​Despite the inclement weather, members of the business community turned out in full force for the Business After Hours event hosted and sponsored by Discover Downtown Temple on April 20.
 
Attendees were treated to an array of delicious food and beverages from local Downtown businesses, while networking and making valuable connections with fellow Members. The event was a huge success, thanks to the efforts of Discover Downtown Temple, who provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all.
 
If you have not visited Downtown Temple recently, now is the time as it is going through an exciting renovation and revitalization. Downtown Temple features unique architecture, boutiques, locally owned restaurants, museums, and nightlife. From morning brunch to evening drinks during a piano show, Downtown Temple has plenty to see and do. Discover and experience what downtown Temple is all about.
 
This After Hours is just one example of the many exciting events that the Temple Chamber hosts throughout the year, providing Members with numerous opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, support local businesses, and contribute to the growth and vitality of the community.
 
If you missed this one, we captured the spirit, fun, and fellowship in photos for you to enjoy!

​Originally created in Port-au-Prince Haiti, The Starting Place offers a full scope of Midwifery care for pregnant people and newborn babies. Tara Livesay and Bethany "KJ" Johnson worked in Haiti for more than a decade accomplishing their goal to leave the clinic in good hands and move to Bell County to open a stateside location.
 
The name came from Livesay and Johnson creating their manual for their model of care. Livesay says she simply stated, “when there are so many needs and the problems are great, what better place to start than with mothers and babies?” And thus, The Starting Place was named.
 
The two business partners feel extremely welcomed and accepted into the community. Livesay says they, “Work in partnership with [local] care providers. Because they are so incredibly busy and their volume is high, they are grateful for our ability to serve low risk clients.” They are proud to see how impactful their postpartum care and support groups are.
 
Livesay & Johnson will never fully lose their ties to Haiti. They say the Midwives in Haiti inspire them, “they live in very difficult circumstances but still show up daily when they are needed for a birth. They put their lives on the line to help others.” A portion of every birth at The Starting Place Temple, is donated to their Haitian sister birth center, the Heartline Maternity Center.
 
The Starting Place has resources for those in all stages of pregnancy, from pre-conception to 12 weeks postpartum. They offer support groups and educational resources for those in the postpartum phase when depression and anxiety are common. These opportunities are offered to their clients and the general community, even if they prefer to deliver at the hospital.
 
Overall, The Starting Place prides itself on being an affordable option for excellent holistic care. They look forward to, “continuing to meet needs of the community and to evolve as the needs do.” 

Did you know that “cha” means “tea” in Chinese? Jaja and Devin, co-owners of Cha Community, told us that the meaning behind the name of their business represents their mission. Cha Community is here to bridge cultures, foster collaborations, and provide premium boba tea. 

While attending Baylor University, Jaja and Devin saw the lack of Asian American community in Central Texas. They wanted to bring Taiwanese and Chinese culture to the area and doing so in a way that would leave an impact. Not only was there a lack of Asian American community, but there was a lack of quality boba tea in the area. Devin explains to us that in Asian countries, boba tea is the equivalent to Starbucks. This inspired the duo to open Waco Cha at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market. 

Waco Cha moved from the Farmers Market to a trailer, then eventually in 2020 Waco Cha opened its first storefront. Now, in 2022, Waco Cha has rebranded to Cha Community, and has just recently opened its second store in downtown Temple. Jaja and Devin are beyond excited to be in Temple, and are looking forward to spreading diversity, empowering others, and fostering a place of belonging. There is little that Cha Community enjoys more than collaborating with other small businesses in their area.

Not only does Cha Community offer a wide variety of delicious and quality tea, but they also offer coffee, lemonade, and noodles. They are going to introduce their dumplings soon, as well as dumpling workshops where you will learn to make homemade dumplings. 
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Go visit Jaja and Devin, and order one of their most popular drinks- the Milky Way Thai Tea or a Galaxy Lemonade!