Here is a brief history of Grassroots over the many years of service.
February – Waco Community Development undertook its first house construction project by taking an older home and completely rehabbing the home.
April – Waco Community Development become recognized by the city as a Community Housing Development Organization(CHDO). One of three in Waco.
September – The Waco City Council reviewed and endorsed the Master Plan.
October – The Waco City Council awarded a contract with Waco Community Development for the lots in North Waco. Waco Community Development maintains lots and can buy them for construction of homes.
November – Mike Stone came on board as the Executive Director.
December – ground was broke for Waco Community Development’s first new home in north Waco.
2003 started off with the first new construction CHDO homes for north Waco. A local builder, EDC homes was awarded the contract to build two new 1350 sq ft, 3 bedroom/2 bath homes. Two great homes were constructed.
2004 started off with the construction of chdo #3.
Waco Community Development was officially recognized as a Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Counseling agency. February – Waco Community Development began providing free homebuyer counseling and credit counseling.
April – M.L. Dickey was contracted to be the construction manager for Waco Community Development.
chdo #4 construction was started
chdo #5 construction was started
2005 was kick started with a luncheon raising funds for the Waco’s Community Development first large middle income home, the Sullivan house. Over 104 people contributed $90,000 for the construction of the home.
April – The Heart of Texas Builders association joined in the support of the Sullivan House with a very successful fundraiser.
Abby Sobel joined Waco Community Development as a part-time administration assistant.
CHDO #6 was constructed
CHDO #7 was constructed
CHDO #8 was constructed
July – The Sullivan House construction began.
August – Rehab #3 began
January – We started on CHDO #9
February – we moved into our new office at 1624 Colcord on the 28th.
We closed on the Sullivan House and the family moved in.
March – CHDO #5 family bought their house and moved in.
April – CHDO #8 family bought their house and moved in.
REHAB #4 family bought their house and moved in.
May – CHDO #9 family bought their house and moved in.
June – CHDO #7 family bought their house and moved in.
Summer Projects:
October – REHAB #5 family bought their house and moved in.
December – Another Middle income family purchase a house that we built for them.
January – Another new house on Street of Dreams and Party
Americorp: Adrian started working with us.
March – Another great home and party.
April – Double party with Sullivan 2 and a Rehab house.
May – Milestone House Completed.
June – Walker Moore came on staff as our fulltime community Organizer
August – We moved in another great couple to a rehabbed house.
September – Dori Messarra joined our staff as an intern.
October – Claudia Olivas-Meza joined our staff as a Housing Counselor.
We Started on our Street of Dreams II
February – Another new house
First Learning Walk at Brook Ave. Elementary
April – New Homeowner on Street of Dreams 2.
2nd New Homeowner
May – 3rd New Homeowner
July – New Homeowner
August – 1st Annual Back to School Bash
Beth Kilpatrick started her Master of Social Work Internship
September – New Homeowner.
December – Gabriela Gatlin started working
January – Karmeshia started her internship with us.
February – Another new house and happy homeowner
New Homeowner on Street of Dreams 2.
March – Wesley United Methodist Church – McKinney Service Project
April – New Homeowner
Cub Pack 893 – Spring Hike in Cameron Park
Beth Kilpatrick received the Outstanding Field Intern
May – Jeff Gravens graduated Truett Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity
Beth Kilpatrick graduated Baylor Univesity with a Master’s of Social Work
Cub Pack 893 – Rock Climbing Adventure
June – Dan Ritter started as a Volunteer Coordinator
Lance Terrell started as a Volunteer Coordinator
August – 2nd Annual Back to School Bash
September – Another New Homeowner
New Homeowners
New Homeowners
Anastasia started her Master of Social work internship with us.
October – Another New Homeowner
West Ave had its first learning walk with 16 parents attending.
November – We started new houses on North 12th Street
New HomeOwners: 22
May – Another new homeowner on north 12th street
West Ave. Elementary received a “Recognized” Rating the states 2nd highest from TEA
Brook Ave. Elementary received a “Recognized” Rating the states 2nd highest from TEA
Our community Organizer Walker moore received the “Outstanding Volunteer award” for the 2009-2010 school year from Waco’s Adopt a School program
June – 12th street new homeowner
July – hUD cancelled its contract with the owners of parkside and issues housing Vouchers to the tenants and the apartments are vacated.
237 volunteers with world changers reroofed twelve houses, painted four houses and built two ramps.
August – 3rd Annual back to school bash
Another new homeowner on north 15th
JoEllen Baiza joined our office team.
September – Bethany molinar and Diamanate maya joined our team as Baylor School of Social Work interns.
Another new homeowner on north 15th
The community started working on a mster plan for commercial development along colcord Avenue with Gideotoal out of Fort Worth.
October – Another new homeowner on north 12th
May – Another new homeowner on north 12th street
West Ave. Elementary received a “Recognized” Rating the states 2nd highest from TEA
Brook Ave. Elementary received a “Recognized” Rating the states 2nd highest from TEA
Our community Organizer Walker moore received the “Outstanding Volunteer award” for the 2009-2010 school year from Waco’s Adopt a School program
June – 12th street new homeowner
July – hUD cancelled its contract with the owners of parkside and issues housing Vouchers to the tenants and the apartments are vacated.
237 volunteers with world changers reroofed twelve houses, painted four houses and built two ramps.
August – 3rd Annual back to school bash
Another new homeowner on north 15th
Jo Ellen Baiza joined our office team.
September – Bethany molinar and Diamanate maya joined our team as Baylor School of Social Work interns.
Another new homeowner on north 15th
The community started working on a mster plan for commercial development along colcord Avenue with Gideotoal out of Fort Worth.
October – Another new homeowner on north 12th
New HomeOwners: 30
Dinah Bolton joined our team as the North Waco Community Organizer
Walker Moore started our community organizing efforts in East Waco.
March – Another great family for North 14th Street
April – Another great family for North 13th street
May – Another Great Family for North 12th street
Bethany and Diamante finished up their internships with us.
June – House on 14th Sold
July – A great family for North 12th Street
World Changers came and worked on 20 different houses in East Waco.
268 hard working volunteers re-roofed homes, painted homes and built ramps.
Dinah hosted an amazing race with the teachers from Brook Ave. to educate them about different groups in the community.
Habitat for Humanity begins its work with the Carver Neighborhood for its Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.
September – We sold a great house on North 17th street to a long time renter.
Taylor McKinney starts her internship with us.
Neighborworks Waco published a report written by Michael Schubert about ways to strenthen the neighborhoods of East Waco.
October – The City of Waco selects D Squared (Pinnacle) to be the developer to redevelop Parkside Villages apartment complex. The new proposed project name is Barrons Branch.
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