SummerFest, April 10, to highlight opportunities for students

By Hermann Pereira

In this pandemic and most recently the snow-apocalypse of 2021 we have felt more disconnected. This has truly affected our youth, who are accustomed to being in school face to face everyday along with having the ability to participate in other extracurricular activities. Time away from school is having academic and social emotional impact on youth of all ages. 

The good news is we are getting back to normal as the vaccine has come into the picture and people are feeling more safe. I would like to share an event that is coming up that will give students an opportunity to feel connected. 

Two of our working groups (School Focused Wrap Around Services Working Group and the Informal Learning Working Group) have come together to plan what will be a way for all students to have access and feel connected to summer activities. 

Student Success SummerFest will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 10 and will be in partnership with the Waco Downtown Farmers Market. There will be vendors from all over the community that offer summer activities for youth. Families will be invited to visit with the different vendors and will have an opportunity to sign up on site for camps. 

Working groups are a vehicle for community members to come together to collaborate in order to serve a larger purpose. Our working groups are focused on overall student success. They consist of the Early Childhood Committee, Informal Learning Working Group, Mentor Waco Coalition, School Focused Wrap Around Services Working Group, Education, Workforce and Talent Alliance, and the McLennan County College Access Network. 

All of our working groups are open to anyone in the community interested in working hard for all students in our area. Please email me at [email protected], and I can connect you to one of these groups. We hope to talk to you soon. 

Hermann Pereira is chief program officer 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].

Waco Fall Fun Round-up!

By Becca Muncy

Whether you’re looking for something spooky, something cozy, something family-friendly, something crafty, or something relaxing, you’re sure to find something fun to do this fall! Click the links to find out more information about each event.

First up, everyone’s favorite October holiday: Halloween! There’s no shortage of spooky, scary events going on in Waco right now:

  • October 23- Pumpkin Decorating Contest, hosted by Waco Parks and Rec. Submit your decorated pumpkin by October 23 and vote on the best pumpkin until October 30. Winners will be announced on October 30!
  • October 23- Halloween Make & Take Workshop at Board and Brush. Create a fun piece of Halloween decor! All materials are provided. There are two afternoon workshop sessions; sign up for the 1:00 session here and the 1:30 session here. Cost is $15.
  • October 24- Monsters of Waco Escape Game, hosted by Waco Escape Rooms. Grab your team and get ready to race against the clock and other teams as you solve puzzles around Waco! Your mission: to find the mysterious Monster 11 and solve the mystery of Scary O’Ghouligan. Tickets are $31.
  • October 25- Sensory Friendly Treats-to-Trunk from Elite Therapy Center. Vendors bring the treats to you at this drive-thru reverse trunk or treat for kids with special needs and disabilities!
  • October 28- Howl-O-Ween Party with Best Fido Friends. Enter your pup in a costume contest and get a goodie bag!
  • October 29-31- Scared Sober Haunted House, hosted by Sunshine Recovery House. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds fund the work of Sunshine Recovery House. Learn more about this event and Sunshine Recovery House from this Act Locally blog post!
  • October 30 and 31- Halloween DIY Fun with The Rustic Brush. Pick up your kit (all materials included) and have some Halloween crafting fun at home! Kits cost $20. Reserve your kits here.

If spooky Halloween activities aren’t your cup of tea, or if you’re just looking to continue the fall fun into November, check out these other fall-themed events:

  • October 23-31- Blow-Your-Own Pumpkin Event at Stanton Studios. Make your own unique glass-blown pumpkin! Workshops take place October 23, 24, 30, and 31. Cost is $48.
  • October 24- Autumn Uptown Art Walk with The Kieran-Sistrunk Art Gallery and MC Art Supplies. Take a stroll down Washington Avenue and help support Waco artists and musicians!
  • November 21- Virtual Central Texas Turkey Trot. This year, the 15th annual Turkey Trot has gone virtual! Register by November 20 and log your run anytime from November 21-30. Cost is $40.
  • November 27-29- Homestead Fair. Join the Homestead Heritage for a weekend of shopping, crafts, activities, agricultural exhibits, and great food! Check out the schedule of events here.

And, finally, if you’re looking for a way to give back this season, be sure to check out these opportunities:

This is the round up so far, but we are learning about new events and opportunities for fall fun every day, so keep an eye on the Act Locally Waco Events Calendar.

Becca Muncy is an Act Locally intern from Dallas. She is studying professional writing at Baylor University and is completing her senior year.

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.