🚀 Our Journey: From Amberley Collaborative to Mobilize Waco
Mobilize Waco began back in 2018—originally called the Amberley Collaborative—founded by Meg Wallace, who was on a mission to strengthen community support for people living with disabilities and other life challenges that can lead to isolation.
Over five years of listening, learning, and collaborating, we built a vibrant network of disabled self-advocates and allies. By 2023, we were ready for a fresh name that captured our energy and purpose—Mobilize Waco was born!
📈 2023: A Year of Big Moves
We didn’t just change our name—we ramped things up in a big way:
- ✅ Partnered with TxDOT to complete our first infrastructure assessment
- 🌍 Helped plan the Institute on Theology and Disability at Baylor University
- 🗺️ Participated in the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization's regional visioning process
- ♿ Got invited to help shape new accessibility standards for the State of Texas
And that’s just the beginning!
💬 Action Team: Advocacy in Action
Our Action Team—a mix of self-advocates and allies—meets monthly at Bitty & Beau’s, then heads to Ninfa’s for casual connection time.
We're focused on:
- 🚗 Improving accessible parking and parking enforcement
- 🛣️ Preparing for our next round of infrastructure assessments
- 🍽️ Organizing profit-share fundraisers with local restaurants
Come for the impact, stay for the friendships.
📻 New Voices, New Logo, New Energy
Thanks to a capacity-building grant from the Waco Foundation, 2023 also brought:
- A brand-new logo
- This shiny new website
- And the launch of our radio show, Living It with Mobilize Waco, recorded at KBWU, Waco’s NPR station
🎉 Looking Ahead: 2024 and Beyond
We’re just getting started. Living It launches January 19, and we're ready to roll into 2024 with purpose, passion, and partnership.
Let’s mobilize Waco—together.
