(This post is a part of a regular series “Trails & Trials,” a monthly adventure series inspiring others to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of cycling, running or swimming in Central Texas. For more posts in this series, click here: Trails and Trials. – ALW)
By Natasha van der Merwe
The big day had come, July 15th. The day of the 10th Annual TriWaco triathlon which takes place in the heart of Waco. We get to swim in the Brazos river, ride on the roads surrounding the Baylor University campus and run through Cameron Park and its daunting hills. All in the middle of July, which brings sweltering temperatures typically topping out at around 100 degrees for the day.
Preparation is taken seriously as putting all of the above together is no easy task. Many that stood on the shores ready to jump in the water at 6:30am that morning were also undertaking their first triathlon. We all do our best to prepare for all three different sports – swimming, biking and running – but when it comes to putting it all together, race day can bring in a number of new unforeseen challenges.
I have been competing in this sport for just over 10 years, 9 of them as a professional triathlete. Each race is a new experience which turns this sport into a lifelong endeavor. With the ever changing courses, conditions, competition, ones own fitness, and race adversity, one can never be too prepared. Unfortunately, what happened at Tri Waco for me this year was a touch of misfortune. Everyone will encounter a bit of misfortune sometime in their sporting careers.
My original goal going into the race was to give it my all and end up one step ahead of my competitors. This was not to be. 8 miles into the bike leg, and in the lead of the race, I encountered my first flat tire in my 10 years of racing. There were little shards of glass on the road in which I just happened to ride straight over, slicing my tire. I don’t race with a flat repair kit, so my only option at that point was to pull over to the side of the road. 30 minutes later Bicycle World’s Support vehicle carrying spare tubes, found me on the course, and assisted me to get back on the road.
Some might have called it a day, saving their legs to get back into their next training block.
In this case, I made the decision that instead of bemoaning my bad luck on the side of the road, I was going to figure out a way to still benefit from this experience. One often learns more from our setbacks than our successes.
Here are five ways to turn what might have been a bad race into a good outcome:
Be Flexible With Your Goals
One reason many triathletes are disappointed with their races is that they have only one goal for the race, such as setting a personal best or placing in a certain position in their division. When they don’t achieve that goal, they think they have had a bad race. Often those negative thoughts will overwhelm them during the race.
A better approach is to start every race with a series of goals. Start with the absolute best outcome you can reasonably hope for. That will be your “A” goal. A “B” goal, will be to just do one’s best in face of fierce competition which will still be great, and a “C” goal, is in the face of any adversity on the course one still finishes. This will still be an accomplishment for you on that day. That flexibility in your goals will help you to stay motivated and keep pushing during the race.
For example, on this day, my A goal was to win the race. As soon as I flatted, I turned to a new goal of turning my race into a training day. Not only did I benefit from some great fitness training finishing the race which was a 1500 meter swim, 25 mile bike and 10k hilly run, but I also got a fantastic preview of what I would experience at the end of October when I come back to race the much anticipated Waco 70.3 Ironman. I now have those hills in Cameron park fresh in my memory as I prepare my running legs to stay strong through the half marathon that we will have to run that day.
Turn your thoughts away from yourself
I personally think that this is the number one strategy in overcoming any adversity in a race. Don’t throw yourself a pity party but instead immediately switch your thoughts to “what can I do for others”. This will immediately lighten the mood, as you look around and realize there is always more to life than one race, and the attempt at supporting others always makes you feel better.
In the case of this race, I had flatted by riding over broken glass on the course. After pulling off to the side of the road, knowing I could not fix the flat, I laid my bike in the grass on the side of the road and proceeded to clear all the glass by picking it up with my hands piece by piece, which hopefully helped avoid future flats for my fellow competitors. While doing so, I also had the opportunity to see my fellow Bicycle World Racing Team mates come by along with other athletes I know in Waco and I excitedly cheered them on, telling them all how great they looked and how they were closing in and catching anyone in front of them. While doing so I was able to see the enjoyment they were having racing, which gave me that encouragement that I needed to finish the race once my tire was fixed by the support vehicle.
Appreciate the amazing crowd support
When I am typically racing all out, I am usually so focused on the task at hand that I sometimes fail to really appreciate all the spectators and volunteer support that is out on the course. Having the flat tire and taking a step back to just finish the course at a more leisurely pace allowed me to take in all the funny signs and bobble heads of their friends that they are supporting. I also took the opportunity to thank all the volunteers that were standing in the day’s 90-100 degree heat. Volunteers handing us water, Gatorade and ice towels all why throwing in a few encouraging words as you run by them. Without all that support, there would be no race. The level of gratitude that I carried that day rose to a new level resulting in a ton of joy for the experience that I was having.
Reflect on What You Accomplished
After every race, don’t forget to pick out all the positives of your race as you reflect on your accomplishment. In this race, I was extremely excited with how I felt in the swim, being less than a minute behind the leaders. This has given me more confidence in my training which is building excitement for my upcoming races. I was also proud that I never gave up, and there is nothing that can beat that feeling of accomplishment of finishing something you start, especially when you maintain a positive mindset throughout.
Start Thinking About Your Next Race
There are no failures, just feedback for future training sessions and lessons learnt for future races. All race experiences, good or bad, are always building blocks for a better future. I walked away from my TriWaco experience extremely excited to tackle the Waco 70.3 in October. From the downtown course with a homely feel with the camaraderie that is always had between fellow athletes on the course, and the sidelines filled with family and friends. You cannot walk away from a race like this and not feel rejuvenated and motivated to tackle yet another one. There is nothing quite like this experience to make you feel like you are living your best life.
Come out and watch us on October 28th in Waco for the 70.3 Ironman. You might just get the motivation you need to be on the start list next year.
Natasha van der Merwe is originally from South Africa. She is mom to a 19-month old girl, former professional tennis player and tennis instructor, and a professional triathlete representing Bicycle World and Waco Running Company. She has multiple top 10 finishes in Ironman and 70.3 events around the world. She is Director of Team Programs for Bicycle World, Texas
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Ashley Bean Thornton
Is there anything in this world more hopeful and full of promise than brand new school supplies? The smell of a new box of colors. A brand new sharp pencil full of letters and words and pictures and numbers waiting to be set free. A bright, clean spiral notebook ready to be filled with ideas, and dreams, and problems, and scribbles about who “hearts” who “4-evah,” and drawings of houses and families and fast cars and rockets and dinosaurs. To all the grown-ups out there…if you have forgotten the joy and power of school supplies, you have forgotten a precious thing.
A few months ago, the Act Locally Waco book group decided to read and discuss the book “Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom” by Lisa Delpit. We had heard through the grapevine that our (then new) WISD school superintendent, Dr. Marcus Nelson, had recommended it to principals in the district, so we put it on our list. On a whim, I decided to invite him to our book discussion, and lo and behold, he came! We had a thought-provoking conversation about heavy issues affecting our schools…and more to the point…our children. I will confess I left the discussion feeling overwhelmed with the complexity and magnitude of the challenges before us.
In the course of the conversation, Dr. Nelson mentioned a poem about a child and a pencil that he thought made an important point…
‘Cause I Ain’t got a Pencil
By Joshua T. Dickerson (reprinted with permission from the author)*
I woke myself up
Because we ain’t got an alarm clock
Dug in the dirty clothes basket,
Cause ain’t nobody washed my uniform
Brushed my hair and teeth in the dark,
Cause the lights ain’t on
Even got my baby sister ready,
Cause my mama wasn’t home.
Got us both to school on time,
To eat us a good breakfast.
Then when I got to class the teacher fussed
Cause I ain’t got a pencil.
This poem is a prism. When you look into it one way all you see is poverty. It can leave you feeling sad and overwhelmed. When you look at it another way you see a bright, capable kid solving problems and figuring out what it takes to keep on keeping on. She (or he) is exasperated with the rest of us because we can’t see that if we would just help her out a tiny bit with a pencil she could get on with the business of getting an education.
Ramona Curtis who works in the Department of External Affairs at Baylor starts each school year by joining the NAACP to welcome and cheer on the young scholars at J. H. Hines Elementary on the first day of school. For a few years now, she has noticed that even with the many, many wonderful school supply drives throughout our community there were still too many kids coming to school without supplies. Several conversations with the principal and outreach coordinator at Hines confirmed that school supplies are a big issue. Even when kids have enough in August, they often run out long before the school year is over. I’m sure teachers do fuss at kids who don’t have pencils – I know I did when I was a teacher! – but teachers also routinely dig into their own pockets to provide supplies for their kids. There never seems to be enough to make it to the end of the school year.
With all this in mind, this year Ms. Curtis is working through the Solid Gold Neighbor Initiative at Baylor along with numerous organizations throughout the community to organize a school supply “power” drive. The goal of this project is to make sure that the five Transformation Zone schools (Brook Avenue Elementary, J. H. Hines Elementary, Alta Vista Elementary, Indian Spring Middle School and G. W. Carver Middle School) who already have so much on their plates this year, do not have to worry about school supplies.
Ms. Curtis and her team visited with the principals at each of the five schools to make a list of the supplies needed for the whole school for the whole year. They got back numbers like 996 boxes of crayons, 2500 glue sticks, 12000 pencils, etc.
Now they are working through churches, sororities and fraternities, non-profits, local businesses and every other kind of organization they can think of to gather those supplies and deliver them directly to the schools to be divvied up among the teachers and distributed as needed with discretion and discernment throughout the school year.
The Solid Gold Neighbor program has made it easy for you to participate. You can donate money directly by clicking on www.baylor.edu/SGNschoolsupplies or by texting BUSGN to 41444. Follow the Solid Gold Neighbor Facebook page for updates about how to donate school supplies and what supplies are still needed. Or contact Ramona Curtis at [email protected] to see how your business or organization can join in!
Not all problems can be solved with a pencil. But sometimes a pencil – or a box of markers, or some paper, or a glue stick — makes a big difference. We have bright, capable kids in Waco ISD. Many of them face tough situations every day and yet resiliently get to school anyway and go about the work of learning the best they know how to do. We have some significant challenges in our schools, and it will not doubt take time to chip away at most of them, but one thing we can do right now is to make sure there’s a pencil available when a kid needs one. Let’s do that!
* You can follow Joshua T. Dickerson on his Facebook page, “Joshua T. Dickerson Speaks,” or on Twitter: @joshtdickerson
This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, she has lived in Waco almost 20 years now. Far longer than she ever lived anywhere else. She likes to walk. If you see her out walking, honk and wave and say, “Hi!”
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Anna Dunbar
- Half is better than none.
You may be new to Waco curbside recycling. Start with paper and plastic water, soda, and juice bottles! Once you establish a habit, start adding other recyclables such as shampoo and detergent bottles, flattened cardboard, magazines, and aluminum and tin cans.
- You can recycle glass in Waco.
Glass bottles and jars (as well as other recyclables) can be taken to the Cobbs Citizen Convenience Center (Recycling Center) by anyone, regardless of residency. The center is open on Tuesday – Saturday from 8 AM until 5 PM.
- Look beyond the daily paper.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper and cardboard are America’s most recycled materials by weight. The Waco curbside recycling program and Cobbs Recycling Center accept newspaper, corrugated cardboard, cereal and tissue boxes, mail, catalogues, and phone books. The Cobbs Recycling Center accepts those items from anyone, no matter their place of residency.
- Close the Loop
The recycling process doesn’t stop at the Waco blue curbside cart! After materials are processed and back on the shelf as new items, it is up to you to buy recycled products. Look for products and packaging with recycled content to do your part as a recycling-conscious consumer.
- Recycling: it’s not just in the kitchen.
Don’t trash your detergent and shampoo bottles! Take a few extra steps to put your empty bottles in your blue Waco curbside recycling cart pr take them to the Cobbs Recycling Center.
- Know your limits.
Putting materials in your blue recycling cart that aren’t collected from curbside contaminates the recycling process. Items that are common mistakes in curbside recycling carts include Styrofoam, food contaminated cardboard, such as a pizza boxes, chip bags, ziplock bags, juice boxes, and straws. All of those items go into the grey trash cart.
- Answer the call to recycle your wireless phone!
More than 100 million cell phones retire each year to sit in our drawers or closets, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Do you have out-of-use mobile phones in your home? Consider donating them to a local charity or retail outlet that collects cell phones. Before you drop off your old cell phone, make sure that you have terminated your service contract for the phone and erased any data in the phone. Target Greatland has a drop-off box at the door closest to the pharmacy. The Waco Family Abuse Center accepts cell phones at its thrift store, Second Chance. And finally, the Cobbs Recycling Center accepts cell phones from Waco residents only.
- Recycling: don’t exclude your leaves and grass clippings!
Waco residents can request a green (yard waste) cart at no extra charge. The yard waste cart is collected every other week on your trash day. To request a cart go to waco-texas.com or call (254) 299-2612.
- Recycling: don’t exclude your food.
Start composting your food waste at home. If you aren’t quite ready for a compost bin or pile, consider tossing a few biodegradable items into your garden or window boxes instead of the trash. Egg shells and coffee grounds enrich soil and break down easily. Or you can join the “blue bucket brigade” associated with Mission Waco’s Urban Renewable Energy & Agriculture Project. If you would like to donate food waste, mainly plant material, for compost, you can pick up a blue bucket at Mission Waco’s Urban R.E.A.P at 1505 N. 15th Street.
- Spread the word.
Now that you’re an expert recycler, consider hosting an educational recycling event in your neighborhood. Keep Waco Beautiful (KWB) or Waco Solid Waste can help with educational materials and assistance. Contact KWB at (254) 723-5714 or Waco Solid Waste Services at (254) 299-2496.
Still have questions? Contact me at [email protected] or call Waco Solid Waste at (254) 299-2612.
Para informacion en Español: (254) 299-2612
Anna Dunbar is the Environmental Program Manager for the City of Waco Public Works. She is responsible for informing Waco residents and businesses about recycling and waste reduction opportunities as well as solid waste services in Waco. Her husband is a Baylor professor and her daughter is a Baylor University alum who works at Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. Anna is an active member of Keep Waco Beautiful and The Central Texas Audubon Society.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Meg Wallace
Deshaun is his name.
He was running in the grass alongside Highway 6 west of College Station. Alone. Looked to be about five years old.
I said, “That can’t be right,” and I pulled onto the shoulder with traffic whizzing by at 75 miles an hour. Robin and I got out of the car, and I slowly walked toward the running boy, holding my arms wide. He ran toward me, and I squatted down, put my hands on his shoulders, and asked his name.
“Deshaun,” he said.
“My name is Meg. This is Robin. Where’s your mama, Deshaun?”
He fidgeted, then pointed. “Car.”
“Was your mama in a car? Where were you before you were running?”
“Car.” He started to walk toward the highway. I moved to block him. He was pointing at my car.
“Do you want to get in the car?”
“Yes. Car.”
Of course. It was over 100 degrees. No telling how long he had been running.
We walked to the car, buckled him in, and gave him water. He was dressed in a spotless white T-shirt and shorts, his hair in two neat braids joined on the top of his head. He was wearing no shoes. We said we would see if we could find his mama. We drove to the next exit, a mile or two away, and pulled into the first gas station. We bought him a corn dog, then called 911. We could tell the dispatcher very little. Deshaun wasn’t able to help us understand. We suspected he was autistic.
After the police arrived (and Deshaun leaned into me and made anxious sounds when one of the police officers spoke to him), we found a quiet corner of the store. He pressed the lever on the Coke machine and was sprayed with sticky soda; tried to grab a couple of toy guns, which I moved out of reach; then carefully set down his corn dog and water and pulled a plastic dinosaur from the toy display. I noticed that the dinosaur was packaged with bubbles. Good choice, Deshaun. We blew bubbles while the police sorted things out. When I was distracted talking to the police, he solved the problem of a too-large bubble wand by pouring some bubble soap into a larger plastic cap so he could dip the wand in.
Not long after, his mother came around the corner with the police officers. She was overcome, beside herself with relief, but she gathered herself to explain to the officers that she had only fallen asleep for a moment, then woke up and he was gone. The police took her back around the corner to speak with her while we continued to play with bubbles, then another woman came, his mother’s roommate, and thanked us. She said that Deshaun is autistic.
His mother came back, thanked us, and gave each of us a long, emotional hug. Then she and her friend and Deshaun left with the police to go back to the house, where they could exchange information in case Deshaun goes on another adventure in the future.
Deshaun never looked at or greeted his mother. He expressed no recognition that she had returned.
I am thankful for police officers who understood. One of them was named Goodheart.
And I am overwhelmed by the vulnerability of little Deshaun and his mother.
Longtime freelance writer and editor Meg Wallace began her career shift by completing her Master’s in Social Work at Baylor in May, then launched the Amberley Collaborative to cultivate caring communities in Waco and beyond. Learn more about the Collaborative at https://www.facebook.com/AmberleyCollaborative/.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Robin Wilson, Ph.D.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I decided to retire from being a campus principal to return to school to complete my doctorate. I have always loved to learn, and I knew I was ready to embark on a new journey…even though I was a little late in life to be pursuing a Ph.D. While pursuing this degree, I ended up focusing on how to better educate our local high school seniors, teachers, and administrators on what it takes to be college and career ready. There are personal skills, such as time management, study skills, self-awareness, and persistence, required. There are also academic classes, such as dual credit courses or AP (Advanced Placement) courses, that will help prepare a student for college or a career. But, in 2018, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) added a new term and a new standard of expectation for graduating seniors: CCMR.
What is CCMR?
To better meet the expectations of the 60x30TX, TEA expects all seniors, beginning with the class of 2018, to be College, Career, or Military Ready (CCMR). Each graduating student must meet at least one of the following to be considered CCMR:
College Ready
- Earn at least a score of 3 on any Advanced Placement exam or at least a score of 4 on any International Baccalaureate examination
- Meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) minimum score requirements in reading and mathematics*
- Complete a dual credit course/courses (earning at least 3 hours in English or Mathematics OR at least 9 hours in any subject)
Career Ready
- Earn an industry-based certification
- Complete a Career/Technical Education (CTE) course aligned with an approved industry-based certification
- Graduate with a completed Individualized Education Program (IEP) and workforce readiness (for certain students served through special education programs)
Military Ready
- Enlist in the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marines).
While TEA gives students a variety of ways in which to meet the CCMR, many of these methods will not be known to students (like the TSI or available industry-based certifications/CTE courses aligned to certifications) nor will it be known to students that they should report to their schools if whether they enlist in the US Armed Forces. Therefore, everyone needs to be more familiar with this new requirement.
What is TSI?
The TSI (Texas Success Initiative) is the placement test used by colleges and universities to help determine if your child is ready for college-level courses. Although your child can be “admitted” to a higher education institution based on his or her ACT or SAT scores, “placement” in college-level coursework will depend on his or her TSI scores. If your child does not meet the standards or exemptions below, he or she will be enrolled in a developmental education program designed to help him/her become college ready. These developmental courses do not count for college credit, but your child will still have to pay the cost of enrolling in these college-level courses.
Minimum scores on TSI to be considered-college ready:
- Mathematics: 350
- Reading: 351
- Writing: a placement score of at least 340, and an essay score of at least 4: OR a placement score of less than 340 and an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4 and an essay score of at least 5.
Exemptions from the TSI Reading/Writing assessment can be earned based on ACT/SAT scores or course completion:
- Score a 23 or higher composite on the ACT and a minimum of 19 on the English section
- Score 480 or higher on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and writing section (no composite score needed)
- Receive credit for completing the College Preparatory English course
Exemptions from the TSI Mathematics assessment can be earned based on ACT/SAT scores or course completion:
- Score a 23 or higher composite on the ACT and a minimum of 19 on the Mathematics section
- Score 530 or higher on the SAT Mathematics section (no combined score needed)
- Receive credit for completing the College Preparatory Mathematics course
What do these new standards mean for our school districts?
These new standards change the expectations for graduating seniors and how our high schools will receive their “A-F grade” from TEA (https://tea.texas.gov/A-F). The elementary and middle school campuses’ grades from TEA will still be based on STAAR test scores (100%), but high schools will now be graded on STAAR scores (40%), CCMR rate (40%), and graduation rate (20%). This new accountability for high schools will take the work of a village to ensure that all of our seniors graduate ready to pursue a degree at a higher education institution or move into the work force career-ready.
How can parents help make sure their child is college and career ready?
Parents can help in numerous ways:
- Encouraging your child to not only take dual credit or Advanced Placement courses but also perform well in those courses and on their exams;
- Reminding your child to take his or her opportunities to take the TSI seriously and to study any practice materials available for the TSI;
- Aiding your child in finding opportunities to earn an industry-based certificate (if their goal is to be career-ready) through participation in CTE courses, the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy or the Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy;
- Urging your child to utilize the college planning guide.
Your local high schools also need you to help educate your neighbors about CCMR. The new standards can be conquered, and our high schools can continue to provide our students with skills and knowledge necessary to be successful, but it will take the work of a village. Help spread the word in our community on what it takes to be college, career, or military ready!
Dr. Robin Wilson is the College Readiness Coordinator and AVID District Director for Waco Independent School District. She earned her Masters degree from University of Texas at Tyler and her Doctorate at Baylor University. She has worked as a classroom teacher, campus principal, a district administrator, an AVID professional development staff member, and a university adjunct professor.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
by Jessica Maxwell
Did you know Waco Transit System provides more than just city bus service to the citizens of Waco and surrounding areas? Scroll through the list below to see all the services offered by your local transportation system – give transit a try!
Fixed Route (City Buses)
Waco Transit System has nine fixed bus routes, which service Waco and surrounding communities. Fare for a single, one-way ride is $1.50. A day pass can be purchased for $3.00 and is good for unlimited fixed route rides for the duration of the calendar day, during normal operating hours. All fixed route buses can be tracked at ridewaco.com or by downloading the free Ride Systems app. For a route map and additional fare info, visit wacotransitsystem.com.
- Weekday Service Hours: 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
- Saturday Service Hours: 6:15 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Contact: (254) 750-1613
Funding Sources: Federal 5307 Grant Funding, fares, charter fares, TxDOT State Urban Funding and local match revenue, including advertising and contract revenue
Silo District Trolley
The free Silo District Trolley is designed to make getting around Downtown Waco fast and convenient. The trolley’s route makes it easy to get to Waco’s most popular shopping, dining and art venues in the downtown area, including Magnolia Market. Track the trolley at silotrolley.com or download the free Ride Systems app. The trolley runs Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Funding Source: City of Waco
LaSalle-Circle Shuttle
The LaSalle-Circle Shuttle is a free shuttle that connects Downtown Waco to shops, museums, eateries (including Magnolia Table) and more along LaSalle Avenue. Track the shuttle at silotrolley.com or download the free Ride Systems app. The shuttle runs Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Funding Source: City of Waco
Baylor University Shuttle (B.U.S.)
The Baylor University Shuttle (B.U.S.) is operated by Waco Transit System and serves as the fixed route transportation system for Baylor University. Students and visitors are encouraged to ride the B.U.S., which not only helps reduces vehicular traffic and parking congestion on campus, but also increases access to campus activities. B.U.S. service is available to riders at no charge. Track the B.U.S at bushuttle.com or download the free Ride Systems app. For a route map and operating schedule, visit baylor.edu.
Funding Source: Baylor University
Demand Response Service (DRS)
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Waco Transit System provides door-to-door service for individuals who are physically or mentally unable to use the fixed route system. Specific qualifying criteria must be met. To learn more about the application process or to schedule a ride, call (254) 750-1620.
Funding Source: Partial Federal 5307 Funding, DRS fares, Federal 5310 Grants (for elderly & disabled trips) and Medicaid
McLennan County Rural Transit District
The McLennan County Rural Transit District aims to increase ridership throughout the county and improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and more. Destinations include anywhere in McLennan or adjacent counties, as long as one of your stops originates from or travels to a rural address. Trips can be arranged by calling Waco Transit System at least 24 hours in advance. Fare for one-way, in-county trips is $3.00, and fare for one-way, adjacent-county trips is $5.00. Fees also apply for guests. For more information or to book a trip, call (254) 750-1620.
Funding Source: Federal 5311 Grant, TxDOT State Rural Grant, Federal 5311 Mileage funds, Federal 5310 Grant (for elderly & Disabled), fares, local match including Medicaid, advertising, and scheduling revenues
Waco Regional Airport Shuttle
If you need transportation to and/or from the Waco Regional Airport, Waco Transit System can help. Trips are based upon availability and can be arranged by calling Waco Transit System at least 24 hours in advance at (254) 750-1620 or 877-875-RIDE (7433). Ride anywhere within McLennan County for only $3.00 each way and $5.00 each way for trips to adjacent counties. Fees also apply for guests.
- Weekday Service Hours: 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
- Saturday Service Hours: 6: 15 a.m. to 8: 15 p.m. and 8: 30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Funding Source: Partial Federal 5307 Funding, fares and Federal 5310 Grants (for elderly & disabled trips)
Evening LINK
Evening LINK is a shared ride, door-to-door employment and training transportation service available to anyone who works or attends training and lives in the Greater Waco Area. Service is available from 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Ride anywhere within the Waco urbanized area for $3.00 each way. Fees also apply for guests. Call (254) 750-1620 for reservations. Please call at least 24 hours in advance to ensure availability.
Funding Source (through August 31, 2018): Rural Discretionary grant funds awarded from TxDOT through 2016 Coordinated Call for Projects, fares, local match in both in-kind and cash contributions from numerous organizations and businesses
Marlin LINK (Route #10)
Waco Transit System’s Route #10 services Robinson, Riesel, Marlin, Chilton and Golinda. The service connects riders to the Waco Transit System transfer station, as well as to Greyhound. For a route map and fare info, visit wacotransitsystem.com.
Weekday Service Hours: 5:50 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
No Saturday Service
Funding Source (through August 31, 2018): Rural Discretionary grant funds awarded from TxDOT through 2016 Coordinated Call for Projects, fares, local match in both in-kind and cash contributions from numerous organizations and businesses
Sanderson Farms LINK
Do you need transportation to and/or from Sanderson Farms for work? Waco Transit System offers a shuttle to and from the Waco Transit terminal and Sanderson Farms. Sanderson Farms employees can contact the Sanderson Farms Human Resources Department to learn more about signing up to receive a monthly bus pass for this route.
Weekday Service Hours: 7:15 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.
No Saturday Service
Funding Source (through August 31, 2018): Rural Discretionary grant funds awarded from TxDOT through 2016 Coordinated Call for Projects, fares, local match in both in-kind and cash contributions from numerous organizations and businesses
Safe Ride Home Program on New Year’s Eve
Waco Transit System’s “Safe Ride Home” program provides free shared ride shuttle service within the Waco urbanized area on New Year’s Eve, usually between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Advance reservations are preferred. Same-day requests are based upon availability. Call (254) 750-1620 beginning December 1 to book your free trip and/or determine coverage area.
Funding Source: Waco Transit System and community sponsors
Travel Training
Because we recognize that riding a city bus for the first time (and navigating the routes/time points) can indeed be intimidating, Waco Transit System offers free travel training upon request. Call (254) 750-1900 for more information or to schedule an appointment. An informative “How to Ride the Bus” video series and list of FAQ is also located on the Waco Transit System website at wacotransitsystem.com.
GPS Bus Tracking (Ride Systems):
Track any Waco Transit System fixed route at ridewaco.com or by downloading the free Ride Systems app on your smartphone and selecting “Waco Transit” as your agency.
Funding Source: Federal 5307 Grant Funding, fares, charter fares, TxDOT State Urban Funding, and local match revenue including advertising, Medicaid, scheduling revenue and contract revenue
Jessica Maxwell is the Director of Marketing for Waco Transit System. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies. Originally from Illinois, she moved to Texas with her husband in 2013, and they have been happily settled in Waco ever since. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and experiencing all the great outdoors has to offer. You can reach Jessica at [email protected].
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
(Welcome to the Act Locally Waco/Towny blog series. Towny is an app that exists to connect consumers with local businesses. It’s fairly new to Waco and is loaded with answers to the question, “Why local?” Through this blog series, the folks at Towny will be sharing the stories behind some of our high-quality, local products and helping you get to know some of our energetic local entrepreneurs. We hope you enjoy it! Supporting local business is a terrific way to support the Waco economy! Plus, it’s just fun to get to know your neighbors. For more posts in this blog series, click here: Towny Waco.– ALW)
By Beth Whittington
“For 12 years, I saw this. Tutoring and mentoring North Waco students, we built real relationship, connection – and then we’d lose them to getting a job because they were needed to help support their families.
I observed that our kids were ill-prepared for real-life jobs – basic job skills like showing up on time, making sure you get a ride, getting along with your co-workers were a big challenge for our students, so a lot of kids lost their jobs as fast as they got them.
It put a seed inside of me. I thought, ‘What is it that I can do, practically, to put us in a position where we would have something, a real-life place, for kids to come and learn those skills?”
Kim Cutler, Waco resident of 32 years, has (obviously) spent years developing her “part” in caring for unsupported youth through the business of baking.
“I began to roll the idea around in my heart and saw that I practically enjoyed cooking and had already been baking with a lot of our kiddos. I thought it was a role the kids could handle.”
She wanted to have something that wasn’t a church program but a real-life pressure, where, the kids knew – this is really a job and you really have to be on time, have to do the job well.
Baking was something she knew she could bring to the table with excellence, so Kim began inching in that direction, a little at a time.
Where she inched:
- Kim graduated from Baylor University – 1990
- Antioch Training School – 1991-1992
- Worked among Waco’s unsupported youth – 1992-2007
- Employed at Starbucks to prepare for running her own bakery – 2007-2014
- Went part-time at Starbucks to push Baked Bliss, working out of her house – 2012-2014
- Left Starbucks to bake full-time, out of her house, received an offer to bake wholesale goods for a large-scale company, giving her the opportunity to leave the house and get into a commercial kitchen – 2014
- Ended the contract with the wholesaler – February 2018
- Opened Baked Bliss (1114 N 15th St), Kim’s walk-up with outdoor seating + misters, to the public – May 2017 to today!
What’s something most folks wouldn’t even know that’s special about this place?
“A majority of our things are from scratch. Premium baked goods sometimes take extra steps. My goal is: let’s do whatever it takes to make this the best product we can and put in people’s hands. It might require more in labor, but it’s going to be worth it.
I think that stems from growing up in a household where, what comes out of the kitchen from my mom, my grandmothers, whenever we had family coming over, you just always did what needed to get done to make this a dish or a meal that was going to be a real blessing for everyone.
What’s it take to make a quality product? If i’m treating my customers like family, then it’s not going to be, ‘Yeah, that’s good enough.’ We just don’t put it out there if it’s not going to be exceptional for people.”
So, what’s on the menu?
“We offer limited, breakfast menu items like quiche; our breakfast empanadas kind of have a Mexican flair to them. They’re made with a lean chorizo with peppers, those are really good. Pastries. We’re really well-known for our cinnamon rolls and our bacon cheddar scones. We always have some kind of pie on hand – and some cake. Like a good southern woman, so you have something on hand to offer your guest. A well-rounded sweet and savory menu.
You can order from us, too. Baked Bliss’ tag line is ‘Baked Bliss is a celebration of all things baked.’
We use food to celebrate life.
Someone gets a cookie for making a good grade on a test, we bring breakfast items over for having a baby, got engaged – we use a cake to celebrate. We use food to celebrate – I’d like to be a place where people think, ‘Oh! We have a little celebration in our life. Let’s head to Baked Bliss and get a little something to celebrate with.’ Whether that’s a wedding cake, neighbor that just moved in, cookies, there’s always room to celebrate with a baked good.”
What’s after breakfast…dessert?
“Haaa, YES. Our chocolate chip cookies do really well. Lemon shortbread and pecan shortbread.”
(I catch a practiced-to-perfection gleam in her eye as she describes.)
“It’s a rotating cupcake offering – we try to offer at least three or four different flavors a day: two, featured specialty cupcakes and then a couple more standard flavors like chocolate, vanilla, maybe a red velvet. So, there are options. Those are Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes (which is amazing) and a ganache-filled S’more cupcake.”
(I tasted these two offerings. If I were a dead woman, this cupcake made me alive. YES. That is a S’MORE. CUPCAKE. With a marshmallow-meringue topping. If I were you, I might think, “S’more cupcake? That’s tooooo much.” And then I ate it. And wanted five more. Sorry not sorry. True story. YOLO. Etc.)
“People are spending their hard-earned money, and yeah, it’s a cookie, it’s a cupcake, but we live in a day and age where when people eat sweets, it’s a treat. You just hope it’s going to be something really delicious. That’s what motivates me. My prayer is that, what we offer people is the very best that we can give. It just can’t be about it just being good enough. It needs to have excellence on it.”
When people buy local, What does it mean for the community?
“I think with buying local, it’s so significant to keep the money flowing here, local. That’s what I love about Towny, because there’s such a strong sense of community in our town to support local businesses. And it really does keep that going. Like when you think of going and getting some pastries from somewhere. Coming to our place … you are definitely keeping the funding IN your community. You’re keeping that money flowing to support your community. Our mission at Baked Bliss is to serve the community quality baked goods and to serve peoples’ lives. Being able to do that allows us to reach INTO the community, not just food, but to serve them emotionally and being IN the community and being PART of the community. I don’t know, that’s just a big part of me.”
What’s the next big thing for Baked Bliss?
Next-step thinking for Baked Bliss would be solidifying and growing the Baked Bliss name. Longer term goals include taking Baked Bliss to other cities, both in the States and other parts of the world, where we see opportunities to serve. For now, we are still introducing people to the joys of Baked Bliss deliciousness. And learning how to bring our best to the table.
‘Bliss’ means ‘heavenly joy’ or ‘complete happiness.’ We hope we can create a little piece of Heaven on Earth both in our food, but also in the experience our customers have when they come to visit.”
If bliss is what you’re after, head over to Towny – don’t miss the local perks you + your loved ones can find when you download the app (for FREE). Once you’ve done that, check out what Kim is whipping up for you at Baked Bliss + change YOUR community, one meaningful purchase at a time.
Baked Bliss welcomes you! Enjoy their mist-ers when there’s a line and while you eat your goodies on the porch! (Baked Bliss is located at 1114 N 15th St, open 7AM – 2PM most days. Closed Tuesdays. Saturday, 8AM – 1PM. Sunday, 8 AM – 11 AM.)
Beth Whittington remembers sitting on the Waco suspension bridge as a girl, visiting family friends. Legs dangling off, watching the Fourth of July fireworks spark the sky. Been a Waco local for the better part of 19 years. Gaps explainable by the awkwardly untrue term of “ex-missionary” Beth thrives on: generating ideas + copywriting. Can’t wait to: visit South Africa. Favorite part of Waco: Bangkok Royale + the HOTHTC. Wants: everyone in Waco to get Towny because it’ll make life better for us all if we let it.
Take your local support up a notch – pop in Towny + have a look around.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Magen Davis
By the end of this summer, downtown Waco will be home to a new mural. But unlike existing 
pieces in the area, this work of art will be crafted by an unlikely group of creatives: 10 Waco ISD high school students working alongside a team of professional artist mentors.
Here’s what you need to know:
- ArtPrenticeship is an internship program organized by Creative Waco, Prosper Waco and Waco ISD that will teach a group of 10 Waco ISD high school students, or apprentices, the ins and outs of managing a creative project.
- Four artist mentors will guide the apprentices from concept to completion, designing and painting a mural on the side of a newly completed building in downtown Waco.
- We’re in search of wage sponsors to serve as an accountability partner for performance throughout the summer and help provide compensation for each apprentice at the end of the program.
ArtPrenticeship has roots in the Cincinnati ArtWorks program that Waco leaders learned about on a Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce intercity visit in September 2017. ArtWorks employs professional artists and apprentices ranging from ages 14 to 21 to complete public art projects across Cincinnati, including hundreds of murals on the sides of buildings that are several stories tall.
Creative Waco has borrowed this model and shaped it to fit our own community. ArtPrenticeship is a unique opportunity for creative students to hone their artistic abilities while also learning professional skills necessary to thrive as an independent artist. Emphasis will be placed on safety while working on a mural jobsite, calculating costs, ordering materials, and the importance of collaboration and communication between artist, client and community.
The students will work between several sites across downtown Waco, with most time spent at the mural site at 315 University Parks Drive, the shopping strip next to Bicycle World.
For our program’s pilot year, the students were selected from a diverse pool of applicants through Prosper Waco and Waco ISD’s summer internship program. Two teaching artists and two assistant artists will guide the apprentices through the mural process. Between them are several years of teaching experience, as well as expertise in a wide range of artistic media, including mural installation and painting.
One goal of ArtPrenticeship is to pay all participating students a meaningful wage. Creative Waco has successfully secured wage sponsors for each apprentice at $600 per student. Sponsorships not only provide a financial reward for program completion, but also ensure accountability for their productivity throughout the program.
Creative Waco would like to extend a special thanks to our sponsors: Baylor Philanthropy, Cooper Foundation, Magnolia Foundation, Waco Public Improvement District (beautification grant), Mitchell Construction, Turner Behringer Development, Terry and Elaine Stevens, 1519LLC, and Langerman Foster Engineering. ArtPrenticeship would not be possible without the enthusiastic support and resources we’ve received from these businesses and community leaders.
Magen Davis is a Texas-born, graphic designer and “multimedia person.” Magen graduated from Baylor Journalism in Fall of 2015 from the New Media concentration and with a minor in History. Magen is in her first year as a student of Baylor University’s journalism graduate program. Her research interests include new media implementation for organizations, apologies in image repair, and user-generated content. Currently, she also works with Midway Independent School District as a Multimedia Specialist creating videos, taking pictures, and designing district communications.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Laura Greenstein
Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 2008 to start changing this.
Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition.
Taking on the challenges of mental health conditions, health coverage and the stigma of mental illness requires all of us. In many communities, these problems are increased by less access to care, cultural stigma and lower quality care.
America’s entire mental health system needs improvement, including when it comes to serving marginalized communities. When trying to access treatment, these communities have to contend with:
- Language barriers
- A culturally insensitive system
- Racism, bias and discrimination in treatment settings
- Lower quality care
- Lower chance of health care coverage
- Stigma from several angles (for being a minority and for having mental illness)
These are all in addition to the usual road blocks. Many cultures also view mental health treatment as a luxury, considering symptoms a “phase” that will eventually pass. These harmful perceptions of mental illness can further isolate individuals who desperately need help.
We can all help ignite change against these disparities and fight stigma this Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It starts with learning more about mental health and informing your community.
Consider Giving A Presentation
Starting conversations about mental health in your community may feel intimidating—especially if your community views mental illness as a personal fault or weakness. But the more we talk about mental illness, the more normalized it will become. And NAMI is here to help!
Consider giving NAMI presentations to your community, like Sharing Hope for the African American community and Compartiendo Esperanza for the Hispanic and Latino communities. These presentations go over the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions as well as how and where to find help. If neither of these presentations fit your background, feel free to use them as models to create your own presentation tailored to your community’s needs.
Emphasize Treatment
Make sure to stress the importance of a culturally competent provider. These mental health professionals integrate your beliefs and values into treatment. To find a provider that does this, you may have to do a significant amount of research. In addition to searching online, you can also ask trusted friends and family for recommendations or ask for referrals from cultural organizations in your community (like your local AKA Chapter).
In your first session, make sure to ask any questions you may have about the professional’s cultural competence. For example:
- Do you have any experience treating someone from my background?
- Have you had any cultural competence training?
- How would you include aspects of my identity into my care?
Be confident when disclosing relevant information about your beliefs, culture, sexual orientation and/or gender identity that could potentially affect your care. Your provider will play a vital role in your treatment, so make sure you feel comfortable and can communicate well with them before committing to them. Remember: If you feel like your provider doesn’t understand you, it’s okay to leave. Cultural competency is very beneficial to effective treatment. It might take a bit of effort to find the right fit, but recovery is worth it.
Share Your Story
When a person experiences symptoms of mental illness, one of the most helpful and comforting feelings is knowing that they’re not alone. It can be incredibly reassuring to know in this moment right now, someone else is going through similar struggles as you are—regardless of where they are, who they are, or how they identify.
If you’re ever feeling isolated or that your community doesn’t understand mental illness, explore story-sharing platforms like Ok2Talkand You Are Not Alone. On these platforms, everyday people write about their deepest struggles with mental illness and their hopes for recovery. If you feel comfortable, post your thoughts and feelings about or experiences with mental illness—it’s rewarding to know you are helping others feel less isolated.
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness and stop stigma in diverse communities. It’s time to improve the harsh realities minority communities face when it comes to mental illness treatment. In fact, it’s long overdue.
Laura Greenstein is a passionate writer with a personal mission of raising mental health awareness. In her current role, she writes for the blog and Advocate, assists the editorial process and provides any needed support to the Marketing & Communications team. A travel enthusiast, Laura has been to six continents and previously worked with Traveler’s Today magazine. She holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in journalism from North Carolina State University.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Bruce Huff
There was so much trash on our streets, something had to be done! On November 25, 2016, GROUP W BENCH LITTER PATROL was formed, and to date, volunteers have picked up almost 90,000 pounds from Waco streets, alleys, highways, lake and rivers. Our accomplishments include: 25 organized cleanups throughout Waco, 1056 Facebook members in 29 countries following what we do, being granted an Adopt-A-Highway section, helping initiate and get Texas House Bill 1884 on litter passed, and receiving awards from Global Revive and Keep Waco Beautiful. We have also been fortunate to partner with Waco River Safari and Waco Paddleboard Company, who provide transportation for our river clean-ups.
After speaking before Waco City Council numerous times and pleading for help with the litter problem, we wanted to extend our message. We decided to elect a board, cement our goals, and become a non-profit. In the meantime, we fast-tracked a partnership with the McLennan County Probation Department by taking their seminar and signing a contract of expectations. Two months into this program, we have signed off on 6 probation volunteers and are working with 14 more who have helped us pick up 9000 pounds of litter, tires, TV’s and garbage all over Waco and Mart.
On June 12, after board member Randy Truett presented our progress report to city council, Waco City Manager Wiley Stem asked if we would be interested in talking further. On June 22, Randy and I met with Mr. Stem, Anna Dunbar of Solid Waste, and Chuck Dowdell from Public Works. They gave us insights to what is happening now and what is planned for the very near future for river trash and debris cleanup with updated equipment, as well as how the new Big Belly solar-powered litter compactors were being used in the downtown area. Also discussed was a partnership with Keep Waco Beautiful and how our two organizations could benefit from each other. Randy and I left the meeting feeling like we won the lottery!
Next, on July 2, Randy met with Ashley Millard, Executive Director of Keep Waco Beautiful, to combine calendars and plan for our alliance. Randy will apply for a board position with KWB and attend their yearly business meeting.
Come and join our next effort! Waco River Safari V Brazos River Cleanup will be August 12th, 8:00 A.M.—11:00 A.M. at Waco Suspension Bridge. Fourteen very lucky people will ride up river on the boat! They will be the first 14 new members who join our Facebook page GROUP W BENCH LITTER PATROL after this article appears and write, “I want on!” Also a limited number of kayaks and canoes will be available for the first who reserve them.
Waco is on track to becoming America’s Cleanest City! We just have to create more awareness and get the community involved in not throwing out litter, using less plastic, and caring about the environment. Thanks especially Anna Dunbar for her professionalism, Mr. Stem for his commitment, and Chuck Dowdell for not giving up on GROUP W BENCH LITTER PATROL.`
Bruce Huff has Multiple Sclerosis, is semi-retired and now an activist in Waco, Texas
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.