By Sarah Miller
When people hear that I’m a hospice chaplain, they often say “OH that sounds so hard!” or they immediately tell me their death story. Most people have a story about someone in their life who has passed away. After telling me their story, they thank me for listening and for being curious about their loss. People LOVE to share their experience.
Our culture prefers to talk about newborn babies and new life but not so much about end of life care and death. I lecture on death and dying at Baylor University and have noticed that even college students have often been connected to someone who has died or have walked with a friend who has lost a loved one. I think it is important for stories to be heard.
Since getting people to talk about death before a crisis happens is one of my interests, I decided to offer two events to the Waco community this summer. In May, I hosted a Death Café at the Good Neighbor House. Death Café was starting in England by a man named Jon Underwood. He wanted to create a space where people, often strangers, would get together to drink tea, eat cake, and discuss death. The objective of Death Café is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping others make the most of their finite lives.” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I invited anyone interested to show up, eat cake, and talk about death with me. I was delighted by this gathering of kind, curious Wacoans who arrived ready to talk about all things death. A death positive Waco facebook group was created after this event and has sparked some great conversations.
In August, another chaplain and I hosted a Death Over Dinner (again at the Good Neighbor House). The concept is quite incredible. Guests meet for dinner and talk about end of life issues. The organization recommends listening, reading, and watching various stories or articles before the dinner and offers questions to guide the evening. I enjoyed getting to hear from people from a variety of backgrounds and hear what is meaningful to them. More death related events will be planned in the upcoming months. I would love for more Wacoans to tell their stories and also to ask questions and process death topics in safe spaces.
Due to the nature of my job, I’m asked the same questions over and over so thought the blog readers might have interest in my answers. The most popular question is this: How can you work with dying people and grieving families and not get burned out? Compassion fatigue is a real thing! I do a few things to prevent burn out. I do at least 3-4 yoga classes per week. Making my body and breath work together in a yoga class helps tremendously with stress relief. I also spend time with my husband, adorable son, and lots of friends. I’m an extrovert so need to have intentional, fun space with people who are life-giving to me. I also journal after a hard day and use my coworkers to process grief when a favorite patient dies or if I’m feeling particularly sad. Another question I get asked often is what books or websites do I recommend. I think everyone should read Being Mortal by Dr. Atul Gawande and When Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi. The websites I use frequently are: www.theconversationproject.org, www.agingwithdignity.org, www.caringinfo.org, www.compassionandchoices.org, www.griefshare.org.
Talking about death and end of life care can be a little scary initially but I recommend families and friends do this when possible. It is much better to know in advance what your loved ones want. If anyone wants more information on upcoming death-related events, please go to Death Positive Waco on Facebook.
Sarah Miller has lived in Waco for the past fifteen years and is a chaplain with SouthernCare Hospice. She loves encouraging patients and families at the end of life. She can be found most nights doing yoga at the Yoga Pod or hanging out with her husband and delightful five year old.
By Emily Carolin
This fall, the Mayborn Museum at Baylor University will host the exhibition, Find a Way, Not an Excuse: Women in STEM. Focused on the lives of 19 women and their contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math fields, the exhibit also includes women with local connections. This project would not have been possible without the initial idea and input of Courtney Berge and Valencia Johnson, recent alumnae of the Baylor University Museum Studies Graduate Program.
What is STEM?
Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut
STEM is shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These sectors work together to expand human knowledge and make the world a better place. Women have contributed in STEM fields for generations, often without credit. Some female leaders were discouraged by fellow scientists, and pushed out of research projects. Even without the recognition, their accomplishments live on today. This exhibit highlights some unfamiliar women who changed the world.
As we focus on pioneering innovations in STEM, we hope to inspire a fierce desire to learn continuously, and through perseverance allow curiosity to lead to discovery. We celebrate these female STEM leaders and are excited by all that remains to be discovered.
Here are a few female pioneers with a Baylor connection. Come to the museum to see more national names and some amazing medical drawings by Ruth Sanders!
Dr. Cornelia Marschall Smith
In 1895, Cornelia Marschall was born into a family well-versed in the practice of the sciences. She graduated from high school in three years, taught in a one-room schoolhouse, and entered the Baylor pre-medical program in 1915. Dr. Smith came back to Baylor, serving as Chair of Biology and Director of the Strecker Museum (now the Mayborn Museum Complex) from 1943-1967. While at the Strecker, her primary objective as museum director was to make sure the materials in the museum were used as teaching tools. Students in the biology department were required to attend demonstrations in the museum, and teachers used items from the collection in their classrooms. These practices continue today at the Mayborn.
Ruth Maxwell Sanders
Ruth Sanders was a skilled medical sketch artist and wife of Strecker Museum Research Associate and herpetologist Ottys Sanders. She assisted as the illustrator for many of her husband’s publications, and maintained a successful business herself. In her position at Southwestern Medical College (UT Southwestern), she worked with physicians to produce high-quality surgical illustrations. This allowed the physicians to teach precise methods to their students. Her collection of medical drawings and art supplies were given to the Strecker Museum and show a strong understanding of the human body.
Dr. Allene Rosalind Jeanes
If you enjoy ice cream, salad dressing, toothpaste, or gluten-free baked goods, then you probably owe a word of thanks to this Baylor alumna who was recently inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Jeanes made discoveries in the science of mass production of polysaccharides (large sugar-chain molecules), including dextran and xanthan gum. Today, xanthum gum is commonly used in foods like ice cream, condiments and gluten-free breads, and in cosmetic, automotive, and healthcare products. It keeps substances like oil and vinegar 
from separating, and prevents ice crystals from forming.
Dr. Beverly Griffin
Earlier this year, Beverly Griffin passed away and medical and research communities around the world mourned her loss. She came to Baylor from her hometown of Delhi, Louisiana, and after graduating with her degree in chemistry, she went on to earn doctoral degrees from Virginia and Cambridge. In 1972, Dr. Griffin joined the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories in London. While there, she made a major contribution to science by completing the genetic sequencing of the mouse polyoma virus. With 5,293 base pairs, the virus was one of the longest ever sequenced when she finished it in 1980. She went on to become the first female professor at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at London’s Hammersmith Hospital, where she dedicated much of the remainder of her career to studying the Epstein-Barr virus.
Dr. Hallie Earle
As a teen, Hallie Earle tracked Central Texas temperatures for decades. Baylor President Oscar H. Cooper praised Hallie for her mathematical abilities, suggesting that she could become a math teacher. Earle, however, sought to challenge gender roles by pursuing a professional career in medicine. Her quality of work was so widely appreciated that a copy of her thesis was placed in the cornerstone of the Carroll Science Building in 1902. Born in 1880, Earle was the only female in the class of 1907 at Baylor University Medical School in Dallas, and later became Waco’s first female physician.
Emily Carolin is a Yankee living the grad school life in the South. She can often be found: devouring books and baked goods, wearing clogs, and wandering in museums. Emily is a graduate student at Baylor University, works at the Mayborn Museum Complex, and just completed her an internship in changing exhibits at the Mayborn.
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.
(During December we will be reprising some of “2017’s greatest hits” 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: 2017 Greatest Hits. Merry Christmas! — ABT)
By Kassidy Munden
After my first year of college, I began to realize there were things I really (and I mean really) wish I had known in high school to help make my transition to college smoother.
The first thing I would advise any high schooler would be to take the high school anatomy class. I didn’t think I would ever need anatomy in my future profession, or even have to take it in college, but I could not have been more wrong about that. High school students considering going to college should seriously consider taking an anatomy class. My biggest regret about not taking anatomy in high school was that when I got to college, I was far behind my classmates and didn’t know a single thing. You can imagine how well a 100-question test over blood flow in the body went for me three weeks into my freshman year.
The second thing I would recommend for any high schooler would be to take dual credit in high school. Looking back on high school, that had to be one of the best educational decisions I made to prepare for college. Thanks to dual credit, I had all of my core English classes completed by the time I began college. Not only was it one less major class I had to take, I also learned how to properly write college papers. This helped me in my other classes as well, because in every class, even math, I had to write some type of proper essay. Knowing how to format and write these essays before my freshman year paid off in a huge way. I wish I had known to take more of the dual credit classes my high school offered, because even though they seemed difficult, they were more rewarding in the long run than they seemed at the time.
The third thing I wish I had known was to take the college transition class offered. Most high schools offer a college transition class and extend the class to all seniors. I did take this class, but I wish I had taken it more seriously. This class teaches students about life in college and how to live on your own, as well as educational enhancements such as how to build a resume. Looking back now, I wish I had learned how to build a proper resume, because that is something I will need for anything and everything. Most freshmen take classes requiring them to build a resume of some sort, and trust me, learning about it in detail in high school is easier than trying to learn it on your own in college.
The fourth and final thing I wish I had known was to get a job or internship. Most high school students declare their major “undecided” when entering their freshman year of college, which is completely normal. However, I wish I had explored more job opportunities and taken internships. These not only look great on a resume but also help you develop an idea of what you might actually want to get a degree in. Having more of a background in several different positions makes you a more diverse and knowledgeable individual. Did I mention it also will give you a stronger resume when you apply for college? That is key for all aspiring college students.
High school is a profound experience-building time for everyone, and I highly recommend that college-bound students seek out all of the opportunities available, because they definitely will pay off in the long run.
Kassidy Munden is a summer intern at ESC Region 12 in the College and Career Readiness/CTE department. She is a student at Texas Tech University and wanted to share her wisdom with current high school students.
By Ashley Bean Thornton
A few weeks ago I attended a welcome and “get to know you” reception for our new Waco ISD Superintendent, Dr. Marcus Nelson. The event, sponsored by the Waco NAACP and the local chapter of educator sorority, Phi Delta Kappa Inc., was a terrific success. Dr. Peaches Henry, NAACP president, told me they had put out 50 chairs before the event – by the time Dr. Nelson rose to speak they needed 200. Dr. Nelson made some fans for himself that night. His introductory speech was masterful: full of humor, passion, challenge and confidence. His speech wasn’t exactly a sermon, but there were plenty “amens” from the congregation as he shared key elements of his educational philosophy.
A few days later I happened to be walking out of a different meeting with school board member Norman Manning. I told him I thought they might have hit a homerun with Dr. Nelson, and Mr. Manning agreed. As we were talking, though, he mentioned some other conversations he has had about our new superintendent. He told me several people had been asking, “Well, if he’s so great — why does he want to come HERE?”
Why here? I don’t know Dr. Nelson yet, and I can’t read his mind, but I can think of at least three big reasons why a superb educational leader in the prime of his career would want to come to Waco, Texas.
First, if you believe in the power of education, Waco is exactly where you want to be. Sure, there are probably easier places to work. But, for someone who believes in the power of education, that’s not where the action is. There are school systems with more money. There are schools where the students have more advantages. There are probably even some schools where, honestly, the students are going to be fine if you are even a moderately competent educator. But, where’s the sport in that? The purpose of public education is not to perpetuate the status quo. The purpose of public education is to perpetuate the dream – the dream that a person, any person, starting from any circumstances, can work hard and achieve and build a good life. Waco is a place where “the rubber meets the road” when it comes to that dream. Waco is a place where educators make a huge difference in students’ lives every day.
Second, there is plenty to build on in Waco. I’m an outside observer, I know, but I have some favorites: The Income Tax Prep program at the A.J. Moore Academy at University High; The Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA), the Greater Waco Health Career Academy (GWACHA) and the new Construction Sciences Academy; the fine arts programs including the amazing musicals; our support for homeless students…the list goes on. We have terrific students at WISD. When they are given the opportunity, they can knock your socks off. We also have some terrific educators who are working and innovating every day to give them those opportunities.
Finally, the community of Waco needs a strong school district and we know it. I get phone calls and emails regularly from people who are moving to Waco and want the “inside scoop” on living here. I have not had one of these conversations yet that did not end up being a conversation about school districts. These conversations reinforce for me what we all already know: Any community that expects to thrive must have a strong school district…and Waco expects to thrive. Our community has shown it is willing to join in the work of building up the school district. Through community-wide efforts such as the Education Alliance (now a part of Prosper Waco) we have been rallying support for years. Organizations such as Avance and Communities in Schools, tutoring programs sponsored by a variety of churches and community groups and numerous individual volunteers stand ready to help.
In 2015 our community showed its support for WISD by passing a Tax Ratification to direct new financial resources into the district – resources that have been used to improve literacy programs; to explore and implement positive, effective ways to work on behavioral issues; and to provide outstanding dual credit opportunities to WISD students.
Certainly, Waco ISD has its challenges. We also have the wisdom and the will to face those challenges head on. By all accounts, Dr. Nelson did his homework before accepting the job as superintendent of our school district. I think he saw a terrific opportunity in Waco, and was smart to jump on it.
For the first day of school the Waco NAACP organized a group of us to “greet the scholars” at J. H. Hines Elementary. As we welcomed the children back to school and wished them a wonderful school year, Dr. Nelson showed up to do the same. I had the honor of introducing him to Pastor Pam Rivera of St. Luke A.M.E. Church. She welcomed him warmly to Waco, and as he acknowledged the welcome he lowered his voice a bit to say seriously, “We have a lot of work to do.” She didn’t hesitate in her response, “and plenty of people who want to help.” Amen, Pastor Rivera!
Welcome to Waco, Dr. Nelson. Hard work pays off!
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.
(During December we will be reprising some of “2017’s greatest hits” 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: 2017 Greatest Hits. Merry Christmas! — ABT)
By Andre’ Watkins
Growing up in Waco, Texas, gives you a certain kind of insight. Waco is a mid-sized community that allows its citizens the distinct opportunity to experience all of the levels of socioeconomic strata with ease. Just take a ride down Colcord Ave. You will see the homes of the very affluent and the homes of the desolately hopeless on the same block. This is my Waco.
This Waco has a long history. During the 60’s and 70’s, Waco participated in a federal program called “Urban Renewal” meant to improve blighted areas of town. Under this program (called “Urban Removal” by those who questioned its value) entire family units were removed from neighborhoods where they had built and maintained homes and raised families. Those who remained were expected to pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps, which proved to be a difficult task.
Around the mid-eighties, crack cocaine ripped through my beloved city on a euphoric rampage. Crack took from the rich and poor alike. This gruesome drug fueled demon was never a black or white problem. It was a drug addiction problem.
Crack cocaine changed the landscape of Waco. Middle-class families fled to the suburbs. Neighborhood stores closed. Restaurants and grocery retailers were boarded up. This left a power vacuum in the inner city of Waco that attracted crime and despair.
A chasm opened up between the people who left and the often impoverished people who remained. Waco ISD finds itself in the position of needing to bridge this chasm. To bridge this chasm we have to be honest with ourselves: very often there is a serious disconnect between the community we serve as a school district and the service providers that work in our schools.
To address this situation we have to deal with some hard questions: How do we expect people to model their behavior after the behavior of those who left them to languish in lack? Why should I as an impoverished person seek to exemplify a lifestyle of a person or people who won’t even come to my neighborhood? Do you really care about me? Or am I a charity case or pet project?
Realizing this disconnect, we knew that we had to switch up the flow. To combat this monster of our own creation, we began to search for methods that other school districts were utilizing successfully.
Restorative Discipline just seemed to jump off of the pages of training manuals and speak directly to the heart of our issues here in Waco ISD.
To quote from the website of Life Anew, a non-profit in Austin that brings restorative practices into local community schools, “Restorative processes create a space where students and adults can develop empathy, respect and common values by listening and learning from one another. This process helps to increase the effectiveness of instruction time, build community and develop students socially and emotionally.”
At the heart of Restorative Discipline Practices, we find a tradition as ancient as the campfire circles of old, the Intentional Conversation. Intentional Conversations are simply focused discussions that seek to determine the root cause of an exhibited behavior.
We acknowledge the truth in the statement made by Sherwynn Patton, Executive Director of Life Anew, “Adverse behavior is just the smoke; when we find the reasons for the behavior, we locate the source, the fire.” We had been spending too much time putting the waters of our logic and education on the smoke. We never dug deep enough with our conversation skills and listening hearts to determine the location of the fires in our precious students’ souls.
As we began to have Intentional Conversations together as staff at Waco High, we began to seek and find our similarities as PEOPLE and to break down our cultural bias. We then began to spread this infection of emotional affection for the staff through the students into our community. Waco High dropped its rate of suspension by 46% in two years of Restorative Practices implementation. I don’t care who you are or where you are from – That is impressive! We celebrate and invite our community at large to join us in repairing harm and establishing community unity.
Andre’ E. Watkins is a Restorative Discipline Facilitator at Waco High School. He has 16 years of experience working with at risk youth and their families including serving as Detention Supervisor at Bill Logue Juvenile Justice Center and a Training Officer at McLennan County Challenge Academy. He was a Dorm Supervisor at TYC Mart, and is the only person in the State of Texas to be promoted from JCO 1 to JCO 5 in 30 days. He volunteers at the Doris Miller YMCA, as a Prosper Waco Community Engagement Committee Member and as a Football and Basketball Coach for the Waco Eagles. He is also a Park Ranger for the City of Waco.
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 Stephen Kuipers
This summer I had the honor of interning with the Texas Hunger Initiative as a Share Our Strength Youth Ambassador. Essentially, my job was to help increase awareness and attendance at free summer meal sites across the Waco/Bellmead area. As expected, I got the hang of things the longer I was in the position. But what I didn’t expect was how much this job was going to have an impact on me and how it would change my perspective on work, Waco, and community involvement. As I reflect on my time this summer, I would like to share three major takeaways that I draw from this experience and why they are important to me.
1.) This was a great freshman job!
My initial takeaway was that this job turned out to be such a great way to begin my real-world work career. During our time here, my coworker Keyanna and I gained our first exposure to working in an office environment. We got to explore professional activities like working with Microsoft Suite, creating spreadsheets, doing research, and attending meetings. Amidst this more professional setting, we were given the ability to make our own decisions and take initiative to accomplish our goals. Interning at the Texas Hunger Initiative has been the perfect balance of working in a professional atmosphere while still having realistic expectations about what we were doing. Getting to have all that my freshman summer has been such a blessing.
2.) The work I did is incredibly important.
According to the U.S Department of agriculture, 1 out of every 6 Texan households live in food insecurity. This means that throughout an entire year, that family is uncertain where their food will be coming from. Children living in food insecure homes obviously cannot provide the food for themselves and are at serious risk of malnourishment. Knowing that I get to work at alleviating this risk by increasing meal site attendance has been very gratifying. I understand that all my effort directly helps kids stay fed so they can stay happy. Additionally, child hunger is connected to many other aspects of child development like personal health, energy levels, and the ability to do well academically. My work addressing hunger improves these other areas of growth, thereby giving the children the ability to live better, fuller lives.
3.) This summer showed me that I can address poverty no matter where I am in life.
Working at multiple meal sites allowed me to travel to many different neighborhoods and organizations. One thing I noticed in almost all the places I visited were people from those specific communities stepping up and helping out at the meal sites. I saw parents standing as chaperones, full-time employees working in non-profits, even Baylor football players helping pass out information cards. At one point we worked with a Baylor Economics professor to run a book club that started solely out of her own initiative. All of this encouraged me that no matter what I am doing with my life, I can always find an avenue to give back to the community.
And this is my encouragement to whoever may be reading this: there is always a way to help address poverty in our community. For me, it was helping address hunger. But there might other branches of poverty that you are better equipped to tackle. It could mean using you finances, using your time, or using your knowledge; any of these are useful fighting poverty. For if we all decide to step in and help those around us, who knows what we can accomplish.
Stephen Kuipers is a Sophomore at Baylor from Reading, Pennsylvania. He, along with Keyanna Taylor, a sophomore from San Antonio, spent this summer involved in the Waco Community through the Summer Food Service Program.
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.
(During December we will be reprising some of “2017’s greatest hits” 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: 2017 Greatest Hits. Merry Christmas! — ABT)
By Jon M. Engelhardt, Ph.D.
Most parents want desperately to see that their children do well in school — and in life. And we know from research, and general observation, that one key to realizing the “American dream” is a good education. But a good education depends upon more than what schools and teachers do — much more. It starts with what parents, families and perhaps others in a child’s life do to help prepare that child for school. It includes both having faith in the child as well as trust in their teachers and school. Children are always learning, but what they are learning and how that learning is shaped can be critical for school success.
For a number of years I had the honor of serving as a School of Education Dean at four universities, most recently at Baylor University. A few years ago, I asked the Education faculty at Baylor what research-supported suggestions we might share with parents/grandparents to help them “promote positive school outcomes” for their children.
Based upon that input, listed here are nine things (in no particular order except the first one) that research unquestionably tells us parents can and should do to help their children be prepared for success in school. While there is much that can be said about each of these, the kernel of each idea is presented here for consideration.
1. Read! Read! Read! – The single most powerful thing parents can do to help their children (especially ages 3 to 8) get a strong education is to have plenty of reading materials in the home. Books, magazines, newspapers…read all these kinds of things yourself regularly while your child is watching. Read to your child and discuss what you are reading with him/her. Reading to your child and showing your child that you read can have a tremendously positive effect on your child’s language and vocabulary development, reading achievement and school outcomes generally (grades and graduation). This kind of exposure to reading even seems to predict eventual college completion.
Other important things we know from research that parents should consider are:
2. Pre-school matters. – Children who participate in quality early (pre-school) education are more likely in later life to be consistently employed and are 4 times more likely to earn a college degree.
3. Get out the blocks and build with your child. – Playing with blocks at an early age promotes language and social-emotional development and has a positive impact on a child’s math learning. You can use blocks to practice basic kindergarten-entry math skills, like meaning for numbers (one, two, three. etc.) and order (first, second, etc.). Simple projects can pack in a lot of learning. For example, build a tower with blocks of different colors, sizes and shapes and then have your child build a tower that looks just like yours. This helps little ones learn how to analyze things visually and notice differences and similarities. Learning these concepts and skills at an early age is a powerful predictor of later math learning in school. Blocks are a great way to help your child grasp crucial early math concepts. The seeds you are planting during those hours spent on the floor playing with blocks take a while to grow. The benefits of this early learning with blocks sometimes becomes most noticeable in high school.
4. Educate yourself about parenting. – Parents of 3 to 6-year-olds, who read about parenting, are better able to cope with child behavior problems and feel greater confidence and satisfaction with their parenting efforts.
5. Out of school programs make a difference IN school. – Afterschool and summer programs, clubs, and enrichment activities that encourage reading and writing activities make a difference. Children who participate in these kinds of activities 3-4 times a week experience broad and positive impact on their reading (drawing conclusions, spelling, identifying main ideas) as well as on their writing and speaking skills. This is especially true for younger children who are behind academically. Children participating in afterschool/summer programs that focus on math, science or robotics demonstrate positive attitudes about math and science (especially during intermediate school and above) and have higher high school graduation rates. Furthermore, out-of-school programs and experiences that involve similar content to what the child is learning in school make it more likely that the student will participate in the classroom. This enhances the student’s achievement and outcomes
6. Talk to your child. Use lots of words. –Very young children (ages 1-3) who get to talk regularly with adults who have good language skills and who use a wide variety of words have a profound advantage when it comes to success in school. This is especially important for their reading achievement. Vocabulary level when a child starts school is a powerful predictor of school success. The more words a child can use and understand in conversation when she starts school, they more likely she is to be a success in school.
7. Learn things together as a family. – For children at all ages, their involvement with family and community in learning activities of most any sort makes a difference in student success in school (and beyond).
8. Get out and explore the world together. – Spending at least 15 minutes per day outdoors examining their world (at least sometimes with a parent/adult caregiver) promotes children’s curiosity and creative thinking as well as positively impacts their science education.
9. Teach your child that being good at school takes work not luck. – Praising children for their schoolwork outcomes in ways that focus on effort, rather than on “in-born” traits like intelligence has long-term positive impact on their future school success. For example, comments like “You are so smart, you always make good grades” or “You are just bad at math, that’s OK, I was bad at math too,” teach children that their chance of being successful in school is out of their hands. Praise like “You really stuck with that and you figured it out. Good for you!” when a child tackles a difficult problem or “You studied and it paid off!” when a child has worked hard, help the child understand that their learning is in their hands and that if they work at something they can usually master it. Children who understand the learning takes work and that by working hard at something they can usually learn it, are more likely to succeed in school in the long run.
Jon Engelhardt is a retired Dean of Education at Baylor University. He served as co-chair of the Prosper Waco Education Steering Committee and continues to work with the various education related working groups associated with that initiative. Before coming to Baylor he served as Dean are UT El Paso, Wichita State, Northern AZ University. Before that he was department chair and associate dean at Arizona State.
By Gwendolyn McKnuckles
When I was a child my brothers and I would visit Waco and Valley Mills for the summer. We did this for many years until we reached the age we no longer needed babysitting in the summer time.
I was one of 9 cousins, 8 of which were boys. We stayed on the farm with my grandfather and grandmother, Robert and Sadie Slaughter. We were collectively taken care of by my aunt Marilyn Slaughter Thomas and my sister Joyce Vance Gregory. We ate, slept, played, fought, and disrupted the normal flow of life for them during that time.
On certain days, my two brothers and I would visit my uncle and aunt, A.J. and Jean Montgomery, and their son Alfred in Waco. During these summers, I fell in love with Waco. From a child’s eye view, there was something about Waco that drew me in. I would like to think it was because everyone seemed to know each other and have history. I was surrounded by people who grew up together to the third and fourth generation. It felt good to walk into a place and everyone knew your people and you knew theirs.
When my wanderlust brought me to Waco in 2011 at the age of 57, I felt it was a dream come true. In a sense, I felt I had come home. Perhaps surprisingly though, since coming here to live, I have often felt at a loss for connections to my community, for ways to be an active part of its growth and prosperity. I am often questioned, “Where you from?”, “Who are your people,” “What church do you attend?” My responses have often elicited, “Oh, you are not from around here.” At those points, I have felt left out and disconnected.
Sunday, I felt particularly disenfranchised and wanted to feel a part of something without being questioned. My childhood memories of going to church in Waco include Toliver’s Chapel on Elm Avenue. On this particular Sunday they celebrated their 122 year anniversary. I remember going to church with my Aunt Jean Montgomery and seeing my Uncle A.J. sing in the choir. My Uncle Gerald and Aunt Dorothy taught in the Sunday school and my Aunt Sadie worked in the church. My cousins were junior ushers and filled in other capacities. But, because we were only visiting for the summer, we were relegated to sit on a bench and watch quietly. I have great memories but still felt adrift and apart.
Sunday, I sought a place to feel a part and solidify my time and transition to Waco as home. I sat in the back of the church and visited the caverns of my mind remembering the days when Toliver’s Chapel seemed bigger, taller, and grander. I experienced the pride of remembering how my family worked in their various capacities and I felt at home. I was very grateful no one asked me who were my people or where I was from, or called out, “Oh, you are not from around here” (as if it explained why I didn’t fit.) I left rested and renewed in my quest to become an active positive influence in my community. I felt once again Waco is my home and I am here to stay.
Gwendolyn McNuckles moved to Waco, Texas in 2011. She is a proud to call Waco her home. Gwendolyn’s background is in human resources. She enjoys public speaking, teaching and community service. Gwendolyn is the proud owner of Connections and Reflections, an event planning company that works with individuals and organizations to plan any size event.
By Luann Jennings
During August 2017, Creative Waco is hosting a temporary “pop-up gallery,” Waco 52, at 712 Austin Avenue (two doors up from the Hippodrome). Waco 52 had a blockbuster opening weekend, with around 1500 people stopping by between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon.
If you weren’t one of them, I hope it’s not because you feel uncomfortable going to an art gallery. Here are a few thoughts that might make a new arts experience easier, whether in a gallery, theatre, concert hall or elsewhere.
Photo: Austin Meek looks at “Sleep Painting: Bach,” by Travis Tarver, at the Waco 52 exhibition.
It’s okay to like some things better than others. We’re all constructed differently, and we all have different tastes and experiences. Our job as viewers, listeners, and audience members isn’t to judge how “good” the work of art is – instead, focus on your experience and what’s coming out of it. I’ve equally enjoyed Broadway plays and high school plays, not because they were the same in objective quality, but because each one provided me with a different and valuable experience.
You’ll get more out of any work of art if you take some time to process it. This is true whether you’re standing in front of a painting or contemplating something you read or listened to or saw in a theatre. What comes through strongly? What else is there that unfolds more slowly? What does the piece make you think of or remember? What do you feel? Does it make you want to take any sort of action? You don’t have to deeply consider every piece of art you run across; but if you make a habit of really thinking or talking about works that attract or move you, you will build the “muscle” of appreciation and will get more and more out of each arts experience.
Experiencing art is always more fun with a friend. One of the main reasons people report for not going to arts events is that they don’t have anyone to go with. If you have a partner who isn’t interested, which of your friends might be up for a new experience? Who could have a good conversation with you about it afterwards? What else could you do that would enrich the experience even more? Dinner beforehand or a drink in a club with live music afterward?
Learning about an art form will help you understand it. When I met my husband Chuck, a jazz guitarist, I knew nothing about jazz. Sometimes when I went with him to a jazz club it sounded to me like each musician was playing a different song. But as I learned about the history of jazz, and what jazz musicians are doing as they improvise, I came to appreciate it. I don’t tune in to the jazz station when I get in the car, but I can listen to jazz today and enjoy it – and, more importantly, it’s caused me to hear all music differently.
Learning about artists will help you understand their work. Every artist is showing you the world as she sees it – and by looking through her eyes, you expand your own vision. If you like one piece an artist created, check out others. What ideas, colors, sounds, shapes, or images recur? What do the artist and others say about her work, and is that the same as what you see? What in the artist’s personal story is reflected in her work? What is it about this artist’s vision of the world that appeals to you or stretches you?
You won’t be the only “beginner” in the room. Come to a new arts experience with an adventurous spirit. There’s a reason why “play” is what we do with a musical instrument or in the theatre. It’s supposed to be fun! As you would in any social situation, watch what others do, and do the same thing. Ask questions. Artists love the curiosity of people who are new to what we do. If you’re not sure what’s available to you, do some research. Check Creative Waco’s Calendars page to find places to get more information. Also visit our Creative Directory and click through to the websites of organizations and artists that sound interesting. Many have email lists you can join or Facebook pages you can follow. Don’t assume that you can’t afford the arts. Many events are free, and some organizations have free or discounted admission on particular days, or for volunteers.
If you’d like to learn more about the arts, I’ll be teaching a class this fall on “The Arts in Our Community” through Baylor’s Continuing Education program. We’ll spend four class sessions learning about visual art, music, dance, and theatre, and we’ll get to hear from artists in those areas about what they do. We’ll visit a museum and attend a play and concert together, and we’ll have plenty of time to talk about them afterward.
The Waco 52 Pop-Up Gallery will also be holding some educational events. Follow Creative Waco on Facebook to see announcements, or check the calendar on our website.
The gallery is open from 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday, and some evenings for special events, until September 2. In addition to the exhibition, we have a retail shop where you can purchase prints, postcards, jewelry, ceramics, CDs, books, and other products created by local artists. Stop by with your laptop or a book and work or relax with a Luna Juice, cup of tea or Pinewood Roasters coffee.
If you have any questions or suggestions, ask for a Creative Waco staff member while you’re at the gallery, or write us at [email protected]. We’d love to talk with you!
Luann Jennings is an arts educator and advocate who works with Creative Waco (our arts agency) and other local and national arts organizations. She worked as a theatre director in Atlanta for a dozen years before moving to New York City, where she enjoyed experiencing, learning about, and teaching others about all kinds of art forms. Chuck and Luann moved to Waco last summer, and they live at the Good Neighbor Settlement house in Sanger Heights.
By Dawn Broadwater
Working for Skillpoint Alliance as Waco Program Coordinator has been both a challenge and a life changing learning experience for me. In January 2017, Mallory Herridge, Waco Program Director and I faced some daunting tasks: We needed to find a qualified HVAC/Construction Core Instructor and then test and interview potential candidates. Doing so helped us resolve some personal stereotypes that only men can be successful in the construction trades! We put together a diverse class of both men and women who are learning how to be HVAC Technicians. By diverse, I mean all ages, races and backgrounds.
Prior to stepping up to the challenge of coordinating our first HVAC/Core Construction class, the only ‘Tools of the Trade’ we were experts at purchasing were mascara, eye shadow and lipstick. Fast forward two months and we can shop for tools and specialty supplies with the best of them! Our first class project was completed at Maker’s Edge, which is a makerspace and DIY prototyping studio here in Waco. The class made a chair and constructed a stand to hold an air conditioner unit. Two of our students were so dedicated to their success that they donated a small refrigerator and an air conditioning unit for extra learning.
Our Instructor, Mr. Ric Staton, has over 20 years’ experience in the HVAC field. He has owned and operated an HVAC business in Bastrop and taught HVAC at National Institute of Technology in Austin. He brings humor, integrity and a vast portfolio of knowledge to our program. Next on our HVAC Wish list is a ‘teaching trailer’ to hold our supplies and also serve as a workstation. Ideally the trailer should be covered and 8 x 8 through 8 x 24. The students would be able to practice hands on skills and apply what they learn in class. Another item on our class ‘wish list’ is a used A/C Condenser and Furnace Unit. To date, we are grateful that this wish has been fulfilled by Capstone Mechanical.
Skillpoint Alliance has been providing ‘Rapid Workforce Development’ training to participants in Austin since 1994. They expanded to Waco in 2015 with a few pilot classes and are now finding a permanent home here in Waco. Their office and classrooms are located at the Barron’s Branch Apartments on Colcord. Skillpoint is attempting to help residents who have a desire to obtain a certification in such fields as HVAC/Core Construction, Medication Aide and Certified Nurse’s Aide. Mallory, who started as Director in 2016, states “although Skillpoint has only been in Waco a short time, this ‘Rapid Workforce’ model has already been identified as an integral piece of the puzzle when it comes to increasing the financial security of our citizens.”
The Skillpoint Alliance Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning training is an eight week specialty course that prepares participants for work as an HVAC Apprentice. Students spend the first three weeks of the training completing the Construction Core program, which earns them certifications needed for entry-level positions in the construction trade. The course then covers building codes, pipe fittings, diagnosing malfunctions and air duct systems. It includes hands-on experience and instruction from dedicated instructors about aspects of HVAC systems for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. HVAC continues to be one of the fastest-growing service occupations due to heightened awareness of fuel conservation and environmental concerns.
Participants earn certifications for: NCCER Level One HVAC, NCCER Core Construction, EPA 608 Universal Certification, TDLR HVAC Technician Registration, OSHA 10 Certification and First Aid/CPR Certification.
Soft skills training, resume work shops and interview preparation also prepare our students to enter the work force. Engaging community partners to help collaborate with the needs of our students during their training has proved beneficial. As we move into September, our second HVAC class is getting ready to learn the ‘tools of the trade’! Four of our students from our first HVAC class have secured employment in the HVAC/Maintenance Field. (And, yes, one of those newly employed is a woman.) We are excited for all of them and wish them the best! We currently have a few openings for our upcoming HVAC class that starts on Monday, September 11th. Potential students are encouraged to call our office ASAP to schedule assessment testing and interviews to be considered.
As we continue to expand and grow, we hope to serve many more Wacoans with an opportunity to learn and obtain certifications that offer a living wage, debt-free. We desire to collaborate with local HVAC and Construction companies to provide information and support for our students. ‘Lunch and Learn’ opportunities from local employers’ help our students learn about prospective companies that are hiring in the area. For more information visit our Website @ www.skillpointalliance.org or stop by and visit: 817 Colcord Avenue Waco, Texas. Our office phone: 254-732-0620
As the Skillpoint Alliance/Waco Program Coordinator, Dawn is responsible for coordinating and carrying out the activities for programming in the Waco region including: Classroom Management, Participant Coordination and Data Management. Prior to joining Skillpoint,Alliance, Dawn worked at Mission Waco as a Program Coordinator/Job Trainer/Job Developer for Waco Homeless population. She has previously worked as a Staff Respiratory Therapist, Respiratory Therapy Department Manager and Clinical Evaluator for Promise Hospital of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona and Clinical/Didactic Instructor for a Respiratory Therapy Program at Apollo College in Phoenix, Arizona. Dawn moved to Waco with her husband, Tom in 2011.
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.