Top 10 “Most Opened” Blog Posts of 2019: # 9
Is your child looking for something to do this summer? Why not encourage him/her to write and illustrate a novel? That’s What Kamayah Miles did!
Kamayah Miles is 9 years old and will be a 5th grader at Connally Elementary. She developed a love for writing at the age of 5. Kamayah’s other hobbies are drawing, arts/crafts, reading and baking cookies with her mom. She dreams of being an author and a chef.
We have some pretty amazing young people in our community! Here is Kamayah’s novel: Runaway Rockstar! Read it now so you can say…”I knew her when…” Thanks for sharing your work with us, Kamayah! We are proud of you!
By Kennedy Sam
In summer of 2018, through a partnership with Creative Waco, Waco ISD, Prosper Waco’s summer intern program, and generous local sponsors, ARTPrenticeship was brought to life. Ten rising seniors from Waco ISD gained real-world, concept-to-completion, mentored work experience and created the mural “1000 Hopes for Waco” in the process.
This summer, we are back for year two — but this time with two walls. Similar to last year, we’ve hired 12 apprentices from Waco ISD and six local professional artists serving as the creative team guiding the apprentices. One new addition to this year’s program is well-known New Orleans artist and muralist, Richard C. Thomas, serving as a teaching artist and lead designer on one of the murals.
Thomas’ work graces the New Orleans International Airport, an Iowan mural dedicated to immigration, 20th anniversary posters for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and on the walls at Waco’s own Kieran-Sistrunk Fine Art Gallery during the month of July.
You can find the murals in-progress at Brotherwell Brewing and the Family Health Center’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Clinic.
We want to get the Waco community involved as much as possible, so we invite you to Community Paint Days! Join our apprentices and creative team for the morning to paint and learn more about their experiences working with ARTPrenticeship, plus get a sneak peak of the designs. No experience needed, just come out and support our young creatives as they make their mark!
Family Health Center – MLK Jr. Clinic
July 13, 8 – 11 a.m.
July 20, 8 – 11 a.m.
I sat down with two apprentices to hear about their experience thus far as a part of ARTPrenticeship 2019 program. Kaeleana Ramirez is a rising junior at University High School working with the mural team at the Family Health Center’s Martin Luther King Jr. clinic. Upon completing high school, she plans to attend college on the west coast or in Hawaii to study marine biology. Lillian Olvera is a recent graduate from University High School working with the mural team at Brotherwell Brewing. She plans to continue her education at McLennan Community College to study art.
What made you interested in applying for the ARTPrenticeship program this year?
Kaeleana: I love art! I’ve been taking advanced art classes since middle school. This upcoming year I’m moving up to Pre-AP Art, so when I heard of this program I had to apply.
Lillian: I actually wanted to participate in the program last year, but it didn’t work out. This year I came to the information session about the program at University and decided to apply. This is my first job, so I thought this would be a great opportunity do so something I’m passionate about and gain work experience.
How have you enjoyed working alongside the teaching artists?
K: I’ve definitely enjoyed working alongside the teaching artists. I knew there were artists in town but I thought they typically focus on creating work that would go in a gallery, not dedicating their time to help teach high school apprentices how to paint murals.
L: This has been a fun experience and it’s cool seeing professional artists in our community. I’m mostly familiar with our art teachers who are professional artists too, but it’s interesting seeing and getting to work with people who are full time artists.
What were some of the goals that you set during the studio sessions for this summer? Do you feel like you’re on track to hit those goals?
K: The main goal was to broaden my horizon. Usually I create small projects like painting on canvases or spray painting, but I wanted to learn more ways to improve on my techniques. I also wanted to work on being less critical of my work. ARTPrenticeship has definitely taught me a lot about the creative process.
L: A few of my goals that I identified were to be able to work with the group full of other creatives, learn how to manage a project of this magnitude from concept to completion, down to how plan out a budget. I’ve definitely learned all of that and more.
Has working on a creative project like ARTPrenticeship impacted the type of working environment or career path you aspire to work in?
K: In general, it’s taught me a lot about working with a group and how to manage working alongside other people’s personalities. Although I don’t plan to go into the creative field, however, there are some creative qualities that will help me be successful.
L: My dream is to open up a studio like Marvel or Disney that focuses on design, animation, and fashion. This program has taught me some invaluable things that would help me create my studio and I’ve met a few people who want to help me attain that goal.
What has been one of the greatest lessons that you will take with you in the future?
K: There’s a lot! Learning how to work as a group, a part of a whole instead of as an individual has been an interesting lesson. We’ve learned how to work in different parts or sections but still communicate different ideas in a professional environment.
L: I’ve learned that it’s ok to make mistakes. You rarely get something right the first time, so sometimes you need to step away then come back with a clear mind. It’s all a part of the creative process.
To learn more about ARTPrenticeship visit us at creativewaco.org/artprenticeship.
Kennedy Sam is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Creative Waco, McLennan County’s arts agency. As a longtime Waco resident, upon receiving her degree from Louisiana State University was excited to return to her hometown to begin her career serving the community she loves. In her spare time, she enjoys rediscovering all that Waco has to offer and exploring the many walking trails with her pup Bleu.
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.
InSite is a “creative placemaking” initiative in Waco, Texas. Creative placemaking uses the arts and design as tools for transforming communities, strengthening local identity, and leading social change. Right now, they are focusing on theatre production, but they plan to offer arts education programming for kids and adults, and opportunities to get involved in public and pop-up art and other projects!
Their current project is a series of three “Shakespeare Studios.” Each studio will include a collection of scenes, sonnets, and soliloquies focused on a theme. The first of these studios “Love and War” will be presented July 16 at Brotherwell Brewing.
In today’s post a local high school student shares her excitement about finding an opportunity to indulge her love of Shakespeare. – ABT
By Zoë Seagle
I have been acting in Shakespearean plays since I was eight years old. I was a part of a homeschool co-op that performed yearly at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie. I remember watching the older kids performing their main roles, delivering their monologues, and delving into their characters to the point that they weren’t themselves anymore. I could only dream! I was this very tiny, very homeschooled, terrified kid. The first time someone introduced themselves to me, I screamed and ran behind a couch for protection. (I stayed there, crying, for a good hour.) My director at the time, Tracey Villanueva, swore she would break me out of my shell. I was not pleased with her determination, but I don’t know where I would be if she had not seen through my walls.
You
know the cliché poster in the child’s room of their idol? Well, Shakespeare was
the guy on my wall. I was fascinated with his work and lifestyle. I mean, he
made 2000+ words up and over 30+ plays! That’s creativity at its finest.
Two
years ago, I enrolled in a public high school, and sadly that ended my performances
in the Scarborough Fair. Not having my yearly dose of Shakespeare was strange.
I searched for a group during those two Shakespeare-dry years that performed or
studied Shakespeare plays in Waco, but no such luck. I did manage to find
Jubilee Theatre, though, the small, tight-knit group I soon called home.
Jubilee’s director, Trent Sutton, blew my mind with his actor-focused plays. It
was like nothing I’d ever been a part of before. When he told me about how he
was transitioning to InSite, a growing theatre organization taking a huge
interest in Shakespeare, I was absolutely thrilled! A group that would give me
my yearly dose of Shakespeare and have one of the best directors I’ve ever had?
Consider me family!
Since following Trent to Insight, I have met Luann Jennings, the founder of InSite, and Stefanie Wheat-Johnson, who both have very mesmerizing ways of directing. I’m excited to watch InSite grow and become something absolutely amazing for Waco. So, keep an eye out for our productions and spread the word about InSite to your friends and family! Look out Waco, because here we come!
Zoë Seagle is an 11th grade student at Rapoport Academy. She loves to perform, play music, and write when she isn’t at school. She has been singing and acting for many years now, and hopes to continue to do so in the future.
Top 10 “Most Opened” Blog Posts of 2019: # 1
By Grecia Chavira
I am a DACA-mented teacher in Waco.
By that I mean I’m a beneficiary of “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals”, or DACA. This executive action was implemented by the Obama administration in June of 2012. DACA provides protection from deportation and work authorization for young immigrants, often referred to as DREAMers, who have completed high school and arrived in the United States before their sixteenth birthday. This benefit gives me protection, but it often feels like an undeserved privilege.
Lately I’ve felt that my “privilege” didn’t start with DACA, it started when I began my journey as an immigrant into the United States almost 20 years ago. I realize now that the start of my story as an immigrant is starkly different than most.
When I was 8 years old, I arrived in Waco on a charter bus with my family by my side. I didn’t need to cross the desert with a coyote (a human smuggler who leads immigrants across the border illegally). I was never in danger of being raped, trafficked or lost. I wasn’t separated from my parents at the border. I was safe.
I vividly remember arriving to Waco after midnight at a yellow and green gas station. I remember running off the bus and hugging my aunt, who was anxiously awaiting our arrival. During my first year in the States, various family members graciously shared their home with my family. I didn’t live in an overcrowded detention center- I didn’t endure sexual abuse from prison guards. I was safe. I was home.
These memories arise with a sense of guilt as I read recent news of immigrants traveling thousands of miles in search of a safer and better future for themselves and their children. My parents had the same goals, but we were lucky. We were fortunate enough to have family connections, resources and a church community. We were welcomed. We were not considered a burden or a punishment.
Things couldn’t be more different for the 50,000 immigrants who have been released into San Antonio from December to March after being processed and detained at the border. The influx that occurred at the end of March included about 500 hundred asylum-seeking immigrants arriving in San Antonio. Many of these had traveled from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador fleeing violence, in search of safety.
Thankfully, local non-profit organizations such as American Gateways and Catholic Charities came together to rally around the immigrant families. These groups coordinated hundreds of volunteers who helped the families book tickets to travel to their final destinations or to contact family members.
Recognizing the magnitude of the situation, the city of San Antonio set up a resource center in an empty store to help the local non-profits provide enough food, clothing, and medical services to the immigrant families. City staff provided children books to read while the adults sought out legal services. As an immigrant, my heart hurt for the hardships that my immigrant brothers and sisters suffered in their search for a better life, but my Texan heart beamed with pride as San Antonio stepped up to meet their needs with love and dignity.
As I discussed these events with my good friend and local immigration attorney, Anali Looper, we wondered how Waco would handle high numbers of immigrant arrivals. Would the City step in and help our local non-profits meet their needs? Would churches show love and compassion by opening up their facilities to be used as temporary housing? Would volunteers rally as they did in San Antonio? I would hope so. But hoping isn’t enough.
Living in Waco, Texas, has never felt scary to me. I remember a childhood filled with security and love. I attended Waco public schools, where teachers loved me, motivated me and led me toward success. My teachers advocated for me and broke ground with me as an undocumented Valedictorian at University High School. As a child, I attended a small Hispanic church where I was shown to appreciate my community and to love my neighbor as myself. Now I attend a large multi-cultural church that focuses on missions around the world.
As a Wacoan, I would like to see the City of Waco and the community prepare a contingency plan for treating immigrant families with the same dignity and respect that would be awarded to US Citizen families who have been displaced by floods, hurricanes or fires. I would like for my students, many immigrants or children of immigrants themselves, to learn the value of human life and the power of community. I would like my students and their families to feel safe and loved, just like I did growing up, just like I do now.
I want to have faith that my adoptive hometown would be as
welcoming and generous should we have to respond to a situation like San
Antonio. I would hope and pray for a similar response, but would it be done?
For more information about American Gateways please refer to the website: www.americangateways.org.
Grecia Chavira is a 2nd grade teacher in Waco ISD. She grew up in Waco and graduated from Baylor University. She always dreamed of being a teacher for English Language Learners. She is a part of the community advisory committee for American Gateway, a local non-profit that provides low-cost immigration legal services. She enjoys working out, practicing yoga and visiting local restaurants with her husband, Enoc.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Khristian Howard
If you’ve been around Waco for a while, you have probably noticed tons of service opportunities, programs, and projects – and many of these are kid-centered. Right now, the city is sprinkled with summer meal sites ranging from traditional sites like rec centers and schools to mobile meal busses. This summer, Waco ISD even premiered a food truck to serve meals to kids in low-income areas! In the hype, it is easy to see the passion that exists around feeding children. The momentum continues to grow throughout the school year, as after-school enrichment programs pop up on every side of the city. In McLennan County, there are over 14,000 children experiencing food insecurity, so being able to provide a meal for a child is integral in shaping a healthy future for this community (Map the Meal Gap, 2019). Larger organizations like the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs have the abundance of resources necessary to provide food for their participants; however, for smaller after-school programs, meeting this need can be more challenging.
Such is the case for NewLife Alliance, a Christian 501(c)3 organization that “fosters communities of encouragement and empowerment for people of all ages and abilities.” Nationally, NewLife Alliance represents a collection of businesses, community organizations, churches and schools. Here in Waco, in Red Oak Townhomes (located at 4510 S. Third Street in Waco), the organization functions as an after-school program that provides educational and spiritual enrichment for the children living in this community. We sat down with Jina Jones, Program Coordinator, for Red Oak Townhomes, to talk about the value that the program brings to the community and its children.
Here’s the Scoop…
“There are so many valuable pieces,” Jina shared, “from spiritual studies, to health and nutrition events, to counseling and community safety events, [and even] direct support with toiletries and goods…but I would have to say that the youth program is the most valuable piece.” Being able to reach the youth means everything to this community, and NewLife Alliance serves to meet a serious gap for parents with limited resources. “Providing help with homework, meals, spiritual studies, and character building in a safe environment for our youth is such a huge help to the families that are income challenged and may not be able to pay for the cost of after-school care otherwise,” stated Jina.
Meal and snack sponsors needed
However, the program itself is experiencing a tight limit on resources as well. The previous meal sponsor for NewLife Alliance is no longer able to extend meal services to the part of town where the Red Oak Townhomes are located. This leaves the program without a way to ensure food for the children who participate. Jina expounded on just how serious the current predicament is for the life of the program and the kids who participate:
“We never truly know the struggle of each family here on the property and whether the meal we provide will be the last meal of their day or maybe just the healthiest meal they receive. Our problem is that because we are a non-profit, we run [out] of donations and sometimes struggle to meet the needs of the families because of lack of donations. Donations mean the world to families in need of help.”
Can you help?
For this reason, we are asking you to consider making a donation of food or money to help Jina and NewLife Alliance continue to feed the children in their programs. Food options range from full, hearty meals to simple snacks, so no contribution is too small. NewLife Alliance has been serving Red Oak Townhomes in Waco for 14 years, and with your help, the program can continue to meet the needs of children and families there.
Sign Me Up!
So, if you would like to make a donation, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- This program meets three times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
- Each week about 20 – 25 kids participate
- The program coordinator has opted to keep all meals and snacks peanut-free due to severe allergies among the kids
To make a donation or to get more information, please reach out to Jina Jones, NewLife Alliance Program Coordinator in Red Oak Townhomes at coordinator@redoakstownshomes.com, or Khirstian Howard, AmeriCorps VISTA at Texas Hunger Initiative at Khirstian_Howard@baylor.edu. We truly appreciate your help and support for the community!
Khristian Howard is an Atlanta native and a recent graduate of Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She has a passion for empowering communities through service, and seeks to connect advocacy to creativity. Currently, she is serving as the AmeriCorps VISTA for Texas Hunger Initiative Waco, where her work focuses on fostering collective impact to improve health and eating habits in East Waco. When she is not working, you may find her sharpening her culinary skills or exploring new poetic and artistic pathways.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
References:
Map the Meal Gap. (2019). Overall and child food insecurity by county in 2017. [Table] Retrieved from https://public.tableau.com/profile/feeding.america.research#!/vizhome/2017StateWorkbook-Public_15568266651950/CountyDetailDataPublic
(As I’m sure most of you probably know, one of our Prosper Waco community goals is “McLennan County residents will live healthier lifestyles and access the best available care.” With that in mind Act Locally Waco is teaming up with Better Living for Texans to bring you a monthly blog post full of tips for healthy living. For more of the posts in this series, click here: Better Living for Texans.– ALW)
By Flor De La Garza
The belief that “eating healthy and nutritious is expensive” is a common misperception. There are several ways to save money and buy healthy foods for you and your family. Today’s focus is to provide tips and tricks to save money when buying healthy groceries by 1) identifying the in-season fruits and vegetables 2) comparing unit prices, and 3) planning meals in advance.
Know Your Seasonal Produce
You may have noticed the recent influx of watermelons, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, and many more fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store. This is because there are certain fruits and vegetables that harvest in the summer, just as there are fruits and vegetables that harvest best in other seasons (spring, fall, and winter). Knowing the “in-season” produce for each season may help you save money because the in-season food items may cost less. For example, as summer reaches its peak, you may find watermelons to be at a cheaper price than in the winter season. If your favorite produce is not in season, an alternative to eating healthy and at a cheaper price is to buy canned or frozen produce without added salt or fat. Below is a Seasonal Produce guide made with information retrieved from the U.S. department of Agriculture – SNAP Ed (https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/seasonal-produce-guide) that can serve as a guide as you shop for in-season produce next time you are shopping for groceries.
The grocery store is not the only place you can save money when shopping for produce. Starting your own garden or shopping at the farmers market is a great way to obtain inexpensive, freshly picked in-season produce. The Waco Downtown Farmers Market opens every Saturday from 9 AM – 1 PM and is located at 500 Washington Ave, Waco, TX. 76701 – you can save money, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute to local small businesses all in one trip! If you are interested in starting your own garden, the McLennan County Master Gardeners can provide you with advice, direction, and answer any questions you may have. They are available to answer your gardening questions Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM at (254) 757-5180. You may also connect with the McLennan County Master Gardeners at the farmers market as they set up a semi-monthly booth to provide outreach on a variety of gardening topics.
Remember: fresh, frozen, canned, and dried – it all counts!
Comparing Unit Prices
To decide on the “cheaper option” within food items, one common way to compare prices is to look is to look at the total price of two items and simply compare them to determine which price is the lowest. However, this tactic may not always work because of the packaging, weight distribution, or size difference of both items. A more beneficial alternative is to compare unit prices. The unit price is the cost of an item based on a specific unit, such as a pound, ounce, or quantity per container.
Knowing the unit price can allow you to compare the cost of a food item based on brand and size. For example, (see below for picture) when buying XYZ Yogurt, it may appear that the total price of the 6-ounce (oz) yogurt is the cheaper option when compared to the 32 oz yogurt. However, when comparing the unit prices, the 32 oz yogurt is .07 cents cheaper per ounce.
Planning Meals in Advance
Scenario: You go to the grocery store. You buy some spinach, zucchini, cucumber, and corn because you know these items are “healthy” and “in-season”. You get home. Now what? You look up healthy recipes and realize you need a few more items to complete the recipe. You make a trip back to the store and buy more items than you needed. Now you are back home, and you are over your groceries budget.
The scenario above is very common. You can prevent going over your budget by planning your meals and writing a grocery list before going to the grocery store. You can plan healthy meals that use “in-season” produce and follow the MyPlate food groups (vegetables, fruits, protein, grains, and dairy). Once you arrive to the grocery, you know exactly what you need to make healthy meals for yourself and your family without being distracted by food items you may not need. In return, you will save money and prepare healthy meals!
If you have not tried these tips and tricks before, I encourage you to practice them while shopping for groceries this month! Enjoy saving money and healthy foods!
Recipes
This month we have three refreshing recipes that call for in-season produce! All three recipes are bright and refreshing for kids, teens, and adults! Feel free to pair any of the recipes to your Fourth of July celebration. The recipes come from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Dinner Tonight Program (https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu) and the USDA – “What’s Cooking?” website.
Ingredients:
For Salad
- 3 large Cucumbers skin removed, chopped
- 3 cups strawberries quartered
- 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup basil leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup Fat Free feta cheese crumbled
For Dressing
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions:
- Wash your hands and clean your preparation area. Rinse vegetables, fruits and herbs under cool running water before chopping.
- In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, strawberries, red onion, and basil.
- In a small bowl or jar combine lime juice, olive oil, and honey. Whisk or shake until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and toss to combine. Top with feta cheese.
Watermelon Cucumber Balsamic Salad
Ingredients:
- 4 cups watermelon cubed
- 2 cups cucumber cubed
- 1/2 cup red onion sliced
- 1/4 cup basil chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 ounces Fat Free feta cheese crumbled
Instructions:
- Mix together watermelon, cucumber, red onion and basil.
- Mix together olive oil and balsamic vinegar then pour over the watermelon mixture.
- Top with feta cheese and enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup crushed pineapple
- 1 cup yogurt, low-fat fruit (8 ounces)
- 6 fluid ounces orange juice, frozen concentrate (thawed)
Instructions:
- Mix the ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Divide into 4 paper cups.
- Freeze until slushy – about 60 minutes. Insert a wooden stick half way through the center of each fruit pop.
- Freeze until hard or at least 4 hours. Peel away the paper cup before you eat the fruit pop.
Note: You can mix ingredients and freeze in ice cube tray instead of cups, making great “ice cubes” in fruit juice. Try other fruits or juice concentrates for variety.
Flor De La Garza is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Baylor University. She is completing her summer practicum with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in McLennan County and is working with the Better Living for Texans program. Flor is originally from Denton, TX. and has lived in Waco for about four years now. She especially enjoys learning how Waco’s organizations are working together in collaborations to reach the overall goal to improve the health and quality of life of McLennan County residents! In addition, she loves Cameron Park hiking trails, the local restaurants and food trucks!
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.
Houston…we have a party!” In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing, Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum will host a 1969-theme party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 20.
The event will include 1960s-themed hors d’oeuvres and mocktails. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1960’s-era costumes and will be treated to a performance by Austin’s premier Motown tribute band, Groove Knight. Party tickets are $35 each for adults, $25 for museum members and Baylor students and can be purchased at the front desk or online at www.MaybornMuseum.com.
During the event, both the SpaceX and Be the Astronaut exhibits will be open at the
museum with available photo ops for guests. Designed in consultation with an advisory panel of NASA experts, Be the Astronaut exhibit gives visitors a sense of real astronaut pretraining with the use of touch screen stations, artifacts and interactive simulator pods built to look like space capsules.
SpaceX: This is Rocket Science exhibit features a rocket model and thruster engine, projection video, vibrant scale representation of our solar system along with historic facts of rocket development and testing facility located in McGregor, Texas.
“We are inviting all of our interested adult patrons to slip into their Nehru jacket or maxi skirt, tuck the kids into bed, and join us for an evening to commemorate mankind’s greatest leap of the 20th century,” said Charles Walter, director of the Mayborn Museum.
The historic event occurred on July 20, 1969 when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin famously made “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” by landing on the moon.
“July 20th represents one of man’s crowing achievements when Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon,” Walter said. “We hope this party will be a fun and playful way to celebrate one of the most historic moments our country witnessed during the 20th century.”
About the Mayborn Museum – The Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University provides a wide spectrum of
learning opportunities to engage visitors of all ages. The exhibits and education programs encourage families to learn together and design their own museum experience. This complex features a natural science and cultural history museum focusing on Central Texas with walk-in dioramas including one of the Waco Mammoth Site. The Mayborn Museum Complex also encompasses a multi-floor science discovery center encouraging hands-on learning for all ages and the Gov. Bill & Vara Daniel Historic Village. The nine wood frame buildings that comprise the village provide a glimpse into the past, bringing to life a community in the 1890s.
The museum’s hours are: Monday-Saturday 10 am- 5 pm
Thursday 10 am-8 pm
Sunday 1 pm-5 pm
The Mayborn Museum is open all year long except for the following: New Year’s Day, Good Friday through Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and all Baylor University home football game dates. The museum is located at 1300 S. University Parks Drive, Waco, Texas 76706. For more information, call 254-710-1110 or visit www.MaybornMuseum.com.
Press release
“Reunited and it feels so good!! This is the theme of this year’s 16th Biennial A. J. Moore High School Reunion (July 5, 6, & 7, 2019). A lot of planning has gone into making this year’s Reunion extra-special. We will celebrate the Golden Anniversaries of the Classes of 1968 and 1969 with a flair. In addition, all alumni veterans are invited to attend a lunch sponsored by several alumni and Jeff Hunter Toyota. There is no charge for alumni veterans who are registered for the Reunion. Already, more than 45 alumni veterans have registered for the luncheon.
Prior to the Alumni Veterans Luncheon there will be a business meeting where several elected civic leaders will greet alumni. Scholarships will be awarded to AJMHs legacy high school graduates.
In addition to coming together for the usual celebrating, cordiality, congratulating, and social meeting, alumni will have an opportunity to record their memories and reflections as part of an oral history project in collaboration with Baylor Oral History Department. This will be very important as it will add to contributions from others who lived and shared the AJMHS story. The school has been closed since 1971 and there are fewer voices left to share the legacy with each passing day. AJMHS alumni want the traditions, achievements, goals, and our voices to live on in recorded recollections.
On Friday, “Denim and Diamond” night, alumni will celebrate with a parade of classes from all years past, casino games, brunch, and awards to elected alumni civic leaders. On Saturday, “All White Unity Night,” alumni will celebrate with a banquet featuring Dr. Hazel Rowe, Interim Superintendent of Waco ISD. Music and dancing follows each night’s events.
Sunday morning begins with worship service and there will be a barbeque picnic that afternoon.
All events will take place in the Brazos Room at Waco Convention. For additional information visit our website.
A. J. Moore High School Alumni Association thanks everyone who is supporting this year’s Reunion. We want to send a special note of gratitude to Amy Hunter (Jeff-Hunter Toyota), Peter Kultgen (Bird-Kultgen Ford), Magnolia Market at The Silos, Ty White (Golden Corral), Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, Awards Specialties, M & M Mars, Melvin Lipsitz (M. Lipsitz & Co.), Hilton Hotels and Resorts – Waco, and the City of Waco.
Press release
Caritas of Waco has received a $200,000 grant to continue a case management program specifically for low-income veterans, offering guidance for veterans living at or near the poverty level through a process to help them overcome financial, emotional, educational, employment and other barriers to success. The program’s goal is to assist these veterans in moving out of poverty by becoming more self-sufficient and less reliant on emergency assistance programs.
“Caritas is very excited about continuing this program and the benefits it will bring to veterans in our area,” said Tammy Stevens, Client Services Director at Caritas. “We have had numerous success stories with our case management veterans and we look forward to serving many more,” she added.
The Caritas Veterans’ Case Management Program will serve a veteran of any era and service branch who has had an honorable discharge, who resides in the six-county service area (McLennan, Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, and Limestone) and who has an annual income no greater than 200% of the federal poverty level. Caritas case management staff will offer a variety of direct and supportive services that veterans need to reach individual goals.
Veterans may contact Caritas directly in person, by phone or through referral from another service provider for information about the program. Individuals will speak with the veterans’ case manager to arrange an assessment of eligibility for participation in the program. Thereafter, the veteran will work with the case manager to carry out a needs assessment and begin work on a “plan of action” to address areas of need in the veteran’s life.
Caritas of Waco is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that serves McLennan County and the surrounding area by providing individuals and families with urgent support and long-term solutions to poverty.
For interviews or more information, contact Tammy Stevens by telephone at 254-753-4593 (extension 227), by e-mail (tstevens@caritas-waco.org), or in person at 300 South 15th Street.
This program is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The Fund for Veterans’ Assistance provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families.
By Christina Chan-Park
When the founders of the United States established the decennial census in Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, they wanted to use the “enumeration” to give the people rights and privileges. Historically, censuses were used for conscription or taxation purposes (remember the bible story of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem for the census?); it was a way for those in power to wield control. But the US census is used to give power to the people. Getting an accurate census count ensures shared governance.
Most people are aware that the census determines how many congresspersons each state gets in the House of Representatives, but they might be less aware that it is also used to distribute $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. Getting an accurate census count means that your community gets its fair share of resources from the taxes you have paid.
The data collected in the census is not locked up in a vault somewhere but is available to the public for free. These data are accessible to companies, developers, local governments, and even individuals. They can inform decisions on where to establish new businesses or how to revitalize old neighborhoods. They can be used to prepare plans for public safety and emergencies. Getting an accurate census account provides tools and information for local community development.
The census bureau collects more information that just how many people there are and where they live. On the census they also ask about the sex, age and race of each person. For months before the April 1 census date, the census bureau and local communities work on educating the public about why they needed to be counted and ensuring them that there are only positive and no negative consequences to being counted. Getting an accurate census count ensures everyone is counted once and only once.
Go explore census.gov (where I cribbed a lot of my information). There you can find more on how census data are gathered and used; what data is gathered in between the decennial censuses; and even download data and learn about your community. Just remember: getting an accurate census count is important.
Christina Chan-Park serves as the President of the League of Women Voters Waco. To join or learn more about LWV Waco, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LWVWaco/ or email us at lwv.waco@gmail.com.