By Ashley Thornton
First thing in the morning on October 19, the first day to vote early, I hustled down to the McLennan County records building and voted “Yes!” for the WISD Tax Ratification. I know the final votes won’t be tallied until November 3, but I couldn’t wait.
I have high hopes for Waco. Everywhere I look I see evidence that my hopes are justified. Downtown is starting to blossom; we just got a National Park designation; Fixer Upper has put us on the map with the HGTV crowd; the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaboration (BRIC) and SpaceX are drawing the technology of the future into the Heart of Texas…the list of positives is growing every day.
Perhaps because of all this good buzz , fairly regularly I get a phone call or an email from someone who is moving to Waco and wants the “inside scoop” on living here. I have not had one of these conversations yet that did not end up being a conversation about school districts. People who have school-age kids obviously want to know for the good of their own children, and people who don’t have kids want to know because it affects the value of whatever home they might buy here. These conversations reinforce for me what we all already know: Any community that expects to thrive must have a strong school district.
Bluntly, our school district needs to be stronger, and, bluntly, it will cost money to make that happen. We can keep dinking around with the resources we have, trying this or that new program, but in the end that’s like pushing the food around on your plate to make it look like there’s more than there is — not a satisfying strategy.
We have a high percentage of children in our schools who come from very low income situations. Every speck of research that I have ever seen points to the plain fact that it costs more to educate children who come from families with very little money. Imagine two cups. The first cup is half full and the second is nearly empty. If you pour a half a cup of juice in the first cup, you will fill it up. If you pour a half a cup of juice in the second cup, the cup will still not be full. I feel like that is what is happening with our school district. Kids from higher income families are more likely to come with their education cups already half full. Kids from lower income families are more likely to come with their education cups much closer to empty. It takes more juice to fill them up, and getting more juice – additional programming and additional instructional staff — requires some investment.
Put another way, I have complete confidence that if we took our exact same school district with the same teachers, same buildings, same administrators, same budget, same everything, and plopped it down into the middle of a town with a more affluent student population, we would be knocking the top out of the state accountability measures. Fair or unfair, though, that is not the case. Fair or unfair, when you look at the list of schools in WISD, you see a sprinkling of “improvement required” ratings mixed in among the “met standard” ratings. And, fair or unfair, families and businesses make decisions about whether or not to move into our community based on those ratings. What we are doing now is getting us to where we are now. If we want to get better results, we will need to do what we are doing now… plus more.
Money invested in that “plus more” will be money well spent for the future of our children and the future of our community. It is easy for me to say “yes” to that investment, especially when the amount requested is so modest. The net increase to our taxes will be five cents per $100, from 1.35 to 1.40. My house, for example, has an assessed value of $110,140. When the tax is ratified, my taxes will increase $44.49 annually, a little less than $3.75 a month. An increase twice that big would be well worth it to me for the value I believe it will bring to Waco.
“Hold on a minute,” you say, “just pouring money on the problem won’t help.” That’s true. It is true in the same way that just pouring gasoline on a car won’t make it run. To get your car to move forward requires two things: you have to have the gasoline, and you have to pour it in the right place. I think the same is true regarding money and schools. To get the schools to move forward you have to have the money, and you have to pour it in the right place.
I believe WISD has the right idea about where to pour the money — straight into the campuses. As a former teacher, I am impressed that school district officials wisely went to parents, teachers and campus staff to find out what was most needed. I am impressed that they have been disciplined about sharpening the focus of their planning, to three targeted, strategic, measurable priorities — literacy, behavior, and dual credit college courses. These actions give me confidence that my investment will be well spent.
I believe this Tax Ratification will provide resources that are crucial to build the kind of school district we need to keep Waco rolling toward its bright future. That’s why I was antsy to vote “YES!” as soon as the polls opened for early voting, and that’s why I hope you will do the same on or before November 3.
This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, the Manager of the www.www.actlocallywaco.org website and the editor of the Friday Update newsletter: The WHOLE Enchilada. 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 Diego Loredo
You just graduated high school, you’ve been anticipating this moment all year, and now you’re finally here. You’re a college freshman! Although it can be fun and exciting, starting college can also be a huge challenge.
Starting college is a huge step in your career and in life. So don’t feel bad if you’re intimidated by it. Everyone goes through challenges during freshman year. Some may include making new friends, getting used to the classes, etc.
I’ve experienced many challenges my freshman year at UNT, so I know how it feels. My first semester was particularly tough. Mostly because of one class, statistics… That was, and still is, the toughest class I have ever taken. There were numerous homework assignments that took me hours to do, several exams that I studied all night for, and concepts that I just could not understand. Luckily, I made a few friends in that class who helped me get by. Statistics was also the first class ever where I got a D on an exam, which was the final exam (I still managed to pass with a C).
I didn’t really have any problems making any friends, literally the first week I moved into my dorm I made a small group of friends. Also, I was roommates with a good friend of mine that I have known since freshman year of high school. I introduced my roommate to my other friends and we all started hanging out all the time. We made a team for the outdoor soccer intramurals and met some other people who joined our team. After the tournament, which we made it to the playoffs but unfortunately lost 3-1, we had our own little group. They made it easier for me in my transition to college.
During my freshman year, I’ve encountered many different kinds of people, such as the guy who walks around campus with a flower pot on his head (I’m serious). I also enjoyed, and disliked, some of my classes and learned many things. Here are a few things that have helped me get through freshman year and will hopefully help you too as you continue to go through your transition into college and for others who will soon start their freshman year.
Find your own clique!
This is what I think is the most important thing to do your freshman year. You may have chosen to go to a college away from home to get a fresh new start, but it always helps to have a group of friends that you can depend on. Start by introducing yourself to people in your dorm or in your classes, or if you are living with a friend, the two of you can introduce yourselves to others. Having your own little clique will no doubt make college a lot easier, and more fun, for you.
Join an organization!
Your college is bound to have something that interests you. Whether it’s a debate club, photography club, or various sports clubs, find something you like! Joining some club or organization is always fun and it keeps you busy so that you won’t be stuck in your dorm all day (more on that later). Plus, joining an organization will help you meet people with similar interests as yours.
Attend events!
College campuses are always holding events to get their students involved. Your college should be no different. I’m sure there are countless events going on at your college every month. Go to a few of them! Get your roommate to go, or a few of your friends. Going to campus events are usually fun and you could win free stuff! Plus, it can get you interested in something you thought you never would.
Get to know your classmates!
This is extremely important. Introduce yourself to your classmates. I suggest you share notes or host study sessions. You never know when you will need your classmates’ help and vice versa. This will especially come in handy when exams start. Also, get to know your professor and attend study sessions held by TA’s.
Don’t stay in your dorm all day!
This was difficult for me. Every day after class I would head to my room and take a long nap. Sometimes I would just stay in bed all day. Luckily, my friends convinced me to get out more. If possible, don’t stay in your dorm all the time. Get out more! Hang out in your dorm lounge or game room, play sports outside, or go to various locations on campus with some friends. Although it’s fine to stay in your dorm every now and then, make sure that you go out too!
I’m not going to lie, freshman year was tough. It took me a while to get used to it but once I did, I became a lot more comfortable at UNT. My friends no doubt played a huge part in it. We made a lot of memories together, such as playing football in the snow and intramural sports. Along with having those friends, getting involved on campus helped as well. I believe these things that I did are what all freshman should do. Make new friends, get involved, study, and just have fun!
Diego Loredo is a sophomore at the University of North Texas. He is majoring in public relations. He graduated from University High School in 2014. Although he is still not quite sure what exactly he wants to do, he thinks he wants to work somewhere in sports PR (preferably soccer or college football). His hobbies include playing soccer and golf. He is 19 years old.
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 Josette Ayres
Recently a brightly colored t-shirt slogan caught my attention. In the center was a rhinestone “T” in the middle of a Superman like logo. Below it read, “Teaching is my SUPERPOWER”. My thought was a resounding, “AMEN”. Amen to those who’ve answered the calling to foster the education of our children. Those amongst us who not only provide a safe and engaging environment for young minds to explore their potential but who also inspire young minds to develop their optimal potential. To me that’s absolutely a “Superpower.” If you’ve ever had the good fortune to see a teacher in action, inspiring, encouraging and developing, you know it’s a special calling. I can rattle off to you a long list of these superheroes, starting with my mom who has devoted over 50 years to education and is still going strong. Educators are special individuals who invest time and energy into young people in the belief that the return on their investment will manifest into respectable, productive members of society.
While the mission of teachers has not changed, the demands on them are very different when you take into account today’s social climate where kids are coming to school with needs exceeding the educational realm. Hunger, mental health, poverty, homelessness, etc. have broad effects on a student’s ability to succeed in the classroom, yet our schools are required to “teach on” in spite of lacking resources to serve the pressing social needs of the child. Every model for student success shows the need for a continuum of contributors including students, the community and parental involvement. Despite this understanding, many of our educators are challenged with raising student achievement seemingly alone.
As a public school advocate with Parents for Public Schools of Waco (PPS Waco) I know all too well the impact empowered and informed parents can have in partnership with schools. Over the years our organization has helped foster relations between schools and home by encouraging parents to become educated on the issues, empowered to use their talents and interest to make a difference in the lives of all kids and to help mobilize parents to action. Through our shared belief in quality education for all children, teachers and school officials can rest assured they do not stand alone in their efforts to equip young minds to succeed.
With that, I encourage WISD parents, friends, and supporters to turn out in large numbers for the upcoming tax ratification election. Early voting begins, Monday October 19th and the election will be held on November 3. The tax ratification will provided a net increase of 5 cents in the District’s tax rate and will generate $8.2 million in revenue per year. The funds will be used to impact student achievement through programs that support:
Literacy
- Achieve 83% of third graders reading on grade level by 2020
- Hire highly qualified literacy aides for every Pre-K and Kindergarten classroom
- Additional reading teacher positions at middle school
- Expand Brazos Credit Recovery program to include older middle school students
College Credit Opportunities
- Maintain an 8 period day – allows students to take more classes and broadens the learning experience
- Allows all Junior and Seniors to take every dual credit course they want at MCC or TSTC at no cost to families
Behavior and Discipline
- Provide campus-based health services (health professional, social workers, behavioral specialists, etc.)
- Expand Saturday Diversion Classes for students and parents
A Link for more information on the tax ratification is provided below along with dates to the final to community information sessions.
It is my sincerest hope; Waco ISD parents and community members will turn out and vote “yes.” The passing of this tax ratification would significantly impact the opportunities for all students across WISD and set our District on course to transform lives through education in a way that’s never been achieved. Thank you WISD trustees and Superintendent Bonny Cain for your leadership in providing a comprehensive case for community support and for seeking the community voice and input throughout the process. Now we all have a vested interest in student success.
Links & information
Upcoming Town Hall Meetings
- Monday, November 19, 6:00 PM, JH Hines Elementary, 301 Garrison St
- Tuesday, November 20, 5:30 PM, Lake Waco Montessori School, 4601 Cobbs Dr
Josette Ayres is a small business owner of Ink & Stitches and currently serves as the Board President of Parents for Public Schools of Waco. Parents for Public Schools of Waco is a volunteer community board of parents and public school advocates who promote and strengthen public schools by engaging, educating and mobilizing parents.
For more information on PPS Waco check out our Facebook page at Parents for Public Schools of Waco, or contact Josette by Phone/Text at 254-229-7172, or by email at [email protected] . Join Parents for Public Schools for an information session: Monday, October 26, 6:-7:30pm Waco Central Library- 1717 Austin Ave.
By Jenuine Poetess
This past Saturday a collection of seven very diverse individuals—some strangers, who had never met each other before—gathered together and shared a meal, poetry, artwork, dialogue, and selves. Why did they meet up? What compelled them to circle around several tables pushed together in the back room of a local family restaurant, Rufi’s Cocina?
Art.
It was art that called us together this weekend. Waco Poets Society Nuestra Voz open mic to be more precise. We gathered around a shared interest in creative expression—both the needing to create and the needing to share. Over home-made nachos and panbazos, we exchanged verses. We also engaged in conversation enriching our expressions with narratives and backstories about grief, struggle, names, hopes, dreams, losses, disabilities, mental health, identities, and much more. Our sharing unified us in resounding, “me toos” of recognition and validation.
You see when we choose to be vulnerable in sharing our stories—in whatever medium they are manifest: word, image, movement, sound, object—we invite others in to our experiences. We are mirrors–where we can see our own radiant reflections in one another. We extend a hand to assist another to cross over, for a moment, into our own shoes. More often than not, what we discover, is a familiar story.
These moments cultivate relationships. We gathered on Saturday as strangers and we departed with hugs and warmth and calling each other by name. We were known by one another. What a remarkably transformative art-work!
(photo credit: JenuineArtworks, at Nuestra Voz open mic, Rufi’s Cocina, October 10, 2015)
When I came to Waco, TX, in 2012 there was not much that I could find in the way of community open mics and arts opportunities. As a result of conversations I had with a handful of writers I met, it became clear that there was a need and desire for regular written and spoken-word arts programming. Because of a relationship I had with someone, they recommended I contact Katie Croft, of the then, Croft Art Gallery on Austin Avenue about the possibility of holding events there. In 2013 I founded Waco Poets Society and began holding open mic and ITWOW writing circle at the gallery weekly. At the end of the year it was time to find a new venue as the gallery was making transitions of it’s own. Through my relationship with Brook Hampton, owner and visionary of Enchanted Cedar, we collaborated to bring open mic to Lorena, Texas, at this most magical tea house. I met and became friends with community organizer, Fernando Arroyo who introduced me to the Art Forum of Waco and later, to Eric Gama, owner of Rufi’s Cocina where we now have monthly open mics. During my monthly Word Around Waco booth at Waco Downtown Farmers’ Market one Saturday I met artists, Angie Veracruz and Steve Veracruz. As we began to talk we formed the beginnings of an inspiring friendship that bloomed into the founding of Central Texas Artist Collective and all the subsequent projects, exhibits, pop-up painting in the park events, and empowering of artists to thrive into their creativity that have transpired since its founding in February 2015. Steve reached out to a new business, Tea 2 Go and we collectively began to collaborate as Angie and Steve curate visual art exhibits in the tea shop and I hold monthly open mic events.
Many of the people who are my creative colleagues are people I read about in the paper and cold called/emailed asking if I could buy them a cup of coffee. I asked if I could sit with them to learn more about the work that they are doing here in Waco and how I could get involved and serve alongside them. Seriously.
We have a lot of conversations and meetings and summits and strategy sessions and consultants around the questions of ushering our city and surrounding areas into prosperity. As long as we couple all of that with seeking out and building up of authentic and intentional relationships—especially with those who have different stories and creative expressions that are unique from ours—then we, as a community, will indeed be on a path toward thriving.
I have such pride and joy looking over the years since I arrived in Texas. I am deeply grateful for the relationships that make so many rich programs possible. It is our collective visioning and volunteering, it is our friendships and conversations, it is our willingness to literally sit down and listen to one another share stories, which is transforming the landscape of our community.
Get Involved:
- Viva Waco! Celebrating Waco’s Latin Cultura continues through November. Click here for complete schedule and details!
- Joe A. Diaz Collection at the Martin Museum of Art
- Coloring & Cookies every Friday afternoon at the Art Center of Waco! FREE, all ages
- Art Center of Waco Fall Festival, FREE, all ages 10-31-2015 4-7pm
- Dia de los Muertos events at Art Forum of Waco, October 31 – November 7, 2015
- ITWOW womyn’s writing circle, October 26, 2015 @ Waco Central Library Austin Ave. 6-8:30pm. FREE, all ages, any genre, open to all womyn-identifying persons
- Nuestra Voz Open Mic @ Rufi’s Cocina, November 14, 2015; 6:45pm sign-ups. FREE, all ages; music, spoken-word, poetry, story-telling, y mas!
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: [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 Cameron Goodman
Lacking a safe and permanent place to call home brings about many challenges for the homeless population in Waco. The effects of homelessness on our community are wide-ranging. Just a few examples of these effects include:
- Children who are displaced from their housing may lose up to 4-6 months of academic progress each time they are moved.
- Living on the street increases the chance of exposure to communicable diseases such as TB and respiratory illnesses.
- Existing health conditions are exacerbated by the lifestyle that comes with living on the street. Minor issues such as colds or small cuts can develop into serious illnesses.
- Homelessness has been linked to an increased risk of becoming involved with the criminal justice system. Having a criminal record often compounds the problems faced by this population and can make finding employment even more difficult.
With these factors in mind, it is important to decrease the amount of time people remain homeless and unconnected to the resources that are available in our community to help them. By moving quickly we can help people avoid these risks and get on a path towards the independence and self-sufficiency that is made possible by becoming stably housed. As of October 1st, Waco has a system in place that does just that.
This new system, called Coordinated Access, makes it possible for homeless individuals and families to make a single phone call or visit to an entry point where they will fill out a single form to determine what shelter services or housing opportunities they would be eligible to participate in. Mission Waco’s Meyer Center and The Salvation Army’s Social Services Office serve as the two main entry points for this system and have social workers staffed to help those seeking assistance with completing the assessment form.
This may not sound like an exciting improvement, but this innovation has several real benefits for those who are the most in need in our community. Moving to a coordinated process means that we are now able to make sure that people seeking assistance are placed in the program that is the best fit for their unique situation. Using our assessment tool, we are also able to essentially triage services and housing to those who have the highest need. Much like an emergency room nurse who has a patient with chest pain, we are able to assign a score using this tool to prioritize service for persons with high risk factors.
This approach also has the benefit of removing many of the barriers that less coordinated systems experience. With the old system, families may have had to visit multiple agencies, sometimes located across the city, and fill out forms at each location before finding a service that best fit their needs. This new approach eliminates that duplication of effort, both for the agencies and for those seeking help, and helps to reduce the number of people who fall through the cracks while attempting to receive the help they need.
If you know of anyone who may be experiencing homelessness or who is at risk of becoming homeless, then you can direct them to the two entry points for the Coordinated Access system below.
Salvation Army Social Services
500 South 4th Street
8-5 Monday-Friday
(254) 756-7271
The Meyer Center
1226 Washington Ave.
7-1 and 4-5 Monday-Thursday and Friday 7-1130
(254) 296-9866
Cameron Goodman is a Program Analyst for the City of Waco’s Housing and Economic Development Department. He is interested in public policy and local government. Cameron can be reached 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 Denise Mason
In August 2015, 342 children from Central Texas were in foster care placements, with 217 age 10 years or older. That means more than half were in 4th grade or above. These children have been separated from their primary caregivers and placed in substitute care…a foster home, kinship home or in a residential treatment facility. This is heart breaking.
Let me personalize this by sharing Mary’s story:
“My name is Mary and this is my story. When I was 9, the State removed me from my biological home because my parents beat me daily. Even though my parents hurt me, they were the only parents I knew. I was terrified to be with a (foster) family. It took me several months to begin to feel comfortable. My foster parents kept reminding me that I was safe, they would take care of me, and I did not have to worry. I started to trust them and began to feel closer to them. They were wrong. Within 6 months, I was taken back to my biological parents. Everything was fine for a little while but then the physical abuse began again. This went on for several months. I expected to be rescued again but no one came. I began to believe that no one cared and knew that I could not trust anyone. Finally, the case worker came back to get me but the foster home I was in before no longer had available beds, so I was placed in a different (foster) home. This time I was not scared; I was angry. How dare (my first foster parents) not keep their word? How dare they let me be hurt again? Clearly, it was me against the world. Because of my behavioral issues, I was moved again and again and again…I was 13. In four years, I went through 13 placements and 7 different schools. At the age of 13, I had no hope and no dreams. Kids like me had no one who cared and no real future. We were just ‘foster kids’. Other kids could think of what they wanted to be when they grew up, could plan for college, think about getting married someday, but not me. That life was not for me. The path that was laid out for me was one of pure survival and my options were limited. ”
All children should be well loved and given the opportunity to explore their gifts, abilities and dream of their future. Without a loving, nurturing caregiver, the focus turns instead towards surviving…fight or flight. Mary is not the only child that has ever faced these traumatic circumstances. Unfortunately, this is the case of too many children in our communities. Every child’s story is a little different but the problem is the same – kids that are hurt lose hope. Statistics, unfortunately, show that without someone stepping in to aid them, the outcomes are bleak
- Only 46% of foster children, complete high school.
- Within 18 months of emancipation, 40-50% of foster youth become homeless.
- Nationally, 27% of the homeless population were once in foster care
- Within 2 years of emancipation, 51% will be unemployed.
- Within 2 years of emancipation, 25% of foster youth will be incarcerated.
We can change a child’s trajectory in life by getting involved! Unfortunately, there are not enough foster families willing to care for children of any age, but particularly, children over 10 years old! We need loving, nurturing adults willing to care for children that are in desperate situations.
A World For Children (AWFC) is a private, Christian, child placing agency that provides foster and foster-to-adopt services for abused and neglected children across the state. Our agency began in 1997 with a single office in Round Rock, Texas. Today, AWFC is represented in all 12 regions of Texas caring for 850 children in 350 foster homes. It is our mission to serve children and families through preventative, supportive, and therapeutic services. We strongly believe that each child is unique and deserves an opportunity to develop his/her potential in a safe and nurturing environment.
In the fall of 2009, AWFC created the L.A.U.N.C.H! Program for foster youth in an attempt to address specific needs related to youths in foster care and positively impact their life outcomes. The program focuses on 6 areas: social skills, daily living, health care, employment skills, driving/vehicle maintenance and post graduation plans. With a safe, loving and nurturing environment established through one of our foster homes, it is our hope that foster youth would be free to explore their gifts, abilities and dream of their future. Last summer, AWFC hosted their annual L.A.U.N.C.H! Camp with 100 foster youth celebrating the skills they have learned through the L.A.U.N.C.H! Program!
If you’d like to learn more about foster care, fostering youth, or the L.A.U.N.C.H! Program please join us for an Information Night on Tuesday, October 20th at Waco Central Library (1717 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX) from 6-7:30 pm.
Denise Mason developed a heart for traumatized children while volunteering at the Methodist Children’s Home, Waco Center for Youth, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Since graduating from Baylor and being licensed as a Child Life Specialist, she has worked in the child welfare field with private child placing agencies. She and her husband, Lyle Mason, are raising three children and can often be found on soccer or football fields or in the Midway AG Barn. In her current role with A World For Children, Denise is bringing awareness to the foster care needs in Central Texas as a Foster Home Developer. As she recruits and trains prospective foster parents, she takes delight in equipping and empowering families to be successful foster parents. For information, please contact her via email: [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 Deshauna Hollie
“Solidarity means that no one in our community has to stand alone.” – Jody Money
I heard this definition of solidarity four years ago at a community meeting in Waco on immigration and it has stuck with me ever since then. I always seem to remember this quote around this time of the year. Monday is Columbus Day. It isn’t a day that I think much about, except to wonder whether government and city offices will be open. Although this year as I am being very intentional about ‘discovering Waco’ and all that it has to offer, Columbus Day has crossed my mind a little more frequently.
I recently viewed a TED Talk by Taiye Selasi entitled “Don’t ask me where I’m from, ask me where I am local.” Selasi discusses the complexities of having lived in and experienced life in many places that have helped shape her self and cultural identity. I grew up in Waco, but I have lived in Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts during various times of my life. I find myself migrating back to these places, because some of these are places that I consider home just as much as I consider Waco my home. So I can relate to Taiye Selasi’s request that you ask her where she is ‘local’ rather than where she is from.
As an adult Wacoan I am ‘local’ to North Waco and more specifically the Sanger Heights Neighborhood. I also have lived in South and East Waco. As a child I would have considered myself ‘local’ to those places as well. These places have helped shape my own self and cultural identity. In my discovering and embracing of life in Waco, I find myself becoming more engaged in my community and I think back to Jody Money’s quote on solidarity.
Taiye Selasi notes that people can be connected by rituals, restrictions, and relationships despite where they are from. In Waco I want to be connected to those people who don’t look like me, think like me or even live like me because I want to be able to stand in solidarity with them when they struggle. I want to stand in solidarity with them when they are ostracized. I want to stand in solidarity with them so that they will not be alone. I see this happening in small ways all over the city and I am glad that we, the Waco community, can be ‘local’ together as our community continues to grow and evolve in new ways. I suspect that for many locals, my discovery is in fact not a discovery at all but just a reflection of a community of people who care deeply about each other.
This Act Locally Waco blog post is written by Deshauna Hollie. Deshauna grew up in Waco and moved back a few years ago. Biking is her favorite way of getting around Waco, and she regularly writes poetry about biking in Waco. She is currently working on a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.
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.
Note: Selasi, Taiye. (2014) “Don’t ask me where I’m from, ask me where I’m local.” Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/taiye_selasi_don_t_ask_where_i_m_from_ask_where_i_m_a_local
by Crystal Hernandez
Imagine you’re driving down the road. You see a sign that the bridge up ahead is closed. You decide moving forward along this path is not safe, so you choose a different route. What if your body is displaying signs the road ahead is not safe? Do blood tests reveal your glucose levels are above the normal range? Are you sedentary and above your healthy body weight? Are you seeing indications that you’ll develop type 2 diabetes and other health problems if you continue along this path? The YMCA can help you map out a new route toward a healthier future. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease.
The number of Americans with diabetes is 29.1 million. That’s a big number, but even bigger is the number of Americans that have prediabetes: 86 million. But only 10% of those know of their risk status. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the U.S. The risk for stroke and heart attack is 2-4 times higher in individuals with diabetes. The disease accounts for 17% of all deaths for adults older than 25. If dollar signs impact you more, let me share with you what that might look like. The average annual out-of-pocket medical cost for someone without diabetes is about $3,670. However, for the person with diabetes and its related medical conditions, that cost could be more than $17,000!
Maybe that’s the motivation you need to see where your body’s GPS is leading you. If so, schedule a visit with your doctor. Simple blood tests can tell you whether you need to turn around and take a different route by enrolling in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. Results from blood tests that are in the prediabetes range, (tests include A1-C or fasting glucose),or a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes will qualify you for the program. You must have a BMI of 25 or higher and be over the age of 18 to participate. If you are unable to access a blood test, take the risk quiz to find out whether you are at high risk. Individuals who score a 9 or higher on the risk quiz are also eligible for the program.
The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program uses a Center for Disease Control (CDC) -approved curriculum and is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Program. The 12-month program is facilitated by a trained lifestyle coach that helps you and other classmates begin to make the changes needed to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. The program focuses on helping participants reduce their body weight by 7% and increase their physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week. Cost for the whole 12-month program is $429. Click here for a flyer.
If you’re ready to change the direction of your health, the YMCA can help. For more information on when the next session will begin, contact Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist Crystal Hernandez at (254) 776-6612 or [email protected].
This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Crystal Hernandez. Crystal is the Chronic Disease Specialist for the Waco Family YMCA. She received her degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from the University of Memphis. She and husband Shawn are blessed to be the parents of 4 beautiful children. In her free time, she loves hitting the pavement and pounding out a good run.
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.
DISCLAIMER: [YMCA] and the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Association of the United States of America (“YMCA of the USA”) have made a commitment to collaborate with the nation’s YMCAs on efforts to support a national movement to increase awareness and take measures to prevent diabetes and its complications among groups at risk, and to help support treatment outcomes for individuals who have confirmed diagnoses or indications of prediabetes by promoting an effective lifestyle change. YMCA of the USA nor any YMCA offering the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program warrants or guarantees any specific outcomes for program participants with respect to diabetes prevention.]
by Ashley Bean Thornton
A couple of years ago I spoke to a class at MCC about poverty in Waco. One of the students asked a question that I think just about everyone has wondered about at one time or another, “Yes, but what do you do about people who just don’t want to work?” I’ve been asked that question more than once, so I’ve had time to think about it. My answer is, “Don’t start with them.”
I don’t mean that to be a smart-alecky reply. I am not blind to the fact that there are some people in the world who seem like they don’t want to work. I’m just saying that there are people who do want to work, plenty of them. Let’s start there.
There are people in Waco who want to find and keep good paying jobs, but who face barriers that would be tough for even the most resolutely motivated among us: What if you don’t have a car, and the good paying jobs are on the other side of town? What if you have children and no one to keep them during your shift at work? What if the only jobs you are qualified to do, don’t pay enough to support your family? What if your life is chaotic because of homelessness or because you can’t afford to keep the electricity turned on? That can make it hard to be a dependable employee. What if you have been to prison, and even though you have turned your life around, no one will hire you because of your past record? What if you have no idea how to do a job search on a computer, or how to present yourself in an interview?
I serve on the “increasing income” working group of the Prosper Waco initiative. As a participant in that group I’ve had the chance to learn about some of the programs available in Waco to help people overcome the barriers mentioned above.
One such program is “Jumpstart.” Currently being administered by the Economic Opportunity Advancement Corporation (EOAC), this program is available to anyone who has a household income of less than $37,000 and who is supporting at least one child under the age of 18. Since it kicked off in March, Jumpstart has already helped over 100 people find work. Their goal is to place over 300 by the end of the year.
Funded by a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, Jumpstart forms partnerships with local employers who agree to consider hiring program participants, and then the staff does pretty much whatever it takes to help participants get jobs with and succeed as new employees at these partner companies.
Participants in Jumpstart receive job readiness training, and training about how to budget and manage their money. Depending on the situation, participants might also get set up with child care, or work clothes or a gas card to help pay for transportation. They might get help paying for utilities while they get on their feet at a new job. The folks at Jumpstart are relentless in helping their participants. The day I visited their offices they were working with a husband and wife who had both recently gotten employment thanks to the program. Because of the new jobs, the couple and their young son were moving from the homeless shelter into an apartment, but they had no furniture. The Jumpstart caseworker was tracking down a bed so the family would have something to sleep on the first night in their new home. Do you think having a bed to sleep in might make a difference as far as an employee’s performance on the job? I do.
Once a Jumpstart participant gets a job, he or she has access to a “job coach” for 90 days. This job coach is available 24 hours a day to help solve any work related problem that might come up – whether it be a flat tire, or a difficult boss, or a blown child care plan. Do you think it is an advantage to employers to have employees who are receiving this kind of stabilizing support during their first three months on the job? I do.
Rather than fretting over people who “just don’t want to work,” we can help programs like Jumpstart make a big difference for those who do want to work. I asked Melvin Collins, the Director of Jumpstart, what they needed from us, the Waco community. He said to meet their goal of helping over 300 people find work by the end of the year, they need more participants, and they need more partner employers.
You and I can help by spreading the word. Share this information with your circle of friends, with your church, at the organizations where you volunteer…anywhere you think there might be folks who need help finding work. Interested individuals should call the Economic Opportunities Advancement Corporation (EOAC) at 254.756.0954, or go by the EOAC office at 500 Franklin Ave., and ask about Jumpstart. If you are an employer who would consider hiring participants from the Jumpstart program, you can call that same number and ask for Melvin Collins, the Jumpstart Director.
Yes, I imagine there are some people out there who “just don’t want to work,” but I don’t see the upside to letting that frustrate and distract us. There are plenty of people who do want to work, and who could use our help to overcome some significant barriers. Let’s focus our energy on supporting programs like Jumpstart that are helping those who want to work! If we finish that and still have some time, we can worry about the others. Who knows, by the time we have helped all the people who do want to work, we may find there are not as many people as we thought left in the other category.
This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, the Manager of the www.www.actlocallywaco.org website and the editor of the Friday Update newsletter: The WHOLE Enchilada. 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 Bruce Huff
1989 – Recently diagnosed. Losing Cape Cod fish markets due to our last recession, wife wanted a divorce and I was a mess. My two kids were too young to understand.
At a crossroads…commit the ultimate…or get strong…not “strong,” but STRONG!
Austin Motorola Marathon, 1995
Six very short months later I trimmed 60 pounds and gained a 6-pack. My first event was the Cape Cod MS Walk of 1990. I learned early on it wasn’t about me. Every day my focus was on a person with MS who couldn’t. Soon this obsession of running became my routine. One mile became two, then three. One day I called my Mom and gleefully said I had just run five miles. Well, I can’t lie to my mother, so out I went…5…8…12. At six months, my first 26.2mile marathon.
It was time to leave New England. Charted a course to Alaska where I had gone to high school. After moving from Hyannis to Anchorage, it looked like Waco would be doable. While visiting mom here, I realized she desperately needed a man’s touch around the house. So, a three month project became a need for real employment.
1993 – Waco was changing. Really changing. I really wanted to become a part of that! Sherrell and I married in Jamaica 1995. She totally accepted my flaws, became a caregiver. Wow, that takes a special person.
2011 – Had to retire early. Balance bad, fatigue, numbness. Immediately an opportunity to volunteer at the Waco Tourism & Convention Center was advertised. Such an awesome city! My hometown! And 2012 became a springboard of volunteerism.
I still focus on others with MS. Everyday. I work part time at the Salvation Army Men’s Shelter, am very active with musical events, art openings, environmental causes. Making Waco a better place.
Sounds like I have a topped off reservoir of Energizer Bunny? Pushing to my limits is all I know. Get up early. Go hard till 2:00, take a nap, go hard again till 10:00. Failure is not an option to me. I believe others who see me, see me struggling. See me in pain. But, I go on. I believe my efforts will be contagious. I want people to believe in themselves.
Saturday, October 3, is the annual WalkMS2015. My team, “Huff’s Magic Dragons,” last year had walkers from five continents providing unbelievable support for MS research. Please come out to support me, Waco and Multiple Sclerosis!
October 3 – Walk MS (Multiple Sclerosis): Waco – Walk MS: Waco is first and foremost a fundraising event. Money raised at this year’s event will support research progress in many areas, moving us closer to our ultimate goal of a world without MS. Walk MS connects people living with MS and those who care about them. When you participate in this community event, the funds you raise give hope to the more than 2.3 million people living with MS worldwide. We’ve been walking since 1988 and to date have raised more than $870 million to support life changing programs and cutting-edge research. Cost: See here. Time: Site opens at 8 AM. Walk begins at 9 AM. Location: Heritage Square Park, Austin Ave & N. 3rd St. Click here for a map. For more information and to register, click here. Contact Lily Goldstucker at 469.619.4707 or at [email protected] for any questions.
Bruce Huff was diagnosed with MS in 1989. He started running as a way of learning to live with MS and it morphed into a 100 mile per week obsession. Now in a mobility scooter when there is a need to walk for more than five minutes, he still has the drive to inspire others and to be a part of life. His message: DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
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.