From July 28–30, Bastrop County Cares had the incredible honor of hosting the 8th Annual Well-Being in Rural Communities (WRC) Meeting, welcoming partners from across Texas to Bastrop County for three days of learning, collaboration, and celebration.
For the past eight years, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health’s Collaborative Approaches to Well-Being in Rural Communities (WRC) initiative has united five rural Texas counties around one shared vision: building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities by expanding local mental health resources and strengthening community partnerships.
Together, this remarkable network has included:
Bastrop County – Bastrop County Cares / Resilient Bastrop County
Brooks County – Community Action Corporation of South Texas / BHOLD
Morris County – Northeast Texas Community College / Morris County Collaborative
Nacogdoches County – Stephen F. Austin State University / Better Together Nacogdoches
Victoria County – Victoria County Public Health Department / Be Well Victoria
As this marked the final year of the current WRC grant, it was especially meaningful for Bastrop County Cares to host our WRC family and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together over the last eight years.
Throughout the conference, we were proud to share the heart of Bastrop County through our history, culture, local businesses, food, hospitality, and the people who make this community so special. Guests enjoyed authentic local flavors from Southside Market Barbeque and 602 on Main, experienced Bastrop’s rich history and culture, and even created their own custom keepsakes through a fun Build Your Own Hat Bar hosted by PINK Love Houston. We wanted every guest to leave feeling welcomed, connected, and inspired, and we are grateful to hear that so many did.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Rick Ybarra and Tammy Heinz, Senior Program Officers with the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., and the entire Hogg Foundation team for believing in rural Texas communities and investing in this initiative throughout its eight-year journey. Their leadership, encouragement, and partnership have helped create lasting change that will continue well beyond the life of the grant.
We also extend a special thank you to Dr. Clarena Larrotta, Professor and Director of Adult, Professional, and Community Education at Texas State University, for leading the engaging session, “Storytelling for Community Impact: Amplifying Voices, Demonstrating Outcomes, and Engaging Stakeholders.” Her presentation equipped participants with evidence-based storytelling techniques and persuasive communication strategies to better engage community members, donors, policymakers, and other key stakeholders while demonstrating the impact of rural community initiatives.
We are also incredibly grateful to Mayor Ishmael Harris, the Bastrop African American Cultural Center & Museum, Dr. Shawanda Stewart and the Rosenwald School, PINK Love Houston, Southside Market Barbeque, 602 on Main, our local businesses, community partners, speakers, volunteers, and everyone who helped us showcase the very best of Bastrop County. Whether you shared your expertise, welcomed guests, served incredible local food, created memorable experiences, or simply lent a helping hand, your generosity and community spirit made our guests feel genuinely at home.
This gathering represented months of planning, preparation, and teamwork. From coordinating logistics and developing presentations to decorating, setting up, welcoming guests, providing resources, serving meals, and cleaning up afterward, every department and every staff member played an important role. It truly took all of us working together to make this event a success.
While this chapter of the WRC initiative has come to a close, the relationships built over the past eight years are only beginning. The trust, friendships, and partnerships formed through this collaboration will continue to strengthen our communities for years to come.
