March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Emily Cousins
Lane Murphy researches African American history in Waco to keep the spirit and legacy of St. James Methodist Church alive.
Murphy, a writer at Baylor Magazine, bought the a former African American church, St. James Methodist. Now known as “2nd and Clay,” Murphy said they plan to turn the basement into a restaurant and use the upstairs for community gatherings, music and events.
Murphy said their goal is to continue the legacy of the building and to help bring into focus African American history in Waco that has been overlooked in the past.
African American Heritage in Waco, Texas: Life Stories of Those Who Believed They Could Overcome Impediments by Dr. Gary H. Radford, Sr. is currently Murphy’s favorite book because he is actively trying to learn more about the history of the church and the community that was once there.
“I think it all kind of ties in to some of the things the people had to overcome to make this building to bring it into existence. Also just to learn more about the struggles of African American people in Waco has been interesting and inspiring to me,” Murphy said.
He said Radford’s goal for the book is to inspire young African American people to pursue their dreams. Murphy wants this building to indirectly educate anyone who visits the restaurant or an event.
“It seems odd for me to be talking about African American history in Waco,” Murphy said. “I’m far from an expert. I’m certainly a novice in it. I have had the chance to meet a few people who contributed to this book who are still alive and others interested in African American history, and those people have inspired me to keep looking and keep searching in this book and other places and see how I can help contribute in any form or fashion to their goals.”
By Andie Chilson
With all of the fear and anxiety surrounding the Corona Virus, some of us are wondering, “What’s going to happen to all the wonderful new small businesses that are just starting to sprout up in Waco?” In an effort to help out our favorite local shops during this slow time, we’ve compiled a list of ways for you to help out small businesses, generally, as well as some ways you can show your support for some local Waco favorites.
Tips for helping small businesses:
1. Buy gift cards: Buying gift cards at your favorite small shops that you can use later will help them out tremendously while business is slow.
2. Shop locally online: Most businesses have an online shop where you can find some of your favorite products. Consider shopping your go-to small businesses online instead of ordering from larger retailers.
3. Order in: Order takeout from your favorite local restaurants to limit your exposure to others while still supporting small restaurants that may be otherwise vacant. A number of restaurants as well as delivery services are offering discounts as incentives to order in during this time.
4. Be extra generous with your tips: If you do decide to order in, consider tipping a little more than usual to help out your favorite local eateries.
Here are a few examples of how to show your support for local Waco shops:
Mamaka Bowls: The new smoothie bowl shop in Waco just is offering in-store pickups as well as curbside deliveries. When you order online, you can write the description of your car in the notes section. When you arrive at Mamaka, all you have to do is text (469) 248-5988 with your name and that you’ve arrived and someone will bring your food to your car, sealed and with gloves on.
Waco Cha: The bubble tea truck will continue to operate at its usual location next to White Elephant boutique Tues-Fri this week, noon-5:30pm for all to-go orders and now offers curbside pickup. Co-owner Jaja Chen said that social media sharing and reposting is another great way to help out. Waco Cha is offering gift cards for $20 or $25. Promo code is WACOCO.
Link to Waco Cha gift cards: https://squareup.com/gift/7PDST6CWDGHTC/order.
Wine Shoppe: The Wine Shoppe is offering in-town delivery and asks that Wacoans opt to shop their selection of wines instead of going to big-box stores.
Revival Eastside Eatery: Offering family style meals to take home. Follow their Facebook page for details.
Check social media for your favorite local restaurant or shop to see what they are offering. Now more than ever, it’s time to shop local!
Helpful resources for small businesses
-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a toolkit to help small businesses and their employees navigate the virus: https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus-response-toolkit
-Disaster assistance loans for small businesses from the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19
-Citi Bank will waive small business customers’ monthly service fees: https://online.citi.com/US/JRS/pands/detail.do?ID=covid19
-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has proposed legislation to help small businesses. The proposed legislation would 1. cancel the payment of all payroll taxes, which are typically paid by employers in March, April and May and 2. expand loan programs for small businesses that have experienced revenue loss in the wake of the virus. https://www.uschamber.com/letters-congress/letter-us-government-leaders-coronavirus-response
Andie Chilson is a senior at Baylor University studying journalism and creative writing. She is originally from Houston, but Waco has quickly come to feel like a second home to her. Andie enjoys writing and digital content creation as a way to express her creativity and help people spread their message. In her free time, you can find her reading anything by Brené Brown, doing yoga or exploring downtown Waco. Andie is so excited to be working as part of the Act Locally Waco team this semester!
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.
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Bethany Kula
Jessica Emmett, community services supervisor for the Waco-McLennan County Library, has a type when it comes to books—those written by strong independent women.
Emmett said her favorite book is Bossypants written by Tina Fey.
“In Tina’s book, she talks about growing up, how she got into comedy and writing, and then talks a little bit about how she became the boss and what exactly that means,” Emmett said.
Bossypants is an autobiography, and according to Emmett, it’s more of an entertainment biography because it is humorous.
“I really like her style, and the tone of it is very funny,” Emmett said. “She’s super honest about where she came from. She didn’t have a troubled childhood, whereas a lot of authors do overcome things, but she did have self esteem issues and other things that were a challenge for her. It was just nice to see a story of somebody who does cool things and has a cool job.”
Emmett has worked at the library for four years and worked as a teacher and a librarian for three years before joining the Waco library. She said being a librarian has opened up the world of books for her and has led her to read many fantastic books along the way.
Emmett said she recommends this book to anyone, but women could relate to it more since it has a perspective men would not be able to see.
“I think for women, especially young women who are trying to figure out their lives, the book is a lot about the dynamics of how Tina has seen things change throughout the course of her life,” Emmett said. “It’s nice to have somebody lay a roadmap for us women to follow.”
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Amanda Wunder
City Councilman Hector Sabido realizes the crucial role of books in our society and the impact even one book can have on someone’s life or career.
“I’ve always had an interest in politics,” Sabido said. “It’s always intrigued me to see how the political process has played out throughout our country.”
Sabido wonders if perhaps his interest in politics stemmed from his favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, which he first read in his ninth grade English class.
“From the very moment that I read this book, I fell in love with it,” Sabido said.
He discussed the obvious social injustice in Harper Lee’s book but also praised the fact that good triumphs.
“I want to live in a community, in a society, where we see that good in people…We know that even though we might make decisions or stand up for things that might not be popular today, but we do it because we know it’s the right thing to do,” Sabido said.
According to Sabido, the universal message of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is that there should be justice and equality for all.
“Just when I think we live in a society where we think we might have racism under control, something happens that reminds me we have some growth to do,” Sabido said. “And reading this book, and reading through the end, it gives me some type of hope that eventually we’re going to get there…It’s all about what’s inside of us, what makes us human.”
Sabido emphasized the importance of inspiring a love of reading in children, calling it “the basic foundation of an education.” He suggested exposing babies to reading, even at the infant stage.
“I think we need to bring back the culture where it’s OK to enjoy reading,” Sabido said.
He recommended Wacoans start with reading the newspaper, encouraging library memberships and pushing literacy not only with children but also with adults.
“Our world is full of books,” Sabido said. “It’s finding something you enjoy reading. I think that’s the key.”
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Matthew Soderberg
“Cheerful in all weathers. Never shirked a task. Splendid behavior.” Those are the values Waco City Councilman Jim Holmes strives to live by — he’s even instructed his family to place the mantra on his gravestone.
The quote comes from Larry McMurtry’s novel Lonesome Dove, a Western story about a couple of ex-Texas Rangers on a cattle drive. The 62 year old said the book encompassed such a sense of adventure he just couldn’t help but relate.
“There can be adventure at any time in your life,” Holmes said. “That’s the first thing I picked up.”
The senior VP of First National Bank of Central Texas is a Nebraska farm boy at heart, and he said he began reading the sports page with his dad at the early age of six because that was all there was to do. He recalls reading comic books and baseball cards in his youth. He advises young readers to just follow their passions and let that lead them into other worlds.
“The more you read, the more you find out about things, regardless of where you read them,” Holmes said. “Read something that interests you. Start with … something that captures your interest and your creativity and your thought process.”
Now, the city councilman finds adventure jet skiing up the Mississippi River, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and running with the bulls in Spain. All the while, he still makes sure to keep a paperback with him wherever he may go.
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Jake Pittman
Grant Teaff was the head football coach at Baylor University for 21 years, but early in his career Teaff looked to a book to help him become a more well-rounded coach.
In 1957, Teaff had just graduated college and knew that he wanted to be a head football coach in the Southwest Conference, but he had to get started somewhere. Teaff first got the job as the offensive and defensive line coach for his alma mater McMurry College in Abilene, Texas. But when he showed up for his first day on the job there was an unexpected turn.
“The next thing that happens to me while I’m the assistant football coach, the athletic director calls me and said, ‘Oh by the way,’ you are also going to be the head track coach,” Teaff said. “Now the only thing I knew about track was that you turn left and hurry back.”
McMurry had very few track scholarships and didn’t have a lot of money to fund the program. So, Teaff had to find something to help him turn the program around, while having no experience in the sport and also trying to keep climbing his way up as a football coach.
“I didn’t know much of anything about track, so I contacted the track coach at Baylor, Coach [Jack] Patterson, which gave me my first connection at Baylor. [He] later hired me as the head football coach there,” Teaff said. “And while I was talking to Coach, I was introduced to a book called Championship Track and Field.”
Championship Track and Field was written by 12 track and field coaches who all excelled at a certain event. Teaff said he studied this book intently and implemented the teachings into his own coaching.
“Many of these coaches I had interviewed personally, while others I had been introduced to by this book,” Teaff said.
Teaff said that the teachings in this book helped him excel to become the Hall of Fame football coach that he worked to be.
“I taught my football players how to run and how to jump correctly using the teachings of this book, and it always proved successful,” Teaff said. “I truly believe that it is one of the reasons we were able to become so successful, so quickly at Baylor.”
Teaff said he has talked a lot about the books and people who have influenced his life and philosophy including Tom Landry, Darrell Royal and R. C. Slocum, but this book is special to him because of the tools that it gave him when he needed them most.
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Maggie Alexander
After being an educator in Waco Independent School District for 34 years, Francene Haliburton-Francis became an author. Her book, 728 Lenox Avenue Haliburton Home Squared, has been the most impactful book in her life.
728 Lenox Avenue Haliburton Home Squared is a combination of stories and poetic expressions about faith, family and race relations. It allows people a glimpse into the life of Haliburton-Francis, seeing a new perspective.
“I want people in the Waco community to take a peek into an African American perspective of growing up in Waco in the ‘60s, and what the integration process was like on the other side of the river,” Haliburton-Francis said.
Haliburton-Francis found inspiration after reading Barack Obama’s book, Dreams from My Father. In the book Obama writes of his native home land in Nairobi, Kenya.
“He refers to his heritage home as home squared because it is home twice over,” Haliburton-Francis said. “It was so significant to me, I decided to write about my childhood home ‘Haliburton, home squared.’”
728 Lenox Avenue Haliburton Home Squared allowed Haliburton-Francis to reflect on her past and tell her story.
“Whenever you write about your own personal experiences, it gives you a chance to reflect on meaningful events in your life, whether they are negative or positive,” Haliburton-Francis said. “When you think back on your life, you are going to have moments that make you laugh again, cry again and moments that when they happened you were angry, but now you are free.”
Haliburton-Francis brought her love of teaching and writing into one with the book. While teaching in WISD, Francis saw kids who didn’t have a safe home. She often had children in her class who didn’t have somewhere secure to go after school. She was inspired as a teacher to have her classroom be a protected space, physically and emotionally, for all her students.
“The point is how home is a place where we process our experiences in life, whatever emotions we had as children. Home should be a safe place to process those emotions,” Haliburton-Francis said. “There are some children who don’t have a safe place to process what they are experiencing, and they are the ones who need to process it the most.”
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Drake Toll
Baylor softball coach Glenn Moore has over 850 career wins, four appearances in the College Softball World Series and is Baylor Athletics’ active all-time wins leader across all sports. But aside from winning, one thing across his illustrious career has remained a constant: reading.
“When I do start reading, I have trouble putting a book down,” Moore said as he motioned to the books that line the top of his desk. “I just love reading.”
Moore’s all-time favorite read is a story for all ages, The Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football by Jim Dent.
In the nonfiction story of unbelievable determination, hard-nosed football coach Rusty Russell marches into a Masonic Home outside of Fort Worth to lead a group of 12 orphans onto the gridiron in the middle of the Great Depression. The misfit bunch, known as the “Mighty Mites,” competed in the high-stakes world of Texas high school football, but that was hard to do without even having a ball.
“You have this team of 12 that goes against [a major school] for their very first game and they didn’t have a football,” Moore explained. “So [Russell] met with the opponent’s coach and asked him, if they won, could they have the football? And he kind of chuckled at him, and they ended up winning. So, they got to carry their first football back to their campus.”
That first win would be followed by many more as the Mighty Mites cemented their success story.
“[Rusty] built a program that became almost like a rallying cry during a difficult time in the history of the country — during the Depression era — where they became very, very popular,” Moore said.
The book has a special place in Moore’s heart, as it has parallels to his own family.
“What has drawn me so close to that book is the fact that we have three foster kids ourselves,” Moore said. “Knowing the difficulty those orphaned kids and kids that are in these foster situations have, there’s a connection there … it’s close to my heart knowing what our kids have had to go through.”
Moore’s advice for all ages is to “Read!”
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Ashlyn Cox
“You can change the trajectory of a person’s life if you can help them read,” Esmeralda Hudson, City Secretary for the City of Waco, said.
In Hudson’s favorite book, Quiet Strength, author Tony Dungy shows how literacy leads to leadership and success, despite the challenges some may face.
“Dungy was a famous coach who dealt with a lot of trials in his life, and a lot of them resonated with me about how to be a leader despite being discriminated against,” Hudson said. “It’s something I’ve walked with forever.”
Being the first Hispanic City Secretary for the City of Waco, Hudson has faced race-related issues that are similar to Dungy’s challenges within his book.
“The most important lesson I got from this novel was being a person of color and the trials that are unique to a person of color,” Hudson said. “It kind of just resonated with me, and it taught me that eventually everything will be OK and to be myself in order for everything to work out.”
Without literacy, it would be impossible for everyone to achieve total equality, Hudson said.
“In previous generations, one way people of color were kept from advancing was lack of education. They weren’t allowed to attend certain schools and be in certain groups. This was the lack of education that people needed in order to advance to the next level,” Hudson said. “Now if you can read, you can find out what you need to know. You can live your life to the fullest.”
By Lindsey Breunig-Rodriguez
In 2020, the Better Living for Texans posts will focus on a seasonal fruit or vegetable. Material shared will include the nutritional value/benefits, how to select and store, cook and use, and other fun facts regarding the chosen fruit or vegetable! Have a request? Let us know!
Fruits and vegetables provide our bodies with nutrients that keep us running and going. Like a car for our bodies to run and function properly we need the right fuel – we wouldn’t fuel our cars on mouthwash! So what do we need? For vegetables, per USDA dietary guidelines it is recommended we consume 3 Cups of veggies daily. Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the Vegetable Group. Vegetables can be prepared multiple ways and enjoyed raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, mashed, or dried/dehydrated. For reference, 1 cup from the Vegetable Group is equal to 1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or 2 cups of raw leafy greens. If 3 cups of vegetables make you cringe, start small, start measurable!
As you may have guessed from the title, broccoli is the highlighted vegetable for March! Broccoli is a personal favorite, because it is used in a variety of dishes and prepared in multiple formats. I like to encourage participants to try a vegetable prepared several different ways before ruling it out of your diet. You may not like something steamed but fall in love with it roasted.
Broccoli is a “cool season” crop meaning its season is during the spring and fall. As we know Texas seasons can be wild but remembering spring and fall will help in finding the cheapest and best quality broccoli when shopping. When selecting broccoli, look for firm bright or dark green heads, and once home store unwashed in the refrigerator. It is recommended to use broccoli within 3-5 days of purchasing.
When you are ready to use the broccoli – use the entirety of the product!! The picture below shows a great step-by-step demonstration of how to use florets (the top piece that is like a tree) and the stalks (the bottom piece that is like a tree trunk). (Information courtesy of Montana State University Extension)
Once ready, enjoy the many ways you can cook with broccoli:
- raw on a salad or alone with a favorite dip (maybe hummus or a low-fat yogurt dip)
- steam in the microwave or over the stove
- roast alone or with other veggies (my personal favorite with extra garlic and pepper!)
- stir-fried with other veggies and a lean protein
Incorporating more vegetables into your diet may seem like a challenge; however, with a vegetable like broccoli preparing it multiple ways will ensure your menu does not get boring but rather works towards our goal of 3 cups a day! Are you ready to broc-n-roll!?
Want to incorporate more broccoli and veggies into your diet? Start out with some of these great recipes below:
Broccoli Salad – This sweet and savory salad is packed with antioxidants to keep you feeling great!
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry – Enjoy this ‘how to’ video to see step by step instructions.
Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese Skillet Meal– Add other vegetables such as peas, grated carrots or chopped bell peppers
Lindsey Breunig-Rodriguez is an Extension Agent for the Better Living for Texans program with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She is originally from Grapevine, TX but now calls Waco home. A graduate from Baylor University, she loves to venture out to Cameron Park, visit the local Farmers Market, and try out the awesome eateries in Waco. If you see her and hear a loud bark, that’s her pup Lucy Ann just saying hello.
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.