Waco Voices began with a desire to better understand this city through the personal stories of the people who live here, and to recognize those doing meaningful work in our community who rarely seek the spotlight.
Over the past year, we’ve had the chance to sit down with seven individuals from across Waco and share their stories through photos, text and short videos. Each conversation offered a different window into this city shaped by neighborhoods, family, work, and lived experience.
The people featured through Waco Voices are doing important work quietly. They’re building community, showing up for others, and contributing to Waco in ways that don’t always draw attention.
What these conversations made clear is that Waco isn’t defined by a single narrative. It’s a collection of lived experiences, sometimes overlapping, sometimes very different – all shaping what this place is and what it can become. Waco Voices exists to make space for that complexity, not to speak for the community, but to let the community speak for itself.
As this project continues in 2026, our goal remains the same: to listen closely, to honor the stories people trust us with, and to preserve them as part of Waco’s living history. Telling the story of Waco from different angles and experiences has made this project a very fun ride.
Jimmy Bennett introduces local kids and adults to nature and community through fishing, using his own boat and passion for the outdoors to create meaningful connections across Waco.
Vincent Thomas, a Waco native and multidisciplinary artist, draws inspiration from his hometown while mentoring young creatives and using art as a tool for community expression and cultural reflection.
Through decades of coaching and service, Juliett Jones has used basketball as a way to build relationships and positively shape generations of Waco kids at the Doris Miller Community Center.
Alexandra Brock founded the McLennan County Diaper Collective to support families with dignity, providing essential resources that help keep babies clean, healthy, and cared for across the county.
Ricardo Felix has spent years mentoring student-athletes as a basketball coach, emphasizing discipline, accountability, and life skills that extend far beyond the court.
Larry Bethea Jr. continues to serve veterans year-round, creating spaces for connection, support, and dignity for those who have served through consistent community outreach and care.
Monika Long created a welcoming space where motherhood and fitness intersect, helping parents prioritize their health while building community and support with others navigating the same season of life.
Be sure to follow The Waco Bridge on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to see more from this series.
Waco Voices is a project by The Waco Bridge to highlight unsung heroes in our community who are bringing about positive change. If you know of someone we should highlight in this series, email Community Engagement and Events Manager Dominic Villa at dominic.villa@wacobridge.org.
