STEM Fest!

STEMfest, Inspire Wonder in Waco
FREE community event, July 16
STEMfest Community Day
STEMfest Community Stroll

Stem Fest is happening July 16!

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is a method of hands-on teaching and learning where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities.

According to labor projections, Texas is expected to have the second-highest percentage of the nation’s future STEM job opportunities. To ensure our students are prepared for this future workforce, The Texas Education Agency has established the Texas EcosySTEM– a collaborative effort which unites various stakeholders to work towards the common goal of increasing access for young people to STEM-rich learning environments so that they are engaged and have mastered the necessary skills for success in STEM careers.

Learn More

Caritas Fan Club

Summer is upon us and for many that also means facing stifling heat with inadequate air conditioning and/or wondering how to pay higher utility bills while keeping food on the table for their family.
Every summer, Caritas helps clients facing these realities by providing them with boxed fans and assisting with utility bills. Many of those we aid are elderly or disabled, and relief from the extreme heat can be lifesaving for them. We are also helping to supply food to families struggling to feed their children during the summer months, many of whom receive federal free and reduced breakfast and lunch during the school year. By becoming a member of the Caritas “Fan Club,” your gift allows us to provide fans plus utility assistance and food during the summer months for our most vulnerable community members. 

Your gift of $20.00 will cover the cost of one box fan.

Your gift of $50.00 will allow us to purchase 125 pounds of food.

Your gift of $100.00 will aid a family in danger of losing their water service.

Your gift of $250.00 will aid a family in danger of losing their electric service.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a gift. In addition, your employer may have a matching gift program. Contact your Human Resources department to ask about doubling your gift. Know that your kindness and generosity is appreciated by countless families in our community.


To make an online gift, please visitwww.caritas-waco.org/donate& write “Fan Club” in the comments section.To make a gift via mail, please send a check or money order payable to Caritas of Waco to 300 South 15th Street, Waco, TX 76701. Please write “Fan Club” in the comments section.

Hani Michael Annabi Named Texas Tech University System Student Regent

Hani Michael Annabi is a fourth-year medical student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, where he serves as Medical Student Council President for the Class of 2023.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Hani Michael Annabi as the student regent for the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) Board of Regents for the 2022-23 academic year, Abbott’s office announced today (June 8).

Annabi, originally from Trenton, New Jersey and a high school graduate from Coronado High School in El Paso, is a fourth-year medical student at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. Annabi becomes the 17th student to serve on the Board of Regents and just the second student from TTUHSC El Paso (Jeremy W. Stewart, 2016-17).

“I am incredibly proud of Hani for his appointment to this prestigious position with the TTU System Board of Regents,” said TTUHSC President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A. “He is a reflection of the hardworking, talented students at TTUHSC El Paso, and his accomplishments at the Foster School of Medicine have well-prepared him to share his leadership skills and passion for our university system and the communities it serves.”

Annabi was a Dean’s List recipient while earning his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated in 2015 with a degree in natural sciences from the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. He remained at Johns Hopkins earning a Master of Global Business Administration with a concentration in health administration in 2017 from the Carey Business School, and he earned a Master of Science in biophysics and physiology from Georgetown University in 2018.

Annabi was a four-year letterwinner on the Johns Hopkins football team (2011-14) where he helped lead the Blue Jays to four consecutive Centennial Conference championships, a 41-5 overall record and four straight trips to the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs.

In 2015, Annabi was recognized as an inductee into the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, which is presented yearly to student-athletes across the country for their work in the classroom and football field.

Annabi has played an integral role in community service activities and leadership roles among the student population at TTUHSC El Paso. Since 2019, he has served as a teaching assistant providing curriculum and principles in physiology and pathology to medical students at the Foster School of Medicine.

Annabi was a student coordinator for two years (2020-21) helping organize fundraising events and raising awareness on behalf of the Movember Foundation focusing on research for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

“I want to welcome Hani as our student regent and congratulate him on this appointment,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., chancellor of the TTU System. “This is an exciting opportunity for Hani where he can provide impactful leadership and develop as a servant leader for more than 63,000 students across our five institutions of Texas Tech University System. I look forward to working closely with Hani during his tenure on the board.”

Annabi is currently involved with numerous professional and student organizations, including the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

In addition to his participation with the Movember Foundation, Annabi spent time as a volunteer business consultant with Innova Healthcare in Hyderebad, India, and the Johns Hopkins Department of Physiology; where he was a student volunteer with Be The Match; and was the founder of the Wheel-2-Win organization during his time on the Georgetown University campus.

Annabi will serve a one-year term, effective June 1 and set to expire on May 31, 2023. His first Board of Regents meeting will take place Aug. 11-12 on the campus of Angelo State University (ASU) in San Angelo, Texas. He replaces Keaghan Holt of ASU, who was appointed in 2021.

About the Texas Tech University System 
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university systems in the nation, consisting of five universities – Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University Health Sciences CenterAngelo State UniversityTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University.

Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a $2.5 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees, more than 63,000 students, nearly 370,000 alumni and an endowment valued at $1.7 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 24 academic locations in 21 cities (19 in Texas, 2 international).

During the 87th Texas Legislature under the leadership of Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., the TTU System welcomed MSU Texas as its fifth member institution during the 25-year anniversary of the system. MSU Texas is the only Texas university to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Students at MSU Texas choose from more than 60 majors and several pre-professional programs, are active in more than 100 student organizations and bring a spirit of competition to 13 NCAA Division II athletics programs.

In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.

For TTU System news and updates, follow us on TwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedIn and YouTube – @TTUSystem.

CONTACT:  Scott Lacefield, executive director of media relations & communications, Office of the Chancellor, Texas Tech University System, (806) 742-0012 or [email protected]

New Fitness Program at YMCA

Enhance Fitness is a 16-week program created to help those with arthritis and other health needs improve cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility and balance. The class meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30-2:30pm at the Greater Waco YMCA. All participants are able to do exercises either seated or standing. Cost is free to YMCA members and $75 for Community Members. Classes begin on June 15. Please call 254-776-6612 or come by the YMCA to register. For more information, reach out to Carla Browning or Crystal Hernandez at 254-776-6612

MPO Policy Board Meeting Notice—Thursday, June 16, 2022, 2PM

The Policy Board of the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization will meet on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at the South Waco Community Center, 2815 Speight Avenue in Waco at 2:00 PM. This meeting will be open to the public.

Members of the public must attend in person. Public comments will only be accepted in person, and the meeting link will not be posted online. The meeting room will be arranged for physical distancing of Board members, staff, and the public.  The meeting agenda will be posted to the MPO website 3 days prior to the meeting at https://www.waco-texas.com/cms-mpo/meetings

Persons with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids or services should contact the MPO at 254-750-5650 at least twenty-four (24) hours before this meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Background:

On June 20, 2021, Governor Abbot’s office approved a request by the Office of the Attorney General to lift the suspension of certain provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act previously required by emergency orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic effective September 1, 2021. This means that as of September 1, 2021, Waco MPO Policy Board meetings must be conducted in full compliance with the Open Meetings Act.

Lemonade Day is coming to Waco!

Help us empower today’s youth to be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs!

Lemonade Day is a free, fun, experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand. Lemonade Day Waco is August 20th!

The foremost objective of Lemonade Day is to empower youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society – the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers, and forward thinking citizens of tomorrow.

Each child that registers receives a backpack with an Entrepreneur Workbook that teaches them the 14 lessons of Lemonade Day like creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors, and giving back to the community. Along the way, they acquire skills in goal-setting, problem solving, and gain self-esteem critical for future success. They keep all the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some.


Their mission is to help today’s youth become the business leaders, social advocates, community volunteers and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow…one lemonade stand at a time! Register now Here!

Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program

What: Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program (a 4-month program to help those with high blood pressure learn to monitor and control their blood pressure.
Where: Tolivar Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
When: 10-11 am on Wednesdays beginning May 25th. 
Who: Open to the public
*Exercise programming to follow at 11 am. Open to all.’

For more information, please contact Crystal Hernandez at [email protected]

Happenings at Greater Waco YMCA

It’s summer time! Below is information regarding kids’ summer classes at the YMCA! For any questions, please reach out to Crystal Hernandez at [email protected]


Kids Art Classes for ages 3-6 will be held on June 13th from 5:30-6:30 at the Greater Waco YMCA. Cost is $15 and registration ends on June 6th. 
Kids Art Classes for ages 6-12 will be held on June 6th from 5:30-6:30pm at the Greater Waco YMCA. Cost is $15 and registration ends on May 31.
Kids Cooking Classes for ages 3-6 will be held on June 15th from 5:30-6:30pm. Registration ends June 8th. Cost is $20 per child.
Kids Cooking Classes for ages 6-12 will be held on June 8th from 5:30-6:30pm. Registration ends on June 1st. Cost is $20 per child.

It’s Not Just a Rocking Chair

by Lucas Land


“When I first visited the home, Naomi* couldn’t sit still. She was always moving and very agitated,” said Kimberly Witt, Advocate Supervisor for CASA of McLennan County.

Naomi was removed from her home due to abuse and neglect when she was two and a half years old. For the next year and a half, she went through several different foster families and was kicked out of her school and dacare because of her problems with aggressive and violent behavior. At two and a half years old Naomi had only recently learned to walk and talk. She had barely begun her life but was already experiencing so much difficulty just getting along and making it through each day. What was going wrong? What could be done to help her?

In these early years developing healthy attachment and emotional bonds with parents or caregivers is crucial for normal social and emotional development. Having adults that respond to an infant or child’s needs allows them to develop a sense of security and safety. This creates a base for the child to explore their world and continue to grow and learn. When children experience abuse and neglect, especially at such young ages and early stages of development, they can have difficulty forming attachments and emotional bonds with their caregivers. Naomi isn’t a bad kid. She just didn’t have the tools to cope with what the world had thrown at her. 

We don’t always know the reason or how to help, but every child’s behavior is an attempt to meet a need that they have. In Naomi’s case she might be needing to feel safety and security. Perhaps her acting out was a way to test whether the adults in her life would stay or leave. We can also imagine that there are a lot of feelings going on for a child who has experienced abuse and neglect, and not had a stable home environment so early on in their life. Without healthy attachment and bonding with caregivers, Naomi also didn’t have the tools to deal with and process these feelings.

Thankfully, Naomi’s grandmother, Rose*, was able to bring her into her home at four years old. “It’s been very challenging having them at home. It’s going to take a while. She had tantrums that lasted an hour and a half to two hours, and she would lose her voice. This happened two or three times a day,” Rose explained about the difficulties she has faced providing a home for Naomi.

Rose found that the only thing that would calm Naomi was for her to hold her and rock her. There is research that rocking and swinging stimulates the body’s vestibular system which helps alleviate stress and anxiety and helps with sleep and cognitive functions. Because of her age, Rose found it difficult to rock Naomi for longer periods of time. She explained this to her CASA volunteer and asked if there was any way that CASA could help provide a rocking chair since she was unable to afford one herself. 

CASA trains ordinary people to advocate for children in the foster care system and help keep them from falling through the cracks. Part of CASA’s advocacy work is to notice needs of the families they serve and advocate for ways that those needs can be met. In this case, CASA used funds earmarked for direct needs to purchase a rocking chair for Rose.

“Since that rocking chair came and when I started rocking her, we haven’t had any tantrums in two weeks. I never knew it could make such a difference. She’s healing now and I can talk to her and work with her now,” Rose shared getting emotional about the difference this piece of furniture made for her. “It’s not just a rocking chair. It’s the stuff they never got from their parents. That rocker is huge and opened the door to let her love me.”

If you are interested in learning more about CASA and how you can become a volunteer advocate, please visit casaforeverychild.org.

*All names have been changed to protect privacy

May Classes at YMCA

Check out the below classes being offered to kids for the month of May through the YMCA!


May 2: art for kids ages 6-12 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Cost is $15 per child and registration ends on April 28th. The theme is ‘summer’ and we’ll be making seashell turtles, lava lamps and more!


May 9: art class for kids ages 3-6 from 5:30-6:30pm. Cost is $15 per child and registration ends on May 2nd. The theme is ‘summer’ and we’ll be making several projects including wind socks.


May 10: Kids in the Kitchen for ages 3-6 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Cost is $20 per child and registration ends May 3rd

May 16: Kids in the Kitchen for ages 6-12 from 5:30-6:30pm. Cost is $20 per child and registration ends May 9th.


For more information, please reach out to Crystal at cherna[email protected] or 254-776-6612