The Month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, where communities are going the extra mile to raise awareness and take a stand against domestic violence. Advocates say that awareness is the first step towards prevention and making lasting change, and here in Waco, the Family Abuse Center is advocating for the education of our community on the cycles of violence. Early intervention, prevention education, domestic violence education, and community awareness can interrupt the intergenerational cycle of violence and reduce the social acceptance of domestic violence.
The Family Abuse Center offers a free, safe, and confidential place for adults and children to begin to experience life without violence. Their professional staff listens, advocates, and provides support to all those seeking services. They offer counseling, transportation, job and life skills education, and more.
Each October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Family Abuse Center recognizes the victims who have died due to domestic violence during the previous year. This year, the Family Abuse Center will be gathering on October 17th at the Waco Suspension Bridge in memory of the Texas women and men killed by their intimate partners. Domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy, dignity, and security due to the systematic use of control and abuse. This day provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to learn more about domestic violence issues and show support for the organizations and individuals who are providing advocacy services to domestic violence victims.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
Baylor University’s campus looks a little different at the moment. There are fenced-off portions of campus undergoing obvious reconstruction, accompanied by the sights of orange cones and the shouts of crew workers. A major project at the heart of campus that is causing much of this congestion is a huge step towards Baylor’s future.
The Memorial to Enslaved Persons is restructuring Founders Mall to acknowledge the immoral use of chattel enslavement during the building of Baylor’s original campus in Independence and the activities of daily life for nearly two decades. On Baylor’s ‘Background & History for a Memorial to Enslaved Persons’ webpage, it states, “It is an acknowledgment of a challenging part of our history while helping us see the need for Christian repentance while we press toward renewal, reconciliation and restoration.” Unfortunately, this isn’t the only accountability Baylor needs to take.
Previously, Baylor University and the City of Waco attempted to reconcile with Indigenous populations that originally inhabited the area. In October of 2020, Baylor authorized research on the history of Baylor’s land and its connections to Indigenous People, and in November of 2022, the University presented a Land Acknowledgement during Native American Heritage Month. In May of 2022, the Baylor Board approved a four-phase plan to address priorities identified by the Commission on Historic Campus Representations:
Phase One is complete, with the new Campus Experience Project.
Phase Two formally began February 20, 2024, with the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Memorial to Enslaved Persons. This phase also includes additional historical context being placed around the existing Judge Baylor statue, connecting his history of enslavement with those individuals recognized by the Memorial.
Phase Three will include enhancements to Speight Avenue that explain how the land upon which Baylor sits evolved and was developed, often at the expense of communities and individuals already occupying the property.
Phase Four will feature improvements along the Quadrangle.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children in Waco is a vital non-profit organization that serves potentially anyone and everyone in our area. Their mission is to promote healing of children and crime victims through advocacy, collaboration, prevention, and treatment across six Central Texas Counties, serving over 7,000 victims.
Victims can suffer both vocally and in silence because of acts of violence committed against them. Anyone–men, women, and children–may be affected by violence, which is why the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, disability, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, English proficiency, or age.
Unfortunately, children are one of the most vulnerable populations that are susceptible to neglect, which can appear as abuse in physical, emotional, or sexual forms. The Advocacy Center not only provides an immediate response to victims of violence with their Victims Center, but they also take care of our youth through work with the Children’s Advocacy Center.
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a helping hand to hurting children by minimizing their amount of time involved in the investigative and judicial processes. The CAC takes a holistic, coordinated approach to suspected abuse, which includes steps like videotaped forensic interviews. This way, the child has the opportunity to share their story in a safe, confidential manner. They also offer forensic medical examinations that ensure the physical health of the child and weekly case reviews, in which partner agencies oversee each case.
The Advocacy Center greatly relies on the community, and a few of their partner agencies include law enforcement, child protective services, the district attorney, the medical community, social workers, and case managers. However, they utilize volunteers and donations in order to aid the Advocacy Center’s staff, allowing the day-to-day operations of the Center to run smoothly and efficiently. Without these volunteers and monetary donations, they would not be able to continue to serve and impact our community so effectively.
The Advocacy Center has two community events coming up, including the 2025 Waco Designer Purse Bingo Day and the 2026 Mardi Gras Ball. Visit their website or Instagram to find more information on these special occasions!
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
August is Black Business Month, and Act Locally Waco is encouraging you to support local, Black owned restaurants, craft services, and professional enterprises. The African American Chamber of Commerce has done phenomenal work supporting the Black community in Waco and across Central Texas, which will be bolstered by a business directory in the near future. In the meantime, Act Locally has collected numerous businesses in the Waco area that deserve extra love during the month of August.
Camera Coach
4381 N State Highway 6 Access Rd, Unit 707, Woodway, TX 76712
Camera Coach is a teacher-owned photography business focused on developing and mentoring future photographers in Central Texas. After starting his journey in photography as a school teacher and coach, Corey transitioned from the classroom to the boardroom, running his own professional business and helping others do the same. With specialized photo and video classes, the hands-on experience with Camera Coach is perfect for those getting familiar with photography and videography. Need a special moment captured? The Camera Coach will be there to provide quality images in a timely manner.
Cleant Industries
412 S Lacy Dr, Waco, TX 76705
Cleant Industries stands out in the detailing world because of their attention to detail. These vehicle enthusiasts have a passion for taking care of cars, protecting your investment from the elements and leaving it looking the best it can. They don’t want your car to just be ‘clean.’ They go beyond, just one step further–well, one letter. Cleant Industries can help with your auto detailing needs. Need a paint correction? Want an additional ceramic coating to protect your paint? Cleant has it all.
The Corner Stop
2524 Colonial Ave, Waco, TX 76707
Started by the late Mr. Mitch, this Waco staple has been around for nearly forty years. Also called Mitch’s Corner Stop, this hidden gem serves up some of the best hamburgers in the city. The BBQ and spicy deep-fried rib tips are seasoned to perfection, which keeps customers coming back. For fresh-cut fries, loaded potato salad, and so much more, stop by this corner store for fantastic food.
Curry’s
1317 Cozie Circle, Waco, TX 76708
Curry’s custom catering brings exceptional culinary and dessert experiences to your home, office, or event space in Waco. Curry’s prides themselves on their professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence. They work closely with clients to ensure the stress of catering a special occasion is minimal. From classic dishes to modern fusion cuisine, Curry’s strictly uses the freshest and highest quality ingredients to complete their nutritious and delicious dishes. Need a custom cake to impress your next crowd? Call Curry’s!
Fluff Wash & Fold
1223 N 18th St, Suite 103, Waco, TX 76707
Full Wash & Fold laundry service collects dirty laundry, washes loads of clothes with leading name brands of detergents, including hypoallergenic soaps for sensitive skin, and returns clean laundry directly to your door. This company makes it easy to skip the hassle of laundry day and focus on life, work, and other passions. You deserve a fresh start to your day, and Fluff Wash & Fold can help take that stress away. Schedule a pickup appointment today!
Mo Cookies
914 Lake Air Dr, Suite G, Waco, TX 76710
Mo Cookies hand-makes fresh, old-fashioned cookies baked in small batches. With cookies, brownies, ice cream, dessert cups, signature shakes, and more delicious drinks, Mo Cookies has every sweet treat you could possibly be craving. From classic flavors to creative combinations, you can always choose exactly what you’re craving. With more than twenty years of experience in creating mouth-watering treats, each bite of Mo Cookies transports you back to the simplicity of childhood. Eat dessert first at Mo Cookies!
Oh My Juice
116 Mary Ave, Suite 2, Waco, TX 76701
6500 Woodway Drive, Unit 104, Woodway, TX 76712
With two different locations across the greater Waco area, Oh My Juice provides Central Texas with easy access to healthy smoothie and acai bowl options. Oh My Juice started by selling cold-pressed juices at the Downtown Waco Farmers Market, but they have grown to multiple storefronts and expanded their menu to include crowd favorites. With select ingredients and no hidden preservatives, Oh My Juice strives to support health and happiness no matter your diet. Now offering salads and other eats, this juice shop is the place to find your next heart-healthy treat.
The Skin Cafe
6801 Sanger Ave, Suite 140, Waco, TX 76710
The Skin Cafe is the go-to destination for facials, body sculpting, waxing, or relaxation in a Salt Therapy Room. Whether you’re looking for a rejuvenating escape, targeted treatment for a specific issue, or guidance in establishing an effective skincare routine, The Skin Cafe has Central Texas covered. Their holistic spa facials are designed to deeply cleanse, hydrate, and rejuvenate the skin while relaxing, detoxifying, and improving blood circulation. With an extensive service menu, The Skin Cafe will have you feeling like a new person before leaving.
R&S Barbecue
1101 Richland Dr, Suite 6A, Waco, TX 76710
This family-owned business was born in Lubbock, Texas, and it has been serving the community for over forty years. With meat plates, sandwiches, and classic sides, R&S BBQ is a staple southern eating space. Try their rib sandwich, mac & cheese, peach cobbler, or perhaps give the Cook’s Round Up a try. If you are looking for a classic barbeque joint, this family establishment, R&S Barbeque, has got you covered.
Black businesses deserve a constant spotlight here in Waco and across the state of Texas. Interested in having your company promoted? Contact Act Locally Waco for sponsorship packages and more information at [email protected].
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
Alpha Omega Grill & Bakery
929 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701
Built out of an old transmission shop in historic downtown Waco, Alpha Omega Grill & Bakery is a fantastic Mediterranean joint serving gyro sandwiches, fresh pita, and mezze platters. There is much on this menu to obsess over, and a second location was opened in Hewitt for locals who couldn’t get enough. Alpha Omega offers gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options.
Around the World Bakery
119 N 12th St, Waco, TX 76701
This bakery and coffee shop is bringing internationally inspired desserts directly to downtown Waco. Owned by Hillsboro native, Adilene Camarena, this shop was inspired by the owner’s travels around the world and her own passions in culinary arts. With gluten free options, this bakery takes you around the world from your neighborhood.
Harvest on 25th
112 N 25th St, Waco, TX 76710
This locally owned farm to table restaurant in Waco serves breakfast and lunch everyday from 8 am to 3 pm. With vegan options, gluten free possibilities, and recipes that push the boundaries of standard food, Harvest has something to easily satisfy everyone. With picnic style tables, flowers at every turn, and laughter echoing through the space, Harvest is the place to be with some beautiful community.
Revival Eastside Eatery
704 Elm Ave, Waco, TX 76704
In the heart of historic East Waco, this female owned business serves up delicious salads, sandwiches, and burgers. With a list of craft beers and wine to sip on, Revival has everything you could possibly be craving! Try their iconic sweet potato fries or tomato soup, which are bursting with flavor in every bite.
YAKI Texas Teriyaki
1307 S Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76711
Keeping it simple so that more can enjoy it, YAKI Texas Teriyaki is gluten, dairy, and nut free. This drive-in on Valley Mills serves BBQ rice boxes to-go. Spice up your favorite dish with specialty house sauces, also known as “soss.” Rice, protein, soss, and slaw–a complete meal in a box! Fun foods, crazy colors, and mindful meals makes YAKI one of the best.
While these facilities have gluten free options on the menu, it is important to consider cross contamination in all cases. Please double check with each eatery to confirm their gluten-free dedication. Some items from these places are not safe for those with celiac disease.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
By Mary Beth Farrell
November marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of the “Sit Down to Take a Stand” Waco lunch counter exhibit at the Dr Pepper Museum. The lessons learned in the process of creating this exhibit and living with its impact have shaped the staff and board in ways we could not have anticipated.
Thank you to our exhibit committee members – Dexter Hall, Anthony Betters Sr., Gary Myles, Dr. Stephen Sloan, and Joy Summar-Smith – for leading us to a better understanding of the influence our Soda Fountain could have on visitors.
Over 2.7 million visitors have come to the museum since we opened in 1991, and the Soda Fountain – the original home of the Dr Pepper float – has been a favorite part of the experience for so many. However, before the civil rights movement, people of color were denied service at locations throughout Waco, including local soda fountains.
In the reexamination of our exhibits and the stories they tell, we realized the nostalgia surrounding soda fountains that people found in our space was not substantive enough to carry us through the next 31 years. The result of this reflection is “Sit Down to Take a Stand,” a recreated lunch counter that features audio from local sit-in participants, video from sit-ins in Houston, and photographs from across the South creating a moving, immersive experience for museum visitors.
The exhibit is in the Soda Fountain so all visitors can access it without paying admission. The Soda
Fountain was also redesigned with a 1960s theme to reflect a time when all patrons were welcome while keeping the vintage feel visitors expect.
“Sit Down to Take a Stand” is only the beginning. In February 2023, the most iconic space in the Museum – the historic Bottling Room – will reopen to the public featuring the stories of the workers who operated the bottling plant. Unfortunately, this exhibit hasn’t been updated since the museum opened in 1991 and currently tells the story of nostalgia from the perspective of those running the company, largely leaving out the contributions of everyday workers.
If you have never visited the museum or it’s been a while since you’ve stopped by, now is the time! In addition to telling the stories of Dr Pepper and the soft drink industry in a way we have never done before, the experiences the museum has to offer are one-of-a-kind. Make-A-Soda, Taste-A-Soda, the Extreme Pepper Experience, and the Paranormal Experience take your visit to the next level.
To support the historic Bottling Room renovation, visit our website and donate to our annual Challenge Grant. Our Challenge Grant goes to the preservation of our historic buildings and our collection. With every dollar donated, Keurig Dr Pepper will match the donations up to $100,000.
Mary Beth Farrell is director of development & communications for the Dr Pepper Museum.
By Baylor School of Education
Baylor University has named Lakia Scott the school’s “Champion of Change” this year. Dr. Scott is an associate professor in Baylor’s School of Education.
Baylor launched “Champions of Change” awards to recognize and acknowledge the accomplishments of faculty, staff, and alumni (one of each annually) who have demonstrated efforts to “foster greater appreciation and advancement of diversity, inclusiveness, and equity for communities of color at Baylor and in Waco.” A diverse and representative volunteer advisory committee sought nominations and made the final selections for the inaugural honorees.
Scott’s efforts in equity enhancement have included promoting the recruitment and retention of first-generation college students and students of color through advising student organizations; establishing a reputation for being empathetic and supportive of students from traditionally marginalized backgrounds; and focusing her research on multicultural awareness, diversity practices, and urban education and literacy.
“I am humbled by this recognition, and I do not take this honor lightly,” Scott said. “This notion of being a champion of change truly challenges us to continue in our efforts to call into question and/or critique the structural and systemic barriers that limit human flourishing. While I am grateful that my efforts have been noticed, there is still so much to do, especially in thinking about equitable education as a right, not a privilege, for all students in our country. I am thankful to do my part in Waco — the strides made here can provide a national model for evoking true change in education.”
For three years, Scott served as the Chair of the Campus Diversity Committee and currently serves on the President’s Diversity Council. Scott also won Baylor’s Diversity Enhancement Award in 2018 and this year is the recipient of Baylor’s Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award (tenure-track) She is the founding director of Baylor’s Freedom Schools, a summer literacy enrichment program for elementary and middle school youth which focuses on culturally relevant teaching practices and the utilization of multicultural literature in order to bridge summer learning loss.
Teaching in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and serving as the department’s graduate program director, Scott is a recognized scholar in the field of Urban Education. Her credits include a host of research publications, co-authored and co-edited books, book chapters, and educational evaluation reports.
When the awards were presented at the end of the spring semester, Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone said, “The impact of this year’s Champions of Change echoes far beyond the halls of Baylor University, reverberating well into the greater Waco community. Each of these amazing leaders embodies the character and commitment to equity we seek in reflecting Baylor’s Christian mission.”
The impact of Scott’s work has indeed reverberated beyond campus, as she also received recognition from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, receiving their “Waco Under 40” Award honoring “dynamic young leaders under the age of 40” who are making an impact in the greater Waco community.
Scott said, “I believe strongly that through service, love, and intentionality, we can transform our community spaces in ways that translate to human flourishing. I am honored to be among my esteemed peers and colleagues who also consider themselves servants of the greater Waco community.”
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 Ferrell Foster at [email protected].
By Dexter Hall
There are many different approaches or levers that must be pulled to ensure an inclusive economy for all Wacoans.
The question, of course, is which levers will we pull to provide the financial economic security for all of our citizens or will we adopt a “throw spaghetti against the wall” approach and see what sticks.
Varying organizations and institutions across the nation compile numerous reports to show what is and what is not working. We know the lessons of the past and the intentional levers that were pulled to create an unequal economy leaving our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) communities to suffer in poverty.
The National Urban League’s “2020 State of Black America: Unmasked” report, shows a Black-Equality Index of 73.8 indicating Black Americans are missing 26% of the pie. The same index shows Hispanic Americans at 78.8 indicating they are missing 21% of the pie.
The overall Equality Index is made up of the five areas with each being weighted based upon urgent need and importance. The chart below shows where Black Americans ended in 2020. The 59.2% index in economics shows Black Americans are missing almost half of the economic pie in comparison to White Americans.
On May 26 this year, Prosper Waco hosted “Addressing Financial Empowerment: Waco Prospers when All Wacoans Prosper.” I had the awesome opportunity to share with our mayor and other community leaders the levers that Prosper Waco would be pulling to move toward ensuring the economic and financial security for all Wacoans.
Through the work of the City of Waco’s Financial Empowerment Blueprint, we shared intentional strategies in the areas of Asset Building, Banking Access, Consumer Financial Protection, Financial Education, and Small Business Development and Financing.
In each area we shared a plan of work that we would be initiating or that was being done through partner organizations in our community that addressed the needs of our low-to-moderate income (LMI) community and small business owners.
We are grateful to work with individuals and organizations in developing specific intentional work to address the needs of all Wacoans and ensure an inclusive economy in our area.
Instead of throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping something sticks, we are partnering and working together to address immediate needs as well as short- and long-term needs of our community through intentional drivers that led to the 73.8 score in the National Urban League’s Black-White Equality Index.
Working together we can build the right spaghetti and meatballs for all Wacoans to prosper equally and equitably.
And, by the way, who likes spaghetti without meatballs?
Join us in the work for financial and economic security for all Wacoans by adding your sauce to this intentional spaghetti.
How can you help?
Volunteer your skill or experience in financial or legal services.
Donate to support the various initiatives in each area of focus.
Sponsor Financial Education Workshops for your groups, employees, associations, clubs, sororities, and fraternities.
If you would like to help or invest in supporting the financial and economic security for all Wacoans please contact me at [email protected].
Dexter Hall is chief of staff and senior content specialist for financial security with Prosper Waco. For more information on financial security contact Hall at [email protected].
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email Ferrell Foster at [email protected].
By Ferrell Foster
Independence Day is always special, but this year it is even more treasured. On July 4, 1776, the founders of this nation laid down some principles that would shape this people for generations. Now that we have added Juneteenth as a federal holiday, we can see more clearly that bringing those first principles to fruition is a process.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (U.S. Declaration of Independence).
Let’s put those words in chronological context:
1776 – The authors didn’t really mean “all men” and, of course, not women. Slaveholders were among the signers.
1861 – That disconnect eventually led to a Civil War, the most deadly war for Americans in their history.
1862 – President Lincoln started broadening freedom with the Emancipation Proclamation.
1865 – Slaves in Galveston learned of their freedom — Juneteenth.
That’s 89 years from the signing of the Declaration to Juneteenth. Countless people suffered and died to make that progress.
But any student of history knows that only chattel slavery (humans as owned property) ended in 1865; a new type of slavery emerged eventually grouped under the term of Jim Crow laws — varied rules that sought to keep African Americans in a subservient position.
1954 – The U.S. Supreme Court, in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, ruled that state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
1955 – Rosa Parks says “no” to sitting at the back of a bus in Montgomery, Ala., and local pastor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., emerges as the bus boycott’s voice and eventually the nation’s.
1964 – In the wake of the assassination of President John Kennedy, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
1965 – Congress passed and President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
That’s 100 years between the first Juneteenth and the Voting Rights Act.
The words of the Declaration of Independence did not free slaves; those words laid the philosophical and national foundations by which people could work to wrest their freedom from the power of oppressors.
On July 4 we do not celebrate freedom achieved; we celebrate freedom made possible. And in doing so we remember the long years of struggle from Independence Day to Juneteenth and then to the Voting Rights Act.
And this freedom is not a liberty to do whatever an individual wants; it is a freedom to enjoy the God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And, since all people are of equal value, we pursue those three things in consideration of the same pursuit by others.
All people (Black, Hispanic, Asian, White … any gender … from any nation) . . .
. . . are created equal (no group is superior) . . .
. . . they are endowed by their Creator (this isn’t something a few people just made up) . . .
. . . with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We celebrate 1776 and 1865 and 1965, but we know there is still more to be done, and that includes right here in Waco.
Ferrell Foster is acting executive director of Act Locally Waco and is senior content specialist for care and communition with Prosper 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 Ferrell Foster at [email protected].
By Rachel E. Pate
“In a racially equitable society, the distribution of society’s benefits and burdens would not be skewed by race.” – The Aspen Institute
Brief Rewind
Around this time last year, the City of Waco, our mayor and city council held a retreat addressing racial inequity within our community. J.B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald reporter, covered the story in “Waco council takes aim at racial disparities, gentrification” (May 23, 2019). Some of the staggering statistics gathered and presented by the city were highlighted in J.B.’s article, revealing that:
- Whites account for 43% of Waco’s population but hold 80% of the jobs paying more than $40,000 as of 2015.
- Among white households, 13.5% make less than $25,000 a year, compared with 25.3% among Hispanics and 51.1% among blacks.
- Nearly 29% of white households make more than $100,000 a year, compared with 3.3% for blacks and 8.7% for Hispanics.
- African Americans in 2017 had a 31% mortgage denial rate, compared with 20.9% for Hispanics and 11.7% for whites.
In the news article Councilman Dillion Meek stated: “I’ve always put a high value on grit and self-determination, but if the goal is to improve the economy, we have to look at systems from 100 or 150 years ago to now,” Meek said. “The outcomes from the data speak for themselves and are a direct result of the history of this community.”
Assistant City Manager Deidra Emerson was also quoted saying: “The end goal is to ensure that everyone in Waco thrives, including people of color. … The starting point for the next generation is the ending point of the last generation. If we don’t start to change those outcomes now, we’ll keep repeating the same things.“
Pandemic Proportions
Positioned against the backdrop of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, we all witnessed our nation’s institutions, systems, businesses and, most importantly, people brace for a great unknown together. As the virus spread, we were forced to mourn more and differently than before, all while swallowing disproportionate effects happening in communities of color. The Pandemic drastically changed so much of what we thought we once knew and added to the boiling pot of health disparities, income disparities, racial disparities and inequity in the fabric of America.
As the wave of concern swept through our nation, our local leaders were called to immediate attention and action; elected officials, health officials, business experts and volunteer task forces were all on one accord.
The Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce (CTAACC), along with others, was right in the thick of early and ongoing discussions about community health and our local economy. Our staff immediately pivoted from pre-set work to intentionally and strategically supporting the needs of our community’s small and minority-owned businesses.
We partnered with the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support immediate small business initiatives like our StarBridge Bingo and Buy Local Waco online marketing campaigns. We worked together to collect grassroots data from businesses, employees and people of color.
CTAACC was firmly seated at the table with the city and other community partners breaking down information, providing frequent updates and contributing solutions.
Collective Voices
While weeks of the shelter-in-place orders and social distancing continued, CTAACC assembled an informal advisory group to work alongside our staff and help create solutions for business equity. Community business members and leaders included Wannika Muhammad, Rev. Marlon Jones and Cuevas Peacock, who each added diversity, passion and perspective to the dialogue. Our group later became known as the CommUnity Voices team. United in tackling the tasks before us, we put our heads together and strategically planned our moves ahead.
Within our virtual, weekly think-tank sessions, each member shared our concerns about equity, community and business. Each contributed wisdom and insight from our collective backgrounds in business and community development, religion and higher education and lived experiences. We examined and digested everything around us and studied the historical pre-sets of inequity.
As we saw increased unemployment rates for workers, struggling small businesses and government relief that could only do so much, the group determined that solid, perpetual initiatives were mandatory to rightfully shore up vulnerable, small, minority-owned businesses. In those conversations, our vision for equity was honed.
Forward March
The Chamber’s Center for Business Excellence (CBE) has long been an engine for small business development, offering free business tools, technology resources and meeting space. Utilizing this existing program, CTAACC established the Cen-Tex Minority Business (CTMB) Equity Fund in May 2020 to provide business relief to businesses of color through grant funding and micro-loans. (Donate Here.)
The CTMB Equity Fund is the first local fund in our community that will assist small minority-owned businesses facing income loss or rising expenses due to circumstances caused by natural disasters, illness, global pandemics, or any situation that disrupts their economic and social well-being.
The fund will also provide increased access to social capital and business training/education for entrepreneurs. Our kick-start campaign goal of $100,000 provides individuals, organizations and businesses with the opportunity to not only talk about equity but invest in it also. I could say more, but for now I’ll digress and take a breath. There’s still more action to be done tomorrow.
The Center of Business Excellence (CBE) is a private sector 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce. The CBE actively helps McLennan County small businesses thrive by providing operational, social, and financial resources needed to sustain business development. The CBE manages the Cen-Tex Minority Business Equity Fund, a program created by the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce and a Business Advisory Committee comprised of community business members and leaders.
The purpose of the fund program is to provide short-term, immediate aid/relief to small, local minority-owned businesses facing income loss or rising expenses due to circumstances caused by natural disasters, illness, global pandemics, or any situation that disrupts their economic and social well-being.
Any McLennan County-based, minority-owned, small business with 10 employees or less is eligible to apply for assistance. Grants/loans may be awarded up to $2,500 dependent on resources. I could go on, but for now I guess I’ll digress and take a breather. There’s action to be done tomorrow.
Editor’s Note: Investments in the CTMB Equity Fund are currently being accepted online at www.centexchamber.com. The online application portal for business funding is expected to open later this month. CTAACC can be reached at (254) 235-3204.
Rachel E. Pate is vice president of economic development at Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce (CTAACC) in Waco. Rachel is a native Wacoan and graduate of University High School. Since 2016, Rachel has served in various roles at the chamber and championed the causes of small entrepreneurs, women, and minorities. She is also a LeadershipPlenty Institute graduate, Rapoport Academy Public School Board member and Start-Up Waco Board member.
With her mother being a Sunday School teacher and evangelist, Rachel began serving the community at a very early age. She was active on her church’s usher board and youth ministry. Some of her fondest memories of growing up in Waco are being surrounded by her large, extended family for reunions and Juneteenth gatherings; her mother is one of 11 siblings who all hail from Waco. Her father, R.E. Pate Jr. (deceased), and mother met at Paul Quinn College in the early 1970s — the same campus where CTAACC resides today.
Rachel is also a proud mom of one, a lifelong member of Toliver Chapel Church, a lover of the great outdoors, an avid basketball fan, and a dedicated wearer of Converse’s Chuck Taylor shoes. Rachel’s favorite scripture is Romans 8:31- “…If God be for us, then who can stand against us?”