A Day in the Life

A BAYLOR STUDENT PUBLICATION | SPRING 2019

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

2 FOCUS MAGAZINE

MEGAN RULE ANDI RISK

&

As we go through our day-to-day lives, we pass countless people. Between our co-workers, families, significant others, friends, the people that sell us our morning coffee or the people we pass on a run in the evening, there are hundreds and thousands of stories out there.

These are some of those stories from people just around the corner.

This magazine highlights people who are not typically in the spotlight, yet impact our lives and community. The food you eat, the way you get around, the facilities you work in and the safety of the city depends on the people like you and me.

Writers and photographers for Focus Magazine captured these stories of people who deserved some spotlight. As editors, we gave some ideas but had plenty more brought to the table. As you read through this magazine, think of the people you don’t normally recognize and go give them a smile tomorrow, or ask how their day is going today.

You truly never know the impact you could have on someone or the story behind his or her eyes. Take a copy and go through a day in the life of some of your neighbors.

A day in the life contributors Photographers

Writers

Emma Bakke Bevin Mairura Bradi Zapata Andi Risk Megan Rule Katie Christofferson Aadil Sheikh Cameron Bocanegra

Mckenzie Oviatt Megan Rule Bradi Zapata Cole Niles Emily Edwards Corrine Moore Andi Risk Cameron Bocanegra

SPRING 2019

Table of contents I MOVED TO WACO AND OPENED A MOSQUE LOCAL FAMILY FINDS HOME IN FAITH

DRIVING FOR JOY BUS DRIVER COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT HE LOVES

MAKE COFFEE A FINE ART

NEW WAVE COFFEE SHOP OWNER MAKES A PRINT ON LOCAL ART SCENE

MOVIE MAGIC GRACIE SHELTON’S MOVIE COLLECTION PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE IN TREASURE CITY FLEA MARKET

DOUBLE SHIFT KEEPING BAYLOR CLEAN AND SAFE

BEING THEIR ROCK CHILDREN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR DOES MORE THAN JUST HELP STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL

ONE MORE GIRL TO SAVE SEX TRAFFICKING DETECTIVE DOES WORK WITH NATIONAL IMPACT

WACO WINGS LOCAL PILOT SHARES STORIES FROM THE SKY

THE GREEK AMERICAN DREAM FAMILY BRINGS TRADITIONAL GREEK CUISINE TO WACO

3

4

8 12 16

19 23

26 30 33

I moved to Waco and opened a mosque

4 FOCUS MAGAZINE LOCAL FAMILY FINDS HOME IN FAITH STORY BY MCKENZIE OVIATT PHOTOS BY EMMA BAKKE Practicing your faith in America looks vastly different to practicing your faith in other parts of the world. When Southern Baptists worship in the religious stronghold of Waco, there is an added social pressure to adhere to the religion.

However, Muslim Americans find that although they are the religious minority in this country, they quench the thirst for their spiritual practices even more often than in the Middle East.

“People actually leave Pakistan to come to America to gain religious freedom,” Afzal Siddiq, an immigrant from Pakistan, said.

While Christians strive to follow the 10 Commandments written in the Bible, Muslims aim to follow the Five Pillars of Islam: a declaration of faith, praying five times daily, compulsory giving to a charity, fasting during the month of Ramadan and making a pilgrimage to Mecca, if physically and financially possible. Muslims pray five times a day for about five to 10 minutes each to ground themselves, bringing one back to God, Billal, Afzal’s son, said.

Muslims are also expected to give 2 1/2 percent of their income to a charity each year. This is seen as a tax, or a strict requirement.

Ramadan is a time of the year dedicated to fasting from sunrise to sundown. It sets better habits and discipline that help formulate better character for the rest of the year, Billal said.

Culture can often dictate the practices of religion. In the Middle East, most restaurants and businesses will adjust

their store hours around the designated prayer times. In America, most businesses do not adjust their store hours for Muslim prayer. Instead, Muslims seek out that time on their own.

When people move away from the cultural pressure to adhere to religious practices, many find more freedom in living out their faith to their liking.

“They are doctors, lawyers, engineers. They do not look a certain way, act a certain way. All Muslims don’t have huge beards and wear traditional garments,” Billal said about Muslim Americans.

It is understandable to think of Waco as a community of predominantly Southern Baptists.

At the epicenter of the city is the largest Baptist university in the world, Baylor University. There are over 100 churches in Waco, yet only three mosques exist in McLennan County, according to Baylor Spiritual Life research.

The three mosques are owned by different people and have their own unique structures. Despite the plethora of churches, the heart of Waco is encompassed with much more religious flavor and diverse backgrounds.

Originally from Pakistan and ethnically Kashmiri-Pakistani, Siddiq came to the U.S. about 30 years ago and served in the U.S. Army shortly thereafter.

Siddiq said he “was never a very religious man” before he came to the U.S. While in the Army, he didn’t share many values with his fellow officers. However, he expressed a desire for a religious foundation,

Siddiq said. Without a mosque in town, he went to a Catholic church. At the local church the sermon was familiar, Siddiq said.

Waco is where Siddiq, his wife and three sons have chosen to root their lives and share their faith. They founded the mosque called the Islamic Center of Waco. At the mosque they encourage others to understand their religion and live out their faith every day. Siddiq could find that in the church through the worship and prayer portions.

The boiled-down message was the only difference, he said.

After his military service, Siddiq moved to Waco at a time when there wasn’t a mosque. After continuously bringing his friends together to pray at his home, he decided to put half his income toward the construction of a mosque. At that time in 1987, the city inspector helped him build the mosque.

“It was a different climate.

Prior to 2001 there was not a huge backlash towards Islam,” Billal said.

Today, some of the members are from Waco, but many are international. Over the last two decades, the Siddiqs have seen the narrative of Muslim Americans evolve. Prior to 9/11, Muslim Americans were indiscreet, not subject to political heat and could freely come to the U.S. without restrictive barriers.

“Opening a mosque in 1987 wasn’t a big deal. No one really knew much about Islam,” Billal said.

After 9/11 the tide shifted for Muslim Americans. Some people

SPRING 2019

5

LEFT: Afzal Siddiq and his son, Billal, work with Baylor to help students understand Islam. TOP: The tapestry of Mecca serves as decoration in the Islamic Center of Waco.

The city of Mecca is the sacred place of Muslim worship that is faced when saying the five daily prayers. MIDDLE: A decoration depicting the 99 attributes of Allah (God) is inside the Islamic Center of Waco. According to Islamic prophet Muhammad, there are 99 names for Allah listed on here. BOTTOM: The Quran, the holy text of the Islam faith, sits in the Islamic Center of Waco.

6 FOCUS MAGAZINE

started asking more questions about “We don’t come out here to enforce Islam, while others were left with our belief onto people. We just come negative assumptions. In the 2016 here to acknowledge our faith. We presidential race, President Trump don’t have a different agenda,” Siddiq proposed a travel ban on immigrants said. from several Middle Eastern countries.

Still to this day they do not claim Plans for family visits to Middle to be religious people; they say they Eastern countries were halted and want to love the faith that they were there was a subtle fear that restrictions born into. Their goal is to maintain a could worsen. After experiencing spiritual connection with God since people misunderstand Islam, the Siddiqs made more of an effort to help educate people about their religion, Billal said.

Despite the targeted immigration regulations and the change of perceptions of different religions, the Muslim Americans in Waco continued to live out their faith regardless of the environment around them.

When the Siddiqs teach others about their faith, they start with a commonality between Christianity and Islam.

“All religions give instructions to be a better person, find peace within oneself and to find purpose for this life or the next,” Billal said.

BILLAL SIDDIQ Along with the efforts of the Siddiqs, Baylor creates faith is defined individually by a opportunities for people to gain person, Siddiq said. They are not a empathy and understanding. The world fundamental Islamic group; they are religion classes at Baylor mandate their “just spiritual people who love our students attend a service at a mosque. faith,” Siddiq said.

The leaders of the three mosques in At the mosque, Siddiq designates McLennan County encourage students daily time for prayer with fellow to understand the service proceedings Muslims. Students and people and answer follow-up questions. Along interested in Islam frequently attend with the course, Siddiq opens up his a church service or prayer session. mosque to journalists, photographers Traditionally, the men and women sit and people curious about the Islamic in different sections of the mosque faith. Each day the Siddiqs display love during the service. Usually a man and acceptance for other religions and preaches to the congregation, then they cultures. join together in prayer and worship.

“

On Fridays the mosque holds a more formal church service similar to a Christian church service held on Sunday morning. The Siddiqs help one another with the daily responsibilities at the mosque and join together on Fridays.

Growing up, the Siddiq children read the Bible, took religious classes and participated in chapel twice a week at the Catholic schools they attended. Billal graduated from Baylor in 2016 and found “Baylor and chapel very accepting,” Billal said. Even at Baylor, people from different faiths can practice their beliefs with confidence.

At Baylor, Billal had a passion for personal health and he is now on track to attend medical school this year. While in school, Billal worked as a medical adviser for Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone. Billal said, “I, as a Muslim guy, was entrusted with the health and wellness of the leader of the largest Baptist university of America.”

“Baylor is not perfect; every university has its flaws. But Baylor is not preachy-downyour-throat get-out-or-convert school. And that is why I stayed.

It is very open and welcoming.

I am forever grateful to Baylor University,” Billal said.

Along with undergraduate opportunities, Baylor offers lifelong learning classes, to allow community members to continue their education on practical, art and leisure matters.

Billal and Afzal Siddiq lead these classes when they cover the topic of Islam. Over four sessions, they teach on: the history of Islam, the revolution, the history of Muslims in America, terrorism, jihad and Muslim women.

Every day the Siddiqs find ways to help others gain understanding.

It won’t ever hurt you to learn more about other people, culture and religions. All it can do is reinforce your own and make you stronger as a person and social skills and whatever else that may be.

”

SPRING 2019

“It won’t ever hurt you to learn more about other people, culture and religions. All it can do is reinforce your own and make you stronger as a person and social skills and whatever else that may be.

And the world is changing.

We are getting more and more diverse every year. If you only believe that you will only see 1 percentage of the population and culture in your life, you will not make it far in terms of monetary and personal success,” Billal said.

After teaching Baylor’s lifelong learning courses, the Siddiqs reinforced the message to the students that learning about another religion or concept does not mean that they have to believe it for themselves.

Haris, the middle son of the Siddiq children, became a trail blazer at the Catholic high school he attended.

He ran for student body president and won against a devout Catholic.

When the Catholic Church announced a contest for whoever could create the best pro-life billboard for an advertisement, Haris won that as well. The billboard that Haris designed hung proudly on Waco Drive.

The following school year, Haris ran for student body president unopposed. Haris said he found people widely accepting of his faith and how he chooses to live his life.

Upon moving to the

U.S., Siddiq found more freedom to practice Islam than there was in Pakistan.

This country is not defined by a religion, so there is an incredible freedom here, Billal said.

“Never be afraid to learn about other people’s religion. Never be afraid to go out and explore because how can you stay at home and say I am content with this faith when you haven’t seen all that is out there?

What all things there are to offer you,” Billal said.

Every day in school, the Siddiqs were taught alternative beliefs to their upbringing, yet they held true to their faith. While some people are converted to Christianity, they continue their prayers and maintain a relationship with God, Haris said. After going through Catholic and Baptist schools, they find that religion is key in their daily lives.

“I think everybody has a rattling of their faith at some point in time you question is this true? Is this real? What is religion doing for you? If you can’t say religion is making you a better person, if you can’t say that religion is making you feel at peace with yourself, you should evaluate who you are,” Billal said.

The way the Siddiqs devote themselves daily to their faith is how they keep themselves grounded in who they are, despite the polarizing environment.

7

of Afzal Siddiq

Early morning:

Afzal Siddiq opens up the mosque right before sunrise for the first of five daily prayers

Mid-morning:

Answers all inquiries and phone calls from travelers and visitors via phone and on The Islamic Center of Waco Facebook page

Noon:

Returns to the mosque for the midday prayer Works and manages his own businesses and rental properties outside the mosque throughout the workday

Late afternoon:

Returns to the mosque for the third daily prayer

Evening:

Returns to the mosque right after sunset for the fourth daily prayer

Late night:

Goes to the mosque for the fifth time, between sunset and midnight, for the last prayer

8 FOCUS MAGAZINE

BUS DRIVER

STORY BY MEGAN RULE PHOTOS BY BEVIN MAIRURA

BUS DRIVER COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT HE LOVES

SPRING 2019

At 5:45 p.m. on a Thursday evening,

Freddie Buhl, a bus driver for the Waco Transit System, walks into the Waco Transit Center after a long day of driving around Baylor University’s campus, with a smile beaming so strong it lights up the room.

“I love what I do,” Buhl said. “Some people just ride the bus every day and don’t go anywhere; they just get on the bus and go from bus to bus to bus every day.”

Buhl has been driving buses since 1979, starting with the Waco Independent School District and then moving to the Waco Transit System in 1991. Before working as a bus driver, Buhl worked on airplanes as a certified welder in San Antonio.

He came to Waco to work for Texas State Technical College fixing jets, but ended up getting a job with WISD instead.

“The people are amazing and the reason why I love the people is because of the fact I get to talk to them,” Buhl said. “I can talk a lot, and here at Waco Transit there’s never a dull moment. There’s always something going on.”

Buhl had retired from the Waco Transit System but decided to come back six years ago, partly influenced by his wife, and partly because he likes to talk to the people, he said.

There’s never a dull moment driving buses, according to Buhl. He smirks a bit as he recalls stories and emotional moments over his years driving, as his favorite part of his job is the people.

“I made enough money to pay my life bills but the experience that I had seeing different people, I wouldn’t take that for all the tea in China and I mean that because I enjoy what I do,” Buhl said.

Baylor students board Freddie Buhl’s Red line bus with familiar greetings.

Buhl checks the Speight Avenue stop one last time to make sure he didn’t miss anyone.

Buhl’s red route bus pulls up to Speight Avenue to pick up Baylor students.

9

Buhl drives the Red Route for the Baylor University Shuttle, or B.U.S., that goes from University Parks Apartments to campus, making stops at East Village Dining Hall and Speight Avenue. Buhl said some of his favorite memories include students he drives getting him and his wife a Christmas basket with gift cards, driving a bus to Las Vegas and watching Tiger Woods win the U.S. Open while stopping along a route. He couldn’t keep track of all the memories he has gained and experiences he was lucky enough to have.

“The Lord has blessed me to see a lot of stuff on that bus,” Buhl said, recounting story after story of people he met and saw and what he heard in the process, ranging from couples gambling all their money away to dealing with teachers on field trips.

Allen Hunter, general manager at the Waco Transit System, is in his 13th year in the organization and said it is a pleasure to work with people like Buhl. Hunter said when hiring drivers, he believes the Waco Transit System has an eye for good talent and looks for people with strong core values. He does this by asking, “Who would I want transporting my children?” and looking for drivers similar to Buhl.

“It’s a pleasure to work with folks like Mr. Buhl because Freddie takes so much joy in what he does,” Hunter said. “I don’t think Freddie looks at this like work.A lot of people look at this like a job – I have to come do this. Freddie looks at this as almost a blessing and something he gets to do.”

Buhl takes his route very seriously, evident by his change of tone as he describes his commitment to safety and timing. The total bus ride is 12 minutes all around, Buhl said.

10 FOCUS MAGAZINE

“THANK YOU MR. BUHL, Students have classes and responsibilities, so it’s important to know all the routes and be timely and diligent in driving, Buhl said. A typical day is busy, as Buhl drives from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at least four days a week, sometimes five. He said he may not know all the students’ names, but he knows their faces, and he misses students once they graduate.

“Freddie is so friendly to all of the students and anyone who rides the bus,” said Hunter Meroney, a student who rides Buhl’s route daily.

“He welcomes us with a ‘hello’ or ‘good

morning’ every day and really cares about us. I love him because not only is he really friendly but he really makes sure that everyone who needs a ride, gets a ride. I have literally hopped fences to make the bus on time and he will stop on the side of a busy road to let me ride.”

Buhl said once he comes home from delivering students to campus and back home, he likes to shower, eat and do Bible devotions, as his faith is very important to him. Outside of driving the red shuttle, he plays guitar and serves as one of seven ministers at Marshall Chapel on Sixth Street and

Bosque Boulevard. His whole demeanor changes and his tone becomes more serious as he begins talking about his relationship with the Lord, as it is something he puts a lot of time into and feels called toward.

Buhl gets emotional as he talks about his job and the students he interacts with, as well as his time at church. However, the love in his heart really pours out when talking about his wife and family. Buhl gazes off into the distance with stars in his eyes as he begins describing his wife, Kate.

Buhl has been married to Kate for 11 years now. He met her at the Marshall Chapel Church when she worked as a youth director there. The two have 11 grown children and 14 grandchildren.

“That’s my bones. That’s what I call her, my bones,” Buhl said about Kate.

He smiles to himself as he recalls meeting her and introducing her to his brother to get his approval.

Buhl and his wife met at the church after his previous wife died. He said usually when he comes home from work, he enjoys cooking and eating dinner with her. Buhl said they have a simple lifestyle. Two forks, two knives,

SPRING 2019

two plates, one routine. After eating, Buhl said Kate enjoys watching television shows while he does his Bible studies.

Outside of his normal routine, in rare free time Buhl said he enjoys playing dominoes and bowling.

One of Buhl’s favorite memories, he said, was when his wife threw a surprise birthday party for him, organizing a game of dominoes with some friends. He then tears up as he spoke about a time a few years ago when they were both really sick but helped each other get through it. Buhl’s hands tighten into a small fist as he recounts almost losing her, with a tear in the corner of his eye before wiping it away and resuming his uplifted spirits.

“I thank [God] for letting us stay together,” Buhl said. “I don’t mean to be negative, but I wish the Lord would take me before he takes her.

If he takes her from me now, I’m serious, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Buhl’s outlook on life and positivity toward everything he does shines out through his face

as he continuously counts his blessings. He repeatedly expresses how much he loves his job, family and the simple things in life such as playing guitar at church and playing dominoes with friends. The care and pride he takes in following routes exactly and making sure the students on the bus are taken care of is something special and is certainly valued by others.

Following Buhl on the red route one afternoon proved this to be true, as practically every single student thanked him by name as they got off the bus, saying things like “See you tomorrow, Freddie,” and “Thank you Mr. Buhl. Have a good evening.”

Buhl said he values the personal connections he makes with the students, repeating that the people are his favorite part.

“All my kids are home now,” Buhl said as he wrapped up his driving route one afternoon, waving goodbye to the last student getting off the bus and heading out of the University Parks Apartments gates, getting ready to do it all again the next day.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.”

11

of FREDDIE BUHL

7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Drives the red route bus for the Baylor University Shuttle

Early Evening

Comes home to shower and cook dinner with his wife, Kate

Night

Does his Bible devotions while his wife watches television

12 FOCUS MAGAZINE

COFFEE

ART NEW WAVE COFFEE SHOP OWNER MAKES A PRINT ON LOCAL ART SCENE STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRADI ZAPATA

Andreas Zaloumis shows off a KABZ T-shirt. KABZ is one of the creative brands Zaloumis works on, but it is on hold now as he focuses on other businesses.

For Andreas Zaloumis, owner of Third Space Theory coffee cart, “THRST,” each day introduces new community, adventure and destinations. Thursday through Saturday, he puts on the hat of a coffee guru at the Austin Avenue location, but Sunday through Wednesday, he is a one-man band, performing the roles of a videographer, photographer and fashion designer.

Although he has only been in the Waco community for one year, Zaloumis is involved in numerous video, photo and fashion projects and aspires to one day open a business that encompasses all of these projects.

He envisions owning a cozy space where the community can enjoy decadent coffee, intricate blackand-white photographs, a high-quality clothing line, a graffiti wall and musical performances. This space would give creatives a platform to express themselves and meet others with similar interests.

“Establishing those connections and meeting likeminded people is really great,” Cole Jackson, Zaloumis’ friend, said. “When I started taking photographs, I literally thought that I was the only one in Waco who was shooting film, but then I met a ton of other people doing

SPRING 2019

13

Andreas Zaloumis and wife, Bianca, hold daughter Kora outside THRST coffee stand at their Austin Avenue location. The family often works together to keep the coffee business running.

the same thing. Being able to bring people together is so important.”

Since Zaloumis works for himself, his days vary each week, but he largely focuses on spending a lot of time with his wife, Bianca, and daughter, Kora.

He tries to expose his daughter to creative work through teaching her the alphabet, numbers, writing and more recently, introducing math. He always tries to provide a good balance between learning and playing.

Zaloumis spends the late evenings and early mornings focusing on himself and working on his art. After Bianca and Kora go to bed, Zaloumis watches documentaries, YouTube videos and experiments with new and old editing software. Zaloumis takes this time to expand his knowledge and improve his skills as much as possible.

Zaloumis is motivated by hearing incredible stories and meeting new people in all of his endeavors. He visually shares their stories in creative ways by using unusual angles, clear focal points with blurry surroundings and a blend of close and wide shots.

While at THRST, Zaloumis verbally shares their stories by introducing

customers to one another and giving two strangers reasons to connect.

“My entrepreneurial journey started because I was amazed by the stories I would hear in documentaries about people chasing their dreams and achieving the impossible,” Zaloumis said. “I get inspired by hearing other people’s stories. Whether they’re doing something that they love or just talking about it, [I love when] they share it with the world.”

This fascination pours into every aspect of THRST. Third Space Theory, the full name of the shop, is defined by giving people a space to share their stories and overcome obstacles.

The Third Space Theory is Edward W. Soja’s idea that individuals have three diverse spaces where they can interact physically and socially. The first space is often defined as home, the second as work or school and the third as a hybrid space between work and home.

“Society craves a third space to come together as a community. For some people that means a church, a coffee shop or both,” Bianca, Zaloumis’ wife and business partner,

said. “We really felt that Waco loves these spaces where they can come together and there is room for more of them.”

For this purpose, in THRST and in every other project, he carries out four missions; to produce high-quality items, create consistent products, add to Waco’s community and connect with customers.

Within the fashion industry, Zaloumis aims to exercise these missions by producing high-quality clothes that are durable and retain their initial color and shape.

From a young age, Zaloumis loved learning about different fabrics and trends, but saw a lack of fabric containing high-quality cotton blends.

Aiming to fill this gap, he began designing and creating clothes once he grew older.

Two years ago, Zaloumis created his own line of T-shirts, KABZ, which were solely sold online. The first launch generated $700 due to his effective marketing strategies, meaningful designs and progressive mission.

“KABZ is a brand that aspires to

14 FOCUS MAGAZINE inspire free thinkers. Our creations tie into the world we live in and bring awareness to issues through fashion.

Look sharp. Enjoy life. Stay true,” the about page on Kabzlyfe’s Facebook said.

Currently the KABZ line is on pause, but he is working on partnering with a designer and a screen printer to re-brand the KABZ line and produce more originally designed and wellmade products. This new line will be sold out of the THRST storefront.

In the storefront, Zaloumis also plans to showcase his photography.

He envisions black and white photographs strung upon the walls, each telling their own stories with fascinating subjects and creative angles. There will be a mix of his own images and those of local outstanding photographers, such as Jackson.

In this space, Jackson and Zaloumis aspire to meet with a group

of photographers to discuss upcoming projects, camera settings, the creative process behind capturing an image and push one another to do their best.

Zaloumis and Jackson have already discussed these subjects among themselves, but believe they can accomplish more with a larger group.

Like his photography, Zaloumis uses video as a way to visually connect with the community. Video was actually one of the main reasons that Zaloumis fell in love with Waco’s community and was compelled to move here a little over one year ago.

Zaloumis first stumbled upon Waco while doing technical support for the startup company Waitr. He visited local businesses, such as Fox & Grey, Hecho en Waco and Guess Family Barbeque. Each fascinated him with their unprecedented atmosphere and left him curious about what more Waco had to offer.

After this visit, First Row Fashion asked Zaloumis to come back to Waco and create a video for their fashion show.

Since he was blown away by Waco’s culture, he asked Bianca and their daughter, Kora, to accompany him for the show.

“We were bombarded by many super friendly and interesting people,” Bianca said. “I was immediately in love with Waco. People here genuinely want to get to know you and your story. They care [about you] and want to connect.”

Because of Waco’s friendly and familial community, Bianca quit her job shortly after that visit and they began a new chapter in Waco.

“Waco offers a lot of opportunities with a low competitive aspect,” Zaloumis said. “It allows me to grow with the business slowly as opposed to investing a lot of money and not really

ABOVE LEFT: Zaloumis stands outside THRST location on Austin Avenue, inside Cultivate 7Twelve, a location that cultivates creativity along with coffee. ABOVE RIGHT: Zaloumis works to carefully brew and pour coffee for customers, taking pride in its freshness.

understanding the background ... It provided the ability to grow with the community, opposed to just planting myself in somewhere like a big city.”

Zaloumis felt that Waco allowed him to pursue careers in the photo, video and fashion industries, but he ultimately chose coffee because he wanted something the whole family could be involved in.

Kora helps him run the cart each Friday and interacts with customers, completing sales and making rich, creamy hot chocolate.

Likewise, Bianca substantially helps him behind the scenes in addition to running the register every Saturday.

“We’ve always talked about

[opening a business], but actually seeing it come to life, there’s a romance behind seeing what we can accomplish together... he truly makes all of my dreams come true,” Bianca said.

Zaloumis makes his coffee by carefully selecting the best coffee beans made in different regions, which produce unique flavors and extracts.

He uses a single cup brew technique, where he grinds a limited number of beans to make one cup, then over time adds a consistent amount of hot water.

Since this style of brewing only produces one cup at a time, it ensures that each cup is fresh, has balanced flavors, is a comfortable temperature

and has an overall even extraction of flavor from the coffee bean.

Zaloumis said he sometimes fears not succeeding and questions why anyone would want to be part of his creative visions; a fear common with any entrepreneurial adventure.

“I think why I’m doing it matters.

I want to make an impact, so if I can get over that fear, I know I’ll be able to succeed,” Zaloumis said. “It’s with consistency, quality and connecting with the community that anything is possible.”

Customers can find THRST from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday in Cultivate 7Twelve at 712 Austin Ave.

SPRING 2019

15

of Andreas Zaloumis

Sunday through Wednesday:

Focuses on attending meetings, doing videography and photography and networking Practices his video/photo skills by exploring Waco and shooting as much as he can During this time, he also meets with other like-minded creatives

Wednesday:

Begins prepping the coffee cart for business This includes getting supplies, posting on social media and mentally preparing for the opportunity to connect with as many customers as he can for the next three days of service

Thursday through Saturday:

Serves pour-over coffee at his family’s coffee cart TOP: Zaloumis channels his artsy side by taking photos. MIDDLE: Zaloumis and family work to carefully brew coffee for customers by focusing on bean flavor extraction.

BOTTOM: Zaloumis pours coffee at the THRST coffee stand, one at a time to ensure fresh flavor.

16 FOCUS MAGAZINE

MOVIE MOV E MAG C STORY BY COLE NILES PHOTOS BY ANDI RISK

GRACIE’S MOVIE COLLECTION PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE WITHIN TREASURE CITY FLEA MARKET Gracie Shelton displays new movies in front of her store at the Treasure City flea market.

It’s a cold Saturday morning in Waco, Texas. Gracie Shelton pulls her car into the lot of Treasure City Flea Market with a few boxes in her passenger seat, filled to the brim with movies.

She sets up shop around 6:30 a.m. during the summers, but it isn’t summer. The cold air of February keeps people in bed longer, and Shelton is no exception. She unloads her car around eight as early risers slowly begin to meander into the market.

Shelton’s store is easy to find – she’s been there for years. Customers old and new are greeted the same

way: with a big smile and a massive yellow sign reading “Movies.”

Underneath the tent, shoppers take refuge within a sanctuary of films.

The shelved walls are lined with titles from all around the world, like a winding library. She unloads the new movies into their respective sections.

More horror, a few anime, and, of course, heaps of Bollywood classics are placed in their spots around the shop. After a bit of tidying up, Shelton settles into her seat behind the counter, puts a movie on her flatscreen TV, and waits.

Light bounces from corner to corner of the store, even on a rainy

day. She adjusts her collectibles into the proper positions before opening shop – her favorite one is Superman, which stands about 4 feet high in front of the checkout counter.

The dozens of collectibles, while impressive, are not for sale. Shelton could never part with the beloved figures, as they radiate a fun-loving disposition throughout the store.

Strolling through her shop can be overwhelming at times. The expanse of movies stretches seemingly forever in every direction, despite the space being only a few dozen square feet.

Shelton, however, finds comfort in the thousands of titles that surround

SPRING 2019

able to tease each other back and forth.

After the laughter subsided, Bruce’s face settles into a warm smile. “You don’t find too many people like that,” Bruce said, smiling at Shelton from across the store.

Bruce’s story is the same as most of Shelton’s regular customers. He comes to the flea market every Saturday, rain or shine. He is especially fond of Shelton’s location because of its close proximity to the food. After grabbing a bite to eat, he comes over to say hi to Shelton and do some shopping. Sometimes he browses Shelton’s selections, and other times he comes to her with a request.

Whenever a customer wants a certain movie, all they need is the movie’s title and a week’s time. She tracks down every title for her faithful regulars. This means doing whatever it takes – scouring pawn shops, movie stores, or even going on line to find the perfect movie for her customers. The next week, Shelton brings everyone’s requested movies in cardboard boxes.

“

But God, I think, has a plan… I think he says that this is what’s going to make her happy.

I think this is my happy. her. It’s a haven, not only for her customers, but for Shelton herself.

“The work sometimes is stressful,” Shelton said, “But God, I think he has a plan… I think he says that this is what’s going to make her happy. I think this is my happy.”

And that happiness becomes infectious. No matter who they are, or where they are from, Shelton’s smile brings people in.

“She’s got a pretty nice little personality,” Bruce said with a laugh.

“She’s all right – she’ll do.” Bruce has been a regular customer of Shelton’s for years now, and they have become good friends – so good that they are

GRACIE SHELTON

”

17

18 FOCUS MAGAZINE

Those boxes, filled to the brim with personalized selections, stand as a microcosm of Shelton herself. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and customers, terms which become virtually indistinguishable to her if you stay around long enough. To her, the people in her store are just that: people. That is why she saturates every transaction in care and genuine interest.

Shelton stands as the antithesis to a company like Amazon: automation and profits contour their business model. For someone like Jeff Bezos, the less human interaction the better. Humans make mistakes – robots don’t.

But robots don’t smile, and efficiency can’t tell you about their day. Profit margins don’t ask how your kids are doing, or if your wife is feeling better. Shelton does not see her customers as potential money to be had; no, they’re potential friends to be made. And once you’re a friend of Shelton, you’re a friend for life.

“A lot of the people here are regulars,” Shelton said. “They don’t always buy, sometimes they come and we chit chat.”

That chit chat goes a long way.

“You have to appreciate them; you have to treat them right. Some of them have had a bad week, and they’ll come and just sit around and talk. I have really developed a lot of awesome friendships out here,” Shelton said.

John, another one of Shelton’s

Shelton’s Superman collectible sits on top of hundreds of movies, guarding the entrance to her store.

regulars, has been coming for over seven years. He estimates that he’s bought thousands of movies from Shelton, a badge he wears proudly.

John rarely misses a Saturday at Shelton’s, and if he ever does, he can count on Gracie checking up on him the following weekend. A small “How have you been?” can go a long way.

John scans the horror section thoughtfully. “Horror is probably my favorite genre,” John said. When asked what his favorite horror movie is, he responded emphatically with John Carpenter’s classic “Halloween.”

“I always look for my mom and step-mother, too,” John said.

“They’re always looking for ‘40s movies, the old ones.” Luckily for him, Shelton always has him covered. With a wide selection stretching over genre, actor, and even language, Shelton is always able to give her friends the best recommendations for their taste.

And her customers truly are just that: her friends. Whether you have come for years on end or are visiting for the first time, Gracie Shelton will always make you her friend.

These relationships, formed over a shared love of movies, make the work, effort and time all worth it for Shelton. Movies bind people together in ways that not many other things can. But while Shelton loves movies, it isn’t really about the movies at all. It’s about the people.

A loyal customer, John, browses the horror section on a rainy Saturday morning in Shelton’s store.

of GRACIE SHELTON

Weekday

Weekend

5:00 a.m.

5:00 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

6:30 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

Stays until business dies down

Wakes up

Wakes up

Leaves house in Leaves house in Temple to drive to Temple to drive to work Flea Market Works at McLane Company as accounting clerk Heads home for the day

Shelton has a variety of movie genres, including comedy, action, romance, horror, children and more.

Sets out new movies and organizes shop

Shelton primarily sells DVDs but keeps a collection of VHS tapes in her store for the old-fashioned movie lovers.

ps

SPRING 2019

19

DOUBLE SHIFT STORY AND PHOTOS

BY MEGAN RULE

KEEPING BAYLOR CLEAN AND SAFE

20 FOCUS MAGAZINE

Maria Picazo, Leticia Garcia and Rose Provost put up a “Closed for Cleaning” sign outside a bathroom and discuss a plan for cleaning and sanitizing it.

Garcia drives a buffer, a machine used to maintain and polish non-carpeted floors, in the BRIC. This is a machine she often uses to keep floors clean and shiny and maintain the sharp appearance of the BRIC.

Garcia mops in the lounge area before people arrive for work.

Mopping regularly helps maintain the sanitation and cleanliness of the BRIC, keeping them scratch free and killing germs from the bottoms of people’s shoes..

The sun rises slowly, filling the Texas sky with gorgeous shades of pink, blue and orange. The dew begins to melt off the grass as the warmth of the morning kisses the cold night air goodbye. Building doors are unlocked as the parking garages begin filling up. Hallways are filled with the aroma of coffee beans brewing as students slowly but surely fill the Baylor Bubble.

Residents and visitors alike admire how beautiful the Baylor campus is, all thanks to the work done throughout the previous day and night by people like Maria Picazo and Leticia Garcia, members of the custodial team at Baylor.

“I don’t think everybody realizes how much we do in our department,” Rose Provost, custodial director for Aramark at Baylor University, said.

“It’s so much more than what people think. It was interesting, we had a manager that transferred over to us and they were like, ‘We had no idea all that you guys do.’ They had not a clue.”

Picazo works as a day shift supervisor and has been in this position for the past eight years, while Garcia oversees the custodial department at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) and has worked here for seven years.

Provost was able to speak very highly of the work done by both women, emphasizing that both stand out among the overall 170 employees.

Provost also said these two women were nominated for the Ring of Stars, an employee award program with Aramark, a company that provides food service, facilities and uniform services for clients, that highlights stand-out employees and sends them on a paid week vacation. Unfortunately neither Picazo nor Garcia were selected, but there are always more

SPRING 2019

years, Provost said.

“I nominated both of them last year and they didn’t win, but we’re going to nominate them again next year,” Provost said. “What our company does is a paid week’s vacation and they fly them out - last year it was Florida and it’s a whole week long. They get to pick events – snorkeling and cruises – and then of course we have our motivational events and dinners. Both of these ladies were elected for that.”

Garcia started her time at Baylor working the night shift before moving to her current position overseeing the BRIC. Garcia’s favorite part of working is the collaborative teamwork that all employees place an emphasis on. She enjoys working in a position with a company that dedicates time to sprucing up people’s lives. Garcia recalled one year when Baylor custodial staff volunteered to fix up the baseball stadium that her son plays at. They updated the lights, fixed the paint and even gave the stadium new restrooms, which really excited the kids. Every year the staff picks a place and a day to volunteer and fix up, adding to the teamwork and familial mentality.

“It looked very pretty, all the kids were very excited saying, ‘Hey, look.

It all looks new,’” Garcia said. “It was a very happy moment. Everything looked better.”

Provost said the staff focuses on promoting themselves within and encouraging employees to grow. She said it’s exciting to see people who want to grow and move up in the ranks. Picazo and Garcia nodded, in agreement. They spoke about how they try to keep their groups and staff engaged and make things fun on a daily basis, with games and competitions. They all hold the same

values of teamwork and keeping everyone safe, and they communicate these ideas to their teams to show how important this job really is.

“I like this company because everybody tries to focus on teamwork and the employees all want to make the customer happy,” Garcia said.

“That’s why I like it. Everyone has the same idea: keep it clean, keep it safe.”

Picazo and Garcia both have

21

job, and they’re here more than they are at home,” Provost said. “We try each and every day to make things as fun as possible. Obviously we have to do our job.”

Picazo leaves work at 3:30 p.m. and goes straight to pick up her kids and bring them to their grandmother’s house for an afternoon snack. After everyone eats, Picazo drives from soccer practice to piano practice and back. Once everyone is finished with after-school activities and finally home around 8 p.m., they eat dinner.

Wednesdays the family attends religious education classes at the church, says rosaries and goes to Mass at 7 p.m. before going home for dinner.

The kids love hearing stories from her childhood back in Mexico, she said.

“Every time that I come to work, I think of my family because they are the ones I want to work for,” Picazo said. “Every day they see that we can do it. I want to be an example for my children and for my family in Mexico.”

Garcia also leaves around the same time to pick her kids up and drive them to tennis practice before going home to cook dinner and do homework with them. She said she tries to have them in bed by 8:30 or 9 p.m., but the popular video game Fortnite serves as an enemy.

Between busy schedules, managing MARIA PICAZO groups of staffs, raising families and just dealing with the ins and outs families of their own that they take of life, Picazo and Garcia adopt an care of when they get home, so the incredible philosophy of positivity. work isn’t over the moment they pull Garcia said she believes that every out of the Baylor campus. Picazo has day, as long as you’re happy, the two kids, a 12-year-old and a 9-yearlittle problems in life don’t show. old. Garcia has four kids, a 17-year-old, Picazo emphasized this, saying that a 15-year-old, an 11-year-old and a everything has a way of getting done, 7-year-old. whether it’s bills or taxes or the family.

“I see all of our employees enjoy In spite of the hectic, busy, stressful what they’re doing because it is a tough lives they lead working so hard with

“

Every time that I come to work, I think of my family because they are the ones I want to work for.

”

22 FOCUS MAGAZINE the custodial team, these two women have an admirable outlook on life.

“You may have a lot of problems that you’re thinking about, but like Leti said, once you come to work you need to put your eyes on the task that you’re doing every day and leave the problems for your own time,” Picazo said.

All in all, both women continuously expressed how proud they are to be part of a team at Baylor, and expressed gratitude for how welcoming the staff was when they respectively joined years ago.

Provost smiled and said she wished she could clone these two women because they’re both such valuable assets to the team and take their work so seriously.

“It’s a really important job,” Picazo said with a tear in her eye.

“So many people don’t think it is that important, but it is. That’s what I tell my team, this is something really important. Sometimes they feel like, ‘Oh, it’s just cleaning.’

I tell them no, please, it is really important what we are doing no matter if anyone tells you something different.”

Provost said these women are at work more than they are at home, and loves celebrating employees

like Picazo and Garcia that serve as front line staff who excel in what they do. They influence their teams well and encourage everyone to work hard and take their work seriously.

Everybody has problems, Garcia said, but it’s just a part of life. When you put a smile on your face, though, it changes the emotions of those around you, Garcia said.

Spreading positivity to the team and the Baylor family that walks by every day is just one way Picazo and Garcia make the jobs fun for their team. They emphasize the importance of the work done by the custodial staff, telling their team that cleaning thoroughly brings safety to everyone by protecting Baylor’s health. If no one cleaned, germs would be everywhere, infecting the campus. This is why, Picazo and Garcia said, working as a team with a common mindset is so important, and their favorite part of the job. The teamwork of the custodial staff is what keeps the rest of the Baylor family healthy and safe.

“We’re like a cake,” Picazo said.

“You can’t just have milk; there’s more ingredients. I can’t be flour and the whole cake. We need teamwork to make a good cake with eggs and milk too.”

MARIA PICAZO

& LETICIA GARCIA

Maria Picazo Morning

Arrives at work for the day shift

3:30 p.m.

Leaves work to pick up kids and bring them to their grandmother’s house for a snack

5:00 p.m.

Drives kids to soccer and piano practices

7:00 p.m.

Attends religious education classes and Mass on Wednesdays

8:00 p.m.

Arrives home after a long afternoon of activities and gathers family for dinner

Leticia Garcia Morning

Arrives at work for the day shift

3:30 p.m.

Leaves work to pick up kids The Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative, off Research Parkway, fosters interdisciplinary research and is the home of Leticia Garcia’s team.

Outdoor view of BRIC building, facing Research Parkway. The building was first built in 1944 with a General Tire Wartime Plant. The building was acquired in 1995 and in 2013 the modern glass building opened.

4:00 p.m.

Drives kids to tennis practice

Evening

Cooks dinner for family and helps kids with homework

8:30 p.m.

Begins putting kids to bed

SPRING 2019

Being THEIR

23

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR DOES MORE THAN JUST HELP STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL STORY BY EMILY EDWARDS PHOTOS BY KATIE CHRISTOFFERSON McKenzie Miller hangs and laughs with students that are part of the after-school program The Rock.

24 FOCUS MAGAZINE Mission Waco has a significant impact on the local community, and especially on children. McKenzie Miller, the heart and organizer behind the children and youth programs, plays a big part in this.

A part of the Baylor University class of 2008, Miller left with a degree in sociology and passion for the people of Waco. She initially got involved with Mission Waco through the class, Poverty of Waco, taught by Mission Waco cofounder and president Jimmy Dorrell.

Through the class, she began volunteering with the youth program. Realizing she would stay in Waco the summer prior to senior year, Miller secured an internship with Mission Waco. Miller noted that her internship was the point her volunteering and time at Mission Waco became more.

“That’s how I really got involved with Mission Waco,” Miller said. “Knowing the staff here and knowing the full scope of Mission Waco.”

Typically, volunteers only see a few areas of Mission Waco. There are 26 sectors of Mission Waco, ranging from World Cup Café to Jubilee Food Market to the Rock After School Program.

Miller directs the children and youth programs, which include the Rock After School Program, King’s Club and summer camps. She has led the children’s program since

she came on full time in 2008 and acquired the position of directing the youth in January 2019.

There are a variety of classes offered to choose from, ensuring the kids get to participate in activities that are of interest to them. Art, Bible study, theater, robotics and nature club are a few of the options. Specific classes are offered each day of the week, keeping the kids on a schedule.

“We try to pick classes that will fit our kids and that they enjoy doing,” Miller said, “Overall we really want them to enjoy being there.”

An average day for Miller begins around 9 a.m. when she comes in to the Mission Waco office. She usually starts the day by checking and answering emails.

There is plenty of communication and coordination that occurs behind the scenes. Miller works with organizing volunteers and volunteer groups, and responding to emails from staff and outside organizations. She is present at the program and stops in the youth program with the older kids every once in a while.

Kamrie Rhodes, a Mission Waco work-study student, touches on what it is like to work with Miller.

“McKenzie is such a great person to work under. She is straightforward, hardworking and easy to be around,” Rhodes said. “Everyone at the Rock adores and respects

UPPER LEFT: McKenzie Miller helps students with homework before preparing for activities at the Mission Waco after-school program. UPPER RIGHT: Miller plays outside and pushes a child on the swings outside The Rock building. BOTTOM LEFT: Miller prepares food for members of The Rock from their grant program, Kids Cafe, that provides food and snacks for low-income children. BOTTOM RIGHT: Two students model for the camera outside The Rock playground one afternoon.

SPRING 2019 her so much, and it is so evident.”

The structure and content of the programs must be planned ahead of time so all resources needed are ready to go.

What is happening in the afterschool programs must be known ahead of time so volunteers, supplies and all resources are available.

Miller said she plans ahead by looking at the week in front of her and buying all supplies needed for that specific week. When day-today set-up is done ahead of time, it leaves room for forward planning for summer and other events coming up.

Miller emphasized the importance of forward planning.

She explained how it leads to program improvement by “always taking time out to figure out how we can do things better, how we can structure better, have better systems, be better organized and managing the staff we have to make sure they feel supported.”

Along with other staff members, she picks the children up from school and brings them to the center. During the program, children do their homework, have a snack, participate in the planned class and play outside.

The children are served dinner and then Miller assists the children getting home through a bus route.

Once the children are home, Miller finishes her day by checking and answering emails once again.

Programs continue through the summer and include day camps, field trips and even an out-of-state trip for the youth.

“We want to give them memories and experiences,” Miller said.

They have traveled to Washington, D.C., San Diego and San Antonio. Miller said taking the kids on trips is full of fun and one of her favorite parts of her job, as kids gain knowledge only learned through experiences.

“The best way for them to learn about the world is to go and see it,” Miller said.

Miller shared with a smile that the best part of her job is the relationships that have

formed. Going on her 11th year as children’s director, Miller has known the families for many years.

At this point, she is seeing siblings, nephews and cousins of kids from her first few years coming through the program now.

“It’s just so neat that I have had the opportunity to know their families for 10, 11 years,” Miller said. “I think that is definitely my favorite part.”

Children program assistant, Mo Guillory grew up in Waco and returned to her hometown when accepting the position at Mission Waco.

“I felt God was calling me back to Waco to serve and do ministry in my hometown,” Guillory said. “Upon searching for jobs, I came across the opening for children’s program and I applied, was interviewed and the rest is history.”

Guillory says Miller creates an environment where each person can use their gifts and are encouraged in their strengths, as well as pushed to grow in areas of weakness.

“The McKenzie that I report to as my supervisor each week is the same McKenzie whom I am proud to call my friend, and do life alongside,” Guillory said.

Relationships are an important part of Mission Waco and reflect the love and care of the employees and volunteers. Guillory especially notices Miller’s heart that she pours into her relationship with the kids.

“McKenzie genuinely loves and cares for these children and families and is always seeking their highest good, through her decisions and actions,” Guillory said.

The work of Mission Waco impacts the community but the people involved have an impact on the employees and volunteers as well.

With a smile, Miller shared that the families she has met through the programs have impacted her life.

“They have become real family to us, and we have become family to them,” Miller said.

25

of MCKENZIE MILLER

9:30 a.m.:

McKenzie Miller gets to the office Monday-Thursday and works on emails and meetings

2 p.m.:

Starts preparing for program that day

3:15 p.m.:

Miller and the staff pick up the children from school and bring them to the center

3:30 p.m.:

Arrives at the children’s center The children eat a snack, work on homework or play outside

4 p.m.:

Dismisses the children to their class they chose for the day

5 p.m.:

Dinner time Children are fed through a grant out of Austin (Kids Cafe)

5:30 p.m.:

Program ends, children go home on a bus

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

Returns to the youth center to help clean up, checks email one last time

26 FOCUS MAGAZINE

One more

girl to

save

SEX TRAFFICKING DETECTIVE DOES WORK WITH NATIONAL IMPACT

STORY BY CORRINE MOORE PHOTOS BY AADIL SHEIKH ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN RULE In September 2017, the International Labor Organization estimated that 24.9 million men, women, and children were victims of human trafficking around the globe. Every day, victims are coerced into the deceitful business of human trafficking and exposed to life long trauma as a result of sexual, domestic and emotional abuse from their perpetrator.

Joe Scaramucci, Detective of Human Trafficking at McLennan County Sherrif’s Office, has been working with victims of sex trafficking since 2008. At the start of his career, he worked as a campus security guard at McLennan Community College.

After attending up to 3,000 hours of

investigating school, he worked as a detective for death and sex crimes ranging from homicide, suicide and suspicious deaths to child and adult crimes.

Since initiating investigations in human trafficking in 2014, Scaramucci has arrested over 450 sex buyers and conducted sting operations resulting in the arrest of approximately 120 individuals for human trafficking.

He also consults law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S about these sex trafficking operations and hopes to make a national impact about how to prevent this ever-increasing epidemic.

On a typical morning, Scaramucci

begins his day by searching for prostitution ads on line - scanning for clear signs that could point to sex trafficking.

Once he finds a potential victim, he begins building their case file. He then runs the victim’s number against the system the detectives use, which will show him the exact number of ads placed under that number.

“So, if I take your phone number and you’ve only placed one ad, it will just show that one ad. But if you’ve been posting ads for years traveling the country, it’s going to show me a map of every ad you’ve placed. If I see you’re in 25 different states, and you’re sending money on a weekly basis to one particular person who has to show

SPRING 2019

27

Joe Scaramucci stands in front of the “Not in My City” banners that hang around Waco from Unbound, an organization that activates through local communities to fight human trafficking.

an ID to get that money, that tells me who I’m looking for. Once I establish that there’s a pattern of travel, that screams that there’s human trafficking involved,” Scaramucci said.

The rest of Scaramucci’s day often consists of following up on other cases, subpoenas, search warrants, locating victims and actively working to set up a sting operation on the ads he believes might allude to sex trafficking. To catch the perpetrator, Scaramucci will then pose as a sex buyer and send a text to the girl posting the ads. Once they set up a time and a place to meet, Scaramucci is able to get in contact with her perpetrator.

“For example, they might text

me to meet them outside Motel 6,” Scaramucci explained. “I will show up in my undercover car and regular clothes to pose as a sex buyer.

Oftentimes, they will tell me to drive around to the back side of the hotel, so they can check to make sure I am not a cop. Once I get to their room number, I first try to talk to the girl, who usually stays silent out of fear, and then issue a search warrant on the perpetrator’s phone to find evidence that issues a [search] warrant.”

Oftentimes, victims are trained to stay silent in the presence of law enforcement in fear of both their perpetrator and arrest. When Scaramucci is on his way to a hotel to investigate a perpetrator, he will give

Unbound a call to meet him at the set location. Unbound is a faith-based, Waco organization run by National Director Susan Peters that provides support and resources for victims to help restore their emotional, spiritual and mental health.

“Unbound’s mission is to mobilize faith based communities to activate local communities to fight human trafficking,” Peters said.

Peters was initially drawn to human trafficking prevention and awareness while traveling for missionaries across the world in places such as Uganda, India, Cambodia and Thailand. While there, the young male child soldiers spoke to her about the prevalence of human trafficking in their countries,

28 FOCUS MAGAZINE

If you or someone you know is a victim of sex trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

and she felt a burden in her heart that motivated her to take action. In 2012, Peters opened the first Unbound headquarters. Now, it has spread internationally to offices in Mongolia and Cambodia.

The organization does this by focusing on three main areas prevention awareness, professional training and survivor advocacy.

They practice prevention through educating and empowering youth to spread awareness through community outreach; equip attorneys, medical professors, educators, and social service providers by conducting professional trainings teaching them how to better identify victims of human trafficking; and promote survivor advocacy through meeting the immediate needs of the victims by connecting them to aftercare programs or doctors.

“Here at Unbound, we focus heavily

on prevention,” Peters said. “Just in the past year, we conducted 84 trainings and educated over 6,000 students.”

Unbound and law enforcement make a great partnership because the organization helps bridge the needs of victims while simultaneously meeting the needs of law enforcement.

“For example, if I find a girl and set her up to meet me at Motel 6, I will give Unbound a call to meet me there because I want them to contact her first in order to build up rapport and trust before introducing myself.

The girls at Unbound will also provide resources to the victims to show them that there is a way out of their situation,” Scaramucci said.

The disheartening aspect of human trafficking is that often, victims are manipulated by their perpetrators into believing that the perpetrator truly loves and cares for them - similar

to Stockholm syndrome or learned helplessness.

“It’s carefully planned because it’s a mind game. It’s breaking someone down mentally, and then providing for them. Once they convince the victims that they’re worthless, they condition the girls to learn to run tricks all day in return for their love and acceptance,” Scaramucci explained.

According to Scaramucci, the average age boys or girls who are sex trafficked is between 12 and 14. Out of the hundreds of young girls he’s worked with, he has yet to come across a single male. According to data from the UN, 51 percent of victims are women while another 20 percent are girls, accounting for 71 percent of total victims.

When victims escape sex trafficking, the adults enter into safe houses; houses full of other women who were involved in sex trafficking

SPRING 2019

in recovery. Underage victims are sent to child protective services. According to Peters, although victims can come from any socioeconomic class, gender or race, there are certain vulnerabilities that can increase the risk.

“Victims who come from poverty or single-family homes are at a higher risk. Parents also can increase the risk by allowing children ample unmonitored social media time, and exhibit a lack of accountability for their children,” Peters said.

Peters encourages parents to have conversations with their children about the dangers of social media, such as communicating with strangers on line and sexting. Perpetrators often use social media as a tool to manipulate young children by building relationships based on false pretenses.

“If a 45-year-old man came to a family’s door and asked to speak to their 13-or 14-yearold daughter, that Mom or Dad would go berserk and shut the door in his face. Little do they know - those same people have access to their children through social media every day,” Peters said.

Scaramucci strongly stands

behind the idea that law enforcement is putting the focus on the wrong people. Law enforcement isn’t focusing on traffickers - they’re focusing on the people being exploited.

“What I tell law enforcement is we can play whack-a-mole all day long. If I arrest you for prostitution, law enforcement shouldn’t immediately mark that as a win. The perpetrator is going to come and release the prostitute from prison if he doesn’t already have another girl on the line, so the cycle perpetually continues. Now, if you take him out, you not only stop that, but you stop everything else,” Scaramucci said.

Detective Scaramucci defines success for himself by stressing the importance of getting women out of the system. Obviously putting people in prison is always going to be a goal of cops, but the main goal should be helping the victims escape from their perpetrators reins, he said.

“Lets’ say you find five girl sex traffic victims but there’s not enough evidence to build a case around them, but you manage to get them out of the system—Did you succeed? Of course you did,” Scaramucci said.

“

of JOE SCARAMUCCI

Morning:

Joe Scaramucci starts each day by searching for prostitution ads on line and looking for potential victims If a victim is found, case files are built

Imagine being a victim of sex trafficking where you’re forced into having sex 10 times a day. Ten times a day you’re quite literally a sexual assault victim.

JOE SCARAMUCCI

29

”

Afternoon:

Victim’s number is run against the computer system for detectives to show the exact number of ads placed under that person

Rest of the day:

Search warrants, subpoenas, working on previous unsolved cases, locating victims, setting up sting operations on ads found during the day To catch a perpetrator, Scaramucci will pose as a buyer and set up a location to meet

30 FOCUS MAGAZINE

ACO W INGS W PHOTOS AND STORY

BY ANDI RISK

LOCAL PILOT SHARES STORIES FROM THE SKY Tommy Miller poses with one of his frequented airplanes, a Citation CJ2. This is a privately owned aircraft carrying up to four passengers.

Just to the left of the Waco Regional Airport lies the Texas Aero building – the hands and feet of operation for many Waco airplanes. On this bright, sunny day, Tommy Miller stood outside enjoying the weather, a habit he has formed over many years.

At 71 years old, Miller proudly said, “I could be retired but I’m not, and I still enjoy coming to work.” With a soft smile, he continued, “It’s just like my job is my hobby – it’s fun.”

Today, Tommy Miller is the chief pilot and director of flight operations at Texas Aero, which is a general aviation facility on the Waco Regional Airport that has been in operation

since 1973. Texas Aero has owned and operated corporate aircraft for over 46 years, and has managed a wide range of aircraft from a Piper Super Cub to Citations, Hawkers, Challengers and Falcons. Texas Aero was not Miller’s first encounter with flying, however.

“I grew up in it from the time I was 5 years old, and I’ve just been here since,” Miller said.

Miller’s father, who served in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, later brought his knowledge to the Waco Regional Airport. Miller watched his father repair and fly planes from an early age, and soon decided he would follow in his footsteps. Because of his

father, Miller was able to learn the ropes early, turning him into the proud pilot he is today.

“Growing up in it, I was getting training all along,” Miller said. “You need a different typewriting for each plane, so it’s just about learning the systems which are electrical, hydraulics and engines.”

Born and raised in Waco, Miller loves the town and the community he has built.

“Waco was a great place to raise a family, and I think it still is – still a small town that’s not too small,” Miller said with a smile. “You’re right in-between two major cities, so if you

SPRING 2019

31

“

I could be retired but I’m not, and I still enjoy coming to work.

TOMMY MILLER

”

Miller shows off a larger plane called a Falcon 50, frequently used to fly Baylor sports teams and other corporate groups.

Inside the cockpit of Miller’s air taxi, a Citation CJ2.

Cameron Porter, who has worked with Miller for years and thinks of him as his own grandpa, fuels a plane on the runway.

want to do something wild, just go to Dallas or Austin.”

Being able to fly from place to place also makes the world feel a little smaller. For Miller, most destinations are just a short jet away.

“I’m fortunate for being here so long because my boss usually lets me use any of the airplanes if they are single pilot,” Miller said.

Every year Miller and his family fly up to South Dakota to visit his wife’s family. Miller laughed as he explained his wife’s early hesitations with his profession.

“She didn’t know if something would happen to me,” Miller said.

Now, however, his wife has taken solo flying lessons, making her both comfortable and thankful for the time they are able to enjoy in the sky together.

Miller and his wife have three kids together – all boys.

One is a personal trainer, one is a welder and one owns a

business and races jet-skis nationwide.

“None of them fly,” Miller said without a hint of remorse.

“It was their choice, and they’re all successful.”

Miller has also built meaningful relationships at work. Patrick Ishimwe, an international student from Rwanda, said Miller has taken him under his wing as a son since they day they met. Ishimwe works at Texas Aero as the customer service responsibilities supervisor.

“When my parents come to visit, Tommy tells them, ‘When you’re here, that’s your son.

When you’re not here, that’s my son.’”

Ishimwe and Miller have been working together for three years now.

“He is a good dad of mine,” Ishimwe said.

As Miller reminisced on some of his memorable moments in the sky, he stayed calm even in the midst of stressful situations.

32 FOCUS MAGAZINE

of TOMMY MILLER

5 a.m.:

Wake up within the hour

8:30 a.m.:

Arrive at Texas Aero and drink a cup of coffee on the golf cart outside

3:30 p.m.:

Head home from the office on days when there are no flights When on a flight, Miller’s schedule is unpredictable. Many times Miller will stay overnight for his job, and many times he has flown to another state and back all before noon.

Either way, Miller tries not to work more than a 14 hour day.

“I’ve lost two engines on an airplane,” Miller said.

“I mean, that’s what all the training is for – trying to compensate for that.”

Miller also had the privilege of flying two former U.S. senators, Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The senators’ taxing schedules sometimes meant Miller would be working 14 days at a time without a day off. However, this experienced pilot took the challenge in stride.

“It’s fun to me. It’s stressful, but it’s fun,” Miller said.

While Miller has a variety of high-profile passengers, he still has a heart for the people of Waco. In fact, he routinely flies Baylor’s athletic teams

to and from away games.

From basketball to football, many of Baylor’s sports teams have called on Miller for their traveling needs.

When Miller isn’t in the air, you can find him at your local bowling alley. Board member of over 40 years, Miller enjoys time with friends as part of the Texas State Bowling Association. He also served as president of the association for two years.

With a lifetime of flying to look back on, Miller continuously looks ahead to the next journey. He is beyond thankful for his time in the sky, and credits the people surrounding him with making each journey so memorable.

SPRING 2019

THE GREEK AMERICAN

33

dream

FAMILY BRINGS TRADITIONAL GREEK CUISINE TO WACO PHOTOS AND STORY BY CAMERON BOCANEGRA It is a sunny afternoon in Greece by the time 3-month-old and first generation Wacoan Kalliroi KellyLentis wakes in her crib. She has her father’s blue eyes, with a tint of gold from her mother. The most American thing about her is her grandmother’s blood and the colorful bibs with English catchphrases. Her mother sleeps in a bed next to her, waiting for the baby’s morning babble. Her father sleeps in the other room to get as much rest without the baby’s wake-up calls before opening the restaurant, and soon her mother is picking her up before the first cry

leaves her lips. It is a good morning if she wakes after 4 a.m., and by 8 a.m., Dorothy and Felipe Kelly-Lentis are backing out of their driveway. They take their time to drive the four miles to the restaurant, passing the churches and local businesses they have come to know as neighbors. With a bow, a bottle and two aprons, the three begin their day at the family business, Alpha Omega, a Greek restaurant on Franklin Avenue that Wacoans and tourists have come to appreciate for the dishes of culture and the couple behind the grill playfully bickering about who changed the music to an

American station.

In the next hour, the rest of the employees clock in and begin their morning routine alongside Dorothy.

They are a handful of young adults who are getting married, graduating, raising their first child, finishing 10th grade or just passing through with appreciation for a full stomach.

Sometimes the busboys are Kalliroi’s cousins visiting from Greece and earning some extra money, but mostly it is the same six familiar faces passing through the kitchen and cooing at Kalliroi while she has her morning bottle with Dorothy.

34 FOCUS MAGAZINE

ALPHA OMEGA

It took 13 years since leaving her life in Greece for Dorothy to be a young business owner in the U.S., and to become a mother, it took four years of hope. Dorothy and her family moved from Rhodes, Greece, to West, Texas, in 2000.

Dorothy said, “I didn’t hate it here, but I was a 13-year-old taken from what my everyday was and brought to a different country. People spoke different. The lifestyle was different.

It was shell-shocking. Swim whenever you want in Greece. Go to the park whenever you want. I came here and they said, ‘We don’t have a swim team, but we have volleyball.’ It was different.”

Felipe speaks mostly Greek, so Dorothy does a lot of the talking, but on a good morning when Kalliroi sleeps in late like today, Felipe is singing along while kneading and

rolling the pita dough in a cloud of flour. Even the hostess sings along to the song after so much time of listening, though she only knows the words and not their meaning.

Dorothy’s father stops by like most mornings. The restaurant is not open yet, but a pot of coffee has already disappeared and the cooks are shredding the lamb with haste.

Dorothy and her father, Aris, talk politics and business over coffee made from imported grounds, and breakfast gyros fresh off the grill.

“My father used to have a butcher/ supermarket business in Greece.

My uncle did some bad finances.

(Dorothy’s parents) just wanted to get us out of that situation because it was getting pretty heated. Since my mom was American, we came here.”

Natural culinary skills are a family trait. Her father owns a sister

Felipe Kelly-Lentis drinks Greek coffee with his wife, Dorothy, and daughter Kalliroi.

Felipe, Dorothy and Kalliroi Lentis in front of the traditional Greek menu over the counter of Alpha Omega.

bound to interrupt Dorothy’s steadied, gloved hand while icing a perfected pastry. A customer has questions about Rhodes; the hostess broke a bottle of wine; a line is forming; the busboy has called in sick; the dishwasher is late; shipments just dropped off damaged and spilling on the patio; and in the office, Kalliroi sleeps with her elephant-shaped pacifier to the familiar lullaby of the restaurant bustle as hungry Magnolia tourists flood in through noon.

“When Dorothy got pregnant we knew things would change, but we were happy for them. We don’t mind

Kalli being here at all. She’s a break.

Whoever is free is going to be playing with her when Dorothy is busy cooking or baking. We each take our time with her if we’re slow on orders,” said Wacoan and Alpha Omega cook, Jessica Martin.

There is a lull in the day once the travelers are gone, and the regulars trickle in for orders that are rung up as soon at they walk through the door.

At the biggest table, Dorothy lays out a spread of feta fries, gyros, guacamole and sparkling water for Felipe and herself. They have been married since 2013 after she met Felipe during her

restaurant in Waco called 1424. The family’s first restaurant in West, Yianni’s, is where Dorothy worked for tips while growing up and going to culinary school.

“You grow up by the ocean,” Dorothy said wistfully. “You have beautiful surroundings. You can roam wherever you want without the fear of where kids go. We came here, lived in a two-bedroom apartment, and one person was on top of another person.

We were safe, but the fear that my parents had was greater than what we could understand at the time.”

When she and her father finish breakfast, Dorothy goes to the kitchen to bake Greek desserts like baklava, eckmeck and galaktoboureko while Kalliroi watches her mother play with the batters and creams. Felipe cuts and cleans the chicken across the room. Every half hour, something is

Felipe Kelly-Lentis shaves pork off the spit in the kitchen, preparing for the lunch rush.

annual visit to Greece, just six months before they married. Their summer love ended, but when Felipe visited Dorothy in the U.S., he did not want to have to wait for another visit.

“I said, ‘You marry me or go back. Pick. We don’t have to say anything,’” said Dorothy. “We went to the courthouse, and it was nervewracking, but it felt good. It felt like I was doing a good thing. We went and got married. We didn’t tell anyone we were married until we knew we were going to be together.”

A few years later, Dorothy and Felipe were opening their restaurant

SPRING 2019

ALPHA OMEGA and hanging Greek art and photos of paint the customers intrigued, and their family taken in Rhodes. They the authenticity of the restaurant said it was awkward and scary, but comforts them. Felipe rushes in and they believed in each other and their out of the building with both hands opportunity to thrive in Waco while on his hips to check traffic as if it will sharing their culture through their change the flow of customers. talent. They used to spend 13 hours Felipe said, “We are very grateful every day behind the counter until to be part of the Waco community. they could grab a drink at the local The customers, the local people, and bar or hang out with other generations the businesses are what make us of Greek immigrants who seemed to feel like we are cared for. Yes, we are gravitate between extremely tired, Dallas, Austin but we love to and Waco. These cook and the friendships support of the awaken their locals gives us natural tongue. enough strength It isn’t the same to keep doing this as kicking back every day. Being in the butcher here every day shops where the keeps us involved. couple first met We don’t want to in Rhodes. And ever let it go.” yes, things have When the sun changed since begins setting, Kalliroi was born, Dorothy says but it is a life that goodnight to the satisfies them restaurant, but with well earned Felipe stays to happiness. close at 9 p.m.

After lunch, She turns onto FELIPE KELLY-LENTIS Dorothy’s Franklin Avenue mother comes and checks the by to pick up Kalliroi for the rest of backseat out of instinct even though the afternoon, so Dorothy can focus she is on her way to pick up Kalliroi. on the oncoming early dinner rush The duo will settle with each other that kicks off the evening. Bottles on the couch and wait the few hours of imported wine are uncorked and until Felipe arrives home, smelling of the lights are dimmed. She and oregano and parsley. In Greece, the Felipe cook next to their employees, moon is coming up. In Waco, Dorothy whipping hummus and wrapping does not miss it too much. In Waco, spanakopitas just the same. The she has made two homes, a family, Greek shouts from the kitchen and a future away from Rhodes.

“

The customers, the local people, and the businesses are what make us feel like we are cared for.

”

35

DOROTHY, KALLIROI &

FELIPE KELLY-LENTIS

4 a.m.

Wake-up call

8 a.m.

Leave house to go to the restaurant

9 a.m.

Employees arrive and begin morning routines at Alpha Omega

Sometime in between

Begin baking, eat breakfast with Dorothy’s father

10:30 a.m.

Doors open, tourists begin arriving for food

12 p.m.

Business dies down, phone orders are filled

After lunch

Dorothy’s mother picks up the baby so Dorothy can focus on preparing for the coming dinner rush

Sunset

Dorothy goes to pick up the baby

9 p.m.

Felipe closes the restaurant

A few hours later...

Felipe arrives home

TO SEE MORE, VISIT US ONLINE WWW.BAYLORFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM