Mary Belf

@fieldandvine

Texas watercolor artist living in Waco - love to paint nature in all its forms.

Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children

@accvc_prevention

Non-profit that offers services to survivors of violent crimes

Mission: The mission of the Advocacy Center is to affect community-level change through equitable advocacy, collaboration, prevention, and therapeutic services to all children and adults impacted by violence and abuse. Vision: Creating true and lasting change to end violence and abuse. Values: Collaboration, integrity, compassion, inclusivity

Joseph Mahan

@jbeanz137

I’m a multidisciplinary artist who works with painting, drawing, and mixed media to explore emotion, identity, and the subconscious. My art mixes bold color, surreal imagery, and heavy texture because that’s the most honest way I know to communicate. A lot of my work comes from trying to make sense of what I feel—turning inner chaos into something visual. Through symbols like hearts, figures, creatures, and abstract landscapes, I build worlds that reflect my experiences and the emotions that shape me. Every piece is a part of me, raw and unfiltered.

Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center

@Waco-STEAM-Center

The Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center is a dynamic, community-driven hub where learners of all ages explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on, real-world experiences. Located in Waco, the STEAM Center offers interactive labs, creative studios, and engaging programs designed to spark curiosity, build skills, and prepare the next generation of innovators. Transformation Waco leads the operation and strategic vision of the STEAM Center, working alongside the City of Waco and local partners to expand opportunities to hands-on STEAM learning. We aim to create a place where the entire community, of all ages, can work, play, and learn in a space dedicated to their advancement. Key Facility Spaces & Their Uses: Teaching Kitchen: Culinary classes, food start-ups, and cooking workshops Robotics Lab: Hands-on exploration of robotics, coding, and engineering projects Recording Studio: Music production, podcasting, and media creation Demonstration Space: Flexible venue for workshops, performances, and exhibitions Multipurpose Classrooms: Educational programs, including coding, art, and community discussions Computer Lab: Virtual or in-person teaching opportunities Immersive Lab: Experiential learning to develop real-world skills by simulating or visualizing real-world scenarios Target Audience: Ages 3-6: Interactive and creative learning through early childhood STEAM activities (e.g., Mini Makerspace, STEAM Storytime) Ages 6-12: Project-based learning in robotics, coding, and art integration. Focus on real-world applications through team collaboration and exploration Teens/Young Adults (13-18): Advanced workshops and real-world problem-solving robotics, technology development, gaming, and design thinking Seniors (55+): Tailored programs in technology literacy, creative arts, and intergenerational mentorship (e.g., Tech for Seniors, Art & Digital Media for Seniors)

Liana Cannon

@LianaCannon

I grew up in Cedar Park Texas and developed a foundation in traditional media as a student, then as a teacher's assistant at a local art studio. In my teen years I was gripped by the digital arts, and I went on to get my BFA in Interactive Design and Game Development from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I currently live in Waco with my husband and two cats, Aria and Bolero. Professionally, I now do 3D art for a startup game studio working on its first title, and in my personal art life, I still have a tremendous fondness for both traditional and digital painting. My favorite pastimes include video games (of course), Dungeons & Dragons, singing, and participating as a member of the Central Texas Watercolor Society.

@achotelwaco

@achotelwaco

Waco's Community Hotel - Upscale Hotel near Magnolia Silos in Downtown Waco

Welcome to the AC Hotel Waco Downtown, where upscale meets convenience! Located just steps from the iconic Magnolia Silos, minutes away from Baylor University, the Waco Convention Center, and the Dr. Pepper Museum, our hotel offers the perfect location for your stay in Waco. Host your upcoming event in the 21,000 sq ft of banquet and meeting space, including our 7,400 sq ft ballroom. Experience cutting-edge technology, customized catering, and exceptional planning services for your business meeting or social gathering. Indulge in our classic design and intuitive service as you step into our harmonious rooms designed for entrepreneurial spirits. Enjoy the very best amenities, from complimentary Wi-Fi and 55" LED TVs with streaming capabilities to mini-fridges and deluxe bedding. Traveling with a group? Experience the comfort of our Bear Dens, a private suite of 8 rooms.

Bradley Settles

@BradSettlesArt

Bradley Settles (b. 1983, United States) earned his M.F.A. in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA in the fall of 2021. He also earned a B.F.A. in painting from Baylor University, 2007. He has exhibited throughout the United States. He has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions and has works in private collections along with works by Porfirio Salinas, R.D. Enright, and Julian Onderdonk. Settles is currently represented by Washington Gallery in Waco, Texas. Settles lives and works in Waco, Texas and his work is based in realism for the purpose of making connections between shared experiences.

CTCS

@CTCS

Auditioned Community Choir

CTCS is a volunteer (auditioned) community chorus that strives to offer a quality choral music experience to all in our area.

Larsen&Talbert

@LarsenAndTalbert_Media

We are the husband and wife team of Michael Larsen and Tracy Talbert. In 1997, we married and launched Larsen&Talbert. We have been specializing in our unique brand of portraiture, lifestyle and fine art photography for editorial and advertising clients ever since. Our goals are always to solve problems, showcase brands, and deliver top-level imagery for our creative partners. We recently launched a motion component and are currently producing our first film.

Urban Expressions

@UrbanExpressions

Urban Expressions is Mission Waco’s visual arts program. Urban Expressions provides art experiences for children and youth, our Manna House participants, and the broader Waco community. We seek to foster a community of creativity and instill people with the confidence to express their story through the arts!

As part of Mission Waco’s Creative Arts programming, Urban Expressions seeks to provide visual arts experiences for program participants and the broader Waco community. Each semester we provide art classes for our children and youth afterschool programs that focus on a wide array of artistic mediums. These range from spray paint, to sculpting, to edible pancake art, and beyond! We also seek to have our students engage with the visual arts through various out of the classroom experiences like field trips, community events, and even empowering them to participate as vendors in Urban Expressions very own Artisan Market. Ultimately, we strive to provide our students with the space to foster their creativity and instill within them a confidence to express their story. Similarly, Urban Expressions provides art lessons for our various Manna House participants at Mission Waco. We focus on art exercises that cultivate mindfulness and encourage imagination. Finally, Urban Expressions seeks to engage with the broader Waco community by participating in local markets and hosting various workshops and events at our studio. We offer summer camp classes for kids in the local community, spray paint and crafting workshops, and we have also hosted our own Artisan Market in the North Waco community. Each of these facets of our program are all focused on the same goal: providing participants with an environment that promotes creativity, enriches the imagination, and builds people’s confidence in their ability to express themselves.