Linda Crawford may not be “from” Waco, but the educator and publisher has devoted her last four decades to improving the community one lesson and newspaper column at a time.
Along the way she has helped countless Wacoans find their voice.
Crawford is the owner and editor of The Anchor News, a monthly Central Texas newspaper dedicated to uplifting stories and celebrating the achievements of Black and Latino people across the community.
She and her husband, J.L. Crawford, founded The Anchor News in 2002. Since then it has been a fount of positive community stories, profiles, event coverage and information on topics such as health and homeownership. The recent February issue included profiles on Waco Police Chief Sheryl Victorian, Elm Avenue retail veteran Marilyn Banks and other entrepreneurs and achievers.
The 16-page monthly newspaper is distributed in more than 300 locations.
Crawford said the purpose of the paper is not profit but uplifting the community.
She said her goal is to bring readers “just the good stuff” while helping connect businesses and organizations with the people they serve.
“It blesses me when people say The Anchor blesses them,” she said.
Crawford is a retired English professor at McLennan Community College, and she continues to teach there part-time while serving as a part-time instructional aide at Premier High School.
As if that’s not enough, Crawford is also an author and life coach. She wrote the book “God, Destiny, and a Glass of Wine” and authored a five-day devotional on the Bible app YouVersion titled “Defeating Depression.” Through her business, Enjoy the Journey Life Coaching Services, she encourages others to pursue growth, resilience and purpose.
Crawford said that as a child she knew she was destined to become a teacher, but that path wasn’t straightforward. She worked her way through college, then left her junior year when she became pregnant. She recalled that a department head made a discouraging prediction.
“She told me and several classmates that she knew I would never amount to anything,” Crawford recalls.
But someone else offered a different vision of her future.
“My daddy told me I could do anything I set my mind to do, so I believed my daddy,” she said . “My dad is gone now, but I can still hear his words: ‘Kiddo, you can do anything you set yo’ mind to do.’ ”
Crawford eventually returned to her studies, completed her bachelor’s degree and began working on her master’s degree. She taught English at schools in Georgia in Florida before moving to Waco to teach at MCC in 1989. There she would help shape generations of students.
After decades in Waco, Crawford has watched the city grow and change while still holding onto its deep sense of community.
“Waco is a city that continues to grow and evolve,” she said. “We have seen new businesses, new development and new people coming into the community.”
“Many longtime residents care deeply about preserving the culture, relationships and traditions that make this city special,” she said.
Looking ahead, Crawford hopes Waco’s growth continues in ways that include and uplift everyone.
“My hope for Waco’s future is that growth continues in a way that includes everyone,” she said. “I would like to see more opportunities for young people, more support for local entrepreneurs and continued investment in education.”
She also hopes the city will continue to honor the people and stories that built the community.
“A city is strongest when progress and heritage grow together,” she said.
