Voices United to publish Friday

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

Voices United Publication of Killeen, a quarterly publication, will be included as an insert in the Friday, February 16 publication of the Copperas Cove Leader-Press, the Harker Heights Evening Star, and the Belton Journal.
The publication is the creation of Rick Perkins, an Air Force veteran who moved to the Killeen area last year. While living in Victoria, Texas, Perkins produced the Voices United Publication of Victoria from 2008 until his move to Killeen. The paper profiles people, veterans, businesses, and students and provides stories about health, education, community activities and more. 
“The moniker for the paper is to inform and inspire,” Perkins said. As publisher and editor, he shares inspiring stories for students, covering content such as student achievements from KISD, Central Texas College, as well as Texas A &M University Central Texas.
While living near Houston, Perkins said one of his passions was being involved with an area food bank, something he plans to continue here. 
“I want to try to get information out to help feed the hungry. There will be an article from the Central Texas food Bank,” Perkins said. “I also plan to highlight nonprofit organizations that provide valuable services to folks, but don’t have enough money to advertise. Sometimes, I’ll give a helping hand by giving them a chance to expand on their mission and services they provide.”
Perkins calls himself a “one-man shop” and says the paper is continuing to build, with its first publication in November 2017 being 16 pages. Friday’s insert will be 24 pages. Part of the effort has involved shedding light on African American Heritage month, Perkins said. 
One of the things he said he also plans to do is illuminate the multicultural landscape of the local community. 
“There’s things I know that I consider to be common knowledge, but not to someone born in 63 or later. People did things back in the civil rights movement, that people 35 or 45 don’t know. Their names weren’t in the limelight. I’ve met people who just are unaware.”
The next publication of Voices United will be in May 2018.