By Aranza Torres and Jon Singletary
With a commitment to inspiring, guiding, and connecting young leaders in Waco ISD, Superintendent Marcus Nelson introduced the first Empowerment Summits for Young Men and Young Women. Campus staff and administrators identified approximately 450 students in grades seven through 12 as future leaders from seven Waco ISD campuses.
Students had the opportunity to hear from local experts in the medical, legal and educational fields on topics ranging from managing stress, social media, sexual violence, college access and leadership development during panel-style discussions. At the Women’s Empowerment Summit, Jolanda Jones, a Houston ISD trustee, former city council member, author, attorney and former All-American athlete and member of the United States track and field team, served as the keynote speaker. Jones was also a former contestant on “Survivor” and star of WEtv’s “Sisters in Law.”
Jaime Carias, the keynote speaker for the men, is the Civic Engagement Coordinator at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Carias is also a leading urban educator, author and national speaker who is well known for his ability to inspire and educate students of all ages.
Approximately 75 men and women from the Central Texas area representing various professions and community organizations volunteered as table hosts to provide a strong leadership presence and facilitate conversations with the attendees. The following reflections are from two of our table hosts. – Robin McDurham, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Family Engagement
Empowerment Summit for Young Women
As a college recruiter, I have the privilege of walking students and families through the transition from high school to college. Occasionally I am given the opportunity to participate in community events such as the Waco ISD Young Women’s Empowerment Summit on February 23rd. As a table host, I had the pleasure of meeting 8 wonderful young leaders who were hand-selected by their campuses to participate in the summit. Our table included students from different campuses and of varying grade levels. It was great to witness them get to know one another, share related experiences and provide advice and encouragement. I was thrilled to hear of the many ways these bright young women demonstrate their leadership through school clubs, dual credit classes, athletics and additional community opportunities.
I enjoyed the time I spent with my group and gained new insights thanks to the excellent speakers. The panelists covered a number of relevant topics including; social media, sexual violence and consent, college readiness, stress management and personal development. They were able to offer concrete advice and action steps students could take now. One of my personal highlights of the morning was the keynote speaker, Jolanda Jones, whose powerful and resilient life experiences are a testament to the power of hard work and the importance of finding confidence in one’s self. I feel very lucky to have been invited to the summit and have shared this time with my group.
Young leaders are one of the best elements of our school campuses. Recognizing them in our community and investing in them is imperative. Ensuring that they feel supported and heard will serve to encourage their growth. We will look to these young leaders as they move to their next grade level, the college of their choice and contribute to our community. No matter where these young women end up I am confident that they will be hard-working and successful. – Aranza Torres
Empowerment Summit for Young Men
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join a few local leaders on a panel as part of Dr. Marcus Nelson’s inaugural Young Men’s Empowerment Summit. Some eyes may have been on us, the panelists, but our eyes were on the amazing gathering of men in the room that day. Not only did three dozen men from Central Texas, representing a wide range of professions from accounting and law to medicine and ministry, come together in 
support of men’s empowerment, but more importantly were the 200 young men from Waco ISD schools who gathered. As those of us on the panel looked out on that room, we noticed the pride and confidence of the men, and the potential and hope that they represent. Too few young men in today’s culture are invited to reflect on the value of their past and even fewer have a clear expression of hope for their future. On that day, I saw that perspective shift in dozens of middle and high school men. As the panel reflected on social challenges from technology to sexuality, and as our guest speaker, Jaime Carias, shared his own journey of struggle and hope, these young men laughed, their eyes lit up, and they looked ahead at what their lives might hold. And, if this event is a glimpse of the future that Waco has with the leadership of these youth and the leadership of Dr. Nelson, then our future together is bright indeed. – Jon Singletary
Aranza Torres has lived in Waco for a majority of her life (21 years!). She is a University High School graduate who continued her education out of state at Goshen College located in Goshen, IN. After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work she returned to Waco to give back to her local community. She is currently a Recruiter and Dual Credit Advisor at McLennan Community College. In her spare time she enjoys being a part of the Waco Immigrants Alliance, Advisor to the MCC Hispanic Student Association, doing puzzles and spending time with her two large pitbull puppies (they’re not really puppies).
Jon Singletary, PhD, MSW, MDiv, is dean and professor of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. He has served on faculty at Baylor since 2003. His wife teaches at Hillcrest PDS in Waco ISD and their children attend the Atlas Academy at Tennyson Middle School and Waco High School.
By Jessica Maxwell
Being a professional transit operator isn’t easy, although many make it look that way. Professional operators must memorize routes, adhere to schedules, check and collect fares, give directions, answer questions, obey traffic laws, remember passenger requests, exercise sound judgment in stressful or emergency situations, assist passengers of all abilities and endure an array of weather conditions– all while safely maneuvering oversized vehicles through tight spaces and unpredictable traffic. An operator’s work day starts and ends with a complete pre/post-trip vehicle inspection, and any issues are reported to maintenance personnel. Safety is a top priority.
It’s a demanding career, but a rewarding one. People rely upon public transportation for increased mobility, affordable access to essential needs and improved quality of life. Those fortunate enough to own their vehicle might not always recognize the importance of public transportation, but professional operators witness, firsthand, its direct impact on the lives of passengers.
Waco Transit System, along with other transit agencies across the country, celebrated National Transit Driver Appreciation Day on Friday, March 16. This effort was started as a way to honor the hard-working men and women who keep our nation moving on a daily basis. With more than 1.3 million passenger trips in 2017 alone, Waco Transit System’s operators are certainly kept busy, and we are grateful for their service and commitment to our passengers and the community. Professional operators, along with vehicle maintenance personnel and other staff who work behind-the-scenes, deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. A simple smile or wave when you board and a sincere “thank you” as you leave can go a long way.
While we believe every day is a good day to let your driver know how much they’re appreciated, it’s wonderful to see the country come together on one nationally-recognized day to celebrate the vital role professional operators play in public transportation.
For more information about this national effort, visit www.transitdriverday.org.
Have you thanked your professional operator(s) lately? Let us know why you appreciate your driver(s), and we’ll be sure to pass along your comments. Drop us a line at wtscomments@wacotx.gov, Tweet us @WacoTransit or post a comment to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WacoTransit/).
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 jessicam@wacotx.gov.
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 Craig Nash
I’ve been thinking about anger and its place in our public discourse and how we communicate with our neighbors.
I’m no techie, which makes it difficult for me to understand everything about Russian “bots,” data analysis, and all the other digital interference that has been in the news since the last Presidential election. But I do understand that it was (and is) more than an effort to elect a certain person to office or to sway public opinion about a particular issue. The ultimate goal is to create instability and to sow chaos. To make us so angry at each other that we don’t trust the motives of our neighbor. And it has worked. We’ve all chosen our tribes and are yelling at each other across the expanse.
This is unsettling. Though I love an entertaining argument among friends, it is always with the assumption that, once it is over, both sides are able to lay down their swords and enjoy a drink of choice together. There’s a point, however, where arguing seems counterproductive and dangerous. Though I fail at this often, there’s a point when I want us to talk to each other more calmly, rationally and respectfully.
I am also aware, however, of this: The last sentence I wrote in the previous paragraph is a product of my place in society. Calm, rational and respectful dialogue is the goal of those of us with privilege. For me, it is a privilege my whiteness, straightness and maleness to demand “calm, rational respect” occur during dialogue. It’s also a privilege for me to DEFINE what is meant by calm, rational and respectful. Demanding these things in conversation about big issues allows people like me to control the conversation and, more often than not, maintain the status quo.
So, there are these two things I hold in tension—The need to talk to each other more calmly and respectfully on one hand, and on the other, the realization that my wanting this is a result of my place in the world.
We have a lot of calls for calm dialogue in our country. At least once a week I see a news show convene a group of people with disparate opinions on a given topic to have a dialogue. It usually ends with an exhale by the moderator and a calm, sweet, “Now wasn’t that nice? No one got angry. You listened and spoke to each other with respect.” What we don’t often hear is a defense of anger and emotion. So I decided to ask some of my friends who are experts in being told to be more calm and rational—women—what they thought about these ideas ruminating in my mind. Their responses were instructive, and rather than giving commentary on what I learned, I wanted to share directly some of the things they had to say.
Respondent #1 (In addition to being female, also a Person of Color.): “…We want to trust our neighbors but that does require them to speak out and risk giving up some of their privilege and protection which is not easy to do…. I know that for myself and other friends of Color that we are not in place that we can filter or code switch* at all. Being polite and speaking reasonably is something we have done for so long that we end up taking ourselves completely out of those spaces and conversations to maintain our sanity, but also so that we don’t do irreparable damage to those people we care about while we wait for the conversation to shift.”
(*Note: “Code Switching” in this context refers to modifying behavior, tone, dialect, appearance, etc. in order to accommodate to the social norms of another — usually dominant — group.)
Respondent #2: “Anger as an emotion is a good thing. It’s an alarm bell that says you are being violated… The problem isn’t anger, the problem is injustice. Anger is the right of the oppressed, and blaming anger for our problems mislabels the problem. That being said, how we wield anger is important…. I am less and less convinced that civil discourse is the answer…at least, it cannot be the answer when “civil” discourse favors the privilege and the status quo, which it so often does. I’m not saying we ought to yell profanities and call names…I’m just saying anger is not the enemy here. You can be very angry and still say things that are true and constructive.
At this point I anticipate the pushback to these thoughts about anger, which often takes some form of this question: “Ok, I hear you. But what do you want me to do.”
Respondent #3: “People seem to want to circumvent the understanding part. ‘let’s just make the changes and be done with it.’ (i.e. I don’t want to feel anything, I want to be efficient with my time which means let’s get to a solution) Majority members don’t seem to have time to hear the pain or anger often.”
Respondent #4: Many times marginalized groups have tried polite civil discourse, and have not been listened to. Then, when they speak with frustration and anger, they are criticized. As a society we say, oh well I would listen to you if you weren’t so angry/emotional, when in truth many groups have tried that and gone unheard. Calling for civility has been a way that our society has attempted to quiet or sidestep uncomfortable conversations. That being said, I do think civil discourse has its place especially if trying to reach beyond someone’s instinctual tribal reactions. Also speaking from privilege as a white female, speaking calmly and politely has helped me deescalate many situations, but it has also forced me to not ask for what I needed out of a situation for the sake of everyone getting along.
I think everyone would agree that we live in turbulent times. Maybe not any more turbulent than other times, but the stakes seem heightened. From national issues of gun violence, immigration and race relations, to local conversations about the fate of our schools and the location of our landfills, we are all bumping into each other’s worldviews and opinions in ways that can feel uncomfortable. What I have learned from these women is that this discomfort may be needed. Or, perhaps, the discomfort that certain groups have owned as a part of their inheritance needs to be shifted onto those of us for whom discomfort is foreign.
Craig Nash has lived in Waco since 2000. Since then he has worked at Baylor, been a seminary student, managed a hotel restaurant, been the “Barnes and Noble guy,” pastored a church and once again works for Baylor through the Texas Hunger Initiative. He lives with his dog Jane, religiously re-watches the same 4 series on Netflix over and over again, and considers himself an amateur country music historian.
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 Melissa Mullins
Most people have heard of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 each year and started in 1970 when millions of Americans demonstrated in protest against deterioration of the environment. But not as many people are aware of World Water Day, celebrated on March 22 every year. Every year you can find World Water Day information on worldwaterday.org , including the theme for the year.
This year’s theme is “The Answer is in Nature” and explores issues around how we can reduce floods, droughts, and pollution. As stated on the website “damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education, and livelihoods.” Communities around the globe, including in Texas, host celebrations for World Water Day.
Don’t limit World Water Day to one day of the year! Practice conservation and water-friendly living practices throughout the year in your daily life. There are many ways to conserve and protect water. We’ve probably all heard about tips like fixing leaky faucets, or not over-watering or over-fertilizing our yards, or picking up pet wastes. But what about “hidden” uses of water? Baylor University’s Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research offers a monthly virtual classroom visit for schools, and on this month’s visit a student asked “what can I do to conserve water?” And the CRASR scientist answered “turn off the lights!” –you may not think about it, but electricity generation is a HUGE water user!
In addition to observing water-friendly living practices in our personal lives, citizens can have a voice in decision-making around water issues in our community. Water planning in Texas is coordinated through a state water planning process, and locally we are in the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Group which meets here in Waco at the Brazos River Authority offices. Meetings are open to the public and there are opportunities to serve. The City of Waco has the Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board, whose purpose is “to advise the City Council on the development and/or support of ecological and environmentally sound programs and policies within Waco”, which certainly includes water!
The Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research at Baylor University has often supported Citizen Science efforts for monitoring local water bodies by schools as part of the World Water Monitoring Challenge. If you have ideas about events you’d like to see for World Water Day next year in Waco, let’s talk!
Melissa Mullins is an aquatic scientist who coordinates education and outreach at Baylor’s Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research. She is a Baylor alum (M.S. Environmental Biology ’95) and is on the Board of the Informal Science Education Association of Texas which focuses on promoting science learning outside the classroom. She loves goats and yoga and recently visited the Nile River in Uganda as part of a Baylor trip. She believes that a vibrant scientific community that includes the public in its work is a fundamental underpinning of a democratic 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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
(With this post we are kicking off a new 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 . Keep an eye out for more posts in coming months! – ALW)
By Natasha van der Merwe
I’ll never forget the day Kevin walked into my office where I was director of triathlon. He was 70, and he wanted to know how to prepare for his first triathlon.
He had some swimming experience, a very old Schwinn bike and the will to get through the run, even if it meant doing a lot of walking.
He jumped in head first to training. He never missed a practice or an opportunity to ask a coach a question about how he could improve. The questions were limitless: How can I improve my swim form? What should my cadence be on the bike? What should my heart be on the run? How can I fuel my body for the best performance?
Kevin embodies one of the biggest reasons so many people are drawn to our sport. Trying to conquer three different sports in the quickest time possible is a challenge that not only attracts people, but hooks them in for life. Because just as in life, in triathlon, there is always an opportunity for improvement.
I came into the sport pretty late, too, compared to many of my competitors who started as junior triathletes.
At 27, I was a tennis coach, putting all my hours into helping others reach their full potential. But, I also longed to find something to feverishly pursue for myself.
Enter triathlon. A friend entered me into my first race, and I was hooked. I still don’t know how I did not find this sport sooner.
Like most and like Kevin, I started with a sprint triathlon, a 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run.
I hadn’t been in the pool since my junior school swim team days. A lot had changed, and I was fortunate to have a swim coach to watch my stroke and give me pointers. With a few swims before race day, I knew I wasn’t going to drown.
A friend was kind enough to take me out riding and teach me how and when to shift gears. I soon found myself riding with a group from the local bike store. It was one of the most joyous times in my life; feeling the wind and sun on my back, taking in the beauty of the countryside, getting the endorphin high of exercise all while chatting away with the person riding next to me. My best friends to this day are those who I bike and run with.
Running was the easy part – logistically anyway. All I needed was a pair of running shoes from my local running store and a Garmin watch because it’s always more fun to see how far and fast I’ve gone.
One of the best parts of triathlon, I’ve found, is the opportunity to build lifelong friendships, and meet people like Kevin, who are determined to give it their all no matter their stage in life. Want to join a community of other fitness enthusiasts or triathletes? Waco has lots of options and everyone’s welcome at Waco Bike Club, Waco Triathlon Club, or Waco Striders. Need some expert advice on equipment or nutrition? Stop by Bicycle World Waco or Waco Running Company any day of the week. There’s nothing like being fully accountable and equipped. It gets you up in the morning, and pushes you to start your day with a great sweat session.
So why sign up now for your first 5k or sprint triathlon? Because you’re never too old to take on new challenges. Just ask Kevin. Or me. And because sport will give you the energy and confidence it did when you were growing up and will help you be a role model for your kids, too.
Here’s just a short list of the benefits:
- Work ethic – a commitment to preparing for race day, because there is no faking a triathlon.
- Discipline – Getting up in the early morning to train stinks at first, but soon you won’t be able to start your day without those endorphins.
- Time management – To fit everything in with your busy life, you’ll have to prioritize.
- Goal setting – You know you’ll want to beat your office friend or training buddy who entered the race, too.
- Perseverance – It won’t be all smooth sailing, so you’ll have to learn to problem solve and stay mentally strong despite setbacks. (Pro tip: If you’re struggling, it’s usually because you aren’t eating and sleeping enough. Do that right and smoother waters are ahead.)
- Confidence – Something we all need more of.
- Pride – Hard work does yield gratifying results.
At 70, Kevin found all those benefits and is still pursuing his triathlon goals more than two years later. For me, triathlon gave me the structure and the goals I needed to channel all of my passion into a growing career in sport while being a role model for my toddler daughter.
What will it give you? You never know til you tri. But I can guarantee you, it will be worth it.
The Tenth Annual TriWaco Triathlon will be on Sunday, July 15, 2018. Registration opens on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017! The race starts with a 1500-meter open water swim in the Brazos River followed by a mostly flat and fast 25-mile bike ride on country roads north and west of Waco. The race finishes out with a hilly 10-kilometer run along the Brazos River that leads to the oldest suspension bridge in Texas. The Sprint distance event includes a 400-meter swim in the Brazos River, a 12-mile bike ride along the same country roads and a 3.5-mile run finishing on the suspension bridge. For more information, visit the website: triwaco.org
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
(During these last few weeks of December we will be reprising the Top 10 Most Opened Blog Posts for 2018 from the Act Locally Waco blog. I couldn’t possibly pick my favorites – so I used the simple (cop out?) approach of pulling up the 10 blog posts that got the most “opens” according to our Google Analytics. It is an intriguing collection that gives at least a little insight into the interests and concerns of Act Locally Waco readers. I hope this “Top 10” idea inspires you to go back and re-read your personal favorites. There have been so many terrific ones… If you would like to see the Top 10 according to Google Analytics, here’s the link: Top 10 Most Opened Blog Posts of 2018. Merry Christmas! — ABT)
By Ashley Bean Thornton
I went to the “March for our Lives” rally Saturday, but I did not really want to go.
I do not like political rallies and protest marches.
Sure, I can appreciate a clever sign and an inspiring speech as much as anyone, but once the initial emotional high has worn off, I feel bad.
I want to believe people can work together to understand each other’s points of view and to find a way forward together when it comes to difficult issues. Once the PA system and the signs come out, however, I feel like we aren’t trying to understand each other and work together any more…we are trying to make sure our side wins.
I have a democrat sticker on my car and I have heard people say that means I hate guns. I don’t hate guns. I would characterize my feeling toward guns as neutral.
I don’t personally own a gun. They are not interesting to me, so I spend my money on other things. Also, I am pretty much blind in one eye…the one you need for shooting it turns out. So, there’s that.
But, I don’t hate guns. Many of my friends have guns for all kinds of different reasons… hunting, protection, fun. I don’t have any problem with that. I don’t have any problem with you carrying your gun in your purse or your pocket or your holster or your pick-up truck. If you are not using your guns to shoot innocent people, and you are keeping your guns away from little kids, then I don’t have any problem with your guns.
I do not hate guns. Most of the time I don’t even care about or think about guns.
One reason I have the luxury of not caring about guns is that most of the people who do own guns are very responsible with their guns. Most gun owners are responsible. I get that.
I also get that responsible people don’t like having their rights and privileges abridged because of the behavior of irresponsible people. I don’t want my car taken away because someone else drinks and drives. I don’t want my cell phone taken away because someone else texts and drives. You don’t want your guns taken away or your gun ownership made inconvenient because some other guy was irresponsible. I get that.
Also, I believe that some (maybe most) gun owners “get” some of things that are important to me. For example, I am fine with a whole lot of people having guns, but there are some exceptions. I am not fine with unsupervised teenagers having guns that can kill people. I am not fine with certain kinds of criminals having guns. I am not fine with mentally unstable people having guns.
I bet most gun lovers can understand why I believe some people ought not to have guns. I believe we could have a fruitful conversation about where to draw those lines and how to enforce them. I believe we could make some headway that would keep us all safer.
When it comes to “assault guns” or “AR-15’s” or whatever the right word is for guns that fire many, many bullets incredibly quickly…I don’t like them, but I can understand why some people might not want to have them banned completely. I bet most gun lovers can understand why I think the standards and rules for owning such a dangerous weapon should be very, very strict. I bet if we got in a room together with the goal of coming up with rules we could both live with on this matter, we could come up with something that would move us down the road.
There have always been and always will be trade-offs between freedom and safety. We can’t protect ourselves or our children from every harmful person, but we can work together to get better at it than we are doing now. I believe that’s what we should do. Or more to the point, I believe that is what our elected representatives should be doing in our names.
I don’t really like rallies and marches because I feel like, if we are not careful, they become opportunities for vilifying each other, reinforcing our worst opinions about each other and making it harder than ever to work together.
So why did I go to the “March for our Lives?” Honestly, I succumbed to peer pressure. My friends were going, so I did. And, despite my misgivings, I’m glad I did.
The young people who spoke were magnificent! Smart and poised and well-reasoned, they gave me hope for the future of our country.
Also, bluntly, the way I wish we would work together doesn’t seem to be working.
As I stood in the sun listening to the speeches, I thought about how long we have been trying to figure out how to protect our children and ourselves, and it seemed to me we have made no progress.
As I looked around at the crowd of hundreds in Waco (and the pictures that showed crowds of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands in other cities) I thought, “I guess this is what it takes to make progress. It takes bodies getting out into the street. It takes showing the sheer physical mass of people who care about an issue. This is what it takes to get an issue on the table.” I understand this is what it takes, and I am so very grateful to those hardworking souls who are making it happen, but I still wonder why … why can’t we just talk? I wish we could.
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Jill Barrow
Last October I failed retirement! But, in a good way…
I was honored to be asked to assume the duties of Interim Executive Director of The Historic Waco Foundation. Since then I have been getting the question more and more often — “What does Historic Waco do?
One thing Historic Waco is known for doing is maintaining four historic homes (McCulloch House, Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, East Terrace and Fort House) and interpreting Waco’s history through them to visitors. Will we continue telling the history of Waco through these homes? Yes! In fact, these fine homes will be open to the public more often.
East Terrace and Earle-Napier-Kinnard will become our main stage through which to share the cultural history of Waco. Even though the homes were built in the late 1800’s, they were occupied until the mid-1900’s. By changing the collections within the homes, we can interpret different decades of Waco history, and share the cultural history of more than just the small period of time we currently interpret. We will have one house focusing on one decade and the other on a different time period. And we will change the interpretation every year or two. This will allow us to share the stories of all the diverse cultures in Waco, and not just the history of the original families of these homes. The houses will become a backdrop or stage for presenting Waco’s cultural history. You can visit the houses again and again and have a different experience.
East Terrace will also become the site of our large temporary exhibits. Being able to have these exhibits on the first floor will make them accessible to all. Earle-Napier-Kinnard will have a community space, where community group can display items and share stories of their culture and history.
We need the public to visit the homes, and plan on offering McCulloch as a rental facility. The downstairs parlor and dining room are perfect for small weddings and meetings. This house has a working kitchen and dressing areas, and all of the rentable areas are on the first floor, making this house very accessible. Just imagine sitting in the parlor where Mrs. McCulloch taught piano or entertained guests. McCulloch House will still be open as a house museum for visitors to see how the Caldwells and their 5 children lived in a two-room cabin, and the McCullochs built the fine two story adjacent structure to house their 10 children.
The homes are part of the answer to the question, “What does Historic Waco do?” but there is more…and that’s where you come in!
Historic Waco is the storyteller of Waco history. That is what our answer should be. Our mission is to preserve and to present the history of Waco – and that means that we interpret the history of Waco through artifacts and stories. When the Waco Indians settled this area, they told stories about their life here, and left an oral history along with the archeological data. George Barnard opened his Indian trading post in 1844 and left a fascinating history in his record books – records that tell the story of people and objects sold and traded. Neil McLennan shared stories of the beauty of this area and enticed others to come settle here. Jacob de Cordova and George B. Erath shared their vision of a new town called Waco through stories of what was offered here. The families who built and lived in the four homes Historic Waco maintains, the Forts, the McCullochs, the Earles, the Napiers and Kinnards, and the Manns, all left stories of their lives in those homes through their letters and journals.
Storytelling and education go hand in hand. Historic Waco is expanding its educational programs to include monthly Family Fundays held at the historic houses. The themes of the monthly Family Fundays relate to the month and to the history of the house. We have wonderful programs to offer schools and their students. There are different themes for the school programs; medicine, games, holidays, etiquette, transportation and migration, architecture, and the good ole days! Teachers can also check out traveling trucks to use in their classrooms. Adults can come to our fall and spring lectures. Families can join in the fun and festivities of our Texas Independence Day Celebration on March 2, on the grounds of East Terrace, or visit with Santa and see our homes all decked out for Christmas the second weekend of December.
Because Historic Waco is more than just four historic homes, we must continue sharing this city’s history. We need volunteers, sponsors and others who want to step up and assist us with this challenge. Preserving history and story-telling can be difficult in this modern world, but it is imperative that we do so. We need people who are passionate about all aspects of the cultural history of Waco and who are willing to share the stories.
Can we count on you to join us as we change to be able to tell the story of Waco, past and present? If so, contact us! We will put you to work!
Jill Barrow is currently the Interim Executive Director of Historic Waco. She has served as the director of the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center, and as the Director of Education for the Mayborn Museum. She “retired” in June after teaching science for 10 years at Rapoport Academy Middle School on the Quinn campus.
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 Jaja Chen
How do we respond following fears and experiences of bombings in our capitol – Austin, Texas?
When seeing recent news stories like these, many fears can arise for the safety of our friends, family members, peers, and our city. Amidst the fears and hearing about traumatic events, how do we continue thriving in our Wacotown?
Self-care following traumatic events that we hear about, witness, or personally experience can help us to lean into emotions and our community, as opposed to isolating ourselves. Trauma is anything that is a shock to one’s mind, body, soul, and/or spirit. Traumatic events leave us with many questions and thoughts of “Why?”
Three self-care responses in the face of traumatic events that we cannot comprehend include:
1.) Pay attention to how trauma is impacting you – Notice how you respond physically in your body as you listen to or read news articles about traumatic events that occur-not just to people around the nation or world-but also amongst racial/ethnic or diverse groups in which you identify with. Secondary trauma can occur when we hear about or witness a traumatic event, even if the event was heard through a news article.
2.) Process with a trustworthy individual – Whether that is a friend, family member, mentor, or colleague, find someone you trust and can connect with to share about your experiences and responses to trauma. This may even mean reaching out to a confidential hotline* first before speaking with someone you know in person. Connect with loved ones who may be feeling the same way as you or who may have been impacted by the same or similar events. At times, taking care of yourself can also mean doing your own processing work with a therapist prior to sharing about what happened to others around you.
3.) Demonstrate self-compassion to yourself – We must recognize that trauma has a ripple effect. Our communities are impacted by trauma. Simply paying attention to how you feel in response to trauma is an act of self-compassion. And connecting with others to see how they are doing helps demonstrate empathy and compassion. You are not alone. As we experience the full array of emotions in response to traumatic events, kindness and grace for ourselves in the process of healing helps us to mindfully press in to self-care as opposed to judgment, isolation, or over-identification with unpleasant emotions – to the point of unhealthy coping.
For many of us, the experience of traumatic events-either direct or indirect-may lead us to reach out to a licensed mental health professional to work through the emotions, thoughts, and physical impacts of traumatic events in our lives. Trauma can impact our physical health as our bodies store can traumatic memories physically. Reach out to someone today -whether that is a friend, safe family member, or peer to enhance your self-care and to help our community to thrive.
Jaja Chen, LMSW, CDWF-Candidate, is private practice therapist in Waco through Enrichment Training & Counseling Solutions specializing in trauma and difficult life transitions. As an EMDR Trained Therapist, Jaja’s passion is walking alongside individuals whom are healing from PTSD, secondary trauma, and burnout. Jaja can be contacted via email at Jaja@enrichmenttcs.com or via webpage at http://enrichmenttcs.com/meet-jaja-chen/
*If you are currently experiencing a mental health crisis in response to traumatic events, dial 911. If you are experiencing hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to everyone. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential.
Read Locally Waco is a project to promote literacy in Waco. Throughout the semester we will post stories that use sight words our children are learning in Waco ISD. You can print these stories and lists of words to use with your children or with other children in your life. This week’s story uses words from the First Grade Sight Word List. For a printable version of this story and word list, click here: Rosie Likes to Drive Around.
Rosie Likes to Drive Around
Rosie likes to drive around. Robert likes to walk.
For weeks she drove right by him. Then, one day she stopped to talk.
“You are very boring!” Rosie stopped and said that day.
Said Robert to Miss Rosie, “Well, you don’t have to stay.”
“Every day you walk and walk. You go so very slow.
Why don’t you drive a car like me? That’s all I want to know.”
“If you really want to know me, all you have to do is ask.
You never stop to talk to me; you always drive right past.”
So, Rosie stopped her yellow car, and parked it on the street.
She took her sneakers from the trunk, and put them on her feet.
As she and Robert walked along, he showed her many things…
He showed her where he liked to play and pushed her on his swing.
They said “Hello” to Mrs. Jones and patted her dog Chico.
They waved to June and Christopher and their new baby, Rico.
They bought a sno-cone from a truck and each of them ate half.
“Your lips are blue!” “Your lips are blue!” They both said with a laugh.
When they walked back to Rosie’s car, the moon was big and bright.
They had walked and walked and walked and walked till day had turned to night.
Rosie likes to drive around. Robert likes to walk.
Now she never drives right by him. She always stops to talk.
First Grade Sight Words Used in this Story
- Every
- Laugh
- Many
- New
- Night
- Very
- Walk
- Why
- His
- Put
- Him
- By
- Day
- Your
- Them
- Had
- Know
- Ask
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 ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.
By Cynthia Cunningham
It has happened again. Precious lives lost. National outcries of blame. Social media arguments. Never did I imagine that this would become our “normal” reality. Living in a world where our children and teachers were not safe in the classrooms.
It is a natural reaction for us to have extreme emotions when these shooting happen. Social media explodes with everyone’s opinion. It gets ugly. Everyone feels that their opinion is right and they stubbornly refuse to see things from another view point.
It’s not enough. I applaud the students that are using their voices following this tragedy to do something. This is what it takes to make a change. We can no longer do the same thing and expect change. We see that it doesn’t work. It’s time for action.
I am reminded of something I would tell my daughter often during her teen years. It’s Julia Roberts’s line in a movie called “Step Mom.” She is telling her step-daughter that she as two choices in life: do the same thing with the same results, or do something. Life is going to happen whether we do something or nothing. Why not do something?
Throughout our nation’s history, it took someone doing something to make a change:
- March 13, 1913, Alice Paul spearheaded the suffrage parade, a gathering in Washington D.C. to call for a constitutional amendment for the right for women to vote.
- December 5, 1955, Martin Luther King Jr lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott and lead the American civil rights movement.
- September 8, 1965, Delano Grape Boycott labor strike, with Cesar Chavez, demanded equal wages to the federal minimum wage.
These major events took someone deciding to do something! Imagine a world where each of us did something. It might not be pretty in the beginning. Think of all the struggles of the above three events. They were not successful overnight. But they did not give up. And as a result a change was made.
Consider what changes are needed that could prevent these tragic events. What could you do to make a change? It sure doesn’t help to just complain on social media. Re-think your actions.
Sounds like this latest tragedy had a lot of missed signs. Missed opportunities for help and to prevent this awful outcome. But we can’t know what we are not taught.
So here is my “Do Something”. I am proud to be a part of OkayToSay.org. This movement was launched by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and their partners to increase awareness that most mental illnesses are treatable and to offer messages of hope and recovery to Texans and their families.
The goal of Okay to Say is to change the conversation and perceptions around mental illness, which ultimately can lead to:
- Growing understanding, advocacy and support for the mentally ill.
- Improving access to community services for diagnosis and treatment.
- Accelerating progress in the quality and delivery of mental health care.
If we make it okay to talk about our mental health, it would be just another health issue that had no embarrassment. Then those living with issues would feel no shame to seek help. With more people bravely acknowledging issues, more services would be needed. This could lead to more united voices asking for change. Our government would recognize that we must have better mental health care. It takes us all talking about it to raise awareness and end the stigma that has caused so many to hide their struggles.
If you want to take it a step further, educate yourself! Most of us have taken a CPR class. We now know how to help someone having a medical crisis. But few of us know what to do when someone is having a mental health crisis. So educate yourself! Take a Mental Health First Aid class.
Some things you learn about in a Mental Health First Aide class:
- Mental Health Problems: Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Psychosis, Substance Use Disorder, Eating Disorders
- First Aid for: Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Injury, Panic Attacks, Traumatic Events, Acute Psychosis, Alcohol Abuse and Aggressive Behavior
We have the Mental Health First Aid classes available in our community! Just reach out if you want to learn more:
See how easy it is to do something? If more people took these trainings, they would know how to help when they see the warning signs. They would not have to look back and have regrets for not recognizing a sign. We can do better!
All it takes is you making taking the step. Just do something! Be active! Start a movement… in whatever you are passionate about.
Cynthia Cunningham, a Wacoan since age 2, is the Executive Director for NAMI Waco. She lives with her husband of 28 years, Bobby, and two spoiled dogs and one royal cat! Her passion is educating others about mental health. She can be contacted at: www.NAMIWaco.com
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.