​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.” 

​With over 15 years of experience and 400 5-star reviews online, Dapper and Dashin’ (D&D) is at your service! What started off as a men's grooming barbershop, has quickly turned into a full-service salon for the whole family. 

Jacob Rodriguez, the owner, says, “If you can dream it, we can create it!” 

Rodriguez has lived in Temple since he was 10 years old and always wanted to open his own business in the town he grew up in. His entrepreneurship spirit came from his parents. As immigrants who became businessowners, he says they taught him “to work hard and work with grit through challenging times.” 

Finally, in 2017, he saw a need for Dapper and Dashin' in our growing community. 

His goal when starting D&D was, “To create a culture where clients would love to come in and enjoy their service with a complimentary cocktail along with enjoying the music and personal conversation with their stylist.”

And the proof is in the numbers with their success. Currently, Jacob says they have grown to seeing over 800 clients a month. This steady clientele plus the growth of Temple has provided D&D the opportunity to hire stylists and barbers that are new to the area. Their staff is both achieving business goals and having personal and professional growth.

The growth of other businesses in Temple has helped D&D grow as well. They have been invited to numerous Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting parties throughout the City. Rodriquez says, “The partnerships and cross promotions we've been able to do, have helped us spotlight our brand with theirs and vice versa.” Through these partnerships, D&D has also volunteered and assisted in local fundraisers. “We believe it's our duty to give back as we are afforded many blessings.” 

What is the future for Dapper and Dashin’? Rodriguez says an expansion at their current location is in the making. The plan is to have 16 stations which will potentially staff 32 employees. He’s not opposed to have multiple locations in the surrounding area but mainly he’s, “actively praying and seeking for wisdom on how to further grow the D&D brand.”

When it comes down to it, Jacob says that his favorite part is seeing his customers, “I love when the salon is full of friends, neighbors and other community members”

Their “Dapper” menu consists of tailored barber cuts, beard trims, their signature deluxe hot towel beard trim (which is a customer favorite) and nose, brow, and ear waxing. The “Dashin'” menu ranges from tailored haircuts, custom hair colors, extensions and a series of hair treatments, relaxing facials and more. Lastly, they offer children services from all ages including 1st time haircuts. 

Visit Dapper and Dashin’ at 3010 Scott Blvd. #102, Temple, TX 76504, call (254) 295-0600 or visit their website at www.dapperanddashin.com. 

Using his own money, Temple resident Garfield Hawk III bought a basketball hoop and a few balls to provide a recreational outlet for the children in the community of East Temple where he grew up. That was in 2009 and, more than ten years later, the effort he started is called UnINcluded, a non-profit that is dedicated to providing structure, loving mentorship and goals for children and teenagers.
 
“We create those positive spaces and help children build positive habits,” says Doree Collins, executive director of the organization that is dedicated to helping children learn and thrive.
 
Located on seven acres in East Temple, UnINcluded inspires young people to learn to love to read, provides an urban farm where participants learn about growing and preparing their own food, a youth leadership program, and an afterschool program.
 
The name UnINcluded is a play on the word included and takes its meaning from the negative things that the nonprofit wants to help children avoid including drugs, teenage pregnancy, gangs, obesity, and illiteracy.
 
Collins says one of the non-profit’s most popular efforts gives books to young children and, in turn, high school and middle school participants take the time to read with the younger children and to be role models for them.
 
Seeing children find a passion for reading is rewarding, Collins says.
 
“I’ve had parents tell me ‘My child couldn’t wait till they got home to read their book,’” she says.
 
Another gratifying part of being involved in UnINcluded is seeing children grow into caring people and seeing them pass those values along to younger participants, she says.
 
Follow UnINcluded on social media and visit them online at www.unincluded.org.