By Jeremy Rhodes
“Waco sure has changed a lot, right?”
How many times have you heard someone say something like this over the last few years? My family and I have been back in Waco for only a few months, and I know I’ve heard it at least a dozen times. Undoubtedly, it is true. Waco has changed a lot over the last decade. Waco is not so sleepy anymore.
But how has Waco changed? And for whom has Waco changed?
Last June, a group of 18 local representatives from education, fine arts, business community, and nonprofits began gathering to explore these questions. After six months of work, we have produced a report that we hope can provide some context as the residents of Waco seek answers. The 2021 Waco Snapshot Report aims to document the current state of Waco regarding commonly assessed indicators in the sectors of health, education, housing, economic development, and others.
Though not an exhaustive analysis of all facets of our community, we hope this report can be an accessible reference that helps community leaders and agencies grasp the landscape and dynamics of Waco. As a conversation starter, the Waco Snapshot Report provides a birds-eye view of our community and may bring us closer to the creation of community-wide goals that are both shared and measurable.
The Waco Snapshot Report can be found here on the Prosper Waco website. If you have any questions about the report, or would like to receive digital copies of any of the charts or maps, please contact me at jeremy@prosperwaco.org.
Jeremy Rhodes, Ph.D., is director of research and community impact with Prosper Waco.