By Donna McKethan
Each year, Americans celebrate Groundhog Day on February 2. For the past 131 years, we’ve had a day celebrating a rodent! Time to upgrade our celebration!
February 2 is also National Job Shadowing Day. Championed by national organizations, state organizations and our local Heart of Texas P-20 Council, National Job Shadowing Day provides students a unique peek into careers. It’s a great way for them to learn from people already in the work place, to get some perspective about life in the work world, and to get a true feel for the career they plan to pursue in the future.
Shadowing experiences provide several advantages students. Students are able to observe firsthand the occupational duties and expectations of their career choice. This experience provides students an information base to assist in career decisions that are more compatible with their personal interests and skills. Other benefits include:
- increased motivation to excel in school;
- broadened understanding of requirements of a specific occupation in the “real” world;
- increased self-confidence in working with adults and in job interviews;
- improved positive self-image;
- a chance to develop leadership skills.
Recently Waco High Academy of Health Science students took part in a job-shadowing experience provided by Baylor Scott and White Hospital. The experience was enjoyed by both the hospital staff and the students. I’ll let the students speak for themselves about what they learned:
Marilyn Rangel
Marilyn Rangel: I shadowed two nurses at Baylor Scott and White Hospital. I got first-hand experience at what they do on a day-to-day basis in Pediatrics. I really loved the experience! I am really grateful I got a chance to experience something like this.
Hallie Morgan
Hallie Morgan: At Baylor Scott & White I had the chance to shadow a nurse manager in the 5 South floor. While I was shadowing, we checked on the nurses and how they were doing. We also checked on patients because they were short-handed that day. This experience really meant a lot to me because I got to see that there are other jobs in a hospital besides being a nurse or doctor.
Yenesia Carpio
Yenesia Carpio: At Baylor Scott & White, I learned many interesting things. I shadowed in the Radiology department. I got to see how a mammogram works. I even learned how long you would have to go to college to become a mammography tech. Shadowing at Baylor Scott & White was very helpful to me because it opened my eyes to more careers that I may want to do in the future.
Kevin Sifuentez: I visited the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and got to see the laboratory. It was very interesting. I got to see how they test for HIV and pregnancy. I also got to see where they put all the blood samples, including ones from Carter’s blood drives. This experience meant a lot to me and I hope to get the chance to do it again soon.
Thomas Ramirez
Thomas Ramirez: When we arrived to Baylor Scott & White, we were taken to the auditorium for a short orientation. We each got our job-shadowing assignment. I was assigned to the NICU, where they take care of sick and premature babies. I shadowed a nurse who was taking care of a set of twins. While there, I learned about the many types of jobs in the NICU and got to watch them feed and bathe the infants.
DestinyAcevedo
Destiny Acevedo: At Hillcrest Baylor Scott & White, I shadowed Megan in the clinical nutrition department. I learned that there is a lot of math involved in nutrition. I thought it was just about food, but they watch every patient and plan what they eat according to their nutritional needs. They really care about the patients’ health. This was a great experience, and I like it very much.
Just a few short hours are all it takes to open a window into the real world of work for students. Groundhog Job Shadow Day can be an important first step in providing students with the knowledge and skills they will need to achieve their dreams. Special thanks to Baylor Scott and White, The Heart of Texas P-20 Council and Waco High School Academy of Health Science for making this day possible. If you are interested in hosting students for a shadowing experience at your work place, contact me at [email protected].
In the words of Punxsutawney Phil, “BE the shadow!” and everyone will benefit.
Donna McKethan is the Career and Technology Director at Waco ISD. She has 33 years in education, the last 15 with WISD Career and Technology. She is currently the President of The Career and Technology Association of Texas. She is a WISD graduate with a BS in Home Economics Education from Baylor University and an MS of Education from Tarleton State University. She is currently enrolled in the Doctorial Program in Educational Leadership at Tarleton State University.
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 DeShauna Hollie
I’ve always liked the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child”. Most of us have heard that phrase at one point or another in our lives. It is a phrase that often comes to mind when I think of our educational system, in fact I would go so far as to say that “it takes a village to educate a child.” Over the past century we have done a phenomenal job in establishing an educational system that not only educates large numbers of students, but that is also continually striving to understand how to give each student the best education experience possible from early childhood through college.
Along with giving all students access to good teachers and quality curriculum, research also indicates that strong community support is one of the pivotal pillars of a successful educational system. (Darling-Hammond, 2010) This community support can look like a lot of things. For example in our own community we have a plethora of wonderful support systems that include but are not limited to:
- Mentoring programs
- Parent teacher organizations
- Local and national nonprofits that take an active interest in our local schools
The community groups make up our village and make it possible for our teachers and administrators to focus on the great work that they are doing inside of the classrooms. We have laid a strong foundation for each student’s educational success. With these support systems in place we can now move on to the next phase of the work in providing each student with the best educational experience. That work includes helping students and families better connect their high school education with their college and career goals.
Using the model of collective impact Prosper Waco and MCC are actively engaged in multiple exciting initiatives to address the overarching goals of increasing college completion rates of students in McLennan County. With a grant from the TG Foundation we are using these questions to guide us in our work:
- How do we raise the college completion rates of economically disadvantaged students?
- How do we raise the college completion rates of Men of Color?
- How do we provide information in a way that aids in a seamless transition for students from high school into college and into their career field so that they may take their places in society?
Again I’ll mention that it takes a village to educate a child. As a Waco local who also happened to have been a first generation college student myself, I know firsthand what it is like to navigate the paths between high school, college and career with community guidance. In the coming weeks we will delve further into all the ways that we are working towards the goal of increasing college completion rates for Mclennan County students.
DeShauna Hollie is the Pathways Specialist with the Project Link program. She is currently working on Master’s of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction at Greenville College. She is also an aspiring hops farmer and really likes riding her bike.
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.
Notes: Darling-Hammond. (2010). The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future. New York: Teachers College.
By Craig Nash
This year I have had the pleasure of working with students at Indian Spring Middle School in a Service Learning Group focusing on the issues of Poverty and Hunger in McLennan County. The Service Learning program, led by Travis Cheatham, combines educating students on “real world” concerns and equipping them to use their own gifts and talents in working toward creating a better world for themselves and their neighbors. During the fall, we talked about food insecurity and its causes. Students learned about minimum and living wages, creating a personal budget and food deserts. They were introduced to ideas about effective ways to engage in social change and given brief synopses of the many organizations in Waco dedicated to addressing hunger. They were particularly interested in three specific organizations– Caritas, Mission Waco’s Jubilee Food Market and Meals & Wheels of Waco. So, on January 30, we hopped on a bus for a field trip to those locations.
At Caritas, Director Buddy Edwards met us in the office area and spoke about the administrative work that goes into running Waco’s largest food pantry. Here the students heard about all the other services Caritas provides, such as GED training, SNAP enrollment and health education. Then Mr. Edwards led us through the rest of the facility, including the food distribution area, warehouse and front intake area. One of the things we brought up continually to students, a concept that many of them already knew well by experience, is that many people in our community who receive free food and other social services are people who have full time jobs, (some more than one) and often look just like people we are all friends and family with. The opportunity to see this firsthand was, I believe, a transformative experience.
The highlight of the students’ experience at Caritas was getting to enter the large walk-in freezer and experience zero-degree temperatures, and also taking a picture outside the beautifully painted new produce trailer located behind the building.
From Caritas, we traveled to the Jubilee Food Market where we met Kathy Wise of Mission Waco. On the way there, Mr. Cheatham gave students a lesson in the history of the Brook Oaks neighborhood, from its early days as an enclave of wealthy Wacoans, to its decline, to recent successes in revitalizion. Ms. Wise filled in some of the gaps, describing the neighborhood as being in a food desert before the acquisition of the building where the Market currently stands. She told stories of neighbors who often ended up paying as much for rides to the nearest grocery store as they do on groceries. Last fall students learned about the concept of food deserts, so this was a great oportunity for them to see first hand an organization working to alleviate this challenge.
The morning ended at Meals & Wheels, where Janet Nors walked students through the process of getting food from their facility to distribution hubs around the Heart of Texas and into the homes of seniors. Here, students asked many well-informed questions, such as how someone qualifies for receiving meals from M&W and what are the nutritional components of each meal. They seemed most surprised to learn that the organization also delivers pet food to its clients, and were intrigued at hearing the reason behind this, which is that many seniors in need will often give any food they receive to their pets, knowing they may not eat otherwise.
At the end of each stop, students asked each tour guide ways they could help. Ideas generated were helping Caritas mark off bar-codes from their gifts-in-kind, sharing flyers for Jubilee Food Market, and putting on a pet food drive for Meals & Wheels. They are currently considering which of these they are most excited about and capable of operating. I’m excited to see what they come up with.
I suspect the field trip was as meaningful for me as it was for them. In my role at Texas Hunger Initiative, I have the honor of working with folks all around the city working to alleviate hunger but rarely get to see them in their element like I was able to with these students. The dedication and joy I witnessed as they were in their “natural habitat” was inspiring, and I’m happy the students were able to witness that as well. If you see any of them out and about town, give them a huge “Thank You” for what they do, and the impact they have on our city.
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.
By Anne Broaddus
Mentoring is a powerful force that often goes unnoticed and uncelebrated in our world. And yet if asked, most of us would be quick to name an individual who impacted us in a major way at some point in life.
I know I would . . .
So what exactly is a mentor?
Someone who chooses to walk alongside another person, pouring out love and encouragement, conveying intrinsic worth, tutoring, advising, affirming, offering hope and helping someone realize their inherent strengths and abilities . . . sometimes even changing the trajectory of a life.
No limits to age, socio-economic standing, ethnicity, race, or profession. At Brook Elementary School, our current Columbus Avenue Kids Hope USA, mentors range from BU students to a WWII veteran in his 90s.
Near our ministry’s beginnings, a gentleman walked into my office, plopped down and said a little gruffly, I don’t know why my wife made me come see you. What do you want me to do?
My immediate response caught him off guard, can you love a child? He stuttered a little as he managed an awkward yes, and the two of us began a special friendship as I watched him become a wonderful mentor! And what joy was mine as I saw his little guy’s eyes light up when his mentor came to see him each week.
Kids Hope USA is a national faith-based mentoring organization that partners one school with one church which selects, trains and places adults in one-on-one mentoring relationships with elementary children, one hour a week during the school day.
Seventh and James Baptist, First Baptist of Hewitt, and Central Presbyterian churches also have Kids Hope USA mentoring programs.
*There are several schools in the Waco district still wanting a Kids Hope ministry on their campus. Please contact me if your church has an interest!
The Columbus Avenue Kids Hope program is beginning its 9th school year at Brook Avenue Elementary where we have mentored close to 400 at-risk students selected by the school. Some mentors have had multiple students at Brook. Others have chosen to continue with their students who change schools. Currently, there are 19 at middle schools and high school!
So why tell you about us? Recent Prosper Waco blogs by Stephanie Kortweg, and Janessa Blythe discuss some of the negative impacts poverty has on at-risk students. And given the number of WISD students impacted by the stronghold of poverty, the potential statistics are staggering.
But there is hope and hope often comes in the form of a volunteer! Kids Hope USA was founded on research showing the dramatic positive impact that can be made on the life of a child by a caring, faithful and involved adult.
“I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile . . . They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world.” — Kisses from Katie, a Story of Relentless Love and Redemption, Beth Clark, p. xi
Individuals linking arm in arm in the various mentoring organizations might just transform the next generation . . . and our city!
Below are comments from teachers and students giving you a glimpse into the positive impact mentors have had in the lives of children.
Both offered in hopes that some of you will decide that mentoring is not so scary!
Teachers said:
What Kids Hope mentors are doing for our students is amazing. Their presence is making a positive change in many lives. Students’ abilities in reading, math, and other areas of academics are improving . . . behaviors are getting better . . . students are interacting with people they would never have opportunity to meet otherwise. You are modeling a different way of being for our students to see and emulate . . . helping them trust and learn to build healthy relationships . . . a KH mentor is the best thing some of our kids have ever had in their lives!
Your program is not just Kids Hope. You also give us hope as teachers. You are a light on dark days, giving us reason to keep loving and teaching our kids. You let us know we are not alone. You are part of the community choosing to come to our school, not because you have to but because you want to be here. Year after year, supporting us, caring about us, standing with us. I am so grateful for Kids Hope!
Students said:
What do I like best about my mentor? That she actually comes! Every week!!
My mentor taught me to turn fractions into decimals! Math isn’t so hard now.
My mentor is a great man, helps me a lot academically and in how I act toward and care about others.
My mentor has been a miracle since the first day she came into my life in elementary school, and she is a miracle every time she comes to see me! She helps me handle my emotions, and has helped me believe I am not a bad person. She’s taught me a lot about treating others with respect and honoring other people. She still comes to see me as a teenager and is there when I need her. She is the best person I have ever been around. I am so very grateful my mentor came into my life.
A mentor is like being given someone to help with your problems, to be your friend. Every kid needs a mentor . . .
Who are you mentoring?
The possibilities are endless – contact our mentoring coalition and find your place among us as a mentor!
Anne Broaddus is a native Wacoan, attended Midway schools, and holds degrees from Baylor University and Truett Seminary. Her 2008 retirement from teaching just meant a career change! Anne currently serves on staff at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church as Director of Kids Hope USA mentoring ministry centered at WISD’s Brook Avenue Elementary School in North Waco. Beyond time with God and and her family, she is most happy in the mountains, with a good book or sharing a cup of coffee with a friend!
Contact Anne at [email protected]. You can learn more about Kids Hope U.S.A. at http://cabcwaco.sitewrench.com/kidshopeusa or http://www.kidshopeusa.org/home/
(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 gives at least a little insight into the interests and concerns of Act Locally Waco readers. I hope this “Top 10” idea inspires you to go back and re-read your personal favorites. There have been so many terrific ones… If you would like to see the Top 10 according to Google Analytics, here’s the link: 2017 Greatest Hits. Merry Christmas! — ABT)
by Rebecca Melton Mercer
A good friend of mine often texts me with the best conversation starter, “So what’s really good?”
So what’s really good, Waco?
Here’s something I think is really good. A new hot spot in town that is the product of a 32 year-old family business and a community that has been gathering since long before #Wacotown was a thing. Back in the corner of a shopping center at 1427 S Valley Mills Drive, just a short walk from Bankston’s Comics, people of Waco are gathering. People of all walks of life, and all ages are meeting up to discuss their common interests in a place that welcomes all, where they can grab a meal, play games, or geek out about things they love.
It’s called King’s Landing. It’s a little hard to describe exactly what King’s Landing is. Proud owner Brent Bankston told the Waco Trib it was a “Game Café and retail location.” I would call it the best clubhouse ever!
Geeks and Gamers. Fans and Food.
The force of community is strong here. And like several places in Waco, the community that is building here is one that looks like Waco. There are truly people from all ages and stages and walks of life. Everything from a mutual love for “Walking Dead” to Super Mario Bros. is bringing them together.
Game night demos with Wade, photo by Kyndall
Bringing people together is something the gaming community is experiencing in big ways in recent years as people are seeking ways to spend time interacting, and gaming seems to be just part of what is bringing people together. As long-time Bankstons employee and my friend Jamie Cooley said recently, people who love playing games of all types and many who had played years ago are “coming out of the closet AND going in to their closets” to drag out sets of Magic the Gathering and Pokémon games, board games, and video games to play with friends and family. There’s a noticeable movement to spend more face to face time in the age of FaceTime.
The thing about “geek culture” is that it was once seen as limited to a few. And those few weren’t always understood or loved by the rest. But in recent years that has changed. ComicCons are more mainstream, “geek” has risen from a put-down to a badge of honor, and the characters, teams, and sub-cultures people love have become a way to strike up a conversation with new people or safely bond with those we already know and love.
2016 was noted for divisiveness, and there’s something beautiful about watching people dive in to a role-playing game like Dungeons and Dragons and just enjoy a game and a story together. Or to watch the Central Texas Artists Collective (CTAC) folks walk around their newest display of artwork on the walls and discuss their creative process with King’s Landing guests.
I can grab a locally brewed-beer or locally roasted latte, then head back to the back of the building where a family enjoys pinball and arcade games together and a few folks debate which of the retro video game systems they love the most and why. My husband can again admire the mounted Hylian Shield and Master Sword that he really, really likes. (That’s from the fandom of Zelda, if you, like me, didn’t know.)
I’ve never dropped by and not had to navigate around smaller groups of patrons intently enjoying a game or conversation. But even though I’m fairly new to all of this, there’s an air of welcome and openness.
From King’s Landing you can easily walk over to Bankston’s Sports Memorabilia, Comics and Collectibles and catch a conversation about sports teams of old, check out that autographed picture of the famous punch thrown by Nolan Ryan, re-hash Baylor/ home team sports, or watch a parent and child head towards the carefully-maintained comic book wall to catch up on the latest story line.
Events. Events. Events!
In either location, get the scoop from employees about the many upcoming events. The crew travels to schools and ComicCons, and locally hosts community fundraiser events, book signings, artist meet and greets, cosplay volunteers, meet ups after movie releases, and the ever-growing Free Comic Book Day celebration every May. There are LGBTQ groups who meet, ladies who lunch and gather for fierce Mahjong play, groups who paint miniature game pieces, artists who draw together, community gatherings, private events, and on and on. Whew! Good thing there’s social media to help spread the word on all the things. (Check out the Epic Valentine’s Day Event this weekend!)
Family Business
Talking to Brent Bankston will quickly get you to the topics of community and family. Brent’s children and many other members of his family work here when they can. The catering business his wife Lee started in their home kitchen has taken new life in Butter my Biscuit, the delicious cafe part of the multi-faceted business that draws people to the shop on Valley Mills every weekend with scratch-made biscuits crafted into savory entrees, sandwiches, snacks and sweet treats. This business deeply cares and seeks to intentionally build a tolerant and positive place that serves our community.
Join the Fun!
Whether you’re looking to let your geek flag fly, are curious, hungry, bored, new in town, looking to reminisce, connect with some friends and family or what the heck ever, I encourage you to check this place out. If we’re there, my husband is the guy with the Batman tattoos who speaks way more geek than me. But all are welcome here, even a muggle like me.
Rebecca Melton Mercer moved to Waco (on purpose) from Houston in 2007 and claims Waco as her adopted home town. Although the “job” she’s most proud of is Mom to two smart kids, nowadays she also spends a lot of time teaching English at LaVega High School, and runs a small business as a social media consultant that gets her out in the community and is as much fun as it is work. Rebecca has been active in building community through her work with Social Cents, her social media consultancy that serves small businesses and non-profits, with The City Review, a local alternative and entertainment newspaper, teaching in local private and public schools, and volunteering with non-profits that serve the Waco area. Rebecca, along with her husband Jeremy Mercer and the two awesome kids previously referred to, enjoy supporting the creative and positive things that Waco has to offer.
Whether it’s playing trumpet in the “Friday Band” at MCC or playing board games at King’s Landing, One of the wonderful things about Waco is that there are lots of ways to find community here. Where do you find community in Waco? Would you be interested in writing about it? If so, let us know. Email [email protected] if you have an idea for a post. You could be seeing your own picture on this page!
by Angie Veracruz
“We create because we have been created by the creator of all things; therefore, it is in us to create. It is an abundant circle.”
I often speak these words in conversations about why we on a conscious/semi-conscious level collectively do art: the creation of paintings, sculptures, dances, music, writings, etc. Art’s intended purpose, whether intuitively or intentionally, abstract or skillfully accurate, is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, to be appreciated primarily for its visual or emotional power.
I observe you and can see the divine creation you were intended to be. I can see where life hardened and wrinkled your once smooth features, has now softened your edges as the years pass by. I want to paint you, but mostly experience you in all your amazing wonder. To hear the music in your laugh. To watch as tears create streams down your face. To feel your presence within reaching distance. To me, you are already a wondrous work of art needing no more labels, definitions, separations, or divisions. You are artwork and the artist. You are human.
Arts and Culture in Waco
Waco’s arts community has been growing for years. I believe we all understand the benefits a thriving arts and cultural community imparts on a city. Here are a few reminders as described by Fiona Bond, Creative Waco Director, a thriving arts and cultural community…
- attracts artists and cultural enterprises to the community
- encourages business and job development
- addresses specific needs of a community
- establishes tourism destinations
- preserves and reuses historic buildings and historic community assets
- enhances property values and fosters local cultural development.
Over the past two years, Creative Waco has pulled together our community by highlighting many of the wonderful arts and cultural activities happening around Waco. After a long and tedious process with many meetings, emails, opinions, suggestions, events and art happenings, the application was finished, submitted on time, and Waco was awarded a Cultural Arts District status.
What next?
Now more than ever, however, we cannot take support for the arts for granted. The Texas Commission on the Arts, including the $5M appropriation for Cultural & Fine Art Districts secured through the legislative advocacy work of Texans for the Arts in the 83rd Session, has been removed from the Senate budget. This will directly affect Waco’s newly established Cultural District.
It is up to you, me and every citizen of Waco to show support for the arts. I recommend two ways. The first is direct advocacy. There are several ways you can get involved to show your support.
- Become a member of the Texans for the Arts to stay in the know about all things arts related in Texas.
- Support your local arts organizations like Central Texas Artist Collective, Waco Poets Society, Creative Waco, Waco Cultural Arts Festival, Art Center of Waco, Art on Elm, First Fridays, and more!
- Write a letter of concern, or support in restoring the funds to the budget, to the following:
- Ann Graham, Executive Director for Texans for the arts: [email protected]
- Jennifer Ransom Riche and Ashley Martin, Texas cultural Trust: [email protected], [email protected]
- Ben Stratmann & Liz Sanchez, Sen. Birdwell’s Office: [email protected], [email protected]
- Rep “Doc” Anderson: [email protected]
- Rep Kyle Kacal: [email protected]
In addition to direct advocacy, get involved with creating the arts and culture identity of Waco. It’s easier than you think. Every day we in Waco are creating our arts and culture identity through the initiatives we support and our attendance at new and favorite festivals such as Deep In The Heart Film Festival (2/16-19), Illectric River Festival (3/18), Texas Food Truck Showdown (4/01), and Art On Elm (4/8).
When we gather with friends for live concerts at the Backyard, when we attend a play or two at Waco Civic Theatre and Jubilee Theatre we are creating our identity. When we enjoy the full orchestra, a concert band, a jazz band, or any blend of musical talents at Waco Hall, Ball Performing Arts Center, or Indian Spring Outdoor Amphitheater we are creating our identify. When we catch an independent musician performing at Dichotomy, Common Grounds, or any fine establishment we are creating our arts and culture identity.
When we start looking, something visually unique and beautiful finds us. Walk through our local galleries such as Art Center of Waco, Martin Museum, or Studio Gallery. Or, enjoy the art in businesses like the Hippodrome, Tea2go, Rufi’s Cocina, Shorty’s Pizza Shack, and so many more places! You can find all the wonderful murals while driving around our beautiful city, and take in the outdoor sculptures that can be found like hidden gems. These are all a part of our arts and culture identity.
Looking for creative ways to get involved in our community?
This past August, Central Texas Artist Collective created a walkable art exhibit called EKPHRASIS: Art & Words. The premise was to pair a visual artist and a writer to collaborate and create an ekphrastic display. The artwork and written pieces were exhibited in the storefront windows of 13 businesses facing Austin Ave between 6th and 8th streets. Over 50 artists, writers, and musicians participated in the exhibit. The opening event drew in community members from all over McLennan County and friends from out of state attended to support their artists.
Although the 2016 exhibit did not have a theme, the overall idea was about community and communication. The purpose was to step out of the traditional art gallery and to feel free to roam from location to location. The viewer had the option to take a tour, led by myself, or explore on their own. Exhibit maps were given to the participating store locations for those who just happen to stumble upon the exhibit.
Then something wonderful happened — during the Friday voting night and Saturday opening event day — communication. Free flowing, engaged dialogues full of questions and support. Community members showed up and started having conversations about the artwork and written pieces with each other and the artists who were present near their work.
This year CTAC intends to reprise the EKPHRASIS exhibit by focusing the displays and dialogue on a specific community issue that is necessary to address, difficult to navigate alone, and should have a positive impact towards change in our community.
Currently we are putting together an Ekphrasis Committee who will decide the theme, determine every one’s strengths and level of commitment, then plan a timeline for the exhibit. Our first committee meeting was held at the Provender Store, 60 Austin Ave on Feb 4, 2017 at noon; monthly meetings will occur every 1st Saturday and as needed until the event. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email CTAC at: [email protected]. If you would like to stay informed about the call to artists & poets, and any other community creative outlets, like artjams, exhibits, artisan markets, and more! “like” the CTAC facebook.com/CenTexArtists page. You are a part of the arts community of Waco!
Angie Veracruz is an intuitive artist who is influenced by the world around us and reflective insights. She is the mother of three beautiful girls and their biggest education advocate. She is also a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Central Texas Artist Collective. She is a member of Texans for the Arts and an arts advocate in the making.
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 Madison Albee
McLennan Community College recognizes that life can sometimes get in the way of achieving educational goals. That is why we have set up a series of student success initiatives, so students may find the resources, encouragement, and guidance they need to be successful now and in the future.
Completion Center
The Completion Center understands that there is more to a student’s life than college. MCC provides Success Coaches to help students find a way to balance it all. They are able to help students who want to see change in their lives, whether that be academic or outside of the classroom. Success Coaches meet with students one-on-one to help them with assetiveness, leadership, time management, decision making, and facilitating positive change. They also help students find resources for food, shelter, transportation, and health when needed. A student’s Success Coach continues to mentor them throughout their time at MCC to make sure they are overcoming their obstacles and meeting their goals.
Student Services Center, Second Floor, Completion Center
254-299-UCAN (8226)
Support and Empowerment Program
Started in 1979 as community service by the Junior League of Waco, Inc., The Support and Empowerment Program has now helped more than 7,000 students find the strength to begin a new life. McLennan Community College offers special services to single parents and displaced homemakers who want to continue their education but might need some help doing so. Some of the services available include funds for childcare, crisis intervention, academic counseling, stress management, and parenting workshops.
Adrienne Potts is a nursing student and mother who has participated in the program for most of her time at MCC. Potts feels that the Support and Empowerment program counselors have helped her greatly with trying to balance school and home life. “I can see they genuinely care about me and my success as a student. They are rooting me on as my #1 fan,” she said.
Lizette LaStrape
SEP Program Coordinator
254-299-8600
[email protected]
Men of Color Initiative
Historically men of color have faced many challenges in obtaining a college degree such as lack of role models, cultural barriers to higher education, and community pressures. The Men of Color Initiative at MCC encourages young men to stay in school and succeed in life. Students are mentored by MCC faculty and staff on their academic progress and attendance, and mentors support them in handling difficult situations. Mentees are able to develop a network of contacts, increase self-confidence, and experience success and recognition. This initiative not only strives to increase the retention and completion rates of traditionally unrepresented groups but also hopes to increase the campus’ awareness of issues with diversity and equity.
Ronald Hochstatter
254-299-8944
[email protected]
TRIO Student Support Services
One of eight federally-funded TRIO programs, MCC’s Student Support Services is designed to improve student retention, graduation, and overall success rates. Student Support Services (SSS) offers free academic services to help students continue at MCC, graduate, and transfer to a four-year college or university in a timely manner. Students are able to participate in four-year campus visits and tours, tutoring sessions, financial aid and scholarship searches, as well as career and financial counseling.
Dawn Shulz, a TRIO alum and MCC graduate, reflected on how the program helped her while she was here. “I no doubt have an increased confidence in myself and my academic abilities through all the access to cultural events, leadership opportunities, and community volunteering… experiences that I might not have found on my own,” she said.
Student Services Center, Room 304
254-299-8431
Participation in these programs has led many students to pursue opportunities they might not have had otherwise. If you know a student that might be letting life get in the way of pursuing their educational goals, let them know there are resources available to them. Please use the contact information provided to easily reach out and get assistance.
Madison Albee is a senior at Baylor University from Fort Worth, Texas. She is studying journalism/public relations with a concentration in marketing and is graduating this coming May. Currently Madison works for MCC as a public relations intern in the marketing and communications department. She is also the public relations assistant for Luca Magazine.
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 Bill Gaventa
This last weekend saw one of the most popular service events in Waco, the Really Big Fishing Event for very Special People. The pictures in the WacoTrib were great as was the effort and support put in by so many people and organizations in the Waco area”. But there is a “catch” here (so to speak) and one that is not meant to criticize the event at all. In fact, it is a positive illustration of the very point I wish to make.
The day of fun and service drew together people who often move in very separate worlds. One of the biggest issues for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as people with other disabilities, is the fact that social, cultural, and architectural barriers often limit their opportunities to participate fully in the kinds of activities many of us take for granted. On the other hand, many people we might call “non-disabled” don’t see or interact with people with disabilities on a regular basis, sometimes because the services and supports for them can separate them from typical settings, or because they stay at home with nothing meaningful to do.
Thus, we end up in a world where people who labeled “disabled” are often seen in one conceptual box, and people labeled “normal” are in another. The problem with these kind of labels is they take on far too much power by seeing a person only by one dimension of their lives. That’s not just a problem here: think now-a-days about political labels, racial labels, cultural labels, religious labels, sexual labels…the list can go on and on. Those labels prejudice what we see, because they fill a whole backpack of assumptions and expectations that we think are true about another person even before we know them. In her famous TED Talk, Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie calls it “the danger of a single story.” Every one of us has experienced that from other people in a way that does not feel right or true to who we are.
Labels put people in boxes in the shelves of our minds. What we need, in so many ways, are bigger boxes into which two boxes labeled differently can fit. Hence the Really Big Fishing Event for Very Special People. The bigger box was fishing, an activity that people from all kinds of backgrounds enjoy. In fact, for avid fishermen and fisherwomen, the fact that some other people may love fishing but never have a chance to go fishing is the real tragedy or disability, not the other kinds of labels they may wear.
The potential power of this annual Saturday event might also lead to other opportunities for people who love fishing to find other ways to help people with disabilities who also love fishing to have more opportunities to do so. Not in big events, but rather in small boats, from the river bank, from the dock, opportunities where the fishing “box” helps tackle the stereotypes and fears we may have, and where people then build relationships and friendships that mess up our smaller boxes and more rigid labels.
There are organizations around Waco making great strides in building those bigger boxes. Sports brings people together with many levels of ability in Special Olympics and No Limitations Athletics. The Arc of McLennan County uses country music, barbecue and a raffle auction to bring together people in the community who support individuals and families. The Autism Walk on Saturday, April 8 does the same as does art in several venues and programs. Join the Pride, an event on April 23, uses the great Cameron Park Zoo to do the same, as well as to celebrate people of all abilities at a zoo with a great reputation for its work in support of animals with one form of disability or another. The Waco Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities coordinates this upcoming event with sponsors who help the day to be free for people with disabilities and their families. Volunteers are both needed and welcome.
The events are all inspiring not only because of the commitment and excitement that runs rampant but also because they find bigger boxes into which we all fit. They are doubly inspiring if we all look for ways this can happen in everyday lives. So rather than seeing people with differences as labeled boxes on a shelf, every time we see someone as “other,” or “not like me,” could we not ask ourselves: “Gee, I wonder what bigger box we could both fit into.” They are not hard to find and not hard to build.
All we must do is start the conversation, reach beyond the boxes in which might find ourselves, introduce yourself, and ask questions about who they are, what they like to do, and the dreams they have. Ronald Reagan first designated March as National Developmental Disabilities Month. If you want to do something in March, any of these organizations can help you. But perhaps you already know some individuals or families where you can start. There is no telling how many labels (and bigger boxes) you will find that you share in common with someone sitting on the shelf with you.
Bill Gaventa is an ordained Baptist minister currently serving as the Director of the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability and the national Collaborative on Faith and Disability. . Bill’s pastoral career has been in a variety of roles at the intersections of faith and disability, including community supports with people with disabilities, training for clergy, seminarians and community services staff, aging and end of life/grief issues in intellectual and developmental disabilities, cultural competence, and community building. He is currently serving as the President of American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for 2016-2017. He and his wife Beverly moved to Waco in 2013 where she serves as Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Baylor University. In Waco, Bill serves on the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities, the Board of the Arc of McLennan County, and the Professional Network Advisory Committee of the Heart of Texas Region MH/MR Center. You can email Bill 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 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, National Resource Network (NRN) and the NYU School of Medicine have piloted a joint venture of analysis and producing city-level health data.
Waco, along with other cities across the nation, took part in a competitive application process to pilot this program. Accompanying Waco in this pilot program are three other cities: Flint, Michigan; Kansas City, Kansas; and Providence, Rhode Island. What is a common thread between us and the other three cities? We all face economic challenges and are working hard to improve the overall quality of life.
You can view the City Health Dashboard by clicking here.
Okay, so let’s look at a metric together. Click “Waco, TX” and are click “Unemployment.” What appears is a whole bunch of numbers and a visually pleasing map. What does that all mean?
Waco’s average for unemployment is 8.5%. Particularly useful, the dashboard also notes how far above or below the national average Waco sits. Waco’s unemployment rate is 3.5% above the national average of 5% — meaning Waco has more people seeking jobs and unable to find a job than the national average.
The map shows what parts of the city have higher rates of unemployment than others. A darker purple means higher unemployment and light blue means lower rates of unemployment. In our city, there are pockets of high and low unemployment rates—the lowest rate being 1.4% and the highest rate being 24.4%.
Also useful is the notation of the data source, years of collection and the definition of how the measure is calculated. When looking at unemployment, the data comes from the Census data using a 5-year estimate. The 5-year estimate means the data was collected between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. The definition of unemployment is as follows: percent of the civilian population age ≥ 16 that is unemployed but actively seeking work.
Being able to have this disaggregated data allows our community to better target our efforts. So, by looking at the Unemployment data from the City Health Dashboard, we are able to connect the Waco Foundational Employment Network’s efforts to certain areas in our community. The city-level data can be passed to community partners, such as Skillpoint Alliance, to help them target recruitment efforts for their free rapid workforce training program. Or, to Goodwill Industries to promote their career fairs and the free job training classes they offer.
I know (first-hand) data can be intimidating and confusing, so don’t forget that the Prosper Waco team is here to help. Our director of data and research, Brittany, is a data guru and loves to help organizations and people better understand how to find data, understand data and (better yet) how to effectively use data. She can be reached by sending a quick email to [email protected].
Peruse the health dashboard to look at the 26 different measures. Is there one that sparks your interest? For me, it’s the walkability measure. Waco scored 34 out of 100. We can do better! One group in town that is working to improve walkability is Waco Walks. I’m adding their next meeting to my calendar so I can help be part of the solution of improving our community, one step at a time.
Christina Helmick is the director of communication at Prosper Waco. She is a recent graduate of Baylor University with a BA in Journalism, Public Relations & New Media. Originally she is from Washington, D.C., but has stayed in Waco post-graduation. She is an active mentor at J.H. Hines Elementary School, enjoys spending time with her family and watching Baylor football. Sic ’em Bears!
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 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. This year, the event will focus on empowering women’s health, heart, soul, family, and home. It’s called the Hearts & Homes Ladies’ Conference. The event will include several vendor booths to provide information on resources to the community including career building and home buying assistance, home maintenance tips, and a wellness zone plus door prizes! Lunch and snacks will also be provided. Something new this year that the Chamber will offer as a partner in the HCCC will be providing a healthy traditional Hispanic meal cooking demonstration and food sampling during the event.
If you didn’t catch the previous blog about the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge, I will briefly describe its importance for our community. This is a national challenge consisting of 50 other communities (Waco-McLennan County included) all working to improve the health of their residents in many different ways. Communities could choose to improve on one of five metrics including community safety, built environment, social/economic factors, environmental factors, and healthy behaviors. Some communities are focusing on improving asthma rates for children, others are working to prohibit smoking in vehicles with children, some working to improve physical activity opportunities, and some are working on improving wastewater management. Waco-McLennan County will be working on the healthy behaviors metric more specifically increasing healthier eating and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The top communities at the end of the two year challenge (which began October 2016) that show an improvement in their metrics compared to baseline data submitted could win prize money for the community between $25,000 and $250,000 for our community tier.
All of that to say, it is important that residents know how to cook meals in a healthier way and learn how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their daily diet. That is where our partner, the CenTex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce comes in. They will be hosting three healthy traditional Hispanic meal cooking demos and samplings throughout the two year challenge in order to educate community members on cooking their favorite comfort foods in a healthy way and in a way that tastes great. The Hearts & Homes Ladies’ Conference is where the first of the three cooking demos will occur. We are very grateful to have the Chamber join in this fun and healthy challenge and we challenge you to eat more fruits and veggies! Be sure to attend the event on February 25th 2017 at the Waco Convention Center in McLennan Hall from 10am-3pm so you can be a part of the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge!
Courtney Restivo Wollard is a lifelong Waco resident who works as Public Health Planner at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and serves as Chair for Live Well Waco, the group working to decrease obesity rates under the Prosper Waco Health Committee Initiative. She is also an alumnus of the Waco Foundation LeadershipPLENTY Institute. Courtney graduated with her Masters of Public Health from Baylor University and right away began her career as a health advocate. She is married to Kyle, with whom she has two fur babies – a Chihuahua and a Labrador. Courtney hopes to continue to create healthier environments for McLennan County residents.
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.