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The Education Summit
Given my dream of an extreme make-over for EW in the areas of economic, residential and educational development, the education summit was the place to be. When you consider a quote from the summit, “Quality of life and economic vitality of a community are directly tied to the strength of educational opportunities and achievements of its students. Education means a higher standard of living and a greater quality of life for all of us” - Bingo! A community expectation of higher education for all students is a natural fit.
I sat in on the Media workgroup and learned one of the best kept secrets in Waco - the Texas Workforce Commission - it’s way beyond the Texas Employment Office from ‘back in the day’. Lot’s of opportunities there for someone short on funds that would like to further their education.
There were lots of people at the summit and lots of ideas which means there’s lots of work to be done to become a community engaged in the support of the educational process of its students from birth through post-secondary.
I hope you’ll take the time to investigate and find a place to get involved.
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May I Have Your Attention, Please…
Because there are so many demands for our attention, this significant opportunity could easily be overlooked. The Greater Waco Education Summit on November 19-21 at the Waco Convention Center is the place to be if you are interested in being on the same sheet of music with people who are setting goals to maximize our quality of life and enhance our economic future.
Oftentimes working people like me miss out on events like these because they are typically held during working hours. However, the planning committee of the summit has made every effort to eliminate that challenge by repeating the daytime workshops in the evening as well. Click here for details and registration http://educatewaco.com.
The ultimate mission of the summit is to develop a COMMUNITY expectation of higher education for ALL students that will maximize OUR quality of life and enhance OUR economic future. Please do not miss this opportunity. Failure to participate could adversely affect the future of our community. I hope to see you there.
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We Have in No Way Given Up…
I can see why my friend Early would ask if we have given up on an EW make-over, but no, no, no - we have not given up. In fact, I know that a make-over is headed for EW. What I don’t know is whether people that look like you and me will take advantage of the opportunities.
Tell me, if you could participate in an EW make-over by owning or managing a business, on Elm Street in particular, what would it be? Would you be willing to manage if you couldn’t own? Would you be willing to make an investment? Would you be willing to partner with a property owner? Would an EW make-over characterize cultural diversity? Or would you do nothing and when someone else did, would you criticize them for not spending their money the way you thought they should?
The question remains, what do you want and what are you willing to do to get it? You might have to take some risks. You might have to step out of your comfort zone. You might have to be flexible and give and take a little. You might have to work a lot. You might have to invest a lot.You might even have to learn something that you don’t know that you don’t know.
Ahhhhhhh, but wouldn’t an extreme make-over in EW be worth it?
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I Need Some Help…
It’s been 9-months since the What Do You Want blog was conceived. That means something should be born about now, yet I need some help with the delivery. Is there a doctor or mid-wife in the house to help put all this together to see what has come from 9-months of discussion? Anyone have the impetus to chart it into a report?
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And Like I Was Saying…
I still want an extreme make-over for EW and I don’t care who helps to make that happen. An extreme make-over for EW will benefit all of Waco. The prospect of revitalization continues to excite me and I still believe it can happen. Losing G. L. Wiley was not what I wanted, but in reality, there’s give and take in getting what you want. Yet, I believe knowing what you want is a key component to getting at least some of what you want.
I believe collaboration is vital to growth and development in EW. I would love to see leaders in EW come together with leaders in ‘other Waco’ and discuss the needs of the community and what is the best plan for making it happen in the shortest amount of time.
We could brainstorm how we might all benefit from a culturally diverse community.
Quoting from a recent editorial, “Imagine if every decision we made had to meet the triple bottom line criteria; people, planet, profit. It means that to be considered profitable, the money-making activity needs to serve people, not harm them or the planet.”
Now doesn’t that sound like a game worth playing?
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WISD - Now that you have them…
Now that you have our babies from G. L. Wiley, take good care of them. Prove to us that extra curricular activities will cause their grades to go up. Prove to us that all the opportunities you say they will have at other schools will cause them to be more successful. Prove that you can do a better job of educating them than the staff at Wiley was doing. Prove that you won’t let them fall through the cracks. (Some of them may feel a bit displaced and fearful and they may not know how to deal with it.) Treat them like you would anyone that might be grieving the loss of something special. Remember they’re just babies.
And if it doesn’t work out, send them back…it was working at Wiley.
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No More Decisions About Us, Without Us…
That’s the message I’m hearing and I hope Waco decision makers are hearing. EW is ready and willing to come to the decision making table. Hopefully next time, it won’t be such an expensive lesson to learn.
We care about our babies and we care about our community. My hat is off to the men and women who decided enough is enough and took a stand for G. L. Wiley and EW.
I raised the question months ago, who are the leaders in EW? I have have found them.
More later, it’s time for me to get ready to go to work.
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An Observation…
If education was a numbers game, G. L. Wiley was coming up way short of the standard with only 200+ students expected to enroll in the fall. If it was all about dollars and cents, G. L. Wiley was not making the grade in that category either. If you graded them on parental involvement, by comparison, they probably scored less than other schools in the district. However, anyone really interested in educating kids, most especially, under-privileged kids, might look beyond those factors and say, “How might we help kids and families that lack the resources and support systems that we take for granted?” They might even ask, “How much more can we do?”
A good friend of mine in ‘other Waco’ has a son in middle school that just can’t seem to keep up with the other kids, in spite of the fact that he is very bright. My friend has spent thousands and thousands of dollars having him tested. She has spent hours helping him with his homework. She has changed schools and hired tutors. She’s had to take time away from work. His dad, both grandmothers, and other family members have lent their support in one way or another. Teachers have worked with them by allowing alternative methods to accommodate his learning style. And yes, there has been some improvement.
The difference in my friend and her son in ‘other Waco’ and the kids/parents in EW is resources and support systems. How fortunate are those who have them and how unfortunate for those that lack them and school districts that think spending more money in a challenged area is too costly.
How much time and money would you invest in your child’s education? How much time would you spend if your child had challenges at school? How many family members could you call on? How much time could you spend off work?
And by the way, how would you feel if your child was finally showing progress and was getting the attention he/she needed, right in your neighborhood, but two weeks before school started the district administrators decided to close the school and bus your child into a more crowded situation because it cost too much to educate him or her? How far would your resources and support system take you in this new environment?
God help the child…
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Community Visioning…When Does it Reach EW?
As I awoke this morning, my heart still grieving over the loss of G.L. Wiley, I began to wonder about the Community Visioning Project - Many Voices. One Vision; I began to wonder how long it will be before EW benefits from some of the lofty goals of the project.
I looked over the colorful brochure and I couldn’t tell. I reviewed the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s Strategic Economic Development Plan and I couldn’t tell from that. Given the decision to close Wiley and Doris Miller, I couldn’t tell from that.
I considered all the development that is going on in Waco and I wondered, when will it arrive in EW? I couldn’t help but think, how much longer can we hold on? Losing Wiley was a heart breaker for my dream of EW’s educational, economic and residential development.
It would be nice to have a date to hold onto - something that says, your turn is coming EW, just hang on. Something that says, you’re a part of Greater Waco, we haven’t forgotten you.
Mayor Dupuy, can you give me a clue? Jim Vaughn, are we on the radar? Larry Groth, anything on the agenda? Councilman Austin, can you give me a little hope?
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Dear God, What A Disappointment…
What a blow to the EW commumity and the make-over with the decision by the school board to close Wiley Middle School. It’s like they decided to close off one of the main arteries left open to the heart of Waco with no regard to the life it would suck out of the community.
I think Rev. Nikka Davis’ sports analogy said it best, Imagine the Waco High Lions driving down the field with a minute left on the clock. They’ve been behind all game, but they have one more chance to score and win. They’ve been making progress down the field. Now it’s fourth down with the ball on the opponent’s 10-yard line. Suddenly, the coach sends in the play: Just kneel and quit.
From my perspective, that’s an “unacceptable performance”.
I must admit I was so proud of the way the kids, commuity leaders, and concerned citizens came together tonight. I have not seen that in a very long time. I hope we keep it up. Just because the board gave up on Wiley does not mean we have to.
Dear God, show us where we go from here.
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Dear God, What Do You Want?
Wow, did things get out of control or what! The postings in the latter part of July got so vicious and hateful that I couldn’t stand it anymore. I wanted to walk away, but at the same time, I didn’t want to walk away. So I pulled away and talked to my Dad, i.e., my heavenly Father, for a while. After all, when it’s all said and done, isn’t it all about what He wants.
So how about we start all over? I’ve asked my Dad to watch over the blog and to help us stay civil and kind to each other as we discuss the process of an extreme make-over for EW. So from this point, He’s in charge.
Sorry, it’s time to get ready to go to work, but keep talking…God is listening.
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Enough is Enough…
When I started this community blog, it was with the intent to start a dialogue about what we want for EW. The hope was that a vision would be established and we would begin working together to make it happen. Well, that part of it has happened. However, the blog has turned into a mean-spirited opportunity to publically defame the character of people I have grown to love and enjoy working with. It’s not fun anymore.
Therefore, it is my intention to discontinue the What Do You Want blog, yet my goal for an extreme makeover for EW remains the same.
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This is out of the box thinking…Think about it…
I didn’t want this comment by Ingrid Martine to be lost among the many, so I decided to print it as a ‘Guest Entry”.
President Abraham Lincoln said,
Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.As you said, Carol, an extreme makeover in East Waco needs some out of the box thinking, or in President Lincoln’s words, seeks regions hitherto unexplored. And yes, www.greenforall.org is a great place to find some of the regions not yet explored in and for Waco. So here are my thoughts that frame the vision that follows.
- Waco’s well-being cannot be divorced from East Waco’s well-being.
- In the Greater Waco Strategic Economic Plan there’s room for East Waco even though EW is not specifically mentioned.
- I suspect Waco would appreciate help and support and ideas off the beaten path for these extraordinary times we live in.
- This is the time where we must demonstrate clarity of vision, focused energy on goals that derive from the vision, and collaboration, commitment, and good will among all key stakeholders.
My **vision is the formation of a “for social profit entity” (Perhaps it could be called Green Opportunities Waco .G.O.Waco). This organization recognizes that there are grand opportunities for economic growth in the new green economy. G.O. Waco dismantles the standard and customary (and very tired) notion that greening America is bad for the economy. G.O. Waco encourages and supports an inclusive green economy that grows Waco’s middle class by creating green pathways out of poverty and bringing the community together in committed action that benefits community, families, individuals, and the planet that supports all. G.O. Waco’s mission is to advocate locally and nationally for a commitment to green collar job creation and training as well as entrepreneurial opportunities in the emerging green economy, especially for people from disadvantaged segments of the community, thereby fighting both poverty and pollution at the same time. G.O. Waco also promotes positive alternatives for economic development through education and linkage to cutting-edge national campaigns that can be modified and duplicated locally.
Here’s a definition of green collar jobs. You’ll see they are designed to have people earn a living wage, one on which they can support a family. It’s a job that can lead to greater opportunities. Green jobs address two crucial concerns-restoring the environment and making a living. Green collar jobs consist of work within the growing industries that are helping us kick the oil habit, curb green-house gas emissions, eliminate toxins, and protect natural systems. Green collar workers are installing solar panels, retrofitting buildings to make them more efficient, constructing transit lines, refining waste oil into biodiesel, erecting wind farms, repairing hybrid cars, building green rooftops, planting trees, and so much more. These green jobs connect a person’s commitment to their work with a commitment to the planet, while building a vibrant, restorative economy. A job that does something for the planet, and little to nothing for the people, or the economy, however, does not qualify.
Why does this fit with Greater Waco’s Economic Development Plan? Read it for yourself, and you’ll see (Although I can see that when the plan talks about collaboration I don’t see citizen groups well represented. And the benchmarks and performance measures are not always S.M.A.R.T. , that is, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. Nonetheless, it sets the direction and is probably flexible.). I do see that there’s a commitment to creating more jobs, enhance education, training, and workforce development programs, increase labor force participation, and reduce poverty rates., for example. I also heard (This is not verified) that requests to the African American Chamber are out to suggest implementation strategies.
There is also money going to become available when Congress appropriates the money ($125 million per year) for the Green Jobs Act of 2007 whose purpose it is to create an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.
An extreme makeover of East Waco will be possible when people who live there have living wage jobs and are invested in the community. They’ll be able to purchase the more affordable homes promised by the Greater Waco Economic Development Plan. They’ll be able to take advantage of home purchasing assistance programs (or better yet, not even need those programs!). They may very well have jobs retrofitting public buildings in the city, plant roof gardens that lower energy leakage and costs. They may weatherize Waco’s houses, including, of course, East Waco’s. They might install solar panels with assistance from programs designed to support such projects on their own homes and/or public buildings. If you look carefully at the Economic Development Plan, all that is possible. I’m just being more specific than the plan. The plan is the strategy, and I’m envisioning some of the specific ways in which the strategy can be demonstrated in action.
We live in extraordinary time, and it’s time for extraordinary results. They will be achieved with a committed citizenry. There’s a core group of people who are creating G.O. Waco (or whatever name is ultimately chosen). If you would like to be involved and get on our-mail mailing list, contact coachmartine@g-mail.com.
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A Week Away and…
Boys, boys…it didn’t take long for the sparring to begin again, did it? It’s okay, I suspected as much. Now that you’ve got that out of your system, let’s get back to the dream of an extreme make-over for EW.
I’ve been looking into how EW might ride the wave of the new green economy. Take a look at www.greenforall.org and let me know if you see how EW might benefit from something like this.
Remember, it’s going to take some out of the box thinking to get us out of the box. Penny for your thoughts…
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Out of Pocket…
I’ll be out of pocket for a week, with little and maybe no access to the blog. (I know I’ll go through withdrawals.) I’ll be back on Monday.
If the make-over happens while I’m away, I won’t be mad.
Fred, be nice. Mikey, I hope you’re doing well. Everyone else, keep your eye on the price and have I asked you lately, What Do You Want?
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This is What Happens When We’re Not at the Table…
How exciting to see Waco’s leaders take a trip to Chattanooga as a model for redevelopment, but I agree with Loren Schwartz who said “the planning process needs to include the whole community, including minorities and representatives of East Waco. That diversity was not refllected in the Waco delegation”. It was said that several minority leaders were invited, but could not make the trip on short notice. I wondered when they were invited because this trip has been on the agenda for quite sometime and was not planned on short notice. What minority leaders were invited?
Loren, you hit the nail on the head - minorities need to be at the table. How else can our views be considered? How else can our interests be served? Decisions that involve ‘us’ need to include ‘us’.
What do I want? I want proper representation at the decision making table. Fred, this is not an opportunity to fuss, it is a time to get involved. How do we get to the table? Let’s not be guilty of painting our own selves out of the picture.
To my brothers and sisters who have retired and have time on your hands, good sense and a voice that cares for the community you came from, why not represent us at the decision-making table? We need you.
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What Would Happen If…
I understand there are a significant number of churches in EW that deposit a significant amount of money each week in various banks in the city. What do you suppose would happen if they all became selective about where they made their deposits? Is it possible that adequate financing for development in EW is already available? I think it would be a good idea to add wise handling of our finances, good business practices and common union to our prayer list for EW.
As we approach the celebration of the 143 anniversary of our emancipation in Texas, I think a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed and worked together for our liberation might be for us to sacrifice and work together for EW. Think about it…
Happy Juneteenth!
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It’s Time to Pray
In this Bible-belt town, where we talk of knowing the Almighty, all-powerful great I Am personally, when was the last time you talked to Him specifically about EW? “Well that’s too long.”
For some the answer to an extreme make-over for EW is to bring in more police, throw all the ner-do-wells in jail and throw away the key - then re-build from there. The challenge with that is that the seeming ner-do-wells are people and the truth is, we have no throw away species, we have no throw away chldren - we have no throw away communities.
So if you know the Almighty personally, the next time you talk to Him, would you ask Him what He wants for EW and how you might be a part of His plan?
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The Challenge
Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.
From The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn
What do you want and what are you going to do?
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What Does It Look Like?
I want to know what a healthy, vibrant commumity looks like? We’ve talked a lot about an extreme make-over for EW, but what are the ‘must-haves’ for a healthy community? What has to happen to sustain it?
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Can You Say Thank You?
Sometimes the conversations that appear on this blog leave you with the impression that Waco is an awful, uncaring, crime-infested place to live. Yet, quite the opposite is true, which is one of the reasons I am proud to make my home here. Make no mistake about it, we’ve got lots of room to grow, but there are lots of good people doing lots of good things that EW benefits from as well as the entire community.
Click on this link http://www.seedspublishers.org/work-locally-waco to stay abreast of some of the good that’s being done. The goal of this site is to keep each other informed about events in the Waco area that might be of interest to people who are concerned about hunger and poverty in our community and the world. You might even want to participate. It’s also a place to post events that you would like to make known.
Additionally, I would like to say thank you to the Waco PD. I have intentionally driven around EW early morning and late night and have seen a visible presence in the neighborhood. I’ve even stopped them to say thank you. Fred and Mikey, can you say thank you? Come on, you can do it:)
Latest comments
Ms.Dugat I commend you for your tenacity and willingness to place yourself in the line of fire so to speak.My suggestion is really all about concept and logistics.The way Waco community and economic developers should look at this part of our city. Each
... read the full comment by James Duarte | Comment on The Education Summit Read The Education Summit
nice to see the serious and sincere efforts…stay patience, stay focused…its not an overnight deal esp when youve been kept from opportunity for whatever reasons..but anything is possible with the right attitude, right effort and a little help.
... read the full comment by neil | Comment on The Education Summit Read The Education Summit
True indeed Bruce. It is in our actions, not just our thoughts that anything happens.
... read the full comment by Carol Dugat | Comment on No More Decisions About Us, Without Us... Read No More Decisions About Us, Without Us...
It would be nice if the community would come together before a crises or big event. Why does it take a major occurrence to wake up parents or some leaders? Prevention is not something that just happens. Visionary individuals that get involved before
... read the full comment by Bruce | Comment on No More Decisions About Us, Without Us... Read No More Decisions About Us, Without Us...