Greeting Creators!

It’s November, a month full of comfort food and reflecting on the year that's passing by way too fast!

Let’s start this month off right with a fun joke! Get the answer at the end of the newsletter.

What is the best book to read in autumn?

AMERICORPS CORNER

Last month we highlighted two of our new Americorps Members, Mayci and Cristina, This month we are welcoming Miriam Manifest and Courtney Fisher to the stage!

Here are some words from both of them!

Hello there! In December 2024, I started my journey at Killeen Creators when I was looking for a community garden to share my time, and I decided to volunteer. With time restraints due to my previous job, I was only able to help a few times. After some time had passed, I got an email through Killeen Creators’ newsletter stating they were hiring new Americorps Members to serve with them. At that moment, I knew I needed to do this. I sent my application the next day after seeing the newsletter, and the rest is history.

I have always had this strong urge and gut feeling that I needed to do something that matters and changes the lives of so many people. Now that I am here, I couldn’t ask for a better place to serve my time. Not only do I get to sustain myself financially, but I get to work in a community garden and use my craft skills in helping others create, which is what I have been dreaming of for years! This is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life, and I wouldn’t change this for the world. I cannot wait to see where this takes me while continuing to learn how to help others in the way they need.

Sincerely, Courtney Fisher

When I first visited Killeen Creators, it was simply enjoying the fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from their gardens. It quickly became a place I could trust for healthy, organic produce. Soon after, I joined one of their art classes and discovered just how therapeutic creating could be. When I learned about the AmeriCorps position, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to bring together my passion and the skills I gained while earning my Bachelor of Arts degree. I love helping others access healthy food while healing and expressing themselves through art.

Miriam

COMMUNITY GARDENS

Come see our booth at the Friday Night Fall Night Market this month and on the first Friday of November! We’ll have fresh produce and items crafted in our studio. Every dollar spent at our market goes back into the community and will be another opportunity for you to support our mission!

Hard Work at the Teen Compassion Garden!

Killeen Creators and ImPossible are partnered on the wonderful Teen Compassion Garden! Every Saturday from 2pm-4pm is a Workday for teens to come volunteer and learn about gardening! ImPossible’s goal is to change teenagers' perspective on life by increasing their self-esteem and empowering them to achieve success.

Killeen Creators has the mission to relieve the impact of food deserts for the poor and distressed while building individual and community capacity through our programs. These two goals put together have created an amazing opportunity for teens to see that their hard work pays off along with the importance of nature and community.

CREATOR STUDIO / RECOVERY CLUBHOUSE

Upcycled Art Journals - Book Binding

We create watercolor journals that are amazing for our Art Journaling workshop! Our journals are made of from upcycled materials! We make them ourselves from cardboard, construction paper, watercolor paper, and wax thread! To the left is a visual step by step featuring one of our lovely Americorps Members Vivian! Followed by some completed examples. Participants in our Operation Art of Recovery Art Journaling class are each given one journal a year - and more are available for purchase!

Quilts 4 A Cause!

Our board’s Vice Chair, Sandra Blankenship (shown above), is ALSO on the Child Welfare board of Bell County, and she has led our AmeriCorps team members, including Vivian LeeBrown (shown above) in sewing Quilts for Kids! Every month we have a couple of Quilting 4 A Cause classes to both teach quilting - and help provide comfort and love to children in need. Our next class is November 21st from 1-3pm. You can join us by signing up at ????????

MEMBERS - the Members code for Eventbrite is KCMembers25

Here is our Thankful November Calendar! While we honor drop-ins if there are open seats, we encourage you to sign up on Eventbrite to make SURE there's room.
Click this link to reserve your seat!

BOARD CORNER

Welcome Our Newest Board Member!
Joshua Imonmion

Mr. Imonmion is a Professor at Central Texas College. He has served as an environmental bioremediation researcher with the United Nations Environment Program, World Conservation Monitoring Center for two years. He also served as a research assistant at a British council funded laboratory where he and a team of Plant researchers developed a drought and fuarium resistant tomato variety. He is currently the program coordinator of horticulture at CTC.

We are so fortunate to have him join our board and help us with our mission to foster food security in Killeen!

Board of Directors Strategic Planning Retreat

On Sunday, October 5th, our Board of Directors gathered for a powerful Strategic Planning Retreat — a day of reflection, dreaming, and direction-setting for the year ahead.

⚘ Reaffirming Our Mission

We proudly affirmed our mission:

To foster recovery from poverty, food insecurity, trauma, and addiction through Community Gardens, Creative Arts, Peer Support, and Civic Engagement.

✉ Looking Within & Looking Ahead

Through a guided SWOT Analysis, we explored our internal strengths and challenges while identifying opportunities and external threats that shape our work. Together, we envisioned what’s next for Killeen Creators — expanding programs, strengthening sustainability, and deepening our impact in the community.

★ 2026 Strategic Priorities

Here are a few highlights from our developing Strategic Action Plan for 2026:

• Grow Together: Collaborate with Central Texas College’s Agriculture Department to host interns, share growing resources, and distribute produce overages to the community.
• Empower Civic Voices: Expand our Civic Engagement and Voter Registration & Education initiatives.
• Support Recovery Differently: Develop and implement a culturally and trauma-informed alternative to traditional NA/AA groups.
• Share & Inspire: Create a Killeen Creators YouTube Channel to feature instructional videos and “Sharing Our Stories” segments to promote community learning and healing.

♥ Building the Future Together

Our retreat reaffirmed what drives us: recovery, creativity, and community. We’re excited to move forward with clarity, collaboration, and hope — planting the seeds for a thriving 2026.

November Mental Health Holidays

Candlelight Vigil on November 22nd International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day—commonly known as Survivor Day—is a time when people who have lost someone to suicide come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through shared experience and honor and remember those lost to suicide. As a survivor you are not alone. We invite you to join us for a special Candlelight vigil on the evening of Saturday, November 22nd at 730pm in the 10th Street Garden to give support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide or those who have survived an attempt.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Hearts of Killeen deadlines for Artists ♡ November 15th: Submissions Due November 17th: When judging will take place November 20th: HALF of award delivered along with heart form March 15th:Painted heart returned to KIlleen Creators The heart will be revealed at the Killeen Festival in April! Please look at the flyer provided (to the left of this text) for more details!

Veteran’s Day Parade

The City of Killeen will host a Veteran’s Day Parade on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Downtown. The parade is organized by the Central Texas Area Veterans Advisory Committee (AVAC). You can visit their website for more information.

Veteran’s Day Freebies!

If you’re a veteran, after watching the parade, head out to find a free lunch with proof of your military service. Check out this list of companies offering something for free!

Did you know that as a veteran you can get a special designation on your Texas Driver’s License or Identification card that identifies you as a veteran or disabled veteran? It’s true! This is great for getting your Veteran’s Day freebies or other Veteran Discounts, whether it’s for National Parks or at your favorite retail store. Visit the Texas Department of Public Safety for more information.

KC Collaborates with Killeen Heights Vet Center! Board Chair and Air Force veteran, Tess Griffin, joins our Executive Director, Kristin Wright, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays to facilitate a therapeutic Art Journaling session for our area veterans, spouses and care givers. It’s a great group working on their journey to recovery through art and bonding over shared life-experiences.

If you are a veteran, please know you don’t have to face challenges alone. The Vet Center offers free, confidential counseling for Veterans, service members, and their families in a private, non-medical environment.

Whether you’re coping with depression, PTSD, or the impact of military sexual trauma (MST), they are there to support you.

The Killeen Heights Vet Center is located at 302 Millers Crossing Suite 4 Harker Heights, TX 76548. They are open Monday through Friday from 0800 to 1630 (That’s 8am to 4:30pm for you civilians!).

Here is the answer to the joke of the newsletter.

Gourd of the Rings!

May this month be full of joy and laughter, Till next time!

Lot’s of Love,
Killeen Creators and Americorps Team

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Killeen Creators

701 N 10th St, Killeen TX 76541|254-213-2210

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