Paying It Forward: New Year, New Journeys
Paying It Forward: New Year, New Journeys
Next 100 days are key
Paying It Forward: New Year, New Journeys
By Jack Browne
Who are we? Where are we going? How are we getting there? These three questions keep students focused on their future in Café con Leche’s Road to College Program. Their first action in joining, where do you spend your time? So, as I focus at 2024 and my Dreams, I know the next 100 days are key in bringing the dreams to reality.
30 million Texans celebrated Christmas; most having moved here from another state, some from another country. By 2060, between 36 and 44 million people will call Texas home. Like my father who moved to Dallas from OSU in 1955, half will have college degrees and or special certifications in preparation of participating in the future blessings of Texas.
In our community, the long-term challenges of recruiting more high paying jobs while building the required talented workforce is a chicken and the egg challenge. Water, education and population growth, additional conundrums requiring attention in 2024.
Locally, we enter 2024 with newly elected leaders. With 2024’s November elections, our Washington DC and Austin representative officials will have been selected. My dream is these leaders have the capacity, capability and tenacity make significant progress towards long denied solutions to unresolved challenges.
Lake Ringgold will bring water for future Texans; today we are the guardians of the mission. Understanding when it’s needed, optimizes the costs to guarantee water to future Texans. We have to properly represent our area to enable the best possible future. Locally our top 5-10 employers are strong, committed to our geography, but stressed by the availability and commitment of our workforce.
One bright spot for 2024 brings the start of the Green Hydrogen project by AES and Air Products as the OKLA Union electric generating site is retargeted as the largest green hydrogen production facility in the US. Forecast to create 5,000 jobs over 4 years this economic project will have significant impact throughout the Wichita Falls geographic area. Green hydrogen can catalyze growth for Wichita Falls as a significant center of knowledge and skills.
Thanks Bruce, Jose and friend whose volunteering gathered donations that keep MSU Burn’s Festival of Lights illuminated for one more season. Volunteer opportunities listed on Facebook group servewichitafalls.
Glass half full, half empty. Little Train that Could is my dream for 2024.
Free Ukraine, Peace in the Middle East and Worldwide.