The Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) has a Leadership program that connects high school students with mentors and community leaders during the student’s junior year carrying on through their senior year.

A student or group of students will have the opportunity to undertake and complete a significant project within their community and compete for a cash prize that can be used towards college, trade school, or to start a business. Students will have the opportunity to be mentored equipped with the leadership skills needed for tomorrow, and given an inside look as to how much of a difference one can make within a community.

The City of Baird is proud to mentor these students as they present their community project in front of selected judges for their chance to win prizes and recognition at the annual TMCN Leadership Conference in October 2025.

This year’s group of (now) Seniors heard the town Daycare was in desperate need of a new outdoor playground area. By law they are required to provide an outdoor space. The location of the daycare is in the downtown business district and has no outside space therefore the Little Bear Learning Academy is leasing a space from a homeowner across the alley. Clint and Shauna McArthur (the current owners of the daycare) stated they had out grown their current playground area. This left the McArthur’s no choice but to start looking at possibly moving to another location or maybe even leaving the city of Baird.

The students were presented with this problem and wanted to help keep the only daycare in town. With the help from the City of Baird and both economic development boards a lot was purchased next to the daycare. It was decided this space would serve the community and the daycare. The front section of the lot will be open to the public as a “pocket park” or "community park" and the back part will be leased to the daycare for a small fee allowing the McArthur’s to stay in Baird.

This project will be completed next week and we would love for you to join us for the Reveal on Friday, Oct. 3rd at 10:00am. Please help us recognize these students for their dedication and hard work in completing this amazing project!

Here are some pictures of the original playground and work being done along the way.