Hello!
My name is Lee Scheffe, I am thrilled to join Grassroots as the East Waco Community Organizer! I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. I moved to Waco in 2020 to attend Baylor for my undergraduate degree in economics and political science, which I earned in May 2024. While a student at Baylor, I was blessed to work with a number of community organizations and leaders in Waco’s social sector. I served as a grant writer for a local nonprofit, completed an internship at the Community Development department at the City, and spent time volunteering at a number of local charities. These experiences introduced me to the wonderful, powerful, and loving community of Waco. Growing up in Austin, I witnessed firsthand the effects of fast-moving municipal growth. I saw that, sometimes, behind the image of economic vitality, displacement, disenfranchisement, and injustice occurred. I was blessed to be surrounded by a faith community and local organizers who understood the power of listening to local voices and empowering community members to enact the change they wanted to see in their city. These experiences instilled in me a love for community-based change and the value of active and patient listening.
I’ve long held a deep interest in housing. During the summer before my final undergraduate year, I studied vacant housing in Waco and presented my findings to local community leaders. The following semester, I studied the effects of the expansion of short-term rental properties on Waco’s housing market. Through these encounters, I began to explore the intersection between attainable housing options and community flourishing. Most significantly, I learned that working alongside community members and connecting local resources results in loving, charitable, and thriving neighborhoods.
I’m delighted to serve the wonderful community of East Waco and support the powerful stories of its community members. I look forward to being present and supporting East Waco’s community members in their work.