Prosper Waco is pleased to announce the hiring of Hermann Pereira as senior content specialist for education. In this role, Pereira will implement strategic approaches to engage the Waco community in collaborative work for the measurable betterment of education, deepen the engagement of Prosper Waco’s partners in education, coordinate and mobilize community working groups and manage Prosper Waco leadership projects related to education. Along with these tasks, Pereira will work to ensure Prosper Waco’s accountability to funders through grant management, planning, reporting and budgeting; while also serving as a liaison with community leaders in Waco and state and regional educational organizations. Pereira will provide assistance in building partner capacity in data collection and interpretation as he works with Prosper Waco research and evaluation staff as they analyze and interpret data for shared measurement.
“We welcome Hermann Pereira to the work of Prosper Waco. Waco already knows him as a proven champion for children, their education and their hope for a bright future,” said Prosper Waco CEO Suzii Paynter March. “Waco is preparing educational pathways for success and we look forward to Hermann’s leadership for years to come.”
Pereira has spent the past 14 years in education in a variety of roles such as teacher, coach, director, assistant principal, and principal. In his most recent role Pereira was the principal of Connally Career Tech Pathways in Technology Early College High School as well as the Career and Technology Education Director at Connally ISD. His leadership has earned his campus and district a number of grants and recognitions from the Texas Education Agency, University of Texas STEM Center, Educate Texas and Texas State Technical College. He also spends his summers as a National Staff Developer for Advancement Via Individual Determination. He has led professional development in leadership, curriculum, culturally relevant teaching, and career and technology. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Masters in Educational Administration from Baylor University.
Pereira believes community partnerships are the vehicle to creating sustainable solutions. He serves as the chair of the Prosper Waco working group Heart of Texas P-20 Council which brings together representatives from the independent school districts (ISD), McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College, Region 12 Education Service Center, industry, chambers of commerce and government. The organization works to promote streamlined, transparent degree pathways for students to move quickly and successfully through their education and on to college and/or a career. Hermann is active with the United Way of Central Texas and was a founding member of the Young Leaders United affinity group. He serves on the City of Waco Parks and Recreation board and the Centex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board as well. Hermann was recently recognized by the Waco Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Top 40 under 40” individuals in the community and Educator of the Year by the Centex African American Chamber of Commerce.
“I am excited about what is in store for 2020. I have been a passionate educator for the past 14 years in the Waco area so this opportunity is a natural progression in my career,” Pereira said of his new role. “Working at Prosper Waco will allow me to advocate and bridge the gap for all students in Waco.”
Prosper Waco is a collective impact initiative focused on addressing issues facing the Greater Waco community in the areas of education, health and financial security. As a facilitator and convener, Prosper Waco encourages collaboration amongst existing nonprofits, city and county governments, business, foundations and churches to build on and increase the effectiveness of current efforts and develop new strategies to bring about measurable and sustainable positive change within the focus areas for the members of our community. For more information, please contact [email protected].
by Ashley Bean Thornton
One of my favorite things to do in the world is edit the Act Locally Waco blog.
December is a wonderful, but hectic, month for most of us. Because of that, it has become our tradition to give our beautiful bloggers a month to focus on family, friends and the joys of the holidays rather than on meeting our blog deadlines. So, for the month of December we will have one or two new posts, but mainly we will be reprising “2019’s greatest hits.”
I couldn’t possibly pick my favorites – so I used the simple (cop out?) approach of pulling up the 10 blog posts that got the most “opens” according to our Google Analytics. It is an intriguing collection that gives at least a little insight into the interests and concerns of Act Locally Waco readers.
I hope this list inspires you to go back and re-read your personal favorites. There have been so many terrific ones… but of course they couldn’t all be in the list of the 10 most opened. I would love for you to reply in the comments or on the Facebook page with a note about some of your favorites.
We will be reposting these in the next few weeks between now and the new year — but I know some of you are “list” people who would like to see them all at once. So, I offer the list below, with thanks to everyone who has written for the blog this year, with pride in what we have created together, and with no small amount of wonder at the beautiful complexity that makes up our beloved community! Enjoy!
Think of it as a Christmas present from your community to you, and invitation for you to write in 2020! – ABT
10. I Make Kids Cry by Michael Jeter
9. Runaway Rock Star by Kamayah Miles
8. The MCC Cosmetology Salon is Getting a Makeover by Mandie Meier
7. The Tool Shed thrift shop: a new Waco store to benefit Friends for Life by Easton Preston, MSW
6. Reflections on Leadership Waco by Austin Meek
5. Eating Gluten Free in Waco by Ellie Triplett
4. On Rivers and Rye: a Farmers Market Update by Bethel Erickson-Bruce
3. A letter from a First Generation Mexican Immigrant, Naturalized Citizen, US Patriot by Reyna Reyes
2. MCC Alum Sweetening up the Neighborhood! by Phillip Ericksen
1. Thinking about how Waco would respond to an influx of immigrants by Grecia Chavira
They say an elephant never forgets, and Brenda Gay’s Friends will never forget her elephant loving legacy.
When her son, Nathaniel Gay, was born in 1977, Brenda Gay got him his first stuffed animal – an elephant. Her love for elephants grew over the next 42 years. She laughingly blamed Nathaniel when her elephant collection became – well – elephantine! Her collection now contains over 6,000 pieces. She explained that her love for elephants came from the loving nature they have toward their own families, and the fact that the mothers take great care of their babies and form incredibly strong bonds with them.
A veteran, Sergeant Brenda Gay is known as BJ to her friends. They describe her as loyal, dedicated, trusting, courageous and an inspiration – as well as more than a little bit stubborn.
Towards the end of 2017, Sergeant Gay started to lose her voice. She had already lost a significant amount of weight. Family and friends chalked it up as a side effect of recent thyroid surgery.
In February of 2018, Brenda was sent to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (ENT) after the speech therapist noticed worsening of speech and swallowing. The ENT said the symptoms, including slurred and abnormal speech, tongue twitching, and poor pitch control were possible signs of a neurological disorder such as bulbar ALS. Brenda was referred to a neurologist for further testing. The tests eventually resulted in official diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Brenda was given a life expectancy of 3-5 years.
Since that diagnosis, Brenda has completely lost her ability to speak, and swallow food. She has become weaker in her extremities. ALS is a cruel disease. Brenda’s nerve cells will continue to break down and prevent her muscles from functioning.
To honor Brenda’s Life Journey and her passion for family and Elephants and to raise awareness for ALS, her friends and family are hosting an event to display her 6,000-piece elephant collection – a hobby rooted in her love for family and motherhood. Their goal is to raise funds for the ALS Association and the Cameron Park Zoo, and to share a bit of Brenda’s life and legacy with others.
Do you love elephants? You can view this amazing collection December 7, from 1 to 4 PM at 2460 Flat Rock Rd in Waco. Enjoy the collection and leave a small donation for ALS Research and for the Elephants of Cameron Park Zoo. Well done Sergeant Gay!
by Stacy Burger
College students face many responsibilities throughout their time in college. These can include navigating parenthood, work-life balance and insecurities of finances, housing and food.
The Completion Center at McLennan Community College is free to all MCC students to help them reach their full potential. Success coaches help students develop a balance between academics and the outside circumstances in their life.
“They want to see you succeed in school,” MCC student Alexis Escobar said. “That’s the ultimate goal. But if they notice you’re having troubles in your personal life they want to take care of that, as well.”
Each success coach has an area of emphasis. Some specialize in coaching single parents or first-generation college students, while others coach students with financial pressures or general academic struggles.
“We help students be their genuine self,” success coach Starlen Roddy said. “Everything we do here is centered around the student whole-heartedly.”
A lot of times, students struggle with understanding the idea behind spending thousands of dollars on a college education, when they could be working and making money instead. The Completion Center combats those thoughts to help students understand their purpose.
“Everybody here is trying to get students in the right mindset of, ‘You’re here for a reason and you need to finish it out,’ ” MCC student LJ Curtis said.
Success coaches, who meet with multiple students a day, say students leave the Completion Center feeling proud of their purpose and more confident in their skills.
“They definitely changed my mindset about school in general,” Curtis said. “They’ve just helped me understand why I’m here.”
Following their time at the Completion Center, students come back with success stories due to the support they received from coaches.
“After meeting with a success coach, students come back and tell us stories about how, not only did they survive the semester, but they’re looking forward to graduating and being able to tell their kids how they overcame certain things,” Roddy said.
It isn’t just a place to get help with academics. It is a place filled with coaches that want each student to succeed, be happy and fulfill their purpose. Coaches also connect students with resources available to them across campus and in the community.
For instance, all MCC students have free access to tutoring and the campus counseling center. Paulanne’s Pantry also provides food free of charge to students, and students may apply for emergency grants of up to $250 from the MCC Foundation.
“It became like a family to me,” Escobar said.
Success coaches also encourage students to stop by the Completion Center even if they don’t know exactly what they want to do next.
“If you don’t know your goals let us walk with you in order to help you get there,” Roddy said. “Give us the opportunity to not only assist, but to welcome you with open arms.”
Stacy Burger is a Marketing and Communications Intern at McLennan Community College. She is a senior at Baylor University studying Marketing & Public Relations and hopes to work in sports or entertainment. As a Colorado native, she enjoys all things outdoors.
By Rae Jefferson
Communications Director, Family Health Center
On most treatment days, Ever makes popsicle stick puppets of creatures that eat, stomp, and breathe fire on cancer. The characters, with carefully drawn outlines, consist of crayon shading and physical features he remembers well.
He points to a couple crayon dashes on one puppet. “Those are his eyes.”
He points to a nearby line. “That’s his nose.”
Then his little finger moves to a cluster of scribbles an inch away from these facial features. “I just did that for fun.”
When Ever was three, his mother and father, guided by parental instinct, went to their primary physician at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Clinic, one of 14 clinics in the Family Health Center network. After a series of tests, Ever was diagnosed with leukemia. He’s been undergoing cancer treatment at McLane Children’s Hospital – Temple ever since.
It was evident early in his treatment that art would be an important weapon in Ever’s fight against cancer. When given the opportunity to draw before treatments, Stefanie and her husband noticed an improvement in their son’s ability to cope with the stress of pokes, prods, and strong chemicals used in cancer treatment.
“I feel happy and calm,” Ever said.
Most of Ever’s drawings consist of monsters and animals to which he assigns special cancer-fighting abilities. His Child Life Specialist recognizes the value of this process and helps him by writing names and powers on the back of each drawing and laminating the creations so Ever can keep them. Now, Ever has a special art supply box waiting for him when he goes in for treatment.
His sisters, who often accompany him to treatments, have also benefitted from the art supplies. It helps pass time and enables all three of the children to practice creativity.
Stefanie is the project manager of ArtPrenticeship, a creative internship program that teaches high school students how to manage a large-scale mural project from concept to completion. These students work alongside local artists to pitch and design murals to clients around Waco. This summer, one of two ArtPrenticeship teams painted a mural titled “The Color of Health” on the side of MLK Community Clinic – the very clinic in which Stefanie’s children, including Ever, receive primary care.
Stefanie said the decision to paint MLK Community Clinic was an easy one for ArtPrenticeship program leaders to make. Although clinic staff at MLK Clinic don’t treat Ever for cancer, they remain sensitive to how they can make visits more enjoyable for a child battling medical trauma from enduring years of unpleasant procedures.
“He processes these things through art no matter where he goes,” Stefanie said. “His providers, whether at MLK or McLane, they’ve always immediately clued into that. All of our doctors have received pictures that he’s made.”
Apart from the personal connection, Stefanie said MLK Clinic was the right choice because it exposed the high school-aged apprentices to conversations about health and wellness in Waco. Professional artists participating as program leaders and teachers also benefitted.
“They are creatives and self-employed,” Stefanie said. “They didn’t know some of the services FHC provides for people without insurance.”
Join Family Health Center, Creative Waco, and ArtPrenticeship for an upcoming celebration of art and health. Movie at the Mural is from 5:30-8 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 22, at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Clinic. The free event will begin with a plaque unveiling at the mural, and at 6 p.m. will segue into an outdoor screening of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” with popcorn, cookies, and a hot cocoa station.
Rae Jefferson is a creative, Netflix binger, and marketing professional, in that order. Originally from Houston, she stuck around Waco after graduating from Baylor University with a B.A. in Journalism, PR, & New Media and a minor in Film & Digital Media. Now she’s the Communications Director at Family Health Center, where she gets to spend each day serving Waco. When she’s not working, find her at home snuggled up with her dog-daughter, Charlie, watching “The Office” for the hundredth time.
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 a[email protected]for more information.
By Sion Firew
As the holiday season approaches, it’s wonderful to recognize the joy within one’s own life through family, community and giving. It’s also the perfect time to share personal blessings with others who may be less fortunate. During this week, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, there are many opportunities to give back to the community and spread light to those who may not be looking forward to the holiday season. One opportunity that has changed the lives and filled the stomachs of many for the past 30 years is the Food For Families Food Drive on Nov. 22. This one-day food drive happens all over Central Texas and gives members of different counties and communities the chance to donate non-perishable food items to their local food pantries.
The Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America, H.E.B. Grocery Company and KWTX News 10 sponsor Food For Families annually the week before Thanksgiving, that way food pantries throughout Central Texas have plenty of food to offer the people during the holiday. In McLennan County, Caritas of Waco helps facilitate volunteer and donation services, making sure there are enough people on Nov. 22 to help collect the food items that were donated. The staff of Caritas also prepares their warehouse to receive a large influx of donations.
According to the KWTX website, the first Food For Families Food Drive in November 1990 collected 84,435 pounds of food. As this operation has grown over the past 30 years, Food For Families has become a collaborative effort bringing prominent organizations and businesses in Central Texas together. According to the KWTX website, in 2018 alone, 2,221,369 pounds of food were raised all over Central Texas. In McLennan county, 498,000 pounds of food were collected in 2016. This goes to show the power of community, caring and collaboration.
Buddy Edwards, the executive director of Caritas of Waco, talked about the importance of the food drive for his organization’s successful community engagement.
“Food For Families is really a critical aspect for operations of several food pantries here in our area,” Edwards said. “It helps us in terms of our direct assistance to people in need, [with] Waco having a very significant poverty rate, 25 to 30% of the Waco population living in poverty.”
He explained how the food drive has grown significantly since he started working at Caritas 10 years ago, and how this initiative allows his organization to reach members of his community personally. Edwards also emphasized the importance of teamwork in order to make this food drive grow throughout his time with Caritas. Through the efforts of the sponsors and other organizations, they have been able to spread awareness about not only Food For Families, but also the hunger and homelessness situation that Waco faces. While it’s important for the leaders of different counties and communities to support this event, it’s up to the members of these communities to donate, spread the word and volunteer.
This holiday season, share a blessing with the members of your community and take part in the Food For Families Food Drive on Nov. 22. While grocery shopping, you can purchase any number of non-perishable food items (canned meats, tuna, cereal, rice, peanut butter and more) and leave them at the doors with the volunteers. Help fight food insecurity by contributing to the food drive and filling the shelves of your local food pantry. When people come together for a common cause, lives can be changed for the better.
For more information, visit: https://www.kwtx.com/content/misc/Food-For-Families-448669003.html
Sion Firew is a communications intern at Prosper Waco. She is a Journalism and International Studies major at Baylor. She is the president of The East African Student Association and an Ambassador for the Baylor Journalism Department.
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.
Triple Win Apprenticeships build on authentic learning to create success for students and businesses
By Clay Springer
Following the wildly successful partnership between Rapoport Academy and Waco Pedal Tours, a new collaboration emerged to formalize the process of non-traditional apprenticeships and provide the space to reach more students. The Triple Win Apprenticeships pilot program is a collaboration and joint venture between Rapoport Academy Public School, Connally Career Tech High School, and Triple Win Apprenticeships. While earning a stipend, students from both schools are working through a rigorous 24-week internship on Thursday nights to gain hands-on experience in a variety of disciplines including entrepreneurship, fabrication, electronics, sales, and marketing. The internship is a hybrid program of both hands-on shop time and online training and professional learning to earn the OSHA 30 industry certificate for general fabrication, as well as Solidworks for CAD design and blueprinting, CAM programming for plasma CNC tables.
Several businesses and individuals approached the schools about partnering to bring their products and ideas to market including the latest project with Waco Axe Company to build a mobile axe throwing trailer. Triple Win has also partnered with HomeHarvest, an agrotech startup company that recently won the first place $5,000 prize in Extraco Banks Big Idea Challenge. HomeHarvest’s signature product, the GreenPod – a modular, hydroponic growing environment, will move from paper designs to market with the help of Triple Win students.
Two pieces of legislation, Texas House Bill 5 in 2013 and House Bill 3 in 2019, have fundamentally changed the funding and accountability models for Texas students and provided new avenues for our next workforce to move quickly and efficiently through training into career. Under the new state accountability rating system, the state assigns a letter grade to each district. The standardized testing scores are considered at the same rate as student completion of industry-based certificates making them workforce ready. Industry-based certificates include professional certificates like welding CWS 1.1-6, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Solidworks CAD Associate, Drone Pilot Part107, Adobe Products Associate, OSHA30 construction and many more. The district can also earn up to $7,000 per student for students that become College, Career, and Military ready, or CCMR ready, as an Outcomes Bonus from the state in the following fiscal year.
School districts are quickly seeking highly-qualified instructors needed to meet the qualifications required for students to meet the CCMR requirements for accountability grade and funding bonus. This means retraining current teachers and enabling paid time off for teachers to obtain the clinical hours required for licensure through externships.
What is Triple Win?
Triple Win is a startup company owned and operated by teachers and students together. The modern workforce demands a multidisciplinary learner that has deeply experienced the process of learning. No longer will a classroom full of students following a set of instructions to make the same product prepare our workforce for unknown problems with unknown solutions. Students, educators, and employers together need real experiences, real dollars, real successes and real failures to form a team dedicated to learning together and becoming confident problem-solvers. When students work with local businesses to authenticate classroom learning and receive mentorship, high-wage and in-demand careers become an attainable endgame. Triple Win serves as the bridge from education to workforce through training, consulting, and fiscal agency by leveraging local, state, and federal funds earmarked for workforce development.
Triple Win apprentices show up early, stay late, thrive on hard work and ambiguity, and believe that learning how to learn is a lifelong investment. Triple Win is a noun and a verb; it’s a concept, but more than that, it is students, education, and business sticking their hand in the middle of the team huddle and saying, “together we can achieve more.”
Triple Win evolved from a group of high school students and their teacher while working with a local start up business, Waco Pedal Tours. The team of four students and a teacher were asked to build a new pedal bike from scratch after the company’s bike had failed leaving the business stranded and its owner’s emotionally drained. WPT hired the team from Rapoport Academy Public School as W-4 employees, provided workers’ insurance, an hourly wage to students during class and even rented a shop for the team. After six grueling months of design, fabrication, and testing, the team had produced its first prototype ready for customers. The new bike was bigger, more powerful, and full of custom touches like laser engraved Waco themed pieces, LED lights, air-ride suspension, and many more technical attributes. The owners could not have been more excited; they considered the new bike a masterpiece. Since that time the company has thrived. The new bike project was a major win and has been featured in local and statewide media coverage as a cutting-edge workforce development program. The Waco Pedal Tours owners and students realized, even with the wild success of the product, the process of authentic learning experienced by everyone involved outweighed the success of the new bike. The teacher moved from in front of the class to working alongside students, addressing individual student learning needs and passions. Together, a local startup, students, and a teacher formed a three way mutually beneficial partnership – they formed a Triple Win. Triple Win Apprenticeships formalizes the concept discovered during the pedal bike build into a consulting agency that school districts can partner with to reach more students.
We cannot expect public educators to train for pedagogical expertise and yet still be experts in the trade careers, neither will be executed well for our next generation. Triple Win was formed by students, teachers, and business owners who recognize that the weight can be taken off the shoulders of teachers and administration by working together for workforce training.
Triple Win has four community directives:
- Modern workforce development through non-traditional apprentice programming ( Often this programming will happen outside of regular work hours to allow students to earn wages and finish school. Triple Win’s current joint venture takes place on Thursday nights ).
- Act as a fiscal agent for student start-up businesses.
- Act as a consultant to bridge the communication and skills gap between K12, higher education, and employers by developing and employing highly trained instructors that have extensive knowledge of both industry and education while also holding industry certificates.
- Let teachers be teachers.
Triple Win Apprenticeship programs are offered at no cost to each school district beyond the extra funds the school district receives from placing students in the CTE course. A Triple Win instructor is placed on faculty at each partnering district as an adjunct instructor and paid a stipend. Local school districts are thrilled about a program that pays for itself and fulfills the new requirements for state accountability and funding bonuses from workforce ready students. School districts will not be the constraint of scaling the Triple Win model.
Triple Win will continue to cultivate partner businesses to ensure lasting pipelines to career, and publicly celebrate every complete project. Partner business are expected to contribute financially to each student’s experience through providing training, materials, and work space. To scale, Triple Win must prove concept through strategic publicity and well directed marketing strategies to increase awareness.
The program sells itself to educational entities and business, but Triple Win must work closely with families to gain trust and respect to support a clear bridge to career for each student. To better market the program to new families, Triple Win will ensure that appropriate wrap-around services are provided to apprentices for a successful launch into a career.
Clay Springer currently serves as STEAM and Career and Technical Education Director for Rapoport Academy Public School. Clay started his educational career at Rapoport Academy in 2010 as a teaching assistant for Quinn Middle school before becoming a classroom teacher and advocate for STEM and Authentic education. Clay and his wife, Joi, welcomed their first child, Shepherd, on Thanksgiving day 2018. They enjoy spending time on the Brazos River on old boats that Clay boldly claims someday will be as good as new.
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 a[email protected]for more information.
*Identifying information has been changed due to confidentiality.
In January 2019 I, Amanda, went with my close friends to a Children’s Pastor’s Conference in Florida. The conference was very inspiring and informative. Curiously, every speaker mentioned foster care or adoption in relation to how to minister to our families and children. They talked about how families have changed so much and the need for people to come alongside and support and encourage these families and children.
My husband and I had pursued foster care in the past but had such negative experiences with the process and frustrations with their requirements that we really weren’t interested. But the desire to help children in need wouldn’t go away… so much so that I asked my husband what he thought about it. Unbelievably, he agreed to do the online interest meeting, and he wasn’t completely turned away.
In January of 2019, I had a dream about a young boy. This young boy was running up to my car as I was driving out of the grocery store parking lot. The boy was yelling, “Please take me home with you. Are you taking me home? Please don’t leave me here.” I woke up undone! In tears, crying my eyes out. Although the boy in the dream resembled my own son Matt, I had never seen a child of my own cry with such desperation! From that point on, I felt convinced that for some reason God had us on this path. I wasn’t sure if the dream was just to awaken my senses to a deep need in our community, or for me to be a part of the foster care system, or if indeed I had a son that was waiting for me to take him home.
After many conversations with my husband, we began the process to become a licensed foster/ adoptive family. We continued with the classes but frequently thought about dropping out of the process. We second guessed our decision at least twice a week. It was weird and awkward talking to friends and family about what we were planning on doing because I’m 60 and Mark is 62 and it’s like … Abraham and Sarah … we’re a bit old to start parenting again. And yet … the effects of the dream would not go away.
We finished all our classes, paperwork, inspections, and then home-study in May and we were simply waiting for them to finalize the paperwork for licensing. We told them we weren’t in any hurry because we weren’t going to take a placement before our vacation in June. We had by this time decided that we were just willing to do respite. The stories our friends were telling us regarding their placements, and the trouble the kids were, and just all the stuff … we simply had too much going on in our lives to deal with it for more than a week. But we could certainly help someone else out and give them a break. Babysitting without all the commitment.
On a Sunday in June 2019, I got the call asking if I would do respite for an 11-year-old boy who was coming from a failed adoption placement. From here, we took our first [and only] foster respite placement. Jay was a neat kid from the beginning. Eager for life and connection. After a being with us a few days, I asked if he could come with us to a preteen camp. By the end of the first week, I told the case workers that Jay really needed to stay put for a while. We were the 7th place he had stayed in 2.5 years. [only three actual placements, but 7 different stays, 7 different adults, 7 different rules and situations, 7 different everything]. Praise God Arrow’s case managers were thinking the same thing and worked overtime to get us officially licensed so that Jay could stay with us as his new foster placement.
Since the time Jay had been placed in foster care going to school was challenging. Obviously, he was frustrated with being separated from his brothers, and then moving to a new place, not knowing what was going to happen and being forced to behave socially when he was unsure of what was going to happen to him.
Jay began dropping hints that he wanted us to adopt him. But my husband wasn’t truly convinced we should adopt. Our age, my parents living with us, Jay’s energy and anger issues. How would we be able to handle all of this? And what would happen when he was older and stronger?
One day we got an email stating they were presenting Jay’s case to 3 families who were interested in him, and that IF we were interested in adopting Jay, we would need to let them know right away.
Suddenly, we were faced with a dilemma. We didn’t feel ready to adopt but we were already attached to Jay and unwilling to let him go. Plus, the dream kept compelling us. So, we said yes; we wanted to adopt him! We began the adoption process. We worked hard to complete the process quickly because we wanted to complete the adoption before the holidays.
During this time, we began discussing his name. Naturally we wanted him to have our last name. And because of the dream we wanted him to know that God saw him and heard him and so God spoke to me in a dream revealing to us his new middle name, Derek. But we also wanted to change his first name from Jay, which was associated with so much pain and suffering, to a character he had begun to admire who was bold and courageous. *Adoptive Name*. We prayed and we asked our friends to pray that he would be receptive to the change.
We had planned to wait to tell Jay until we had a court date so that he wouldn’t be so anxious. But in September, we received the papers from the lawyer and included was a statement Jay had to sign in front of a notary public stating he wanted to be adopted and he approved of the name change.
So, on that day, [8 months from the morning of the dream] we formally asked Jay if he would like for us to adopt him. We took him out to IHop for breakfast, and after ordering our food we asked.
Mark, “We would like to adopt you. Would you like that?”
Jay, “Yes! Yes!”
Amanda, “Jay, back in January I had a dream about a little boy who came running up to my car and beating on the windows begged ‘Please don’t leave me here! Please take me home!’”
Then I handed him a card which read:
Would you be our son?
*Adoptive Name*
We love you Mom and Dad.
Jay looked up at us with wonder in his eyes and said, “Is this my new name?” We nodded. “I love it! My name is going to be *Adoptive Name*, like the man in the Bible. You’re really going to adopt me?” “Yes!” “I’m going to be your son!”
Our family has been blessed through the process of adoption. This was a journey our family could have never fully prepared for. We are thankful for the people who helped us through this process. Jay, you are loved, you are worthy, and we are blessed by you joining our family.
A note about Arrow Ministries from Ashley Seidl:
Arrow Child and Family Ministries is a foster agency whose goal is to help kids and strengthen families. Arrow serves and impacts over 4,000 children, teens and families each year. We were founded in 1992 by a former foster youth who believe that Christian foster care was the answer to the ever-growing crisis of foster care.
One of our beloved families has been so kind to share their story with you! This was written by a foster mom who will be becoming an adoptive mom on November 22nd, National Adoption Day. Their lives have been forever changed through the foster and adoption process. She and her husband have been a blessing to Arrow Child and Family Ministries. If you are interested in becoming a foster/ adoptive family, or would like to receive more information on how to serve these families in the area, please reach out to me, Ashley Seidl at [email protected] or call (254) 752-2100.
By Jessica Attas
Fall is here and what is MORE exciting than even pumpkin spice?! Policy!
For that reason, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our fall State of Series! This four-part series is aimed at educating and engaging folks in the important policy discussions at the local, state, and federal levels, with a special event focused on one of the Chamber’s top priorities: a strong workforce and education pipeline.
The series kicks off with State of the City and County with Mayor Deaver and Judge Felton, Wednesday, November 13at 11:30 a.m. at Ridgewood Country Club. As if Judge Felton’s humor isn’t reason enough to attend, Mayor Deaver is not running for reelection, so this is a wonderful chance to come thank him for his faithful service and hear about the last year’s accomplishments in his tenure.
The State of Public Education is next in the lineup (registration closes Nov. 11), and will be a breakfast event on Wednesday, November 20 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Baylor Club. This exciting event, brought to you in collaboration with our area P20 Council, will provide updates from Midway ISD and Waco ISD Superintendents Drs. Kazanas and Kincannon, followed by a keynote by Commissioner Mike Morath. The 86th Legislative Session saw the passing of House Bill 3 and an additional $11.3 billion for public education! Commissioner Morath will walk through the many strategic goals afforded by this bill and we’ll have the chance to hear from two of our area superintendents on how their districts will utilize these funds. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and attendees will have the chance to visit with area students and educators, as multiple school districts – and the Waco Chamber’s own LEAD Mentorship Program – will be in our School Spotlight booths around the periphery of the room. Schools will showcase the unique ways they are educating our youth and preparing them for post-secondary success: career & technical education, apprenticeships, mentoring, teacher externships, and more! This year we are also very excited to welcome other organizations from around the state who will have booths with research information about their work and how you can get involved. From Raise Your Hand Texas to the Coalition for Apprenticeship Partners in Economic Development to the Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium and more, you won’t want to miss the chance to learn about the great work being done across the state to strengthen our education systems and how you can engage!
State of the Nation follows on Monday, December 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the Baylor Club. While U.S. Congressman Bill Flores has announced he is retiring, he will continue to vote for our district for the next sixteen months! This is a great chance to share our priorities for these remaining months, and hear his thoughts and observations on federal policy in 2019 and what lies ahead. Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome famed economist Dr. Ray Perryman to join this conversation and share his perspectives on economic trends and forecasting as we go into 2020. Perryman was recently recognized at the International Economic Development Council conference with the Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement award. Our Chamber is excited to welcome such a distinguished speaker and guest!
The series will conclude with State of the State on December 12 at 11:30 a.m. Baylor Club. At present, we have three fantastic panelists confirmed: Representative Kyle Kacal; State Demographer Lloyd Potter; and Texas Workforce Commissioner Julian Alvarez. We’ll have a great discussion about demographic and workforce trends in the state and how the state is responding with policy to meet our opportunities and challenges. A legislative panel will follow with our elected state officials who join us!
These are ticketed events, open to the public and registration is closing soon! We hope you will join us and come to learn more about the opportunities and challenges for our community, state and nation, and how you can be a part of influencing policy for good!
Visit us online at wacochamber.com/state-of-events/ for more details, ticket prices and registration.
Jessica Attas is the vice-president of public policy for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. She works with key state and federal elected and appointed officials to advocate on key issues of community and economic development. Attas loves thinking about solutions for big challenges, and when her schedule allows, enjoys serving as a professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core Honors College. Attas has two sons and a pup who keep her busy during “down time.”
By Lindsey Breunig
Next time you are sitting with friends and family I challenge you to play a game of ‘who can think of the most pumpkin spice products on the market’ – I imagine you will have a very extensive list! For many, pumpkins are a sign of cooler weather, fall colors, and the holiday season approaching. Pumpkins may attract all the attention, but the gourd family includes more of these seasonal vegetables called winter squashes. Available in multiple shapes, colors, and unique characteristics, one may see them as a table decoration; however, today we are moving the decorations into our diet!
According to the USDA dietary guidelines it is recommended we consume 2 ½ – 3 Cups of vegetables daily. To maximize the benefits of vegetables we are encouraged to vary our veggies. The squash’s deep colors are a great indication of being high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while also being low in calories. Common varieties seen are butternut, delicata, spaghetti, kabocha (find at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market!), acorn, and sugar pumpkins.
The common characteristic and the reason I avoided cooking squash for so long is the tough skin. You can be very mean to a squash and still couldn’t ruin its day! (A little fall humor for everyone) The skin of a squash is very thick and becomes thicker as the produce matures; however, you want the firm exterior because soft skin can indicate an unripe squash or a spoiled squash. Test by knocking on the squash with your knuckle: if it sounds hollow, it is ripe! Now, there sits a squash on your counter with the only thing coming between the delicious vegetable inside is the tough outside. Below we are going to discuss ways to safely handle and overcome the squash fear.
Click to see How to Prepare Winter Squash or read below!
Start with washing the squash under running water, remove excess dirt with a vegetable brush & dry with a clean towel. A vegetable peeler works well to remove the skin from butternut squash or sugar pumpkins but microwaving first will soften the squash for easier handling.
Pierce the squash several times with a sharp knife. Place on a microwave safe plate or dish. Microwave the squash on high for 5-8 minutes (depending on use for recipe). Allow squash to cool enough for touch. Once cooled, cut off the top inch of the squash (including the stem).
For texture like mashed potatoes: Cut the squash in half. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Place the two halves face down on the microwave safe plate or dish with 1/2 cup of water. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Check if the squash can be easily scooped with a spoon. If not, cook another 3-5 minutes or until the flesh is the texture of a cooked potato. Set aside to cool. Rather than boiling you can use this technique and use winter squash in these Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
For texture like roasted potatoes: *You may want to microwave less to ensure squash is not too soft* Cut squash in half. Dice the squash with a knife without cutting through the skin. Scoop out the diced pieces or scoop out the flesh and lay evenly on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil & spices. Roast at 400 degrees until tender. Or try this recipe for Spicy Baked Squash!
Other ways to use winter squash!
Pinched on time? Check out the grocery store for precut squash. Always compare the unit price to see the best deal. See the example below, what would you choose?
Using frozen? Try this tasty recipe! Savory Bread Pudding with Kale and Butternut Squash
Enjoy!
Lindsey Breunig is a graduate of Baylor University and currently works as the Better Living for Texans Educator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She is originally from Grapevine, TX and now calls Waco home. Here in Waco 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 just saying hello.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP. To learn more about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or to apply for benefits, visit www.yourtexasbenefits.com
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
Resources: Winter Squash, Prepare Winter Squash