Posts by Ferrell Foster
People with disabilities face specific financial challenges
By Meg Wallace Supplemental Security Income recipients are getting a 5.9% raise in 2022! That sounds like a hefty increase until you realize that in 2021 the maximum SSI benefit was $794. Almost nine out of 10 apartments in Waco rent for more than $700 a month, and rents are rising rapidly. So how do…
Read MoreMCC honored for COVID response
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has recognized McLennan Community College for its outstanding efforts to respond to COVID-19. MCC and nine other colleges and universities were recognized as Star Award recipients during THECB’s quarterly board meeting. MCC will be recognized again Dec. 2 during the 2021 Higher Education Leadership Conference in Austin. The annual…
Read MoreSocial worker at Waco PD helping connect people to needed help
By Telawna Kirbie The City of Waco now has a full-time social worker, DeAngela Bynum, at the Waco Police Department and employed by Prosper Waco. The goal of her work is to connect community members to much-needed social resources and supports as part of PW’s Waco Connect program. Obviously, one person cannot do this for…
Read MoreResearch reveals ‘racialized’ roots of financial exclusion
By Dexter Hall During my many readings about financial security and understanding how we arrived at this point in time, I have run across many articles and commentary. An article by Rocio Sanchez-Moyano and Bina Shrimali, of the Federal Reserve Bank, sheds light on how years of financial exclusion of Black and Brown communities have…
Read MoreChalk art obstacle courses come to life in Waco parks
Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, Creative Waco, and City of Waco Parks and Recreation collaborated to create the Sidewalk Chart Art Obstacle Course Challenge. The Challenge was a community-wide project that tasked families to get outside and get creative by drawing their best sidewalk chalk obstacle course. The Health District received multiple submissions from the…
Read MoreAct Locally Waco seeking temporary communications director
By Ferrell Foster It has been a privilege serving as acting executive director of Act Locally Waco since January, but it is time for me to step aside from this volunteer leadership role. The ALW Board of Directors, I’m happy to announce, has decided to secure a paid Communications Director to work on a contract…
Read More‘Behavior Basics for Teachers’ course set for MCC Continuing Education
By Corsi Crews I am so grateful to introduce myself and announce upcoming opportunities for us to learn and grow together. I am affectionately known as Dr. Behavior. I come by my nickname honestly, as I have been working as a behavior interventionist for more than 20 years, primarily working with the most significant behavior…
Read MoreFamilies sometimes break down
By Ferrell Foster Families come in a variety of forms, and they serve varied personal and social services. One of the key functions of family is to nurture the growth and development of children by providing for a child’s basic human needs. We all know, however, that some families become unable to provide the needed…
Read MoreWhy is it so hard to talk with teens about sex?
By Beth Olson How did you learn about sex when you were a kid? I love the way adults laugh and respond to this question. “I just remember my parents leaving a book in my room.” “Our football coach taught us … kind of.” “I didn’t learn anything!” Then I ask … Raise your hand…
Read MoreImagine a day without water & do something
Submitted by Melissa Mullins Imagine a Day Without Water is a national day of action on Oct. 21 to raise awareness about the value of water. Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes from? What about where your wastewater goes? For the seventh annual day, we may take a few steps beyond…
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