By Nick Haynes

When I think about it, I never had strong aspirations of living the American Dream. The ideals of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness were simply words that I, like many other people born in the United States, always took for granted. It was not until those “rights” were stripped away that I even noticed that I ever had them, and that I was privileged – privileged not because of anything I have done, but because of where I was born and the color of my skin.

There are those among us who do not take the American Dream for granted. Those who were not born into privilege, or those who were born, let’s say, in Mexico. There are people who are born and live their lives in countries and situations in which they constantly face great difficulty and lack of any opportunity. Some of these people sacrifice everything to travel to the United States which, in theory, is a land of opportunity. I say sacrifice because no matter how difficult one’s circumstances, it is always a sacrifice to leave your home, your family, your culture, your language to go to a place where no one knows you, no one likes you, and no one speaks your language – simply so you can put food on the table. It is truly desperation that drives people to emigrate from their homeland to seek out new possibilities.

This is my wife’s story, and now my story as well. My wife was born in Mexico. Like any other little girl she grew up going to school, playing (and fighting) with her sisters, and putting dresses on dolls. She wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. She had a blackboard which she used to teach her make-believe students. Then one day, shortly after the implementation of NAFTA, her dad lost his job. For several months, the family coped with his unemployment with the little money he earned from selling lotions on the street. But this was no way to support a family of five. Eventually, my wife’s father made the courageous, but difficult decision to move to the United States for work. They had applied for a visa several months earlier, but the wait was more than 20 years – so he came anyway, without a visa. After a year of separation, my wife’s parents made the most difficult decision of their lives. Her mom packed up the family (I say packed because it is a common expression – they actually came with nothing), said goodbye to friends and loved ones, and made the long, dangerous journey to the United States. They hired a man to take my wife, her mother and two sisters across the river, and deliver them to their new home in Waco, Texas. This man could have abused them, robbed them, or abandoned them, which happens to so many families – my wife was fortunate. And so began their glorious life of living in the shadows in the land of opportunity.

Living in the United States was not easy. My wife was ridiculed because she couldn’t speak English. She was told that she always had to lie, always had to hide her true situation. Needless to say, the life of an undocumented teenager trying to stay under the radar is a lonely and isolated life. But the family was together, and they had food to eat. My wife grew up in the Waco school system. She eventually learned to speak English, perfectly. In order to survive she had to work. In order to work, she had to claim that she had work authorization. She eventually went to college, earned an associate’s degree, and began attending church. This is where I come in.

My wife and I met in the spring of 2006 through a small group in our church. We fell in love, and were married in May 2007. Like many other naïve Americans, I was under the impression that if an immigrant, like my wife, married a U.S. citizen, like myself, then she could automatically become a U.S. citizen too. How wrong I was. The problem is that our immigration system is antiquated, broken, and incredibly complex. To make a long story short, my wife was eventually able to become a Legal Permanent Resident. Although, it was an arduous journey which forced us to endure 3 months of separation while she was sent back to Mexico as part of this process. Because of my wife’s status, she can now work legally, have a driver’s license and a mortgage; our lives are fairly normal.

The problem came when we applied for my wife to become a U.S. citizen. We have now been told that because of a box my wife checked on a form when she was working without authorization she cannot become a U.S. citizen, and will eventually be deported. There is no option; she will never qualify for any type of immigration benefit in the United States without a change in the law. Let me be clear about the brokenness of our immigration system: if my wife had robbed a bank, there might be a path for her. If she had murdered someone, there is a way for her to still become a U.S. citizen. But because she did what she had to do, and went to work to put food on the table for her family, in the only land she calls home, where she was raised from childhood, she will never be able to become a U.S. citizen. Our family now faces eventual exile. When we have children, they will be U.S. citizens, but their mother still will face deportation. Despite being a U.S. citizen, I am not free. I cannot live the American Dream. It is difficult to describe, but try to imagine if you can. Though we try our best to live normal lives, the fear and threat of separation and deportation constantly hangs over our heads.

Just for the record, I am unconditionally committed to my wife, and I have absolutely no regrets about loving and spending my life with this woman. That being said, when she is deported I will be deported as well. That means no more holidays with family. We may lose our house, our jobs, and everything we hold dear, except each other. Unfortunately, our story is not unique. Today in the United States thousands, if not millions, of U.S. citizens and their immigrant families are dealing with our broken immigration laws. Wives are being taken from their husbands and parents from their children due to deportation. Our immigration system is broken and it needs to change.

My challenge to you: When you think about immigrants, think about my wife and our story. Think about how this problem is affecting our community. We are your neighbors, your coworkers; we worship beside you in church. Waco, Texas is our home. Also, think about why it is that you may be deserving of the privilege of U.S. citizenship and others may not. What did you do to earn your citizenship? My wife has done everything to earn hers – I have done nothing. Finally, contact your representatives in congress: U.S. Representative Bill Flores – (254) 732-0748; Senator Ted Cruz – (512) 916-5834; Senator John Cornyn – 512-469-6034. Tell them to fix our broken immigration system, to stop separating families, and to allow people like my wife to become U.S. citizens so they can stay in the only land they call home.

To keep up to date with immigration advocacy work in Waco, join our page on Facebook: Waco Immigration Alliance.

This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Nick Haynes. Nick moved to Waco, Texas to attend Baylor University in the year 2000 where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, and eventually earned a Master’s degree in Social Work. Nick has worked as a Social Worker in Waco for the past 5 years. Nick recently ran for U.S. Representative here in Waco to fight for immigration reform and for others in need of change. He now works at Baylor University. Eloisa immigrated to the United States from Mexico and has lived in Waco for 20 years. Eloisa eventually went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Business, and is now working on a Master’s degree at Baylor University. Eloisa also works full-time at Baylor. Nick and his wife, Eloisa, have been married for 8 years. They do not yet have children, but they have a 5 pound Yorkie named Poptart. Nick and Eloisa both attend Antioch Community Church.

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 Peaches Henry, Ph.D.

As I watched the historic re-enactment of the Selma marches two weeks ago, my celebration was bittersweet. At a time when we should be celebrating the 50th anniversaries of the victories of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, we are instead watching many of the greatest milestones of the twentieth century erode. While it was deeply moving to honor titans of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s such as Representative John Lewis and civil rights strategist Diane Nash, it was deeply disheartening to think of the moves on the state and federal level to turn back the clock. The very law made possible by the sacrifices that occurred on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in 1965 was gutted by the US Supreme Court in 2013. Almost immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, the state of Texas enacted laws with the intent and effect of making voting difficult or impossible for minorities, seniors, and poor people.

The Waco McLennan County NAACP organized a march across the Washington Street bridge in Waco to commemorate the Selma to Montgomery March for Voting Rights in 1965.

As I thought about what I could do as an individual to ensure that our country does not go back to the days when African Americans were not full citizens of this country, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was an easy choice for me. The NAACP has been fighting for the rights of all people since its founding in 1909. It was there during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It provided funding and lawyers for Martin Luther King, Jr. and the leaders during the Selma marches. And the NAACP has never stopped fighting on behalf of African Americans. Since the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in August 2014, the NAACP has been on the ground in Ferguson, Missouri. The NAACP is in court fighting Texas’s voter identification law.

The Waco NAACP chapter has a nearly eighty-year legacy of working in the Waco-McLennan community. It has been the voice of social justice in this area since its founding in 1936. As president of the Waco NAACP, I am committed to fighting back against those who seek to destroy or diminish the civil rights of any person. The chapter intends to address the economic challenges facing area families including the prevalence of food deserts in the city, lack of good-paying jobs, and lack of good public transportation. We are going to work with local school districts and families in pursuit of academic excellence for our children. We intend to advocate for, support, and provide resources for our families in the community with accountability for all stakeholders to ensure high quality education for all children. In light of the unjustified killing of African-American boys and men in Ferguson, Staten Island, Ohio, and other places, the chapter will focus on racial profiling, legal protection and treatment by police, and police/community relations.

There is a new Civil Rights Movement on the horizon and it’s being led by young people. It was the youth advocates of Ferguson who continued to protest long after the media had lost interest until the Department of Justice’s report vindicated what they had been telling the country. It is the youth all over this country who are learning how to develop and lead successful campaigns to bring about real change in their communities. The Waco NAACP is going to learn from these young people. We are going to sit down with them and let them teach us. Indeed, we are going to follow them and let them lead us.

Justice is not a black, white, or brown issue. Justice is a moral issue. Protecting the civil rights of all people is a moral decision. It should be a fight that all people who believe in doing right should be prepared to undertake. The NAACP was founded by a multi-cultural group of individuals of different races, ethnicities, religions, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds. We invite everyone who believes in justice for all to join the NAACP in this ongoing struggle.

Come join the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the nation in the fight for justice. We meet on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30PM at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Education Center. Contact the Waco NAACP at [email protected].

This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Dr. Peaches Henry. Dr. Henry is a graduate of the University of Texas. She received both her master’s and doctorate in English from Columbia University in New York. She is an English Professor at McLennan County Community College.   She is the current president of the Waco McLennan County branch of the NAACP.

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 Veta L. Reed, President of Waco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

“Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service.  Without it, nothing is possible.  With it, nothing is impossible.”—Mary McLeod Bethune

This must have been the motto that motivated the twenty-two dynamic founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Our sorority is an organization of college educated women committed to public service with a primary focus on the black community.  It is the goal of the Waco Alumnae Chapter to provide assistance and support in our local community.  Educational development, one of our Five Point Programmatic Thrusts, is a focal point of our chapter.  We have long been a Partner in Education to South Waco Elementary School.  Just last week, we awarded a student at the school a $25 first place award for her essay entitled, “Why Education is Important to Me.”  The purpose was two-fold: to encourage thoughts about the importance of going to school and learning, and to stress the importance of creative writing.  Three to four times during the school year, Waco Alumnae presents every pre-k to first grade student at South Waco Elementary with a book to build their home library, this is especially for economically disadvantaged students who may not have many books at home.  The purpose is to stress the importance of reading and the joy books can bring to students.

Studies have shown that the color red stirs anger in students, so Waco Alumnae sponsored a Red Shirt Exchange in which students brought their red shirts to school in exchange for more subtle colored shirts provided by our chapter.  We have provided school uniforms for South Waco Elementary to have on hand in the event of an accident or in case parents could not provide uniforms for their child.

As Waco Alumnae we do not limit our community service to just the students.  We provide encouragement to the teachers and staff as well by providing treats in the teachers’ lounge and ‘Krash Kits’ for each teacher containing toiletries, snacks, water, etc.  Just last fall, Waco Alumnae was recognized by the Waco School Board as an outstanding Partner in Education!  We are committed to public service through educational development and will continue to be for, as Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.”

This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Veta Reed. Veta is a 40-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has been a member of the Waco Alumnae Chapter since 1976. She has been the president of the chapter since July, 2014. In her professional life, she is a speech therapist having worked 32 years with the Waco ISD. She retired in 2007 from the district and continues to work as a contract speech therapist when needed. In her leisure time, Mrs. Reed enjoys sewing, reading, and spending time with her family. She is the wife of Charles E. Reed, former Vice President of Student Services at TSTC, who also retired in 2007. She is the mother of two sons—Donovan, the controller for Anheuser-Busch InBev in Houston and Ryan, staff accountant for Lorena ISD.

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 James Gooden

As it is written: “Feed a man and he will eat for only one day; teach him how to fish and he will eat for a life time.” Sometimes I think of this familiar expression when I am considering the importance of Neighborhood Associations…

Why is it important to have a Neighborhood Association? In today’s times our communities face many social struggles. In response to these struggles — we have to learn to water our own grass. Every community has a duty to show development and to improve the quality of existence. The only way that can occur is to become a part of city government. Neighborhood Associations are a way to participate in city government. The Neighborhood Association gives you a voice in the development of your living space, better known as your community.

Neighborhood Associations are organized for a reason — to show unity among the residents of the community, and to make sure the needs of the community are addressed. Imagine you have identified a need in your community… there are a series of steps that you can take to insure that you are heard and that your specific need is addressed by the city government. The Neighborhood Association can make this happen, but you have to participate.

For example, it’s kind of like when you send someone to the store and say “Bring me something back.” When that individual arrives back you may find yourself saying, “That’s not what I wanted.” That same principal applies with community development. The only difference is – if you don’t participate in community development, you just might not get anything back at all. As individuals in the community we know better than anyone what our specific needs and wants are for the areas in which we live. Who represents you better than anyone? YOURSELF! If your thoughts and concerns for your community are not expressed, then how can you expect someone to know what your needs are? They won’t! Consider also that the thoughts and wishes that you have for your community may be shared by others.

Here’s another familiar expression: “Everyone wants to go to the party but, no one wants to dance!” Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to let someone know that you are willing to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. When you look around and see all the other parts of the city developing and growing by leaps and bounds, and your community is stuck and being held down, then it’s time to take action and do something about it. Stop watching progress and development pass you by; it’s time to water our own grass! The key to having a beautiful lawn and making sure that the grass is green and grows properly, is the fertilizer we use. In this case, your active role in the growth and development of your community is the fertilizer that’s needed. Don’t sit around and wait for something to happen, get involved and make it happen! Remember: if you pay taxes, you don’t work for the city government; the city government works for you. Make a pledge not only to the community but, to yourself: get involved and have an active voice in the things that happen in the community in which you and your family live.

In closing, I would like to say, unless it is organized, a neighborhood is incapable of looking after its interests and dealing with basic American political and economic institutions. By banding together, residents can overcome these handicaps. No neighborhood can match the lobbying budget of a major company, but a neighborhood organization can have influence by making a positive use of the many residents within its community. By organizing, neighborhoods can transform the perceptions of the people who own resources from seeing a neighborhood as a liability to seeing it as an asset.

The grass is not always greener on the other side.  That’s why it is very important to… what?

WATER YOUR OWN GRASS!!!

This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by James Gooden. Born and raised in Waco, Texas, James spent the past 20 plus years in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has returned home to Waco to care for his elderly mother. While in Oklahoma, he was the Director of Field Services for Advanced Home Health Care Services.   James attended Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, and is a graduate of University Center of Tulsa. During his stay in Tulsa, James worked with several volunteer organizations including The Tulsa Boys Home, Light House for the Blind, and reading to preschool kids during story time. At the present time he spends his time working with the community and looks forward to his next adventure in life. James, attributes his love for volunteering to his parents: his father, the late James W. Gooden, and his mother, Ethel Gooden, who is still fighting for community causes. James is a graduate of The Leadership Plenty Institute, class of 2014-2015. He is Co-chair for the Education/Presentation task group of Citizens for Responsible Lending and is involved in a host of other community interests.

he 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.