WACO, TX — Photographer Chester Rivera has always loved Waco.
His family, originally from the Philippines, moved here when he was a child and immediately knew Waco was home
Once he got into photography, Rivera wanted to highlight Waco.
With his decades of love for the city, he's seen the changing area and wanted to document it.
He soon realized that the buildings may be here forever, but the true foundation is the people.
"I immediately got the idea that Waco is more than the landscape and the changes in the landscape. It's about the people that make up the community," Rivera said.
It wasn't hard to find those changing Waco for the better.
Bringing the community together through diversity is what co-owners of Tru Jamaica, Viva Chester and Aniceto Charles Jr., do each day.
"I think it's extremely important to highlight culture and diversity and how we all blend together," Charles Jr. said.
When you visit Waco there are a multitude of different flavors, from Jamaican to Boba, Greek food and Vietnamese, this city has just about everything.
"It's really awesome that when people are in our little Waco that they can choose just different things," Charles said.
Through the lens of his camera, Rivera plans to take portraits of thousands of people in the Waco area.
"Every person has the ability to change Waco for the better but I think these people are in the front lines and doing the grass roots stuff to create a more diverse community," Rivera said.
You can see the Way-Koh progress on his website, or visit his Instagram.
If you think or know of someone who should be featured in the Way-Koh Project, contact Rivera through his website.
