By Lucas Land
Any given day in McLennan County around 700 children are in foster care. Out of those, CASA has an advocate working with around 240 of them. CASA stands for “Court Appointed Special Advocate.” CASAs are volunteers assigned by the court to advocate for the best interest of the child or children in CPS cases.
Take a step back for a moment and remember what it was like to be a kid. What did you feel like in Middle School? What were your High School years like? Growing up can be difficult and awkward under the best circumstances. Now try to imagine being taken from your family after experiencing abuse or neglect. No matter the situation, this is traumatic. You are placed with relatives, a foster family, or a residential facility. Now add to that the time you have to spend in court, in meetings with lawyers, in interviews with CPS, medical visits, and so many other things that you probably never imagined having to do. Picture what it might be like going to school and trying to pretend like everything is fine, trying to get through a normal day weighed down by all that is happening in your life that often times no one knows about. You might not have anyone you can talk to or feel comfortable with. Trust is a scarce resource when your life is in upheaval.
These kids feel scared, alone, angry, nervous, and so many more emotions that come with the territory of dealing with family trauma and crisis. They need the things that all kids need, stability, supportive relationships, encouragement, and someone to listen. In these situations, these things are often in short supply. This is where CASA comes in.
Our volunteer advocates are empowered by the court and assigned to a case where they spend time getting to know the child or children involved. Their purpose is to gather information about the child/ children and the stakeholders in their life such as family of origin, foster placement, doctors, teachers, CPS workers, etc. All of this information is then compiled into a report for the court.
In order to do this well advocates have to build relationships with the child/children, their parents, and family in order to understand their needs. Part of this process includes just spending time with the child or children. Jose Muñiz describes his favorite part of being a CASA like this:
“Working with the kids and spending time with them is my favorite part of being a CASA. They speak to all of these authority figures and they don’t have time to be a kid. So, taking them out for ice cream or to the museum gives them time to just be a kid.”
CASA volunteers provide a consistent presence in a child’s life and work to ensure they are safe during their time in foster care. CASA volunteers also identify and address risks, work with supportive people in the child’s life, and ensure appropriate physical and mental health assessments are completed to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. They also make sure that educational assessments are completed and educational supports are in place. During a chaotic and difficult time in a family’s life while the child or children are in foster care these things can slip through the cracks and be forgotten. CASA advocates focus on the best interest of the child and help prevent that from happening throughout the process of their case.
Jose also shared this success from his first case, “My first case was with 9- and 6-year-old siblings. This was pre-COVID and I was able to spend time in-person with the kids. The 9-year-old was very active. One of the things we did that was fun was running a race together. We signed up for a Donut Dash. We ran a mile and then ate donuts. The success was them knowing that there was someone in their life that cared for them.”
There is a gap between those 700 children in foster care any given day and the volunteers we have who can be CASAs for them. Our goal is that every child who needs a CASA in McLennan County has one. In order to reach that goal, we need YOUR help. Please consider becoming a CASA volunteer and making a difference for children in our community who are going through a really difficult time. For more information you can send an email to [email protected], call (254) 304-7982, or visit our website, http://casaforeverychild.org.
Lucas Land is the Director of Communication and Development for CASA of McLennan County. He loves living in Waco and finding ways to connect, get to know, and give back to this community. Lucas lives in the Sanger Heights neighborhood with his spouse, three kids, and their dog, Jayber.
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 Jillian Jones
Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas (CISHOT) has been known for over 30 years for providing wraparound services to thousands of students and families in the many school districts across our Heart of Texas region. However, many people may not know that Communities In Schools serves youth beyond their school years and into adulthood as well. The Workforce Development Program at CISHOT provides case management, career advancement services, and real-life work experience to young adults to help them work towards post-secondary education and careers that provide stability and opportunity.
One of the more tangible ways young adults break into the job market is through internships. Internships provide the participant with valuable insight into a career field they may be interested in, as well as access to mentorship and guidance from more experienced workers. Employers can also use internships as vital training time that is needed before an intern can receive a full-time job offer.
While internships have tangible benefits for both the participant and the employer, we understand internships can be costly for an employer and unpaid internships are not as attractive to young people or as common as they used to be.
This is where the Workforce Development Program at Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas plays a role. With funding and support from the Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board, Communities In Schools is able to provide internships on a year-round, rolling basis at dozens of local businesses across all sectors and industries. These short-term internships are completely free for an employer who volunteers to host an interested participant, as CISHOT acts as the employer of record and covers all wages paid to the intern for the duration of the internship.
The job market is changing rapidly as we navigate through the pandemic. While some employers are downsizing or shifting to permanent virtual work, others may be having trouble finding enough qualified applicants to return to normal operations. If you’re an employer who is looking to hire or fill open positions amidst the uncertainty, please consider hosting an intern (or two!) through the Workforce Development Program at CISHOT. All interns participate in a four-hour New Hire Training course covering workplace basics and safety guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Our 2020 Fall cohort will start on October 12 and will work through December 11. We are looking to expand our employer base and would love to work with YOU on a partnership that can benefit young adults in our community and help your business grow through this season of change!
Jillian Jones is the Director of the Workforce Development Program at Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas. Jillian is a Waco native and a graduate of Baylor University and the University of North Carolina. She enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family, doing anything outdoors, and worrisome amounts of online shopping. She has a husband, Jenner, and a dog, Buddy.
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.
Press release, City of Waco. Additional Notes, Ashley Bean Thornton
The City of Waco is holding a Virtual Ribbon Cutting to mark the completion of the renovation of the Greenwood Cemetery. The edited virtual ribbon cutting celebration ceremony will air on WCCC-TV (available on Spectrum and Grande cable channel 10 and on the web at www.wccc.tv) at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15.
Greenwood Cemetery is Waco’s second oldest cemetery, dating back to 1875. While Greenwood is the final resting place for many of Waco’s famous and widely celebrated citizens, it has struggled with the legacy of a segregated past.
The $435,000 improvement project was a collaborative effort to remove the boundaries that separated the “White section” from the “Black section” and place the entire cemetery within the City of Waco’s care. Working together were families, citizens and former cemetery association members along with the Texas Historical Commission, Texas Department of Transportation, People’s Cemetery Association, McLennan County, Methodist Children’s Home and the City of Waco.
Here are some brief notes about just a few of the notable people who are buried at Greenwood.
Robert Bevis (1889 – 1972)
Robert Bevis was born in Austin. He attended Tillotson College there. He later received a Master of Arts from Denver University in Colorado. He organized South Waco Colored Elementary School (later named Oakwood School) in 1914. He was the first principal and served in that role for for 44 years (1914 – 1959), minus one year for serving in WWI. In November of 1915 South Waco Colored School moved into the first brick school for Negroes to be erected in Waco.
Jules Bledsoe (1899 – 1943)
Even as a young child, Jules Bledose loved to sing. He gave his first performance, age five, at New Hope Baptist Church. In 1918 he Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bishop College. In 1920 he began studying medicine at Columbia University. After taking voice lessons, career plans shifted. In 1924 he made his professional music debut at the Aeolian Hall in mid-town Manhattan. In 1927 his portrayal of Joe in Jerome Kern’s Showboat launched him into the spotlight. His version of “Ol’ Man River” became a classic. Known internationally, he performed across the United States and in Europe. Despite racial discrimination his immense talent and skill earned him the right to perform with BBC Symphony in London, the Royal-Dutch Italian Opera Company, and the Cosmopolitan Opera Association in New York. He was also a composer. He composed several songs and an opera titled “Bondage” based upon Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Andrew “Lefty” Cooper (1896 – 1941)
Born in Waco in 1896/1898, Andrew Cooper attended A. J. Moore High School and Paul Quinn College. Prior to the 1940s, Black people could not play baseball in the American Major Leagues. Cooper had successful careers in both the The Negro National League, and the Negro American League. He played for both Detroit and Kansas City. Cooper was known as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He became player/manager of the Monarchs in 1937. By 1940 he had led Kansas City to three championships. Cooper died in 1941 only a few years before Jackie Robinson integrated the major leagues 1946. In 2006 Andrew Cooper was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Estella Maxey – (1904-1948)
Estella Maxey was an orphan. She was adopted by Gussie Moore and raised on South Second Street near Baylor. Even as a child she was fascinated with music and would slip away to pick out tunes on the piano. She had perfect pitch. During the depression she organized an orchestra to accompany her on the piano and began to play and sing to make a living. Gradually she began playing dance music. Soon she was “all the rage” playing at private parties for all the rich people in town. A generation of young people in Waco learned to dance to the sound of Stella singing “My Blue Heaven,” “Lover, Come back to Me,” “You’re my Everything” and other hits of the time. When she died in 1948, the Waco Tribune-Herald ran her obituary on the front page.
Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes (1932 – 1995)
Vivienne Lucille Malone grew up in Waco and graduated at age 16 from A.J. Moore High School, not far from the Baylor campus. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from Fisk University. She chaired the math departments at Bishop College in Dallas and then Paul Quinn College, which was in Waco at the time. Because she wanted to take more graduate-level classes courses, she applied to Baylor in 1961, but she was rejected because of her race. In 1962 she enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, which had been required by federal law to integrate. She persevered to become the second African-American and the first black female to earn a PhD in mathematics from the University of Texas. After earning her PhD, she returned to Waco where she was eventually hired as the first African-American faculty member at Baylor University in 1966. By 1971, Baylor Student Congress named her as an Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year.
By Keshia Miller
Beginning September 22nd, WIBO Waco will launch their 5th year of workshops teaching new and existing entrepreneurs how to build profitable, successful businesses.
Many people struggle with starting or growing a business. This entrepreneurial workshop helps individuals overcome various obstacles and guides them to a successful path in starting or growing a business.
Nationally, “Workshop in Business Opportunities” also referred to as WIBO, was started in 1966 by Walter Geier and Mal Woolfolk to enable small business owners and budding entrepreneurs from underserved communities to obtain financial success by starting, operating, and building successful businesses that develop economic power, provide jobs and improve communities. Since the 1st workshop, WIBO has graduated more than 18,000 entrepreneurs, where 75% of WIBO grad’s businesses were up and running within a year of taking the program, and 42% of companies saw an increase in revenue after taking the WIBO program.
The workshop is a success in Waco. “Fluff Wash & Fold is off to a great start due to Workshop in Business Opportunities!” say co-owners Stephanie & Lana. “WIBO taught us to develop our pitch, so that when an opportunity happens, we can be ready to spread the word about our service at a moment’s notice. There was so much more that we’ve taken away and developed on our own with the support of our WIBO community!”
The upcoming workshop will be taught online due to COVID-19. This makes it even more readily available to entrepreneurs in the area.
Some of the business building topics that entrepreneurs will experience during this 16-week course include how to conduct market research to identify your ideal customers, promoting your business, making a profit, creating your pricing strategy, and other actionable and detailed steps that are excellent for a new or budding business.
There is a cost associated with the workshops. However, WIBO offers scholarships to people who are earning less than $40,000, veterans, and individuals who have been recently incarcerated.
For more information, visit wibowaco.org. Join us for a ZOOM info session on Thu Sep 10, 2020 7pm – 8pm (CDT). Click here to register.
Registration is open now for the workshop. Register online at https://www.wibowaco.org to register or by calling (254.292.2423).
Space is limited for the workshops. If you’ve found your life’s passion and want to create a thriving business doing what you love, then the WIBO 10-week workshop is for you. Be sure to act fast.
Rocky and Keshia Miller are the owners of Prosperity Tax Service and Prosperity Travel Group The Cruise Specialists are just two of their roles. They also founded East Waco Empowerment Project and put on the annual Feast in The East which provides a hot holiday meal and warm clothing for neighbors in Waco. They also organize the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO). Rocky and Keshia have four children: Kameren, Rashaad, ReElle & Xjiani. They also have three grandchildren: Ava, Mattix & McKinley
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 Craig Nash
A Hurricane Season Public Service Announcement. (Can also be used for tornado season, flood season, earthquake season, etc.): The best way to help during a disaster is to send money directly to an organization that is already doing work in the area affected by the disaster.
Don’t collect bottles of water to send to them. They know how much water they need better than we do and already have mechanisms in place for purchasing and distributing it. They just need money to buy the water.
Don’t collect food to send to them. They know who needs the food because they are there. They know what foods are appropriate. They know what types of food they are low on and what types of food they have too much of. Sending them unsolicited food complicates their work. They need money to buy the food.
They need the flexibility to spend the money on
- Diapers.
- Formula.
- Hardhats.
- Chainsaws.
- Pet Food.
- Assorted Clothes.
Purchasing or collecting these items to send makes us feel a lot better than sending money to a trusted organization. It makes us feel like we are actually doing something. But even though it feels better, it is far less helpful. Whether it is the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Texas Baptist Men, or a Feeding America Food Bank on the coast (for example South East Texas Food Bank), or a local church in a coastal town, there are organizations that know the needs and work day in and day out every day to hone and improve the processes for providing relief during a disaster. They can do a lot more with accumulated money than they can with accumulated bags of stuff. What they need is money.
Craig Nash is regional manager for child hunger outreach at Baylor’s Texas Hunger Initiative. He enjoys talking and writing about Waco, country music, and faith. He blogs at 17dutton.com.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
NEWS RELEASE
Census takers are working to follow up with Waco and McLennan County households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.
The current self-response rate in McLennan County is 58.5%. The Census Bureau will need to visit the remaining addresses to collect responses in person.
Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.
Protecting Health and Safety
The Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working together to protect the health and safety of the public and employees. Participation in 2020 Census interviews should present a low risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Census takers are trained to rigorously and universally follow these CDC recommendations to mitigate the risk of transmission:
- Wearing face masks
- Maintaining social distance of 6 feet or more
- Practicing hand hygiene
- Not entering homes and conducting interviews outside as much as possible or practical
Household members encountered by census staff are encouraged to maintain social distances during interviews and practice the CDC’s other recommendations as much as possible.
Joint statement from the Census Bureau and the CDC
What Households Can Expect
Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.
If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.
How to Identify Census Takers
Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact the Denver/Dallas Regional Census Center at 972-510-1800 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
Media requesting b-roll video or photos on how to identify a Census employee can visit this press kit: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2020/b-roll.html
About the 2020 Census
The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.
For more information, visit 2020census.gov.
By Deneece Ferrales
It is with great regret and sadness that I write this post about the passing of Christian Kelly Aguilar, BSW. Christian was an active member of the Waco community, devoting his time and talents to social justice and equity. A vital member of the gay community, Mr. Aguilar was supportive of his peers and advocated for LGBTQ rights as well as the rights of persons with mental illness, criminal histories, women and children, and the elderly.
Mr. Aguilar completed his BSW degree with honors at Tarleton State University in the Social Work program on the Waco campus in May of 2019. He was scheduled to graduate on August 7 with his MSW. It was during his time in the social work program that I came to know Christian as his teacher, faculty mentor, and finally as a proud colleague and friend. I have enjoyed the privilege of teaching and mentoring many bright students over the past 8 years that have graduated and become valuable professionals in our community. However, I felt compelled to write about Christian because his impact on others and on me was so strong that I believe his contributions deserve public recognition. I first met Christian when he enrolled in the social work program at Tarleton on the MCC campus in the Fall of 2017. Christian immediately showed his leadership ability through becoming an officer of the Waco Student Social Work Association. Through this work, his community work, and his work in the classroom, I got to know an incredibly strong and committed young man. I will always treasure the gift he gave me by allowing me to mentor him.
Perhaps the most memorable thing about Christian was the impact he had on people. To say that he offered support to his colleagues would be an understatement. One of his fellow students, Stefani LeBlanc, stated, “Christian has forever left an imprint in my life. I can only hope that I can take what I have learned from him and be as great as I know he would have been.” Stefani went on to say that “He was a source of support for many in the LGBTQ community. Over and over I have read people’s stories of his unwavering support, even despite his own battles belonging to the (LGBTQ) community.”
He was close to and supportive of his colleagues. His colleagues respected him so much that he became president of SSWA Waco his senior year. He was described by one of his instructors as having an “almost jolly” demeanor, always pleasant in the classroom, showing leadership and an eagerness to learn.
Christian enjoyed academic success completing his BSW program with honors and was chosen to speak at the Social Work Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee where he won 2nd place for his poster presentation. Christian continued his academic success in his MSW program, despite the imposed limitation due to the COVID pandemic, having earned a spot on the Dean’s list for the Fall and Spring semesters with a perfect 4.0. Christian completed field work training at Regent Care Center, a nursing care facility, and with Cenikor, a substance abuse program. At each place he worked, he successfully provided social work services to the organizations’ clientele. Christian was scheduled to graduate on Friday, August 7, with his MSW.
Beyond academic success, Christian had an unwavering commitment to service and to the Waco community. Stefani LeBlanc said of Christian, “He was a man of unwavering service and his legacy in the social work world will continue through those he knew.” Christian used his time and talents to help in the Waco community in numerous ways: raising funds for Angel trees, helping register people to vote, and helping to organize field days for people with developmental disabilities among many other examples. He was an advocate for people who do not have a voice. He attended Advocacy Day at the Texas Legislature two years in a row and organized children’s activities for a Child Welfare Awareness Rally.
Christian was a person of great promise in the Tarleton Social Work Program. When asked to make a statement about Christian, Dr. Darla Beaty said, “Christian Aguilar embodied the values of social work. Specifically, he provided service as the president of the Tarleton Student Social Work Association, leading his colleagues in community projects in Waco for several years. He demonstrated competence and integrity as an excellent student who used his emotional intelligence to bring out the strengths in his fellow students. He highly valued the importance of his relationships with students, professors, and community partners. He treated everyone with respect and dignity and was a fierce advocate for social justice. He made a positive difference in the lives of those of us whose lives he touched”. This is a profound loss of a remarkable soul – for his friends, family, the social work profession, and the Waco community.
If you knew Christian and would like to express your condolences, you may go online to Lakeshore Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Christian’s death was unexpected, so donations through Lakeshore FH will also be accepted by and helpful to the family.
Deneece Ferrales, Ph.D., is a social worker who has been living in Waco for the past 8 years. Though she has only been in the area 8 years, Dr. Ferrales has adopted Waco as her home and loves being a part of the community. Dr. Ferrales received her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ferrales most recently worked as an Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University. Prior to that, Dr. Ferrales was a court-ordered custody evaluator and parent facilitator and CEO of For A Better World in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Ferrales’ primary interests include community organizing and development, HIV/AIDS, women, children and youth, and social policy. Dr. Ferrales is married to Bobby Ferrales and they have an 18 year old who will become a Southwestern Pirate in September 2020.
By Sarah Pedrotti
The Waco Public Housing Authority received a COVID-19 response grant this summer from Housing and Urban Development. This grant is to increase bandwidth and Internet access across WPHA properties and provide enrichment for students. Transformation Waco has partnered with WPHA to offer enrichment programming at Estella Maxey.
EAST (Enriching All Students Together) Waco allows students the opportunity to learn more about themselves and their passions through the lens of literacy, health and wellness, STEM, and workforce solutions. EAST Waco students will participate in several groups throughout the year, opening the door to more opportunities.
We are looking for several partners to assist us in creating experiences for our students. We need organizations to lead groups for book clubs, STEM-themed activities, physical activities, wellness groups, and a group for 8th-12th graders on workforce development. The calendar allows for three or six-week commitments from group leaders.
Groups will meet weekly noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday. Tentative start date is Sept, 7. Groups have the option of meeting virtually or in-person at Estella Maxey. Groups that chose to meet virtually will have in-person student support at Estella Maxey. We do have funding for supplies and dues.
Waco ISD is asking people to help them gather partners for the endeavor. Pass on this information to any organizations that might be interested in participating and hosting a group or send their contact information to [email protected].
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Session Calendar:
| Dates: | Session # | # of Weeks: |
| 9/12/2020-10/17/2020 | 1 | 6 |
| 10/24/2020-11/21/2020 | 2 | 3 |
| 12/5/2020-12/19/2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 1/9/2020-2/13/2020 | 4 | 6 |
| 2/20/2020-4/10/2020 | 5 | 6 |
| 4/17/2020-5/22/2020 | 6 | 6 |
Sarah Pedrotti is director of student advocacy for Transformation Waco. She has served in various roles with Waco ISD, including elementary school teacher, instructional coach at the middle school level, and assistant principal and principal at the elementary level. Mrs. Pedrotti received her master’s degree in education from Tarleton State University and her bachelor’s in education from Baylor University. Her heartfelt desire to provide teachers with support and coaching, build strong relationships within schools, and tap into the passions of adult and student learners.
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.
escrito por Sara Beth Stoltzfus and Ana Martinez
Criar hijos es difícil. Criar hijos durante una pandemia global es otra cosa. La soledad es algo común en nuestra sociedad y especialmente entre los padres. En esta pandemia estamos aún más asilados, estresados, sin control de las cosas pasando en el mundo. Tal vez también nos estamos sintiendo con menos control de las cosas diarias como nuestras finanzas, el comportamiento de los niños, o nuestra propia salud física y mental.
En MCH Family Outreach, tenemos varios programas de apoyo para padres incluyendo apoyo para una familia individual, utilizando metas creadas específicamente para esa familia, varias clases para padres y al último, grupos de apoyo para padres. ¡Uno de nuestros grupos está en español! Este grupo fue en persona por varios años, pero en este momento, por la seguridad de todos, está virtual por Zoom.
En los grupitos, hablamos de muchos temas diferentes incluyendo: como entender y apoyar los sentimientos de los niños, como disciplinar efectivamente, como comunicar efectivamente entre papas e hijos, como cuidar para uno mismo, como conectar con recursos en la comunidad, y mucho más. A veces hacemos juegos o manualidades y estamos riéndonos y a veces estamos compartiendo las cosas dolorosas de nuestros corazones.
Por todo lo malo que está pasando, también hay cosas buenas. Por ejemplo: hablando por teléfono con familia y amistades, trayendo comida a familiares que no pueden salir de casa, pasando más tiempo con su propia familia y tal vez más tiempo en la naturaleza.
Esperamos que este grupito sea una de las cosas buenas en su vida, que le traiga esperanza, un reconocimiento de su propia fortaleza y un escape de la soledad de estos días. ¡Esperamos conocerlos pronto!
Sara Beth y Ana
*Para registrase, solo llame a uno de los números en el folleto abajo y le mandamos el enlace de zoom. No hay costo para venir. Lo importante es tener un teléfono o computadora con micrófono y camera. Podemos ayudar si se encuentran dificultades.
Sara Beth Stoltzfus es una trabajadora social y ha trabajado con MCH Family Outreach por 6 años. Sara Beth es originalmente del estado de Pennsylvania, pero ha estado viviendo en Tejas por 11 años.
Ana Martinez es una manejadora de casos en MCH Family Outreach y ha trabajado en varias organizaciones en Waco desde 2016. Ella trabaja con familias para dar apoyo y enseñar sobre la crianza y el desarrollo de niños y adolescentes. En su tiempo libre, Ana disfruta salir a caminar con sus perritos y probar comida de restaurantes locales (¡mientras usa su máscara, por supuesto!).
Este blog de “Act Locally Waco” escribe publicaciones con una conexión a estas aspiraciones para Waco. Si quiere escribir algo para el blog de “Act Locally Waco,” por favor envía un correo en ingles a[email protected] para más información.
By Nelissa Davalos
My name is Nelissa, and I am an otherwise healthy 25-year-old female with no prior medical history. In early March, reports of transmission of COVID-19 began to appear in the United States. When my mother learned of the transmissions, she immediately urged us to wear face masks to protect ourselves and those around us. She was terrified of this virus because she has been diagnosed with type-2 Diabetes as well as asthma. Due to these underlying conditions, she is at higher risk of developing serious complications from the virus. When my mother first heard of the virus there were no signs of community spread in Waco, so my small family of three did not wear masks until signs began showing in our county.
My family had previous plans to visit South Padre Island from June 26-30 of 2020 to celebrate my brother joining the U.S. Navy. Our family decided not to cancel this trip. Instead we committed to wearing face masks, sanitizing, social distancing, and quarantining ourselves once we returned to Waco. Although we had made plans to be safe the fact of the matter is – you NEVER know who has been exposed. My father was unknowingly exposed to an infected individual at his workplace Thursday before we left for South Padre Island. Leadership did not inform him right away as I believe they should have. In fact, they did not inform him until two weeks after the incident occurred. Unknowingly, we continued our trip to the beach and followed the rules we had set in place prior to traveling.
Soon after we returned, I received a call from my mother who was in tears. She told me that my father had been notified of his exposure. He had been advised that he and anyone he had been in contact with should get tested. There was dead silence on the phone. I could not believe that we had been put at risk from my own father.
It was frustrating to me to know that no matter the precautions we had taken, we had been put at risk due to the behaviors of others who may have not taken this virus as seriously as we did. Sadly, our test results all returned positive. In the next few weeks my family would begin to experience an array of symptoms. My own symptoms included lower back pain, chills, nausea, diarrhea, a cough which caused shortness of breath, as well as losing my sense of taste. To combat the virus we took vitamin C, ibuprofen, drank ample amounts of water and slept most of the day due to fatigue. Our recovery seemed to be going well.
Then my mother’s recovery took a different route. She was admitted to our local hospital with breathing complications. Her battle with COVID-19 was only beginning. Her doctor explained that her symptoms were worsening, and she was not receiving enough oxygen due to her asthma. The virus was wreaking havoc on her immune system and lungs. Doctors administered insulin and steroids every few hours due to the impact of the virus and her underlying illnesses.
As each day passed, she grew weaker. We were told to prepare for the worst outcome. A blood transfusion was suggested so the antibodies created from a recovered patient would help her combat the virus. We waited anxiously for a match that never came.
Thankfully, days later, my mother began to breathe on her own and was permitted to come home to recover.
As of now, we have all made full recoveries, but there was a moment where we had no idea what would happen. While hospitalized my mother was preparing for the worst outcome. I learned she had made plans for her cremation and written us goodbye letters. This broke my heart to hear. I cried and thanked her as well as my father for doing the best they could with us. Growing up there was never an end to the amount of love and support they provided.
Why is my story important?
Because this could have easily been your story, this could have been your mother, your son, or your husband. I encourage you to read my story and do the following:
Stay home. It is the easiest way to prevent community spread. I have seen first-hand how this virus takes lives. During my mom’s stay in the ICU two women passed away because of this virus. They were only a few doors away from my mother’s room.
Wear a mask. Based on the demographics provided by Mclennan County, the Hispanic population makes up about 50% of positive tests. Of those tested 22 cases are between the ages of 20-29 years of age. You can find this information at coivdwaco.com. We don’t know who is positive and who is not. Wearing a mask can help us slow the spread. Research from the CDC shows some studies have estimated that people without symptoms (whether truly asymptomatic or presymptomatic) could be responsible for up to half of the spread. This is why the virus has been so difficult to contain. You may be harming those you love without realizing it.
If you have recovered, donate plasma. If you have recovered from COVID-19 your body has produced antibodies to combat the virus. I would encourage you to visit Carter Blood Care online and learn how you can provide plasma for treating COVID-19. It may well save the life of a stranger.
You may not be worried about contracting the virus and you may feel as if you have nothing to lose, but there are others with underlying conditions who could lose everything.
If we join together as a community, we can all help keep our loved ones safe so others in our community do not have to experience my family’s story.
Useful links:
- Carter Blood Care – https://www.carterbloodcare.org/plasma-donations-for-treating-covid-19/
- Center for Disease Control – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
- Covidwaco – https://covidwaco.com/
- Article about asymptomatic spread – https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/09/who-comments-asymptomatic-spread-covid-19/
Nelissa Davalos currently serves as the Marketing and Economic Development Coordinator for the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is grateful for the knowledge and inspiration that local entrepreneurs and businesses have shared with her. Nelissa and her husband Ralph are the proud parents of their outgoing son Jacob. In her spare time, she enjoys learning new skills, reading, and spending time with her family. She frequently volunteers for local community organizations located in the greater Waco area, one of her favorite volunteering activities is welcoming children on the first day of school. She currently serves on the solid gold neighbor ambassador council as well as the child well- being core committee for United Way of McLennan County. Nelissa is an advocate for holistic health and in her free time encourages family and friends to take a break from their work life and enjoy their family. She looks forward to creating a positive impact in the Hispanic Community, as well as the Greater Waco area by sharing the impact her chamber has had on her life with today’s growing neighborhood and business sectors.
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.