Presenters: April Strickland - Better Living for Texans, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Libby Barnhill - Mission Waco, Gabriel Garmelo - GTG Outdoors, Emily Hills - Urban Reap, Rae Lucas - Waco Family MedicineLocation: Mission Waco, 1315 N. 15th St, Waco, TX 76707, 1-4 p.m.Strands: Community Engagement & Partnership, Nature for All, Physical & Mental HealthParticipants will learn how Better Living for Texans (BLT) has partnered with local organizations to increase youth programming. They will be able to bring back new community partnership ideas and inspiration to their prospective counties and seek out the BLT Agent there for resources and opportunities to create new partnerships.
Despite all the resources available in the area, there are still hundreds of homeless in Waco and many of them are young people. Mission Waco will share how they are reaching youth in a variety of programs. The group will journey over to Mission Waco’s ‘The Rock’ and hear how GTG Outdoors is aiding in this effort.
Then Urban Reap will discuss local Food Insecurity, Food Access, and Food Sovereignty during a tour of the Jubilee Food Market and walk through demonstration gardens to highlight how they are creating community engagement while also providing youth-centered activities and spaces.
Everyone will walk one block over to tour the Waco Family Medicine Wellness Center to see where patients can exercise indoors by appointment or on the outdoor work out equipment at their convenience. Families can exercise together and be outdoors!
Participants will also be introduced to the Junior Master Gardner’s Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go Program. Everyone will participate in a Hands-On Cooking Demonstration and Interactive Lesson Example utilizing ingredients from the Community Gathering Space Garden sponsored by Waco Family Medicine. This is a teaching garden that is always accessible to the community. A little dirt never hurt! See ya there!
