Cohort XLII 2025-2026 CALENDAR

August 19, 2025 - Orientation & Leadership Development

September 9 - Regional Services Day

October 21 - History Day

November 18 - Economic Development Day

December 9 – Leadership Development & Team Building Day

January 13, 2026 – Education Day

February 10 – Nonprofit Day

March 17 – Healthcare Day

April 21 – Tourism Day

May 12 – Visions for the Future Day

June 9 – Law & Order Day

June 23 - Graduation

The debrief portion of the class aims to help participants reflect on how their Leadership Waco experience can enhance their community involvement and professional growth.

In your assigned group of three ("triad"), use the provided metaphors to discuss today's experiences. Spend 20 minutes on this conversation. Afterwards, we'll regroup, and each triad will have the opportunity to share their insights with everyone.

Required Activities

Leadership Waco participants are required to complete two outside activities from the list provided below.  Select one experience from Section I and one from Section 2. 

Upload a photo of the agenda or a selfie at the event HERE.

Section I - Civic Leadership Event

• Waco City Council Meeting

Waco City Council meets on the 1^st & 3^rd Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center. Agendas are posted on the City website 72 hours prior to the meeting on their website.

• Waco Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting

Planning & Zoning meet the 4^th Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center.  

•  McLennan County Commissioners Court

County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Court on the 1^st floor of the McLennan County Court House.  Agendas are posted on their website the Thursday afternoon prior to the meeting.

• Waco ISD School Board Meeting

Waco ISD School Board Meetings are held on the 4^th Thursday each month at 7 p.m. at the Waco ISD Administration Building Downtown. Call Waco ISD to confirm meeting schedule at 755-9473.

Any McLennan County school board meeting qualifies for this requirement. (Midway, La Vega, China Spring, Robinson, etc.)

Section 2 - Cultural Experience - choose one of these experiences that you have not done before

• Waco Civic Theater
• Waco Symphony
• Baylor Theater
• Martin Museum of Art | Baylor University
• Creative Waco event
• Waco Tours
• Texas Ranger Museum
• Mayborn Museum
• Dr Pepper Museum
• Waco Mammoth National Monument
• Texas Sports Hall of Fame
• Waco Independent Film Festival
• Art Center Waco AND Washington Gallery
• Performing Arts Center

Class Project

Your Leadership Waco class is responsible for working together to complete a class project that benefits Waco.

Class projects could include:

• Neighborhood cleanup
• Playground Improvement at a neighborhood park or nonprofit such as Family Abuse, Talitha Koum
• Work collectively with the City Manager or Mayor on a common project
• Tree planting
• Serve at a non-profit's special event
• Special Olympics
• Waco Cultural Arts Festival
• Pick an organization (Mission Waco, Methodist Home) and fundraise for computer lab, playground, painting, repairs

The possibilities are endless. A family-friendly project that involves the entire family is encouraged.  

We suggest choosing a class leader to help organize the group and the project.

A plan of work for the project must be completed and turned into Rachel by the January 14^th class and the project must be completed by the last class day, June 17th.

Attendance Policy

Leadership Waco consists of eleven full class days, August through June.

Participants are allowed only two absences.

Arriving to class 2 hours late or leaving 2 hours early constitutes a full day's absence.

Absent from class for more than 30 minutes constitutes a half day, unless prior approval has been given from the Leadership Waco Director.