We consider a healthy neighborhood to be one that is safe, clean, and diverse; one in which it makes economic sense for people to invest and one where neighbors manage change successfully.
We consider a healthy neighborhood to be one that is safe, clean, and diverse; one in which it makes economic sense for people to invest and one where neighbors manage change successfully.
We consider a healthy neighborhood to be one that is safe, clean, and diverse; one in which it makes economic sense for people to invest and one where neighbors manage change successfully.
The third child of the Late Lavern and Ruth Abercrombie. Educated in the Waco Independent School District. Alumni of Brook Avenue School, West Junior High School, North Junior High School, and 1978 Graduate of Waco High School (TIGERS). Received a Baseball Scholarship to Ranger College in Ranger, TX, also to Saint Edwards University in Austin, TX. Graduated from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor with a degree in Religion.
Has worked for MHMR as a Counselor, later at Providence Hospital for Twenty years as a Cardiovascular Technician and Chaplain, Temple Housing Authority and finally as a Housing Counselor for Nineteen years for Grassroots Community Development.
He is married Jacqueline Buhl Abercrombie, one daughter LaTorsha Abercrombie Richard’ and two-grandsons, Joseph and Je’von Josiah. He has been the Senior Pastor of the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Elm Mott, TX for Twenty-one years. Loves Family, Friends, Food, and Fellowship.
Jose Gutierrez was born in the City of West, TX. When he was six months old his parents moved down the road to Waco where he grew up and he hasn’t left. Growing up in church, even sleeping on the pew when he was a toddler, Jose’s faith is the guiding purpose of his life.
Jose graduated high school from A.J. Moore Academy in 2001 and earned an associate’s degree in HVAC Technology in 2003 from TSTC. Jose also has a bachelor’s degree in Bible with a concentration in pastoral ministries and a minor in Greek from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL.
In 2010, Jose was led by God to found Templo Nueva Vida, a Hispanic congregation in North Waco. Since then, TNV has moved to downtown Waco and Jose has taken on the wonderful work of ministry and renovating the 100-year-old church edifice.
With over 20 years in maintenance and property management under his belt, Jose is now the latest addition to Grassroots Community Development as its Spanish language Housing Counselor. Jose will no doubt use his versatile skills and talents to help his fellow Wacoans achieve their dream of homeownership.
Patricia Loyola was born in Port Lavaca, Texas, and moved to Waco, Texas, as a young child, where Waco became home. She was raised in North Waco in a close-knit family with strong Hispanic heritage and proud cultural roots originating from Guanajuato, Mexico. Her family and upbringing have played an important role in shaping who she is today, instilling in her a deep appreciation for family, culture, community, and the importance of helping others.
Patricia attended Waco High School and McLennan Community College, where she initially pursued Criminal Justice before transferring to Tarleton State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Patricia spent more than 10 years serving the City of Waco, where she developed a passion for helping residents improve their homes and neighborhoods. Guided by family values of hard work, service, and community, she remains committed to making a positive impact.
Saraí Muñiz is originally from Mission, TX, a border city in South Texas. She moved to Waco to start a dual master’s degree program in August 2019. She graduated with a Master of Social Work and a Master of Divinity from Baylor in May 2023.
Being raised on the border and walking alongside multiple immigrant-focused organizations, Saraí fostered a passion for serving the immigrant and Spanish-speaking community. Throughout her academic career at Baylor, Saraí received various opportunities to serve the immigrant community through adult education courses, legal support, and case management.
Saraí enjoys visiting family and attending local events and restaurants with friends. Saraí is excited to join the Grassroots community as the North Waco Community Organizer as of July 2023.
Nataly Sanchez is originally from Eagle Pass, TX and moved to Waco for college in the fall of 2017. She attended Baylor University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Social Work degree in May 2021 and her Master of Social Work degree in May 2022.
Nataly has a heart for service and has been a part of multiple service groups and work groups that focus on creating spaces for community building and cultivating relationships.
Being a part of her local church and attending local restaurants, shops, and events are what made Nataly quickly fall in love with Waco and the community in it. In her spare time, Nataly enjoys spending time visiting local shops with her husband. She also looks forward to the weekend’s East and Downtown Farmer’s markets for dog walks and supporting local businesses.
Nataly is thrilled to be on the Grassroots team as a Community Organizer as of June 2022. “Being able to build relationships with community members is such a wonderful part of being at Grassroots. It is a rewarding experience to get to hear people’s stories and see the strengths of the communities that make Waco home.”
ML is originally from Hemphill in East Texas, but has lived in Central Texas, Waco for all of his adult life. He is very active in his church, New Road Church of Christ, where he boasts of participating in almost every group or activity….except for singing and preaching.
ML has always liked construction and building things. He was the main architect and construction manager for New Road church, as well as his previous church. He has served on many business development boards, like the Better Business Bureau and has also served as President of a local Building Association.
ML has been the Building Manager for Grassroots for about 16 years and shares his passion about his work, “I am very proud to be serving with an organization that focuses on helping to develop the community. We have made wonderful relationships with great families and have been able to build homes for them.”
Brian is a fourth generation Wacoan with a History degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He grew up attending First Methodist Waco and was the youth director there after graduating from UT. He then spent a year in Ecuador walking alongside church planters with Every Community for Christ. Brian met his wife Emily in Austin through YoungLife and they were married in 2012. Shortly after, they were off to Jordan and China for a year to learn how to mobilize the Christian church overseas.
Since moving back to Waco, Brian has had 4 children with the last being a set of twin boys. He enjoys outdoor adventures and making furniture in his spare time.
For the past 5 years Brian has been in the construction industry working to learn all aspects of residential building and remodeling. At Grassroots Brian will be leading our Bounce program which serves Waco by doing exterior home repairs through volunteer groups. He will also be overseeing our roof repair program. “Working at Grassroots is about using our gifts and abilities to serve those in our community and that’s a mission I can get behind.”
Elizabeth is a native of Central Texas. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in English and has taught in both middle and high school. She has her husband have 3 beautiful children, who keep her busy with their sports, Scouts and participation in youth church groups.
Elizabeth became a bookkeeper after her children were born to give her flexibility in her schedule and to venture into starting her own business. She has been blessed with many wonderful clients, and feels especially thankful to be part of the Grassroots family since 2016.
Elizabeth expressed what inspires her to work for Grassroots, “I get to work alongside an amazing team of friends who are making an indelible impact on Waco communities from the Grassroots level. It gives me joy to be even a small part of something so vital to the prosperity of the communities we serve.”
Mike grew up as a military brat traveling all around the pacific ocean, landing in San Angelo, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Electrical Engineering, but he claims that he used to root for Baylor 364 days of the year.
Mike spent 6 years as a power plant engineer and 6 years at Nortel Networks before coming to Waco to serve with Grassroots. Married to his wife Brook, they raised two young men and now have one young grandson. Mike cut his teeth serving families while serving on mission trips to Mexico and Peru.
“Let’s go help some people.” is how Mike ends each week staff meeting. When he is not serving in Waco, he is in the mountains hiking (MikesHikeWaco) or with his wife traveling in very remote places. ” I am proud to work with talented team members and community leaders in serving Waco.”
The third child of the Late Lavern and Ruth Abercrombie. Educated in the Waco Independent School District. Alumni of Brook Avenue School, West Junior High School, North Junior High School, and 1978 Graduate of Waco High School (TIGERS). Received a Baseball Scholarship to Ranger College in Ranger, TX, also to Saint Edwards University in Austin, TX. Graduated from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor with a degree in Religion. Has worked for MHMR as a Counselor, later at Providence Hospital for Twenty years as a Cardiovascular Technician and Chaplain, Temple Housing Authority and finally as a Housing Counselor for Nineteen years for Grassroots Community Development. He is married Jacqueline Buhl Abercrombie, one daughter LaTorsha Abercrombie Richard’ and two-grandsons, Joseph and Je’von Josiah. He has been the Senior Pastor of the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Elm Mott, TX for Twenty-one years. Loves Family, Friends, Food, and Fellowship.
Jose Gutierrez was born in the City of West, TX. When he was six months old his parents moved down the road to Waco where he grew up and he hasn’t left. Growing up in church, even sleeping on the pew when he was a toddler, Jose’s faith is the guiding purpose of his life. Jose graduated high school from A.J. Moore Academy in 2001 and earned an associate’s degree in HVAC Technology in 2003 from TSTC. Jose also has a bachelor’s degree in Bible with a concentration in pastoral ministries and a minor in Greek from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL. In 2010, Jose was led by God to found Templo Nueva Vida, a Hispanic congregation in North Waco. Since then, TNV has moved to downtown Waco and Jose has taken on the wonderful work of ministry and renovating the 100-year-old church edifice. With over 20 years in maintenance and property management under his belt, Jose is now the latest addition to Grassroots Community Development as its Spanish language Housing Counselor. Jose will no doubt use his versatile skills and talents to help his fellow Wacoans achieve their dream of homeownership.
Lee Scheffe was born in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Lee moved to Waco to pursue an undergraduate degree at Baylor in economics and political science. Lee graduated from Baylor in May 2024. During his time at Baylor, Lee engaged heavily in Waco’s social and public sectors through coursework, volunteerism, and internships. He became passionate about connecting community members and resources to cultivate flourishing neighborhoods, particularly in the realm of housing and economic development. Lee also developed a love for the powerful, passionate, and charitable community of Waco. Lee enjoys spending time outdoors in Waco’s many beautiful parks, fellowship with friends at local events, listening to live music, and supporting community members’ businesses and initiatives. He is filled with joy to join Grassroots as the East Waco Community Organizer in June 2024.
Saraí Muñiz is originally from Mission, TX, a border city in South Texas. She moved to Waco to start a dual master’s degree program in August 2019. She graduated with a Master of Social Work and a Master of Divinity from Baylor in May 2023. Being raised on the border and walking alongside multiple immigrant-focused organizations, Saraí fostered a passion for serving the immigrant and Spanish-speaking community. Throughout her academic career at Baylor, Saraí received various opportunities to serve the immigrant community through adult education courses, legal support, and case management. Saraí enjoys visiting family and attending local events and restaurants with friends. Saraí is excited to join the Grassroots community as the North Waco Community Organizer as of July 2023.
Nataly Sanchez is originally from Eagle Pass, TX and moved to Waco for college in the fall of 2017. She attended Baylor University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Social Work degree in May 2021 and her Master of Social Work degree in May 2022. Nataly has a heart for service and has been a part of multiple service groups and work groups that focus on creating spaces for community building and cultivating relationships. Being a part of her local church and attending local restaurants, shops, and events are what made Nataly quickly fall in love with Waco and the community in it. In her spare time, Nataly enjoys spending time visiting local shops with her husband. She also looks forward to the weekend’s East and Downtown Farmer’s markets for dog walks and supporting local businesses. Nataly is thrilled to be on the Grassroots team as a Community Organizer as of June 2022. “Being able to build relationships with community members is such a wonderful part of being at Grassroots. It is a rewarding experience to get to hear people’s stories and see the strengths of the communities that make Waco home.”
Brian is a fourth generation Wacoan with a History degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He grew up attending First Methodist Waco and was the youth director there after graduating from UT. He then spent a year in Ecuador walking alongside church planters with Every Community for Christ. Brian met his wife Emily in Austin through YoungLife and they were married in 2012. Shortly after, they were off to Jordan and China for a year to learn how to mobilize the Christian church overseas. Since moving back to Waco, Brian has had 4 children with the last being a set of twin boys. He enjoys outdoor adventures and making furniture in his spare time. For the past 5 years Brian has been in the construction industry working to learn all aspects of residential building and remodeling. At Grassroots Brian will be leading our Bounce program which serves Waco by doing exterior home repairs through volunteer groups. He will also be overseeing our roof repair program. “Working at Grassroots is about using our gifts and abilities to serve those in our community and that’s a mission I can get behind.”
Elizabeth is a native of Central Texas. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in English and has taught in both middle and high school. She has her husband have 3 beautiful children, who keep her busy with their sports, Scouts and participation in youth church groups. Elizabeth became a bookkeeper after her children were born to give her flexibility in her schedule and to venture into starting her own business. She has been blessed with many wonderful clients, and feels especially thankful to be part of the Grassroots family since 2016. Elizabeth expressed what inspires her to work for Grassroots, “I get to work alongside an amazing team of friends who are making an indelible impact on Waco communities from the Grassroots level. It gives me joy to be even a small part of something so vital to the prosperity of the communities we serve.”
ML is originally Hemphill in East Texas, but has lived in Central Texas, Waco for all of his adult life. He is very active in his church, New Road Church of Christ, where he boasts of participating in almost every group or activity….except for singing and preaching. ML has always liked construction and building things. He was the main architect and construction manager for New Road church, as well as his previous church. He has served on many business development boards, like the Better Business Bureau and has also served as President of a local Building Association. ML has been the Building Manager for Grassroots for about 16 years and shares his passion about his work, “I am very proud to be serving with an organization that focuses on helping to development the community. We have made wonderful relationships with great families and have been able to build homes for them.”
Mike grew up as a military brat traveling all around the pacific ocean, landing in San Angelo, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Electrical Engineering. But he claims that he used to root for Baylor 364 days of the year. Mike spent 6 years as a power plant engineer and 6 years at Nortel Networks before coming to Waco to serve with Grassroots. Married to his wife Brook, they raised two young men and now have one young grandson. Mike cut his teeth serving families while serving on mission trips to Mexico and Peru. “Let’s go help some people.” is how Mike ends each week staff meeting. When he is not serving in Waco, he is in the mountains hiking (MikeshikeWaco)or with his wife traveling in very remote places. ” I am proud to work with talented team members and community leaders in serving Waco.”