it. Second, I wanted to speak to my grandmother-in-law on FaceTime. She is a small (under five feet) adorable lady who speaks Spanish and has a heart the size of Texas.
Full of dread, tired, looking for a single excuse to quit… I walked into that class a little less than excited.
Before I saw Seir Lopez, I heard her. I heard an excited voice “Hola chicos, ¿Como están? ¿Bien? She walked in quickly, but not rushed, a bright full smile on her face, her jet black hair flowing in the air like a well maintained mane. “This is going to be difficult,” I thought.
Seir has a way of making you interested in a language you’ve never learned. As far back as she can remember, it’s always been like this. She has always loved to teach. When she was child, the importance of education was stressed in her house. She was born in Mexico, but moved to Waco with her family when she was four. Her parents had humble beginnings, they were self-taught and hardworking but didn’t have much education. Being new in the United States they wanted to give their kids the opportunities they didn’t have. One of the rules they had in the house later shaped Seir’s identity. The children could only speak Spanish at home; English was reserved for school.
Seir struggled through high school and even thought about dropping out, but her parents were adamant to push her towards higher education. When the time came to choose a college, MCC was always her first choice. It was affordable, had a small community and wasn’t going to be overwhelming. “From the first semester I felt right at home,” she says.
At MCC, Seir had a chance to be on both sides of the desk, as a student and as a teacher. She never felt she had a free pass because it was a community college and the classes were easy. “I have had some of my hardest courses at MCC and I have the utmost respect for the professors.” Even today she remembers the mentors who guided her and credits them for their role in taking her where she is today. She now teaches at Baylor and MCC but doesn’t find any difference in the standards of teaching.
I don’t remember too many details of that first day of class, I just remember what happened after. I went home and my husband, being the supportive man he is, gently and with a hint of guilt said it was ok if I wanted to drop the class. I had had an 8 a.m. – 8p.m. day. What he wasn’t expecting was my answer. “I am not dropping the class, the professor is so much fun,” I said with excitement.
It’s not easy making nearly 30, 20 – 40 year olds excited about learning Spanish. My first impression of Seir was that she was sassy (in a good way) but fun. “I try to integrate my bubbly personality and my passion for teaching Spanish. I take my craft very seriously,” she says. It took her time to develop her teaching style. At first it was too strict or too lenient. After 12 years in the field, she has had time to reflect and tweak her methods. “It comes from experience,” she says humbly.
Behind all that experience is a lot of hard work and persistence, traits that were instilled in her from a very early age. Seir was the first in her family to go college. She ate self-motivation for breakfast and spent the last year of her high school constantly outside her advisor’s office. “I couldn’t ask my parents for help with SATs or scholarship applications, I had to do that myself.”
She was a pre-med major at MCC. She wanted to be a doctor because she wanted to make more money. “When you are young you don’t realize what you love, you just think about what would make money.” A Spanish class at Baylor helped her find her true passion. She got a zero on the first assignment in that class and it lit a fire under her. Seir was determined to prove to the professor that she was better than that. She promised herself to never get a zero again. She succeeded. It was a turning point in her life. “It was tied so closely to my roots, my identity and who I am, a Hispanic woman.”
If someone says she can’t do it, “It lights a fire under me and I rise to the occasion. I’ve always been a leader type figure.”
For Seir, Spanish is not just her language, it’s at the core of her identity and who she is. She thanks her parents for insisting on their rule of speaking Spanish in the house. It helped her form her own identity while being a part of American culture. Their mantra was “know who you are and where you come from.”
I am still taking her class, and this article doesn’t mean I get preferential treatment or a pass on an assignment! It has given me an opportunity to know a Seir a little more personally and for that I am grateful. Gracias maestra!
Madiha Kark is a Marketing, Communications and Photography Specialist at McLennan Community College. She holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She loves to travel, cook, and read nonfiction books.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Rolando Rodriguez
Pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween decorations aren’t the only things back this fall season. The 2018-2019 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is NOW available.
FAFSA is a federal application for ALL current and prospective college students that is used to determine how much a student is eligible to receive in need-based financial aid, such as the free Pell Grant. The FAFSA is used to collect information about a student’s family income and other household information. This information is used to determine a student’s expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC number that is generated is used to determine how much financial aid for college the student is eligible to receive.
FAFSA is more than just an application for Pell Grant. It is also used to determine loan eligibility as well as eligibility for need-based scholarships and state grants.
Many separate scholarship applications, especially those with a financial need component, will ask for information from your FAFSA. Essentially, FAFSA is one application that opens multiple financial aid avenues.
To help guide you through the financial aid process, below are 10 tips you should consider before starting your FAFSA.
1. FAFSA doesn’t actually start with FAFSA. – FAFSA begins with creating a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) for both the student and the parent at fsaid.ed.gov. The FSA ID is essentially a username and password that the student and parent will use to log in to the FAFSA and sign the FAFSA electronically.
You will need unique email addresses for the student and parent, since your FSA ID is attached to your social security number.
If a parent already has an FSA ID from when they were in college or from an older student that has previously started college, then that parent will continue using the same FSA ID.
2. Go to the correct website. – Be sure to go to the correct website for FAFSA—fafsa.ed.gov. Some sites that are similar to the official, government FAFSA website, will ask the student to pay a fee in order to submit the application. You should NEVER have to pay for FAFSA. It is in the acronym—FREE Application for Federal Student Aid.
3.Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. – FAFSA will ask for both parent and student tax information, specifically the 2016 tax return.
Consider the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) on the FAFSA your own personal, virtual tax accountant. The IRS DRT takes all of the hard work out of your FAFSA by directly importing your tax information from the IRS into your FAFSA.
4. Correctly define your dependency status. – In addition to financial information, FAFSA will also ask about household information, starting with determining the student’s dependency status. Most students will be using their parents’ tax information, but there are a few situations that can classify a student as independent. In the cases where a student is considered independent, the student does not need to report any parent information.
Please review the dependency flowchart below provided by the Federal Student Aid Office:
5. List multiple schools on your FAFSA. – If you’re not quite sure what school you want to attend yet, you can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA. You could potentially receive an award package from each college listed, and you can compare which college offers you the more advantageous financial aid package. However, you will only receive financial aid packages from the colleges to which you were accepted for admissions.
6. Correctly report your financial information. – Unfortunately, the IRS DRT does not answer every financial question for you. One of the more complex questions on FAFSA is regarding assets. Since parents are seen as having more financial responsibilities than a student, their assets won’t impact a student’s financial aid eligibility as much.
However, for a student, any funds in their checking or savings account will be considered funding for college. Federal Student Aid will assume you do not need as much financial aid if you have a large sum generally over $500. Contact the MAC College Money Program for more information about reporting assets. Please contact Rolando Rodriguez by email at [email protected] or phone at 254.752.9457. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
7. FAFSA doesn’t actually end when you click submit. – After you click submit on your FAFSA, you will receive your confirmation page with your Pell Grant eligibility. Do not assume you are finished with the financial aid process.
Some students are randomly selected for a process called verification, which means the college needs to confirm the financial and household information you submitted in your FAFSA. The college will inform you via email if you need to submit additional paperwork.
Using the IRS DRT reduces your chances of being selected for verification because it is a more official and secure process coming directly from the IRS, so be sure to use the tool if it is available to you.
8. Everyone has to submit FAFSA. – Every student who will be attending college should submit a FAFSA even if he or she is not expecting to receive any need-based financial aid, such as the Pell Grant. Most colleges will not award the student any loans, academic scholarships or even athletic scholarships until the FAFSA is on file.
9. Don’t wait until the last minute. – Do not wait until the last minute to submit your FAFSA or to go through the verification process because financial aid offices tend to be at their busiest right before the beginning of the school year. Don’t be the person waiting on hold on the phone for an hour. It’s best to have your FAFSA submitted by December 1st to provide enough time to go through an additional processes, such as verification or comparing different award packages.
10. The MAC Program is your resource. – The goal of Waco Foundation’s MAC College Money Program is to make the financial aid process as easy as possible whether you are a high school senior starting college next year, a returning student or going back after a break. We are available to offer you personalized assistance in submitting the FAFSA and completing the financial aid process.
If you need assistance with submitting your FAFSA, please contact the MAC Program at 254.752.9457 or by email ([email protected]) to set up an appointment at our office. A highly trained FAFSA expert will be available to walk you through the financial aid process. Our services are FREE to anyone!
MAC Grant
In addition to one-on-one FAFSA assistance, the MAC Program also offers the need-based MAC Grant to McLennan County students. The Grant is up to $1,000 per semester for two years at either MCC or TSTC to cover the gap between financial aid received and the cost of tuition.
Students must apply by May 1st of their senior year. The application can be found on our website.
MAC Scholarship
The MAC Program also offers a third and fourth year MAC Scholarship to those students who were accepted into the MAC Program as seniors in high school even if the student did not start at MCC or TSTC or use the MAC Grant.
The scholarship is a total of $5,000 to be used for the student’s third and fourth year of college, and the scholarship can be used at any institution.
MAC Grant recipients should apply for the scholarship by December 1st of their college sophomore year, and they should have a 3.0 GPA and 60 credit hours by the end of their college sophomore year. The application can be found on our website.
Rolando Rodriguez was raised in Waco, TX, and he graduated with honors from Baylor University with a bachelor of arts in professional writing & rhetoric. He has recently joined Waco Foundation as the MAC & Scholarship Coordinator as an advocate of higher education for all students in McLennan County regardless of financial circumstance. His role with the Foundation is to help McLennan County students with the financial aid process for college.
(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
The Truth About Age
If your life were a road trip, age would be your mile marker. Its sole purpose is to frame your goal-setting for every 12-month period so you can look back and see the tangible progress you have made – or not – towards your destination. This is easy enough when you’re in primary and secondary school – you have plenty of people setting goals for you and driving you towards them – even when all you want to do is play. But when you become college age – years 18 to…say, death – that goal setting and driving is now up to you. And it’s up to you to say when playtime is over.
I woke up the other morning and the first thing my God said to me was “Make current decisions based on your future self and one day you will meet your future self.” I wish I had known this principle at mile marker 15; but I get it today at mile marker 42. You know who else got it at mile marker 44 (same mile I’ll be at when I graduate)? Sam Walton! Sam Walton started his first five-and-dime Walton store at age 44. Who cares what he did the first 44 miles, he slayed those last 30 – for himself his family and the world.
A Collective Journey
Every graduation season, we see news stories and social media posts celebrating a new “twilight-years” graduate. An awesome thing, but my question is always “What was their journey like before graduation day? What’s their real story?” I wanted to do this column to seek out and share those answers with people who care and need such inspiration. So this month, it is my pleasure to introduce my new friend, and Wacoan, Meg Wallace, and her mile marker 52 college journey.
All About Meg
TNJ > Hello friend. Introduce yourself to us – your collegiate status, what matters most to you.
MW > Hi. I’m Meg Wallace, and I’m graduating from Baylor in May 2018 with a Master’s in Social Work. I’m also an empty nester, and I miss my two daughters something awful, but parenting by telephone has a certain kind of loveliness. I treasure the long, thoughtful conversations that we might not have had so regularly otherwise.
TNJ > What’s your Waco story?
MW > My husband, Robin, and I wrangled a U-Haul clear from Chicago to Waco in August 2016 after helping my younger daughter pack up for college. I had married Robin, a Baylor musicology professor and father of two fine young adults, in January 2014, but we maintained two households until I got my girls launched. Fortunately, Robin was able to take a sabbatical and spend a year in Chicago while he wrote his forthcoming book, before we finally made our home together here in Waco.
TNJ > Why college? Why now at this mile marker in your life?
MW > Once my girls were launched, it was finally time for to relaunch myself. I have a BSW and started my career in community work back in the ‘80s; freelancing for academic publishers while raising my girls. I’ve been itching for a career change for ages, but going back to school would have been impossible for me while I was supporting my family and raising my children. Some Baylor MSW students are doing it all at the same time. They are my heroes!
TNJ > What’s your next big step after graduating from Baylor?
MW > I wish I knew what will happen after school! My professional goal is to help congregations care well for their members because I know how important people’s natural support systems are when they’re walking through challenges. But not many places hire for that sort of work. Finding out what’s next will be an adventure.
TNJ > What is the college environment like for you at this stage in your life?
MW > Most of my classmates are very close in age to Robin’s and my kids, so I’m learning with people who could be my kids’ peers. It works out because I enjoy my kids and their friends, and they teach me a lot, just as my classmates do now. The greatest compliment I’ve received was when I heard through the grapevine that some of my classmates were talking about how they would love to have a mom like me. I’m not sure what my kids would think about that, but I sure appreciated the sentiment.
TNJ > What does your college and life experience look like today?
MW > Between putting in 16 to 20 hours a week at internship, working part-time, and taking 14 credit hours of classes, it’s impossible for me to spend as much time with my husband and children we would like. But they’re all on board with my relaunch, and I’m so grateful for their support. The light is at the end of the tunnel!
TNJ > What would you say to colleges & universities on behalf of their non-traditional students?
MW > Diversity in higher education requires making the college or grad school experience feasible so students can see it through. If professional schools that require internships want to attract and hang on to students of varying ages, nationalities, income levels, ethnic and racial backgrounds, and abilities who have varying earning needs, home responsibilities, and previous school experience, they need to think seriously about how to make diversity doable. Maybe they could revise coursework to eliminate redundancy, for example, and allow more ways for internship, class obligations, and income earning to align with each other. Nontraditional students are veteran jugglers. We have a lot to offer decision makers who are looking for new ways to make diversity doable while juggling their own many obligations.
Thank you, Meg for sharing your journey. Kudos and welcome to the new Waco!
Meg Wallace is a Community Wellness Intern at Waco Regional Baptist Association and can be reached at [email protected]
Tami Nutall Jefferson is an older, non-traditional student with a professional real estate background. Tami begins her first academic year at Texas A&M University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development while commuting between Waco and College Station. Her hope is that Waco becomes the most attractive, modern, vibrant, and prosperous version of itself as an inclusive city and her professional mission is to help make that happen as a real estate developer and entrepreneur. Tami volunteers her time and voice to many downtown Waco placemaking and economic development causes and organizations.
To engage and share your non-traditional student experiences with Tami, contact her at [email protected] or connect with her on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/tami.nutall1
By Dasjaevian Dixon
We all face certain challenges in college. I struggled consistently with time management and finding study strategies that worked for me. But, I am now more strategic and resourceful in overcoming those struggles.
I was not working during my first year of school at the University of North Texas. That allowed me to have extra downtime to enjoy my experience as an incoming freshman. As a freshman, I had plenty of time to take care of my academic studies, socialize, and participate in extracurricular activities. However, that time swiftly diminished the following year.
I started my first year-round job as a college student the fall of my sophomore year. I was enrolled in 15 credit hours, working 25 hours a week, and involved in 3 organizations. This is when time management started to become vital to my success in the classroom as well as my physical health. I was moving around during the week so much that I forgot to stop and eat sometimes. I was worried about accomplishing everything that I committed to do.
Balancing my priorities and allocating an appropriate amount of time to each responsibility was a huge challenge. I started using my planner more often than I did the previous year. That helped me keep up with work and due dates. It also helped me organize priorities. That, along with the help of my mentors, allowed me to get through the semester without being overly stressed. My mentors assisted in keeping me level headed by providing positive feedback. I am very appreciative of what they have done for me thus far.
When I have felt discouraged, my family and mentors have been there to encourage me. Having a strong support system has been a valuable way for me to overcome challenges dealing with time management. Transitioning from one semester to another is easier now. However, there is always room for improvement.
Studying and taking exams sometimes bring anxiety. I have not always been the best test taker. First exams are usually more difficult for me due to not knowing what to expect, the format, etc. The lower level courses generally didn’t require me to study as much as I have to for higher level courses now. It has been difficult for me to adopt a specific study routine, because all of my courses vary in regard to concepts and material that we are tested over.
Some classes require more focus than others. As I start my last year as an undergraduate, I have learned that studying for at least 30 minutes to an hour after class can help me retain information more thoroughly. Unfortunately, most days require me to put a lot of focus on my job and organization activities. Remember that balance?
Now, studying is more efficient when I plan a week in advance before an exam instead of waiting until a few days before. The challenge of finding an effective study method has made me embrace planning. When I study efficiently for a short amount of time, I do better than when I study for an extended amount of time during a two or three-day span. This has allowed me to pace myself and figure out what I need to change to see better exam results.
Challenges allow us to learn and grow. They are inevitable. You can either look at it from a positive or negative perspective. I have chosen to use them as learning tools to become a better student and person. I have shared my insight in an effort to motivate other students to embrace and overcome the challenges they are faced with throughout college. Learning is everlasting.
Dasjaevian Dixon is an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas studying Marketing with a double minor in Decision Sciences and Psychology. He is currently interning at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Dasjaevian is a Brazos Education Foundation scholar. He currently serves as the Vice President for The Presidential Men, an organization he helped implement at UNT. He also assists with helping grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Owning his own business in the future is one of his top goals. As a millennial, he is building on his personal and professional skills to become a valuable asset in the business field.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Matthew Polk
Last school year, more than 2,000 Waco ISD students missed at least 17 school days (10% of the school year). Students who miss 10% or more of school in a year are referred to as “chronically absent.” On average, chronically absent students make lower grades, perform worse on standardized tests, and are less likely to pass their classes and graduate than students with better attendance. Most parents don’t realize that missing just two days a month throughout the year makes a student chronically absent and puts them at risk for academic struggles.
The famous movie director Woody Allen is often quoted as saying, “80% of success is showing up.” This statement is pretty true for success in school! It’s obvious that when students aren’t in school, it is hard for them to learn. And we know that students who attend school more often do better on average than those who are chronically absent. This means that one of the most effective (and easiest!) ways that parents can help their children be successful in school is just to make sure that they show up!
But there’s another reason why it’s important for students to be in school: MONEY. Many people don’t know that public schools in Texas receive state funding based on how often students attend school. This financing system is called Average Daily Attendance (or ADA) funding. For every day that a student misses school, Waco ISD loses at least $30 in state funding. Adding up all the school days missed by Waco ISD students last year, we calculate that Waco ISD lost out on at least $2 million in state funding.
Parents and the community usually have a wish list of things they’d like the school district to provide: more arts classes, more counselors and tutors, more afterschool programs, etc. Imagine how many things on that wish list could be done with $2 million. When students attend school, they are not only more successful—they also earn state funding that is used to make their school experience better. That’s a win-win situation for students and the school district.
How do we improve school attendance for Waco ISD students? It’s what we would call a “collective impact” approach—many partners being a piece of the puzzle. Some collective impact projects work with health care providers for mobile clinics and public awareness campaigns. Additionally, when healthcare providers arrange for same-day appointments for sick children first thing in the morning, children get the care they need and then they can go back to the classroom. When follow-up appointments are scheduled after attendance is taken for the day, students can start the day at school, be counted present, and return with an excuse for the missed class time.
Some collective impact projects provide mentors for students and families of chronically absent students. They engage local churches and organizations to assist their members when problems arise with getting students to school. Other collective impact efforts work to eliminate social and emotional reasons for chronic absenteeism such as substance abuse in the home or homelessness. There are many ways for Wacoans to get involved and assist Waco ISD with chronic absenteeism. If schools, families, and community partners all focus on improving student attendance, we can make it happen.
For information about getting involved in the collective impact work to prevent chronic absenteeism in Waco ISD contact me at Prosper Waco, 254-741-0081, or Dr. Robin McDurham at Waco ISD, 254-755-9601.
This Act Locally Waco Blog post was written by Matthew Polk. Matthew is Executive Director of Prosper Waco. Prior to that, he served as Superintendent of Rapoport Academy Public School. He and his wife attended Baylor, and after spending a few years in the northeast, they returned to Waco to raise their family. They have four children, ages 10 to 2 years old. You can contact him at [email protected].
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Felipe Garza
I was fortunate to be born in this great country. Things are not perfect, but there is still the opportunity to seek out our Dreams. My great grandparents made the sacrifice. They left everything behind in hopes of a better life for themselves and future generations to come. They found that it was not easy. Like any immigrant from any culture, they found it difficult. They had to learn a new language, a new culture, and a new education system for their children. They were willing to do this because, regardless of what culture you represent, parents have one thing in common. Whether they speak English or Spanish, they want their children to receive a quality education and to have a better life than they did…a happy, fruitful life with time to enjoy family. We are all united in our hope for those who follow us. I share with AVANCE families that the key to achieving this goal is an education.
AVANCE is a two-generation education nonprofit dedicated to parental involvement and child development. We believe that parents are the first teachers. We parents must be lifelong learners. Let our children see how important education is to us. Let them see us reading. Set a family reading time. This is the first thing we must do.
A second thing we must do is become engaged in the education of our children at school. We all need to help parents partner with schools to become better advocates for their children’s academic progress. This partnership can start with supporting those who work and teach our children. Teachers are truly concerned and want to see the students succeed. I see it in my daughter who is a teacher. I see it in the teachers here at AVANCE. I see it in the leadership of WISD. I know that WISD Superintendent Dr. Marcus Nelson expects his students to experience success.
We are all stakeholders in the future of our Waco community. We, starting with parents are the best education advocates for our children. Get involved in your child’s school, know your child’s teacher and be accessible. Attend school board meetings and let your presence be seen and your voice heard. We all have different skills that can benefit our local schools. Get involved and make a difference. It will be the best investment you ever make.
Felipe Benecio Garza graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University with an MSW. He has over 40 years experience working with children and families in various leadership capacities. He is on the Board of Texans Care for Children and the Board of Advocates for the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. He is Executive Director of AVANCE Waco.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Craig Nash
I’ve spent my life in church. In fact, I’ve been in church so much that the first sentence of this paragraph could ALMOST be read literally. One thing I’ve learned from this lifetime in church is that when we are doing things right, the way Jesus told us to do them, and taking care of “the least of these,” feeding the poor, clothing the naked and visiting the prisoners, we take great pride in this. And you know what? We should. The history of Christianity is filled with stories of hospitals on the battlefields of war and food distribution in the midst of famine. People of faith work with those on the margins of our communities in building houses and in putting checks on predatory lending agencies. Most organized efforts I’m aware of to end human trafficking or to place parentless children with families were started by someone sitting in a pew, hearing ancient words of redemption and hope.
Though there are many areas in my denominational tradition that I have come to have serious disagreements with, I always hold up the work of the Texas Baptist Men as a shining example of faith in action. When a natural disaster hits, they are almost always the first people on the ground. Their trucks are ready at a moment’s notice. These men and women, many of them retirees, and most without any formal theological education, take seriously the call of God to be light in the midst of despair. They use their gifts to walk alongside those who have lost everything and help them maintain a sense of dignity. Just about everyone in the disaster-management space holds them in high regard for the amazing work they do.
Last week I spoke with my colleague, John Puder, who is the Regional Manager for Child Hunger Outreach in the Southeast Texas region of the Texas Hunger Initiative, about the challenges with regards to food security in the midst of the devastation brought by Hurricane Harvey. In Harris County alone, the families of over 1.2 million children rely on local school districts to supplement the meals they provide to their kids. When schools shut down this gap was no longer able to be filled, which left a number of agencies scrambling to find ways to continue meal service. Another challenge was in staffing of child nutrition programs. Because of displacement, lost cell reception and other factors associated with the storm, many who work in child nutrition remained unaccounted for when schools and other meal providers were able to resume services.
It the midst of all of this, John told me that the faith community, including organizations like Texas Baptist Men, really stepped up to the plate where they could to meet the needs of those who had lost everything. It was inspiring and a model for how we are called to live in the world.
Yet there is a belief among many in my churchy world, whether because of politics, theology, or just a sense that we do it so well, that faith communities are the only institutions that should be doing relief work and addressing the needs of the poor and marginalized. This well-intentioned sentiment doesn’t take into consideration an important historical fact, which is that the history of Christianity (and, I assume, other faith groups,) is one of partnering with other entities when it is helpful, even if we live in tension with those same entities when it isn’t.
In fact, the early spread of Christianity was made possible by an “accident” of history that allowed the Church to make strategic use of the systems created by the Roman Empire. Roads built by Rome allowed missionaries to carry the message of Jesus across the known world. The “Pax Romana,” a time of peace enacted by a strong military gave these early believers a modicum of freedom that enabled them to flourish. A common language, currency and system of government brought the world together. A close reading of early Christian texts will show that people of faith often found the values of Rome to be antithetical to the values of their God, and they spoke to this truth when necessary. But they often worked in tandem with the prominent systems of governance as well. It was an early example, if you will, of a “Public/Private Partnership.”
Collaboration is difficult to pull off, even when it looks good on paper and works extremely well when done right. But it is worth it. Neither faith communities, non-profit organizations, federal and state governments nor individuals are able to feed 1.2 million children in Harris County after a hurricane hits. No matter how well intentioned churches are, they can’t possibly operate on that scale without taking advantage of the “Pax Americana.” And no matter how massive government and non-governmental organizations are, there will always be gaps in what they are capable of pulling off, and an incomplete knowledge of what is happening on the ground level of natural disasters and the every-day caring for our neighbors without the wisdom gained from faith communities. It is possible, as we have seen on the Texas Gulf Coast, for shared goals to bring about positive action among organizations and institutions that otherwise may have reason to distrust the other.
Craig Nash has lived in Waco since 2000. Since then he has worked at Baylor, been a seminary student, managed a hotel restaurant, been the “Barnes and Noble guy,” pastored a church and once again works for Baylor through the Texas Hunger Initiative. He lives with his dog Jane, religiously re-watches the same 4 series on Netflix over and over again, and considers himself an amateur country music historian.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
It’s a new day in Waco ISD as Dr. Marcus Nelson takes the helm as superintendent. In the short time since Dr. Nelson arrived earlier this summer, he has brought new energy, high expectations and a focus on rigorous instruction to Waco ISD. The district is launching a survey to create a strong action plan for his next 100 days that reflects the needs of the district.
All parents, staff, and community members are invited to participate in the survey, and students in grades 6-12 will have an opportunity to take the survey at school. The survey, which will remain open until noon on Sept. 20, asks about community priorities for the district, its strengths and weaknesses, mission and values, communication, and more.
Email invitations with survey links were sent directly to district employees and parents on Sept. 6 if the district had a current email address on file. If you didn’t receive a direct invitation, please go to wacoisd.org/survey for more information, including a video message from Dr. Nelson and a link to the survey. The survey is available in English and Spanish and is compatible with any computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The district has partnered with independent research and communications firm K12 Insight to administer the survey and compile the results. All responses are confidential. No one at the district will know who participated or be able to connect participants to their answers.
The district greatly appreciates the continued support of the Waco community and looks forward to using the input derived from this survey to move forward with strategic and targeted goals to bring Waco ISD students and staff to the next level.
For more information about this survey, contact the Waco ISD Communications Department at 254.755.9454 or [email protected].
Take It Here!
By DeShauna Hollie
I have a soap box that I’ve been silently standing on for a few years now. I stepped up on to it timidly and shyly, afraid of what would happen if I said these words out loud:
“My skin is not a crisis or a trauma that needs to be fixed or saved. Please stop trying to save me. I am not on trajectory of self-destruction simply because I was born black. Neither are any of the black children in our schools and in our community. Please stop trying to save them. Please stop treating them as if they are on a trajectory of self-destruction just by being born with black skin.”
I’ve gotten louder and bolder with my words, but the implications of what could happen to me and those in my community by me saying these words out loud still scares me. The crisis and trauma doesn’t lie within my skin color. I repeat that my skin color does not need saving. A broken system that allows systemic racism to prevail is the crisis and trauma that needs saving.
So, I say a little louder, a little bolder “All the effort focused on saving my skin color and others like me (born with black or brown skin), all of the effort focused on fixing our skin color should be refocused on the systems of racism and injustices that prevail in our society.” I say this after a white supremacist march in Charlottesville. I say this after SB4 (“Sanctuary City” Bill) was almost implemented. I say this after the announcement of the phasing out of DACA: “our skin color, does not need saving or fixing. We are not broken; the system is broken.”
Recently I took a trip to visit friends in Portland, Oregon. On that trip, I was reminded of another soap box that I like to stand on. On this soap box, I am bolder and less hesitant as I describe all the things that I have been able to be a part of in Waco. My friends were transfixed as I described my life here in Waco.
On this soap box, I like to talk about how easy it is to eat local in Waco, especially when farms like the World Hunger Relief Farm offer a whole farm CSA (it includes vegetables, meat and eggs and fun products like goat’s milk soap and lip balm). I like to talk about how I can commute to work and other places on my bike or by using our public transit system (an all-day pass is $3). On this soap box, I also talk about how accessible our city council is, how accessible our school board is and how easy it is to be a part of the growth and change happening in the many diverse communities that make up our city.
On this soap box, I am reminded that even though there is a broken system that allows racism and injustice to prevail there is also an alternative to that system that we are working towards in Waco.
While in Portland I saw a great yard sign that said:
I was so enamored with the version of America portrayed on the sign, that I bought one for my own yard. It is a message that I have seen modeled time and time again in our city of Waco. As Waco changes and grows I hope that “In Our Waco” we will continue to work on fixing a broken system. I hope that we will continue to work to model what it means to be a welcoming city, an inclusive city, a city were racism and injustice does not prevail. I’ll step down from my soap boxes now. Thank you for listening.
DeShauna Hollie is a native Wacoan who love discovering new things about Waco on her bike. She is an an educator, social justice advocate, and a poet.
By Angel Jackson
I moved to Waco in 2010 and I spent my time there working towards moving away. That sounds horrible, but it had nothing to do with Waco itself. My husband was there to get his PhD at Baylor and the point of that program is to finish it! Waco, it turns out, was also very far from our Midwest family and friends.
The first few months were really hard, as I stayed home with our young daughter, but eventually I started my internship in ministry at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. There I found amazing folks who began to show me the best of what Waco had to offer. I made friends at Baylor who are still very dear.
Still, the goal of an internship is a job. The goal of school is to graduate. I did a long-distance interview with a congregation in Ohio and eventually got the job. Eagerly, I packed our kids (we added a son in the meantime) and our stuff and headed “home.” When people around here ask me what it was like to live in Waco I usually say, “it’s a fine place, just hot and very far from here.”
About a month ago I heard through Facebook that there was going to be a conference of women preachers in Waco. I had been searching for continuing education. It’s late in the year and I still had some budget left. Good friends confirmed that they would be going, so without overthinking it, I bought a ticket and arranged for travel.
Two lines into the beautiful welcoming statement at the opening worship of the “Unauthorized: Nevertheless She Preached” conference, I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t know how desperately I needed just this place and these people until I was standing there. The line-up was full of inspired, strong, dynamic women. I was delighted with the chance to hear from so many people with different experiences, different backgrounds, different challenges and different gifts. When they shared their hard and beautiful stories I saw Jesus, and the crowd was full of both men and women who practice spotting Jesus in places our society overlooks. I would not have missed a minute of this gathering and it was well worth the 1,221 miles I traveled to get here (by plane of course!)
Fed by my time at the conference, I also got to explore Waco again! Coming into town from Dallas down I-35, I was surprised by the bold statement that the Baylor stadium makes, all of that was different last time I was in town! I met up with a dear friend for dinner at Rudy’s, which as far as I can tell, hasn’t changed a bit. I made my husband salivate from afar with a photo at Taco Zs with their new (at least since our late night burrito days) stand.
I visited the little house on Huaco Lane where we made family memories. I found magnets that had fallen under the fridge during our time there. The various graduate students and young professionals that have rented it from us since we moved have taken great care of it! (It will be up for sale soon if you are looking for a good starter house!)
Dinner at Buzzard Billy’s, as usual, did not disappoint. I had my favorites, including the bread pudding, which of course I took home for later. The view was the same, except for the sidewalk that heads right out into the river to skirt the deck. It’s a very cool thing to walk all along the river and right to the stadium. I also experienced the Hippodrome for the first time for a Jennifer Knapp concert as part of the conference and was impressed with the space.
As I sat in front of Common Grounds realizing that a Cowboy Coffee was much better suited as fuel for the time in my life when I was a sleep deprived new mom of a toddler and infant also trying to do campus ministry, than it is for a day of driving/sitting in an airport and airplane/driving again, I was so very, very grateful for Waco. Grateful for the people and places that were an important part of my life. Grateful for the new people I had met and the changes taking place. Grateful for Natalie Webb and Kyndall Rothaus and all of the women who did so much to put this conference together. Very, very grateful that they have announced that Unauthorized: Nevertheless She Preached will take place again next year! See you then, Waco!
Angel Jackson is the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, McZena, Ohio. She was a pastoral intern at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Waco and the interim Missioner at Canterbury House, the Episcopal Student Center near Baylor. She loves parenting (most of the time) and reading and is passionate about women’s voices and radical hospitality.