By Ashley Bean Thornton
(Have you ever been a part of a conversation where you just nodded and pretended you knew what was going on, when really you had no idea what people were talking about? If you do this long enough, you eventually get to the point that it’s embarrassing to ask, and you just make peace with stumbling along in ignorance. I know this from personal experience! For example, even though I think of myself as a fairly well informed citizen of Waco there are still some basic things about how the city works that I only vaguely understand. And – even though it probably only takes 5 minutes to Google it – I just never get around to it.
Assuming that I’m not the only one out there with this particular character flaw, Act Locally Waco is starting a blog series called “Waco 101.” The idea will be to use a blog post every now and then to explain some aspect of how the city works – maybe some term or process you read about in the paper all the time, but don’t really understand. It’s for those of us who want to be informed citizens, but are just too dang busy (or lazy!) to look stuff up. Do you have ideas for topics for this series? If so, send me an email at ashleyt@actlocalllywaco.org and we’ll try to find someone to write about it. No one needs to know it was you who asked! Thanks! — ABT)
If you have ever read an article in the Trib about downtown Waco, you have probably come across the acronym “TIF,” as in…
- “$35 million TIF Grant to Baylor Stadium Project is right for downtown development”
- “Waco’s TIF Fund grows, building hope downtown,”
Or, most recently…
…but, what the heck is “TIF?”
The acronym “TIF” stands for “Tax Increment Financing.”
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a way for the city to encourage development in an economically distressed area by investing tax revenues. The basic idea is that there are certain areas in the city that would be beneficial to develop, but, to be frank, they are in such bad shape that it is difficult to entice investors to take the plunge. To help with this dilemma, the City of Waco can encourage investment by agreeing to pay some of the cost of the development. But, where would the money come from to do that you ask? Enter TIF!
The basic concept of TIF is that a distressed property has a certain original value that generates some amount of tax dollars. After it is renovated, it will have a new, higher value that will generate more tax dollars. This difference in the amount of taxes paid is the “increment” in Tax Increment Financing. The Tax Increment Financing model uses this projected increment to finance improvement projects.
Here’s how it works:
The city identifies a particular area that is economically distressed, but has potential for profitable development. This area is designated as a “TIF zone” for up to forty years. For example, in 1982 the City of Waco established “Reinvestment Zone #1,” which includes part of downtown and a large part of the river front (map). That area is designated a TIF zone until 2022.
Taxes collected the year the TIF zone was established are considered the “baseline” taxes for the zone. The Taxing entities (in our case, the City, McLennan County, McLennan Community College and WISD) agree that, for the length of the TIF agreement, they will take only that baseline amount each year. Any taxes collected above that baseline will be put into a fund to be reinvested in the TIF zone. This difference between the baseline taxes and the actual taxes collected is the “increment.”
TIF funds can be used for variety improvements: affordable housing, transit facilities, demolishing a building, or preserving the façade of a building, among others. (Here’s the link to the city’s TIF Guidelines.)
Developers who are interested in investing in the TIF zone can ask for TIF funding to help with eligible parts of their projects. This reduces the developer’s expenses and helps encourage renovation in the zone. When the renovation is complete, the property is more valuable, which results in higher property taxes, which replenishes the TIF fund.
Developers who are interested in receiving this kind of funding start the process by checking with the City Manager’s office to see what parts, if any, of their projects are eligible for TIF funding. If some parts are eligible, the developer may submit an application for formal consideration of funding.
Eligible funding requests are presented to the Board of Directors for the TIF zone. The Board of Directors is appointed by the taxing entities. There are eight members on each TIF board in Waco: one each appointed by Waco ISD, McLennan County, and McLennan Community College and five appointed by the Waco City Council. This board reviews the proposal and makes a recommendation to the City Council as to whether or not to accept the proposal.
If the City Council does accept the proposal, the city enters into a contract with the developer to reimburse the agreed upon TIF-eligible work.
This reimbursement might happen in any one of several ways, for example:
- The developer might pay the cost of the approved improvement, and then be reimbursed over time from the increased tax revenues, or…
- The city might pay for the improvement directly out of the existing TIF funds, or…
- the improvement might be paid for by the sale of a bond, that would then be repaid over time out of the tax increments.
This model of funding has been used to help incentivize all kinds of downtown Waco development projects from the MLK Pedestrian/Bike Trail, to the American Football Coaches Association parking lot to – more famously – parts of the McLane Stadium project and The Magnolia Silos project. The most recent big TIF commitment is for the “Brazos Promenade” riverfront development scheduled to break ground in 2017.
Clearly this model of funding has had a huge impact on Waco especially in downtown. It will be interesting to see what the future holds between now and 2022 when TIF zone #1 reverts back to the regular tax rolls!
This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, she works at Baylor, helps out with Act locally Waco, and facilitates the Waco Foundational Employment Network which is a part of Prosper Waco. She likes to walk and doesn’t mind at all if you honk and wave when you see her.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Larry Carpenter
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” Never have words been more true when thinking about the upcoming winter holiday season and all of the great holiday happenings scheduled with Waco ISD Fine Arts students. From musicals to concerts and ensembles to community service…there is something engaging for audiences of all ages and individual tastes. As the Director of Fine Arts for Waco ISD, having the holidays overflowing with cheer and excitement is truly a wonderful time of the year for me. Through our various activities and performances, we hope to spread that same joy to the Waco community. We hope you can come and join us at some, or even all, of our special holiday happenings this season. From WISD Fine Arts, many blessings to you all! Happy Holidays!
Waco ISD Fine Arts Holiday Happenings 2016
November 24
- UHS JROTC “Feed the Homeless” community service @ Salvation Army
December 1
- Indian Spring Jazz Band @ Richland Mall 2:00 p.m.
- UHS JROTC Color Guard @ WISD Outstanding Teacher @ UHS
December 2
- UHS/WHS Orchestra @ Waco Wonderland 5:00 p.m.
- UHS/WHS JV Orchestras @ Dr. Pepper Museum 8:00 p.m.
- Waco High Jazz Cats @ Waco Wonderland 8:00 p.m.
- Tennyson MS presents Elf, Jr. @ TMS 6:30 p.m.
December 3
- Brook Ave Choir @ Waco Wonderland TBD
- Tennyson MS presents Elf, Jr. & Dinner Theatre @ TMS 6:30 p.m.
December 4
- WHS Jazz Combo Performance @ Barnes and Noble 8:00 p.m.
December 5
- Carver Choir Concert @ Carver Cafeteria 6:30 p.m.
- Indian Spring Middle School Jazz Band “Sound of the Seasons” @ City Hall 2:00 p.m.
- Waco High Choir Holiday Concert @ Waco High Performing Arts Center (WHS PAC) 7:00 p.m.
December 6
- UHS Trojan Singers, UHS Orchestra & Cesar Chavez Middle School Holiday Choir Concert @ UHS PAC 6:00 p.m.
- WHS Choir Tour @ City Hall, Stillwell, etc.
- WHS Band, Jazz & Color Guard Holiday Concert @ WHS PAC 7:00 p.m.
- UHS JROTC “Feast of Sharing” community service @ Convention Center
December 7
- Tennyson MS Holiday Band Concert @ WHS PAC 6:00 p.m.
- WHS Jazz Combo @ Friends of Texas Public Schools Gala, Baylor Club 6:00 p.m.
December 8
- Mountainview 2nd Grade presents, “Elfis and the Sleigh Riders” @ Mountainview Elementary 6:00 p.m.
- Indian Spring MS Holiday Band Concert @ WHS PAC 6:00 p.m.
- Cesar Chavez MS Holiday Band Concert @ CCMS Competition Gym 6:30 p.m.
December 9
- Lake Air MS Choir Sound of the Seasons @ City Hall 2:30 p.m.
- Lake Air Montessori Holiday Band Concert @ WHS PAC 6:00 p.m.
December 12-16
- University HS JROTC/Soccer Programs present “Make a Wish” to students at Alta Vista, South Waco, Bell’s Hill, & Cesar Chavez.
December 12
- Tennyson MS Beginning Band Winter Recital @ TMS Gym 6:00 p.m.
December 13
- Bell’s Hill K-2nd Grade Performance @ UHS PAC 5:30 p.m.
- Bell’s Hill 3rd-5th Grade Performance @ UHS PAC 6:15 p.m.
- Brook Ave Holiday Program @ Brook Ave 6:00 p.m.
- Dean Highland 4th and 5th Holiday Program @ DH Cafeteria 6:00 p.m.
- Parkdale K & 3rd Grade Holiday Program @ Parkdale 6:00 p.m.
- South Waco Holiday Program @ South Waco 6:00 p.m.
- Tennyson Varsity Choir Winter Concert @ TMS 6:30 p.m.
- University Mass Concert Band & Jazz Band @ UHS PAC 5:30 p.m.
- Waco High & Tennyson Orchestra Concert @ WHS PAC 7:00 p.m.
December 14
- Brook Ave Choir Caroling and Sound of the Seasons @ City Hall TBD
December 15
- Kendrick all-school Concert @ Kendrick Elementary 6:00 p.m.
- West Ave Holiday Music Program @ West Ave. 6:00 p.m.
- Hillcrest PDS All-School Winter Holiday Music Program @ First United Methodist Church 7:00 p.m.
- Tennyson “Bowls for Art” sale and display @ TMS 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Tennyson Non-Varsity & 6th Grade Choir Concert @ TMS 6:30 p.m.
December 16
- Lake Air Montessori School-Wide Holiday Singalong @ LAMM Cafeteria 8:30 a.m.
December 17
- WHS Jazz Combo @ The Klassy Glass 8:00 p.m.
Larry Carpenter is the Director of Fine Arts for Waco ISD. Having been with WISD for 17 of his 23 years in education, he has served WISD as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant director of Advanced Academics and now Director of Fine Arts. He is a life-long Wacoan.
By Emily Clark
The Mayborn Museum has just opened Design Den, a new permanent exhibit space that focuses on making and tinkering with real tools, real technology, and real materials. As Design Den Coordinator, I get to spend my days testing fun new projects, like designing paper masks with LED circuits and building marble roller coasters out of toilet paper rolls! It’s seriously a dream job, but it can be hard to explain to people what it means to make and tinker.
The “Maker Movement” has been gaining in popularity across the nation and around the world, but it’s really nothing new. As humans, we have always been makers. That’s how we have come to live in such a technologically rich world! The only downside? Technology has really spoiled us. Why would I make my own when I can just buy it at the store? The Maker Movement and Do-It-Yourself culture have recently gained traction as a way to reclaim our inventive nature. Make your own soap! Make your own furniture! Make your own robot! (Or at least put the tutorials on your Pinterest board and totally make them later.) There’s a pride and sense of accomplishment in creating something all on your own. Not to mention, it is fun!
Museums have picked up on this trend of making and tinkering. Places like the New York Hall of Science’s Makerspace and the Exploratorium’s Tinkering Studio have lead the charge, and they have noticed something that is pretty cool: we learn best by doing! Making and tinkering are especially effective ways to learn because we become invested in our projects. I may use math to measure the perfect piece of cardboard. I apply physics when I realize that my marble roller coaster needs a steeper incline. I hone my communication skills when someone asks about my project and I have to explain my own thought process. Perhaps most obviously, I learn to problem solve. If my LED mask isn’t lighting up, there may be something wrong with my copper tape circuit. I move a few pieces of tape and adjust the battery and…. Voila! It works!
Here at the Mayborn Museum, we have been busy making and tinkering in Design Den since we announced the new space in May. We began this summer by prototyping different activities with the help of our teen volunteers. After observing visitors and listening to their comments, we found that making and tinkering activities were very popular. Some of our favorite activities were Inflatables, Squishy Circuits, and Paper Animatronics.
This fall, Design Den has opened in its permanent exhibit space. We have a front area of Design Den where guests can drop in anytime to build their own creations using different types of blocks. The back area of Design Den is a new workshop space where we invite guests to make and tinker for special events and programs. At our Halloween event, guests made their own LED paper masks in the workshop.
Design Den has also been busy this fall connecting with the Waco community. In October, we made LED Wearable Pins with festival goers at Science Fest. Later that month, we talked with high school students about careers in museums and invited them to tinker with Squishy Circuits at City of Waco STEAM Day. We even made stop motion videos at the Farmer’s Market in a partnership with the Museum Association of Waco’s Traveling Museum, a project coordinated by Matt Doyen, Baylor Museum Studies graduate student and Graduate Assistant for Design Den.
In late October, Design Den joined the rest of the museum in welcoming families from Brook Avenue Elementary and West Avenue Elementary at our first Family Science Night, planned in conjunction with Prosper Waco. At Family Science Night, one of our activities had participants use recycled materials to make something to add to our Happy City. We asked, “What do you think a city needs to be happy?” You can see in the photo below that we had an airport, an art gallery, coffee shops, a hospital, and even a science museum!
Our last event for 2016 will be our Christmas at the Mayborn event on December 1. In Design Den, we will be making pop-up holiday cards and ornaments. We have a special activity, making stockings decorated with sewing circuits and LEDs, reserved for guests ages 8 and up.
The coolest thing of all is that making is happening all over Waco. Places like Maker’s Edge on Austin Avenue, Waco ISD’s Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA), and even Midway Middle School’s new makerspace have begun to engage the community in making and tinkering. At Design Den, we love the idea of introducing our guests to a making and tinkering mindset that leads to bigger and better and even more awesome making, whether that’s at the Mayborn or somewhere else in Waco. Happy making!
Emily Clark is originally from Joshua, TX, but moved to Waco in 2009 to go to Baylor. She has two degrees from Baylor, her B.S. in Biology and her M.A. in Museum Studies. She was hired on at the Mayborn Museum in May after working there for two years as a graduate assistant. Her husband, Andy, is in his last year at Truett Seminary. They live near campus with their silly pup, Pepper, adopted from the Humane Society of Central Texas. Emily loves to binge watch TV shows, eat queso, and listen to the Eagles.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Craig Nash
On the week before Thanksgiving every year the National Coalition for the Homeless commemorates National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week, in an effort to draw attention to some of the most vulnerable of our neighbors. Waco is home to numerous non-profits, churches and focused initiatives to address the issue of homelessness and hunger, such as The Gospel Café, Salvation Army and Caritas, just to name a few. The newest of these is The Cove, which is dedicated to providing a safe space in the evenings for the students of Waco ISD who find themselves, for whatever reason, without a permanent home.
In addition to tutoring assistance, connections to social services and providing a place to shower and wash clothes, The Cove has partnered with several churches and other community organizations to provide a warm, nutritious meal for students every school day. Meals are served family style, which gives students an opportunity to experience a sense of normalcy and “home.” Kenneth McAdam, an MSW intern for The Cove, says that both the students and staff are enjoying the meals, and the partnership is vital to the current success of the organization.
Currently meals are provided by groups from Antioch Community Church, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, and Baylor’s Campus Kitchen. Wednesday meals are provided on a rotating basis by other individuals, churches and non-profits. They have meals being provided through the end of the year, but are beginning to look ahead for early next year. If you or your organization is interested in participating in this exciting and important effort to alleviate the burdens of hunger and homelessness among Waco ISD’s students, send an email to thecovewaco@gmail.com. For more information about services The Cove provides, and how you can help, their website is www.thecovewaco.org.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Jenuine Poetess
Behold! A season of the giving and receiving of gifts is upon many of us. As we continue to bask in the afterglow of Waco’s creative coup earning the distinction of state designated Cultural Arts District, a perfect way to sustain the arts and those who make the arts, is to commit to buying local art when you make your seasonal gift purchases this year. This blog will take you through some of the opportunities you have to support artists who are living, working, and creating in Waco and McLennan County. I will also share with you several ways that you can give the gift of creative experience to those you cherish making both a memory and a piece of art to enjoy for many years to come!
Where to shop In Person
Mistletoe Market at the Downtown Waco Wonderland
- December 2-4, 2016 Heritage Square, Downtown Waco
- Artists vendors will be selling work throughout the weekend and on subsequent Saturdays in December
- Event also features Santa house, food vendors, and amusements
- Central Texas Artist Collective will have a booth featuring several artists including Jenuine Artworks, Christy Town, When Brothers Draw, and more!
Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market – Artisan Market Days
- December 3, 10, and 17th
- In addition to the selection of organic produce and locally made pantry items, shop the offerings of local artists and craftspeople
- Has a gift shop open Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm stocked with original and fine art quality prints of local artists
- Or give the gift of art classes – offerings for children and adults year-round!
- Located on the corner of Franklin and 6th street this gallery exhibits selections of a number of artists—a one-stop shop for anything from artwork, jewelry, leather goods, and more!
- Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1:30-5:30 & Saturday 10am-2pm
Where to shop Online
Mirth and Laughter – “Repurposed functional art items to enhance your space.”
- Artist Michelangelo Flores crafts unique artisan lamps from repurposed cigar boxes. Perfect for any library, study, creative space, or cozy corner of your home or office.
- Lamps available in stock or by custom order
- Find on Facebook, Instagram, or Etsy

(Mirth and Laughter cigar box lamps. Photo: Michelangelo Flores)
Custom Portraits, by Shay MacMorran
- Want to remember your favorite person or beastie? Artist Shay MacMorran offers original portraits for any gift occasion
- Order now for holiday gifting
- Contact Shay MacMorran for details and pricing: shaymacmorran@gmail.com

(Artwork and photo by: Shay MacMorran)

(Artwork and photo by: Shay MacMorran)
ClaytimeJester by Sherri – handmade polymer clay keepsakes
- Specializing in unique creations and custom orders
- Available items on Etsy or message directly on Facebook for special orders

(Photo courtesy: ClaytimeJester)
- Yellow Chair Press is an indie press which publishes full-length and chapbook poetry collections and is based in Waco
- Yellow Chair Press has a selection of titles available by local and national poets
Christy Town – watercolor artist
- Will be selling art prints at the Mistletoe Market
- Check out her live art process online at TwitchTV/xatrioxic Tues-Thurs 10:30am-4:00pm CST
(Christy Town, artist. Photo by: JenuineArtworks)
Where to Create
- Create your own mouth-blown hot glass ornament, $35 each
- Glassblowing events will run from every Friday and Saturday in November and December, up until the weekend before Christmas. You may schedule appointments from 8am – 12pm, and 1:30pm – 5pm.
- To reserve your spot, contact arden@stantonglass.com or call us at (800) 619-4882
(Photo: Stanton Studios)
- Open Tuesday – Saturdays, various hours no reservation needed!
- For a minimal studio & supply fee, paint a canvas of your own choosing or
- Bring your own item and use the studio’s paints and tools to hand craft your own creation
- Make it a special date, a family outing, or bonding time with those you love!
Painting with a Twist – “Leave your stress at the door”
- Guided group painting sessions available; check website for schedule
- Holiday and everyday theme canvases available to paint
- Enjoy creative time to unwind and bring a bottle of your favorite wine!
- Make a memory with loved ones, create a canvas as a gift, or purchase a gift certificate to give the gift of creating to your favorite artist!
- Open studio for hand-painted pottery, mosaic, glass fusion, and more!
- No reservation required for parties fewer than 5, hours vary Sunday – Saturday
- Make a memory with loved ones, create a gift, or purchase a gift certificate to give the gift of creating to your favorite artist!
- Try your hand at embellished script or polish your calligraphy skills with a new flourish just in time to spruce up your seasonal correspondences
- Next Meeting: Saturday, November 12, 2016 10 a.m. to noon, St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Waco
Jenuine Poetess is an artist, visionary, and community organizer. In 2010, she founded In the Words of Womyn (ITWOW), an international, grass-roots, written and spoken-word arts project with chapters throughout Los Angeles, CA; Waco, TX; and Lebanon. Jenuine is the founder of Waco Poets Society and co-founder of the Central Texas Artist Collective. She writes, organizes, and creates rooted in the fierce conviction that holding intentional space, access, and opportunity for all people to foster their creative health is a matter of justice and is a vital asset to the sustainable thriving of communities. She currently lives and poems in Central Texas where she enjoys finding new ways to disrupt the homeostasis of her city. You can contact her at: jenuineartworks@gmail.com .
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Liz Ligawa
So, I’m chuckling as I begin writing this piece. I am not sure if you have seen it, but a few months ago, a video clip offered some very necessary comic relief for me after a particularly difficult time finding the salve of sleep. The clip was “Trust Fall Fail”. If you are familiar with the team building activity of the Trust Fall, then you probably know where this is going. However, if your experience is not like mine, (filled with an abundance of Ropes Courses, or team building activities), I’ll briefly explain.
The Trust Fall is designed to strengthen teams by building trust among its members. In this activity, trust is demonstrated by choosing to fall into the supportive strength of team members. In the “Trust Fall Fail” video, however, this particular team member does not fall backward into the support of her team, but rather falls in the direction where her team is not: forward. You can imagine how this ends, and also maybe why it’s kind of funny. But I wonder if we exhibit this same misunderstanding sometimes- fall in the wrong direction. Do we believe the solutions to the challenges we face exist in the “next big thing” in front of us, or do we recognize the truth of the solution being among us?
One program coordinator who has tapped into the truth of solutions being among us is André Watkins. Mr. Watkins is 6’1”, and holds up a 300lb frame. He also holds up the Restorative Justice program at Waco High School. By simply observing his stature, it may be an easy assumption to think he uses his brawn to achieve results, or at the least, compliance. However, in observation of his steady demeanor, and measured approach, I discovered that neither intimidation, nor any other misuses of power, make it into his strategic toolkit. The asset Mr. Watkins and his team focus on is strong relationships. The tool he uses to promote strong relationships is trust.
Trust is an interesting tool, right? It is understandably not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about ways to strengthen schools, or organizations, but don’t let its low profile fool you. Relational trust is a strong indicator of health in organizations, and teams (Costa, Roe, & Taillieu, 2001). A 10-year study of more than 400 Chicago area elementary schools explored the relationship between trust and student achievement, and was able to “establish a connection between the level of trust in a school and student learning,” (Bryk & Schneider, 2003). The Restorative Justice model of discipline is suitably positioned to contribute to strong relationships in learning environments because it employs practices which engender trust.
So, why is trust so important? Liz’s simple answer would be, “Because trust is a barometer for an organization’s climate, and it governs how we interact with one another.” However, the researchers’ response will do just fine: “Trust fosters a set of organizational conditions…that make it more conducive for individuals to initiate and sustain the kinds of activities necessary to affect productivity….While trust alone does not guarantee success, schools with little or no trust have almost no chance of improving,” (Bryk & Schneider, 2003).
The Restorative Justice model of discipline is in its third year at Waco High School. You might be wondering about the effectiveness of André Watkins and his Restorative Justice team, or at least if having this program on campus has contributed to improvement. Has this approach affected attendance, behavior, or academic scores in Waco High? Is there a measurable reduction in discipline referrals, suspensions, or alternative education placements? Has there been an increase in family engagement? To all of these, I answer, “Absolutely! And the supporting numbers are incredible.” So, why am I not satisfying your need for numbers? Well, because people are not numbers. Those involved with this program are the ones to offer the truest sense of its efficacy.
I hope I have encouraged enough curiosity in you to see how strong relationships promote strong schools, and organizations. My favorite part about this research, and the efforts of Restorative Justice is that it cuts through the limiting ways we think about poverty: “A positive climate mediates the relationship between student and school SES background characteristics,” (Berkowitz, Moore, Astor, & Benbenishty, 2016). But of course, André, and his team, have already figured this out. How is your climate?
Elizabeth Ligawa is a recent graduate from Truett Theological Seminary, and the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, earning both her Master of Divinity, and Master of Social Work. Though her prized role is being a mother to her dear son, Elijah, Liz has a love for encouraging people to come together in ways that engender healthy communities. Her role as the Director of Community Engagement at Prosper Waco allows her the room to work in and among the many faces of her beloved Waco community. She may be reached at liz@prosperwaco.org.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
References
Berkowitz, R., Moore, H., Astor, R.A., & Benbenishty, R. (2016). A research synthesis of the associations between socio-economic background, inequality, school climate, and academic achievement. Review of Educational Research, 20(10), 1-45.
Bryk, A.S., & Schneider, B. (2003). Trust in schools: A core resource for school reform. Educational Leadership, 60(6), 40–45.
Costa, A.C., Roe, R.A., & Taillieu, T., (2001). Trust within teams: The relation with performance effectiveness. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10(3).
by Emily Mills
Women in poverty are still the most at risk for being exploited through the commercial sex industry. 89% of women in the commercial sex industry say they want out but have no other means of survival. The business of commercial sex is like any other business, the supply is based on demand. For over a decade Jesus Said Love has been reaching people within the industry, empowering and loving those we serve. And while no two individuals are alike, there are overarching commonalities that we have seen ringing true. Our friends in the industry would not be working if there wasn’t a demand. If there was another viable source of income, most of them would take it. But the demand is high, even in Waco. Most of the industry has moved online. The average age of entry into this industry for a female is 12 years old, around 9 years for a male. This sounds shocking, but it is reality. The demand for commercial sex is a 3.2 billion dollar industry. So at some point, JSL had to ask the question, “What are we doing to affect the demand?”
As part of The Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition, Jesus Said Love is proud to announce “Stop Demand School” (formerly known as “Waco John School”). The first course was offered in McLennan County on October 18, 2016. SDS is a sex buyers intervention program that will work alongside the local justice system with a mission to stop the demand for commercial sex with the vision of restoring lives. Intervention programs for sex buyers are nationally recognized for reducing recidivism. Stop Demand School aims to be another tool for judges and probation officers when sentencing those charged with misdemeanor crimes related to the solicitation of sex. The Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition extends this program to all counties in Central Texas in order to stop the demand of commercial sex exploitation in our communities. Stop Demand School will be housed under the non-profit Jesus Said Love and will run as an educational program of the organization.
Mission Statement:
Stop Demand School is a sex buyers intervention program that aims to end the demand for commercial sex exploitation by educating those charged with solicitation of sex through an eight-hour intervention course.
Offenders pay course fees to Jesus Said Love, an organization that reaches women in the commercial sex industry and provides empowerment programs directly to women. Funds raised will support these programs as well as other agencies serving commercial sex exploits. Using restorative justice principles, the curriculum educates offenders on STDs, addiction, pornography, and the issue of human trafficking as linked to the commercial sex industry. Participants will also hear from a survivor of the commercial sex industry. Stop Demand School also offers free STD and HIV testing through the Department of Public Health as well as resources for recovery. Instructors from DePaul, Baylor University, Public Health Department, UnBound, and Waco PD will be among the facilitators.
Goals:
- To see recidivism drop and the demand for sex in our county measurably decrease.
- To increase stricter punishment for those buying sex.
- To restore offenders to society and provide resources for their individual growth.
Who can come?
Any person in McClennan County arrested for solicitation of a sex crime. Offenders who show up visibly drunk or high will not be permitted to stay and will be escorted off the premise by a police officer.
How it works:
As a community education program, Stop Demand School will gain referrals through the justice system. Judges and probation officers alike can mandate this course as part of the offender’s sentencing. Notification for the course and enforcement comes from probation officers.
Stop Demand School will offer a certificate of completion for offenders after accounting for full attendance.
Stop Demand School will maintain secure and private records of attendance and will notify probation officers of progress and/or no-shows.
The Financials:
Payment of Stop Demand School, an education program of Jesus Said Love, will be paid to Stop Demand School via the website. The course fee is $400. Half of the payment will be due prior to class at the time of registration.
For more information:
Visit the website: www.stopdemandschool.com or call 254-300-7658
Emily Mills received her B. A. in Communications from Baylor University. While at Baylor, Emily participated in various opportunities to serve the marginalized and lead worship. This began her passionate pursuit to “put feet” on the songs she was singing. In 2003, while leading worship at a conference for women exiting the sex industry, these two worlds collided and Jesus Said Love was born. Emily continues to lead worship around the country with her husband, Brett. They have three children: Hattie, Lucy and Gus. To learn more about JSL, please visit our website JesusSaidLove.com. Contact us at info@jesussaidlove.com.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
by Rick Allen
It starts as a trickle, within a few minutes it becomes a flood and within an hour or so it is gone. No, I am not writing about Waco Creek at the height of a Texas flash flood. I am describing the visceral experience that we who live on Colcord Avenue call “Halloween on Colcord.”
Only a decade ago, the numbers were high but manageable. Five hundred to eight hundred trick or treaters plus their parents would visit our stretch of Colcord for a couple of hours once a year. No big deal…but then we began to ask our neighbors in other neighborhoods about how BIG Halloween had become. “Oh yes”, they would exclaim, “We went from 20 to 30 trick or treaters this year”. We would eye them suspiciously…Were they even home? Were they turning off their light at 7:00pm? Had they run out of the whole bag of 25 Snickers? When we regaled relatives in Omaha of our fright night experience of hundreds of munchkins and their parents in 2 hours, we would be derided for embellishing our stories with Texas braggadocio.
Then it really took off. About ten years ago, Ryan and Kristen R. enlisted their Sunday school class to do a hot dog give away and outdoor carnival. The first year, they gave away 500 dogs with chips and a drink. The next year…the word was out. People began car pooling their kids to Colcord. We upped the ante to prepare for the onslaught. By 5 years ago we were handing out over a thousand pieces of candy in 2 hours. We called in reinforcements; first from the neighborhood, then, HEB and friends from across the city. We set up candy stations with shifts of 30 minutes as we would wear out handing a child a piece of candy and commenting on how lovely their witch costume or Spiderman costume was. We enlisted the City of Waco to supply barriers to block off 3 blocks for the children’s safety. Last year, the Good Neighbor House (who took over the hot dog grilling) handed out over 800 hot dogs. The Capps, at the head of the blocked off street, handed out 2000 pieces of candy. We ran out of candy and wore out five adults by 7:30. Our final bag count was 1,550 pieces. Yes, from 5:30 when the two to three year olds come with mom to 7:00 when kids come running in groups of five to seven to get in line to 7:30 when we darken the whole house to let the stragglers know that we are bereft, empty and exhausted of candy supplies, it comes and goes. By 8:00 we secretively wander out to open the barricades once more and life returns to “normal” on Colcord.
You may ask why? Why us? Why continue? Our church has been teaching us adults more about hospitality and doing for the least of these with no thought of earthly or spiritual gain…maybe that is it. I know I do it because there is no delight like seeing wee ones dressed up in costumes and taking their first tentative steps at socialization by saying, “trick or treat” and then after the candy drops into their bucket, saying, “thank you”.
Rick Allen has worn many hats since coming to Waco in 1982. He has been a history and English teacher, social worker, therapist, special educator, school counselor, Dean of Students, Waco City Councilman, landscaper, xeriscaper, pedicab entrepreneur, B&B host, board member, Sunday school teacher, junior college instructor, MHMR curriculum writer, public speaker, blogger and dad.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Diego Loredo
I know a lot of college students have heard this from their professors. “Make a portfolio and LinkedIn! It’ll help you get a job when you graduate.” I heard this way too many times during my freshman year here at UNT. But after making both an online (and physical) portfolio and a LinkedIn account, I think my professors were right about how important they are.
Being a public relations major, making a portfolio and a LinkedIn account are things that my professors constantly reminded me to do. I never really put much thought into either of them until sophomore year when I had assignments requiring me to do those things. But I’m actually glad that my professors made me create a portfolio and LinkedIn account. Although they still need work, I now have a great starting point.
For those who don’t know what a portfolio is, it’s where you put all of your professional work in one place to showcase to any possible employers. This can be from internships, major assignments from any classes, or any work relevant to what you’re trying to get hired to do. For me, I have work that I’ve done in my public relations classes, work that I’ve done with Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano, and even my resume. It seems tedious to do, but it can really impress your future employers and can land you that dream job if you do it right.
I have a physical portfolio that I made last semester in my PR class and an online portfolio as well. My physical portfolio basically has all of my work organized in a binder and separated by dividers. The link to my online portfolio is here. Although they’re not perfect, feel free to use them as an example.
LinkedIn is another way to showcase your skills, work and expand your network. I know some students think LinkedIn is a waste of time, but it all depends on how you use it. I currently do not have many connections since I’ve only began working on it recently, but I’ve already learned about its benefits from my professors. My social media professor is always telling us about how LinkedIn has landed former students jobs.
A lot of students think that you just make a LinkedIn then sit back and watch it land you a job. But you have to constantly monitor it and keep it updated. You can search for available jobs related to your major, connect with professionals who specialize in the same things you do, and much more. I’ve only started working on my LinkedIn account late into my sophomore year, but I recommend working on it during freshman year if you can. Don’t just connect with random people, but connect with those that you know or can help you land a job. Also, feel free to connect with me if you would like to here.
I know making a portfolio and LinkedIn account sound boring, but they can be extremely useful when you’re looking for a job. It’s true that they can be more useful for some majors and not as useful for others, but I believe all students should have one anyway. I still need to work on mine and get more experience, but I at least know how to use them and how valuable they are.
Diego Loredo is a junior at the University of North Texas and is majoring in public relations. He graduated from University High School in 2014. He plans on working in sports PR or for a nonprofit. He loves to play soccer and is a huge FC Dallas fan. Have something that you would like Diego to write about or have a problem that you would like to ask him? Shoot him an email at dloredo123@gmail.com.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Brittany Davis
I hardly make it to the door of the school most mornings before I am greeted by a barrage of questions from eager seniors. This is the time of year when their ‘when I grow up’ dreams take the first step into actuality. This is my favorite time of year. Before the applications, paperwork and testing can begin there are several conversations that seem to be on replay in my office.
Choosing a College is like buying a car
After working at higher education institutions for the past eight years I have seen firsthand how we try to sell students on our schools however we can; it is a business after all. I once had a student tell me that what sold him on our school was that we had a build your own waffle station in the dining hall….my point being students often get caught up in the details — the fresh strawberries and whipped cream instead of the academics and degrees. So — to reel students back in from the beautifully glossy pages of college catalogs and the build your own waffle stations — I compare choosing a college to buying a car. You wouldn’t go into a dealership unprepared without doing your research or having an idea of what you want, and the same should go for choosing an institution where you will spend the next two to four years. Students should be prepared to answer the following questions before choosing a college:
- Big school or small school?
- Public or private?
- How far are you willing to go from home?
- What teacher to student ratio will you be most successful in?
College major or degree plan is a major factor in this equation, yes, but according to the National Center for Educational Statistics roughly 80% of students change their major at least once. It is just as important for the campus as a whole to be a good fit. A resource I love for this is the Big Future College Search created by The College Board. It asks students all the hard questions and then provides them with a list of schools that fit their criteria.
Explore Your Career Interest
Students feel pressured into being definitive in their major choice from day one of senior year and often times that can be counterintuitive as they may overlook an opportunity for which they may be better suited. We had 4 seniors last year that had their minds made up about studying dental hygiene and after visiting campus to tour the program, one of the four was still committed to the program, and the other three couldn’t even finish the tour before they were pale faced and ready to toss their lunch. Which is why I encourage students not only to take campus tours when at all possible, but also take every opportunity to explore his or her career interest. We are so lucky to live in a community where businesses and community members rally around our students and are eager to help them. Students can reach out to professionals in our community to shadow them and ask them questions about their field of interest. Academic Advisors at your campus can also help students get connected. Take the opportunity to get connected, volunteer your time, and you will not only be more sure about your major but also more motivated to complete a degree you are truly interested in.
Ask for help, and ask often!
The college application and financial aid process is a challenge to navigate and can differ by college. For a first generation college student, this can be daunting and discourage them from college altogether. Thankfully in Waco, we have several campus-based as well as community engagement pieces that are in place to help students overcome these hurdles. Most campuses in our area have a designated college counselor or advisor. University High, Waco High, and La Vega High School have the Project Link program, MAC foundation, and CAP program is also available to McLennan County students. These programs help students through every step of the application process. However, for many students, the application process is just one of the many barriers they will have to overcome to be successful college students and eventual graduates. Just like high schools, colleges also have student-focused resources to help students be successful. After all, colleges are in the business of getting students graduated and if there are significant barriers inhibiting students from completing degree plans it is in their best interest to offer resources to help them be successful. Most colleges offer, at the very least, supplemental instruction, writing labs, counseling services, and career centers. All of these services are completely free to students! Community Colleges often offer specialized services as they typically serve more non-traditional students with unique barriers such as on-site daycare, student care clinics, and crisis intervention services. Ask for help students, these services are grossly underutilized in most schools. The tools and services are there for you to be successful, you just have to ask!
Your education is an opportunity to change your corner of the world, be brave and make bold decisions with your future!
Brittany Davis is an Academic Advisor at University High School. She was raised in a small Texas town and is a recent transplant to Waco, and loving it! As a first generation college student, Mrs. Davis understands firsthand how overwhelming and intimidating the process can be, and strives to use her 9 years of higher education experience to help students feel capable, brave and significant in setting out to achieve their goals. Her favorite thing to do in Waco is going to documentaries on Mondays at the Hippodrome with friends.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.