Paying it Forward: Courage in crisis for hope and renewal #150
"It's terrible to have sight, but no vision,' said Hellen Keller. Today's uncertainty requires courage in showing up, engageing, & perservering. Communities grow as people engage, even when it's hard.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday January 25, 2026
In uncertain moments, courage rarely announces itself.
It doesn’t arrive as a speech, a slogan, or a moment meant for sharing. More often, it shows up quietly, as people choosing to stay engaged when stepping back would be easier. I was reminded of that recently through a series of community moments that, taken together, point toward hope and renewal at a time when both can feel harder to reach.
The theme of this year’s 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer and Scholarship Breakfast was “courage in crisis.” That phrase fits where many of us find ourselves today. Change is constant. Certainty is scarce. People are tired, cautious, and wondering whether effort still matters. And yet, the tone in the room wasn’t anger or nostalgia. It was resolve.
Dr. King understood that progress rarely comes without resistance, and that courage isn’t just the absence of fear. It’s the decision to move forward anyway. That idea echoed throughout the program. We were reminded that injustice is sustained not only by active opposition, but by disengagement. Silence has consequences. Showing up matters, especially when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
Delivering the opening remarks at this year’s event, Emmanuel Cruz Reyes, a sophomore at Legacy High School, reflected on King’s challenge to confront the injustice of hatred and fear, urging each of us to find our voice and speak out.
Reyes grounded his message in one of King’s most enduring reminders of perseverance: “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”
Dr. K. Shelette Stewart gave the keynote sharing timely interpretations of Dr. King’s messages that speak to the specifics of what our community and nation can do to continue to progress.
Dr Stewart authored the book “Revelations in Business,” blending faith with corporate strategy. Recalling a question asked of Helen Keller, “Is there anything worse than blindness?” Keller’s answer, “It’s terrible to have sight but no vision.”
One message landed clearly with the 385 attendees: movement matters. Not fast movement. Not flawless movement. Just movement. Progress doesn’t require perfection; it requires persistence.
That perspective resonated, particularly with younger people navigating a world full of noise and pressure to perform before they’re allowed to participate. Hearing that their role isn’t to have all the answers, but to keep moving, was grounding.
Twenty-five deserving students received over $37,000 of scholarships. From the $1,000 first awarded in 1998, over $271,000 of scholarships have been awarded.
Students can apply for multiple scholarships on the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation website https://www.wfacf.org/apply-for-a-scholarship/ before the February 1st deadline
Courage appeared beyond the breakfast as well, in ways that didn’t draw attention. It showed up in a decision to support a small convenience store on the Eastside.
For many of us, access to basics like fuel barely registers. But in neighborhoods with limited options, losing a single resource has real consequences. Supporting that store wasn’t just about financing. It was about continuity and dignity.
The TIF #3 board met Jan 15th and made their first funding decision. Few options exist on the Eastside for gasoline fill-ups. Zoom Zoom #5 convenience store had worked with city planners for several months, and their request to replace failed fuel pumps was approved as a loan.
It also showed up at the North Texas Food Pantry, where volunteers quietly serve families week after week. No banners or headlines, just steady effort.
Most volunteers are retirees and long‑time residents who believe service is part of responsibility. The challenge is that many are aging out, and without new volunteers, an essential layer of support for over 2,000 recipients cannot continue.
Come Monday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings and volunteer — email jack@newcollarcoach.com to keep this community service going.
These moments share one common thread: engagement. Communities don’t grow stronger because conditions are ideal. They grow stronger because people stay involved when conditions are hard.
Courage, in this sense, is practical. It’s attending the meeting, filling out the paperwork, stocking shelves, mentoring students, and answering the phone instead of scrolling past the problem.
Hope and renewal rarely arrive all at once. They’re built through accumulated decisions that prioritize people over convenience and long‑term impact over short‑term ease. Scholarships awarded to students are more than financial help. They signal belief—belief that potential exists everywhere and that the future isn’t fixed.
As we move forward, the choice before us is clear. We can step back and lower expectations, or we can lean in, accepting that uncertainty isn’t a signal to stop, but an invitation to lead differently. Not louder. Not faster. Just steadier.
As the proverb reminds us, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.”
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection and service.