WacoYP - January ENewsletter

Waco Young Professionals // January 2014







WacoYP Events
Jan. 30: Industry Tour at
Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center

Feb. 5: February Lunch
Meeting - "Tax Tips for Young
Professionals"
Chamber Events
Feb. 27: Hour Economy



Community Connection:
Act Locally Waco


2013 Holiday Gala:
In the Spotlight

Thanks to everyone for joining us at the 2013
WacoYP Holiday Gala. We had a great time, and
here is the proof to show it! J ason & Melaina
Photography was on hand to take great portraits
of attendees and action shots of the evening's
activities!


Building Social Capital
by Alex Shiu, 2014 President
What attracts young professionals? Is it the
weather, commuting time, crime rates,
unemployment rates, home values or even
pollution levels? My graduate school thesis topic
was based on the premise that it is good for a city
to attract a highly educated work force that can
increase productivity and economic growth in the
long run. Cities successful in attracting and
maintaining human capital are known as creative
hubs where groups of professionals can learn
from one another and foster innovation and the
synergy of ideas.

The Greater Waco Chamber recognizes this and
has invested in you, the young professionals of
Challenge grant for Waco
Community Development
Corporation makes this a great
time to give!
Like to bake? Like to make crafts?
Shepherd's Heart Food Pantry
needs your help!
Jan. 30: Pack of Hope Fundraiser
at Poppa Rollo's Pizza
Feb. 1: 27th Annual Fishing Event
for Very Special People
Feb. 4: Mission Waco Banquet

For more information about
Act Locally, please visit
ActLocallyWaco.org.




Greater Waco Chamber
101 S. Third St.
Waco, Texas 76701
[email protected]





Waco, Texas. As young professionals, we are all
busy with our careers and family responsibilities,
but I encourage you to be active in the Waco
Young Professionals (WacoYP) organization.
Coming to the monthly lunch meetings, attending
the professional development Summit, industry
tours, service projects or our annual Christmas
party will connect you with other professionals in
our area.

When I first started attending WacoYP programs,
I might have known one person in the entire
room. But as I've gotten more involved I now
have friends and colleagues in higher education,
social services, banking, law, engineering, health
care and the music industry that I would have
otherwise never met. These people have
enriched my social capital network and are a
great resource.

Get involved with all of the WacoYP programs.
Make as many connections as you can. As with
many other things in life, you will get out of it what
you put into it.


Make Greater Waco a
Greater Place to Live
through Service
by Andrew Cano, 2014 Service Chair
As young professionals, it is easy to become lost
within our own worlds. We are trying to expand
our social network as we seek to build personal
and professional adult relationships. Despite the
tumultuousness of this stage of our lives, it is
important to identify opportunities to help improve
our local community and help those less
fortunate.

In Waco, the poverty rate is an astronomical 28.7
percent (according to data in a 2012 report from
the Poverty Solutions Steering Committee of the
Waco City Council). Such poverty is stifling to
growth and all of us, regardless of financial
circumstances, are directly affected by this as
high poverty equates to higher crime, a bigger
burden on our local governments' resources and
challenges in recruiting both new employers and
residents. Each of us are fortunate to have
educational and professional experiences that
help make Waco a better place to live.

Our community is home to many wonderful
agencies with specific missions aimed at
improving life for all those who call Waco home.
There is no shortage of opportunities to serve in!
As part of the WacoYP service component, we
will be regularly alerting you to areas where
young professionals would be of particular help.
All we ask is that you consider finding just one
opportunity that realistically fits your schedule.








Greater Waco Chamber | 101 S. Third St. | Waco | TX | 76701