Grant Proposal Writing – 7 Ways to Break the Writer’s Block

The scene is all to familiar (and may bring back bad memories for some readers): a deadline for an english paper is due…the deadline seems to be sitting on the horizon but quickly approaches while actual progress of the paper’s draft remains at a frozen stand-still. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. That deadline is coming whether…

Statistics Never Define a Community

Earlier this month, I participated in a speaker’s panel at Baylor University. The following is a response I had concerning the implications of local poverty statistics. What an honor to participate in a small way in a significant week for our community. A few facts I shared while on 1/3 of a Nation (a play…

Panhandling: Sometimes the Best Gift is Not Giving…

Originally posted on Act Locally Waco – November 9, 2014 Believe it or not, only 35 business days remain until Christmas Day. This headline would intimidate most, but not this seasoned last minute shopper. I consider it a countdown to when I will surely shine the brightest. For many of us holiday traditions offer community,…

Pay Day Lending: Joining hands to Insist on Good Business Practice

Football season is here. As an Aggie transplant to Waco, I have a new struggle: competing loyalties as I slowly learn to cheer for my new home team, Baylor University. On August 28th, the Family Health Center auditorium was buzzing with the energy of a packed football stadium on the Brazos. But, unlike a crowd…

The Tragedy of an Unaccepted Compliment

For many of us the scene is all too common: we completed our presentation. A well-rehearsed speech in 5 minutes seems to be a disgrace towards the weeks of diligent preparation, late nights and personal sacrifices that collectively summarize themselves in the neat and concise work. Your professor, boss, team or board applaud to confirm…

Unwrapping a Basic Understanding of Veteran Homelessness

“It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families and our nation’s Veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country”  – President Obama, June 18, 2009. Who is your favorite superhero? It seems like the silver screen is flush with superhero smash hits every summer. Batman, with his man cave and great car, is my…

Unwrapping a Basic Understanding of Child Homelessness

Originally Posted on Act Locally Waco Community Blog, January 26, 2014. The previous months welcomed the annual holiday season. Some of us spent time unwrapping gifts with high anticipation for what would be revealed underneath the glitter and flashy paper. In one of our previous posts we talked about the rise of homelessness among a…