#OneRouge Friday Community Check-In (Week 88)


Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in EBR, The Walls Project has been hosting weekly video calls with leaders of nonprofits, foundations, city government, and local businesses from a
cross the parish. The intention of these weekly community check-ins is to share information and resources to help the Baton Rouge community respond and recover from the pandemic. Weekly topics range from access to basic needs such as food, medical care, and safety to thought-leaders' insights on equitable opportunities for youth enrichment, nonprofit financial solvency, surge in unemployment, and the disproportionate impact on impoverished neighborhoods in regards to accessing fresh food.
#ONEROUGE Week #88
'MLK Jr. Legacy Celebration'
Meeting Notes Prepared by Samantha Morgan (Walls Project)
Quick Links: Notes, Zoom Chat, Community Announcements
Helen Fink - Mayor’s office
While it has been tough with covid and rescheduling our events to February, but we feel confident in this decision. It’s not as festive and community oriented as we’ve seen in the past, but airing on the side of caution is in our best interest.
Streaming virtual program on Monday. It will be airing later this week on Cox.
As we move into February, if you have an event going on in February, or you have groups looking to be part of an activity, please reach out.
Community festival is on February 19. Aligning with Krewe of Oshun. They will have their parade and that will lead directly into a community festival. Will happen in Scotlandville.
As we celebrate MLK Day I would like to reflect on his vision by reflecting on his famous, "I have a Dream" speech. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has continued to be that beacon of light
that shines through our communities, generations after generations.
Dr. King; did you know that it's been over 150 years since Slavery and many of us still live on
that, "lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity!"? Despite
your Dream Dr. KING, we are living in a Shameful Condition.
We are at the Mountain TOP; So, where is YOUR Promise Land? We are smarter and wiser;
JUST Think about it; we have MORE than we've ever had and SHALL die and leave it ALL!
BUT, We give, give and give and yet so many have NO place to Live.
We clean and clean and clean but our communities are still a HOT MESS!!
Dr. King, What Happened?
Scotlandville, is The Promise land! or Is it ALL just a DREAM? The VILLAGE of Scotlandville, Oh how RICH it is! It was built on a foundation put in place by families like the William Kelly family, son of Saul Kelly from Kansas. 1906! The Power of a DREAM! Sweet and Rich beginnings, 33.3 acres owned by a Black Man.. an honest pay for honest work! The Community of Opportunity!
The Horatio C Thompson, family, He, himself, was a Millionaire!
Scotlandville, Home to Southern University,
The Village supported - 5 grocery stores, 1 hotel, 3 motels, several schools, 20 churches/ 6
denominations, 2 shoe shops, several local diners and 2 movie theaters. Scotlandville, is The
Promise land! BUT It's ALL up to YOU!
What Happened, Dr. King?
It seems we have written promise checks our current ACTIONS can Never cash. We were
promised the Right to LIFE, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, Dr. King , .... What
Happened?
Wake UP Baton Rouge, Wake Up Louisiana, Wake up America!!!
We are at the Mountain Top! Can you see the Promise land?; It's ALL up to YOU!
Dr. King, you said anybody can serve! GUYS, It's time to make a "SHIFT" ! We SHALL and MUST continue in our Stead for Righteousness!!
We can ALL demand and make changes for Justice WITHOUT changing the rule of the game to keep the Winners Winning and the Losers Loosing.
I have a dream that one day ALL of my Scotlandville babies WILL be able to STAND tall, Head UP, Shoulders back, and Chest out; Proud to be an American in the USA.
Living, Working and Playing in a community embraced by all! We don't want to be YOU, I just want to be, THE "BEST" ME .. that I can BE!
We are at the Mountain Top; but it appears, some were bad checks and they were returned,
back marked "insufficient funds" ! (Enough has been paid) It's Fraud!! It's Fraud, I tell you! I
agree with Rebecca Roberts when she declared, "I don't believe the bank of JUSTICE is
Bankrupt!"
So my dream shall remain deeply rooted in Scotlandville, that it would rise up YET AGAIN and live out the true meaning of its CREED; "The village HAS everything the Village Needs"!
I have a dream that one day ALL of the sons of former slaves and former slave owners, will
embrace us for our contributions and for who we are.
YES, I have a dream that one day all of the descendants of Harriet Tubman's Underground
Railroad support staff, will once again sit down "together" at the table of brotherhood!
We are at the MOUNTAIN TOP, WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED
WE SEE THE ISSUES AND WE KNOW THE NEEDS - THIS is the Promise land! OR
Is it ONLY JUST A DREAM?
WELL, It's ALL up to you!
You are the person who has to decide, whether you will DO IT or put it aside.
You are the PERSON who MUST make up in YOUR mind, whether you LEAD or LINGER behind
Whether you will STRIVE for the GOLD up afar or just be CONTENT to stay where YOU ARE
There is something you can do,
Just think it Over, cause it's ALL up to YOU, YOU, YOU! (Author
Unknown)
Rev. Alexis Anderson
Much of the strategy of the civil rights movement was based around the immorality of certain laws. Being able to advocate for those changes meant walking into the consequences of those laws, such as being arrested.
Dr. King was stabbed by a woman with bipolar schizophrenia. His response was that she is ill.
My first call to action is that we have to get into the game. The reason he was in a jail cell is because he was willing to work to change democracy. There are at least three major examples going on right now that we stop treating citizenship as a spectator sport. There are 500 pre-trial detainees from Harris County Texas being brought to Louisiana. We are bringing people into this state in the midst of a pandemic and why are we doing that? Because we have privatized prisons in the state. And who does it? Sheriffs. They are picked, they are elected
The March 26 election went from a singular position to suddenly being a very important election. We will fill Ted James' position and a judge’s position. It means redistricting is on the table. Every time we get a new judge we get a new justice system. Billions of dollars are on the table. And all budgets are moral documents.
We are drawing in omicron. The virus didn’t go anywhere. And yet we have people who are not paying attention to the policies and procedures and the people we are using to run this. We have got to choose, like Dr. King, to get into the game and that there are consequences to the game.
My second call to action is let’s start reframing how we can take on the big challenges. How can we solve the problem?
Let’s stop giving up on people, period, but particularly our youth. No one God created is disposable. We have got to stop pretending we are building capacity when we are not. We have awesome youth programs. We have got to put counselors and coaches at how we get to young people. I love organizations that believe in succession plans, because you’re not always going to be in charge.
We’ve got to be an example and stop being a voice.
Let’s stop walking away from the hard opportunity. It is hard to go into a school and work with kids you’ve already given up on. It’s hard to go into the streets and claim those babies back. It’s hard to put jobs into neighborhoods that you have demonized. Instead of judging, pick up the broom and dustpan, do you need some hope, do you need some prayer, do you need some money, do you need help with that blighted building. I challenge all of us to get into the game and reframe how we think of these things. Let’s stop giving up on one another even when we don’t agree. Love overcomes a multitude.
Dr. Fletcher Bell
MLK means a lot to me because without what he did I would not be here.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
We live in a world where things are not seen in equal eyes, in equal ways. MLK stood for equality. The work has to encompass everyone. I think about the voting rights he passed in 1965 and how it has now been desecrated in the supreme court.
I look at fair housing and how we still have such a gap between who can afford and who cannot. I look at health equity and who has access to care. Just the knowledge of what’s good for you - those basic things are not getting out into our communities. I look to the education system and how we’re still fighting for equal education for all.
The thing that comes to my mind is equality and the lack thereof that we’re now showing as a country. I want us to reflect and think - let’s stop saying how we want to see change and start thinking about how we can make change.
I wanted to reflect on Dr. King’s role in education. We should be fulfilling with our education that we serve every child well.
People talk a lot about education as a civil rights issue, in order to be truly free, people have to be educated. It’s going to take every one of us getting into the game to deliver what is needed for our community.
All of our challenges are interwoven. We will never solve all of those challenges until we talk about education.
It’s important to reflect on how we’re preparing everybody and what they have to contribute to society.
I usually avoid these types of conversations, not because I don’t appreciate the sacrifices and the promise of the civil rights movement. Usually those things are romanticized and we often overlook what fundamentally makes movements successful.
I’m reminded of a video that’s based on the biography of Rosa Parks and they talk about how the Montgomery bus boycott came into play. It included women and young people and teenage mothers and formerly incarcerated people. I’m inspired by the inclusivity of the movement. And that’s what I wanted to share. It takes a village but sometimes it can feel like there’s this predetermined group of people who get to participate in the movement and that’s contrary to what Dr. King stood for. When you look at video, you saw all kinds of people doing all kinds of things. What you don’t often see is the group of sisters who were handing out sandwiches and the people who wrote checks. You don’t see the people who are holding up the camera, and today that’s people who are on social media.
My call to action is “don’t call nobody out.” People do what they can and it takes every bit of action. If all you have is a loaf of bread, then make a sandwich. If all you can do is hashtag, then hashtag. If you want to show up and march, then march.
Whatever you do, don’t look around at the other people and say you should be doing what I'm doing. Be gracious and forgiving and allow people to move in the way that they can. The only way Dr. King was able to do what he did is because of the people he surrounded himself with.
Just in terms of the power of narrative, we look at the narrative of the past and are we going and digging deeper. When I think of MLK, I think of those things that aren’t told. When he moved to issues that were not just about the black community.
We have him held up as a leader, but that obscures and hides all the people around him. And how the establishment used him to hide the people behind him. The “I have a dream” speech was supposed to be the day trash workers were going on strike. They weren’t going there to have speeches and have something done by sundown. They were going to dump the trash on the streets. That was the idea behind that moment in time. The workers were coming to shut the capitol down. Instead, the media, the powers that be, went to the leaders and said we have to wrap this up and we have to shut this down by sundown. We can’t have the trash in the streets. That's part of the history that gets obscured.
If we stop as people, life can’t happen. The people who make money off us can’t get that money. Be careful of our need for a leader. In this time of coronavirus, think of what’s breaking down and whose striking. There are color lines. There are people of all colors being exploited. We need to fight for equality for all people.
We need to figure out how we can all come together, whether they have a spokesperson or not. When we start controlling the narrative and the things that they are trying to hide. When we all come together, nothing can stop us.
I once had a conversation with a family member who was alive during the time MLK was active and doing things. There was a level of empowerment that was neglected in the black community. Before that time there were times when white people would walk into a black home and just take something. It was a power play. You are not a full citizen. It kept people off kilter. It was a level of threat at any moment.
The existence of Dr. King and the civil rights movement changed everything. It was not just a person saying you should vote, it was a way of exacting a sovereignty of yourself and being a full human.
This is not a historical issue, this is active. This is something we are constantly building and empowering.
I work in museums, and one of the things I think about is what our monuments are. We idealize certain characters in history, we also have to remember that these people are human. They were still able to do extraordinary things because of the community that supported them. Yes, we are no longer in the we need a leader framework. We all have a lot more empowerment. The internet has empowered a lot of disenfranchised voices. I have been able to experience the civil rights trail that the Lt. Governor has been putting up. We were able to put on the Green Book exhibit. One is in front of the Old State Capitol for the bus boycott. The fact that we now have a monument to it calls to what we prioritize the community. We all have a place in this. We all have a way in participating.
For me, I try to create equitable places. Museums are luxuries, but they are the space where we move society's entire understanding of the world forward. The fact that your tax dollars support these things that can be seen as recreation, it shows that these things are valuable as a society. Art has always been something that different governments put money into. When we are thinking about who’s on the pedestal, it’s important to think about all who put those there. This is not a larger than life figure. We have just put the emphasis to make them larger than life. Everyone here has the potential to be that monument. How do we empower each other and take full advantage of our humanity.
One of the things that often gets tagged to Dr. King is race, but he was also focused on economics.
Dr. King said that the history of this country, with the homestead act, when black people went west, their property was taken from them.
Follow the money trail on how many things are being taken from people and blocked from people making advancement. Dr. King’s last speech was dealing with sanitary workers.
Let us not forget the essential workers. The ones who do the work every day to keep our streets cleaned and our schools open.
This day is not about him, it’s about a movement.
It was necessary to have the Black Panther movement so there was an alternative to pacifism. The marching in the streets was a tactic in a larger strategy. It was a multipronged approach.
In honor of not only Dr. King, but all those folks who continue to be oppressed in ways that are horrific and shocking, that we are not just focusing on one person.
The version of Dr. King that we are teaching generations that has come since is white washed.
My words today are really for the other white folks on this call. The white washing and legacy that then get removed from their teeth.
What is unpalatable to your organization and the city and start pushing that edge and pushing ourselves into a space of reeducation and to move ourselves into material redistribution.
Zoom Chat
08:29:51 From Yedidah Koren to Everyone:
Morning all! on campus in a shared space so cam/mic not on.
08:30:28 From Yedidah Koren to Everyone:
Freezing? in Baton Rouge?
08:30:40 From Lindi Spalatin to Everyone:
Happy New Year everyone!
08:30:58 From Tatiana Begault to Everyone:
Great morning everyone!!!
08:31:10 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
Happy New Year, Everyone.
08:31:19 From Summer Steib (she/her) to Everyone:
Happy Friday and 2022!
08:31:34 From Leslie Clay to Everyone:
Happy MLK weekend everyone!!! Thanks Casey.
08:32:30 From JOSEPH SKAGGS to Everyone:
✋ hi!
08:33:10 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
Good morning all! Missing the fellowship & fun of the MLK Festival, but glad to see all of us together again.
08:33:15 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
I have only participated in two and they were inspiring each time.
08:36:03 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Yes!!!
08:36:05 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
Happy to continue this work.
08:36:36 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
We’ve learned soooo much!
08:37:21 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
MLK Holiday + Black History Month just adds an additional layer of purpose and intention to the collective action.
08:37:53 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
Good morning Everyone! Yes Morgan!
08:38:44 From Lauren Hebert to Everyone:
08:39:37 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Q: I am looking to schedule an event or two in the area (Erie and Plank ground breaking and another tbd) and would like to coordinate with others to maximize impact. If you/your org is planning something in mid- to late-February how can CCBR/BBR coordinate?
08:40:02 From Helen Frink — Mayor’s Office to Everyone:
Manny send me an email with event info and let’s figure out how to align!!
08:40:50 From Helen Frink — Mayor’s Office to Everyone:
I would not be in the position and role I am in today without the engagement, connections and rewarding experiences of MLK Fest!!
08:42:53 From Chris Spalatin | BRAC to Everyone:
Manny, I would love to work with you on this - I’ll shoot you an email and will check with BRAC to see what we have going on
08:44:15 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Chris, Sounds good! I also know I owe you an email. Let's schedule a catch-up next week :-)
08:45:22 From Chris Spalatin | BRAC to Everyone:
😇😇
08:46:19 From Chris Spalatin | BRAC to Everyone:
YES PAT!
08:46:29 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
Ms. Pat!
08:46:38 From Rodneyna Hart to Everyone:
Beautiful!
08:46:42 From Summer Steib (she/her) to Everyone:
❤️🔥
08:46:47 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
Pat LeDuff ROCKS!!!
08:46:49 From Ashley White - The Bail Project to Everyone:
*snaps*
08:46:50 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
For MLK Weekend reach out to your senator in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act https://www.publicdemocracyamerica.org/voting-rights-protections-threatened-by-filibuster?gclid=CjwKCAiA24SPBhB0EiwAjBgkhhxfhNPrrcIiA4TgN51i2v3RKco4ygp4zStGdFXW3q5HE6YZu1WJIxoC1bgQAvD_BwE
08:47:06 From Shavon Knighten to Everyone:
Amazing!!!
08:47:07 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Wow, amazing words!
08:47:15 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
https://action.aclu.org/send-message/congress-protect-our-voting-rights
08:47:25 From Leslie Clay to Everyone:
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾Ms. Pat
08:47:45 From David Beach l Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
🙌👏
08:48:03 From Casey Phillips to Everyone:
After Rev Anderson shares her thoughts please raise your hand if you would like to speak.
08:49:45 From Ann Zanders to Everyone:
Thank you for bringing that to light!!!!!!!
08:49:48 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
TRUTH
08:52:48 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
We must remember that the "March on Washington" for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963 was not just for the civil rights of African Americans, it was also for economic justice. The FIGHT (the struggle) continues!!!
08:53:21 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
PREACH, Rev. Anderson!!!
08:53:43 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
COME ON, SOMEBODY!!!
08:54:24 From SK Groll to Everyone:
yes yes yes rev anderson!
08:55:18 From The Red Shoes to Everyone:
Whoop on the BIKE SAFETY!!
08:55:27 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
💜💜💜💜
08:55:41 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
and ya right!
08:55:57 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
“It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.” It is truly one fight for all of us. Black, Disabled, Queer, Immigrant, Neurodivergent, etc. “It is of profound importance that King would not allow the Latino farm workers to be pitted against Black workers or the larger civil rights movement,” The Rev. William Barber, of the Poor People’s Campaign, told Axios.
“In 1966, King sent a telegram to (farm worker union leader Cesar) Chavez saying ‘our separate struggles are really one – a struggle for freedom, for dignity and for humanity.'”
08:56:07 From Ann Zanders to Everyone:
NO WORDS …...WOW!!!!
08:56:15 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
You are so right!
08:56:51 From Orhan Mc Millan to Everyone:
Parole Project!
08:57:53 From Orhan Mc Millan to Everyone:
Miss Peaches!!
08:57:59 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
Say That!
08:58:40 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
👀 weeelll!
08:59:36 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
YES INDEED; our work cannot be contingent on our individual feelings and progress
08:59:39 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
Anyone looking for work in Criminal Justice - check out https://lakidsrights.org/about-us/join-our-team/
Louisiana Center for Children's Rights is hiring for several positions (youth advocate, staff attorney, mitigation specialist, director of organizational effectiveness). LCCR is the public defender's office for juveniles.
08:59:50 From Rodneyna Hart to Everyone:
Amazing! yES
08:59:52 From Elizabeth Shephard to Everyone:
Amazing!
08:59:56 From Ashley White - The Bail Project to Everyone:
I’m ready!
08:59:57 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
Action speaks louder than words! Get in the GAME!
09:04:24 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
Love me some Dr. Flitcher Bell...
09:04:53 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
YES one of my favorite messages of his.
09:04:56 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated experience of social living."
09:05:28 From Alfredo Cruz to Everyone:
Goodmorning. I must leave to another meeting, but want to share that Dr. King and his legacy-- and all speakers this morning whom I've heard-- bring me hope and energize me so that I continue working for the community and world we know is possible.
09:06:14 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
09:06:20 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
Thanks, Adonica!
09:06:42 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
These are such amazing perspectives!
09:07:31 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
COME THROUGH, SIS!!!!
09:08:09 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
YAAAASSSSS!!!!!
09:08:31 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Yes indeed!
09:08:57 From Adonica Pelichet Duggan to Everyone:
ALL means ALL
09:09:09 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
We are a village whether we act like village idiots or villagers in common.
09:09:56 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Say that! There are powerful servers that never received a spotlight!
09:10:08 From Shavon Knighten to Everyone:
Yes!!
09:10:13 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
Love that perspective
09:10:13 From Shavon Knighten to Everyone:
So what you can!
09:10:17 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
YES!!! It takes ALL of us to make the world a better place!
09:10:18 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Yes, yes!
09:10:18 From Shavon Knighten to Everyone:
*Do
09:10:22 From Taryn C. Branson to Everyone:
Yes! Service looks different for everyone!
09:10:35 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
AMEN! ASHÉ!!!
09:10:42 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Do what God assigned you to do!
09:11:28 From Elizabeth Shephard to Everyone:
YES- collective impact, inclusivity!
09:11:40 From David Summers to Everyone:
That's a word!
09:11:47 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
Let the church say "AMEN"!!!
09:11:56 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
“…it was a rebellion of maids, a rebellion of working class women, who were tired of boarding the buses in Montgomery, the public space, and being assaulted and called out-of-there names and abused by white bus drivers. And that’s why that Movement could hold so long. If it had just been merely a protest about riding the bus, it might have shattered. But it went to the very heart of black womanhood, and black women played a major role in sustaining that movement.”
09:12:49 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
say that
09:12:56 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
ok...
09:13:21 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
@morgan that’s what’s up
09:13:24 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Say that!
09:13:57 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
AND YA RIGHT!!!
09:13:58 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
09:14:02 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
Yes!!!!!!
09:14:17 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
yes yes yes!
09:15:07 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
Seeking a “middle ground between riots on the one hand and timid supplications for justice on the other,” King planned for an initial group of 2,000 poor people to descend on Washington, D.C., southern states and northern cities to meet with government officials to demand jobs, unemployment insurance, a fair minimum wage, and education for poor adults and children designed to improve their self-image and self-esteem (King, 29 November 1967)
09:15:30 From SK Groll to Everyone:
thank you Kim! We need an honest reckoning with and reeducation about history that steps away from whitewashing and sanitizing the radical work of liberation movements
09:16:23 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
Kim with a WORD!
09:18:10 From Flitcher R. Bell to Everyone:
GREAT job KIM!!!
09:18:34 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
Act like you know!
09:18:48 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
I'm humbled to be with all of you today. Thank you all for creating the space to speak our truth, hopes, & dreams!
09:19:16 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
your home, your person, your nothing was safe
09:20:38 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Yes they were!
09:21:44 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
It was so amazing!
09:23:46 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
As I listen to everyone, I recall about two scholars that I carry with me and teach related to our conversations: WEB DuBois (Souls of Black Folk, Double Consciousness) and Langston Hughes (Harlem)
09:24:08 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Professor Angela Allen-Bell and the work on unanimous juries. Atty Jamila Johnson
09:24:34 From Adonica Pelichet Duggan to Everyone:
I can think of no better way to start this weekend. Be well, friends.
09:25:18 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
Thanks for all that you do, Rodneyna! Museums ARE essential. They capture our history- if they are done well. If we do not know our history, we are destined to repeat it.
09:25:28 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
Thanks Manny! I've been thinking about James Baldwin & how he stated how hard it was to be the scribe. He'd watch what happened on the front lines and then would have to move on. He wanted so much to be on the front lines but he knew he was called to do something else and what he did was needed.
09:25:53 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Awesome!!
09:25:54 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
Here is the video I referenced that speaks to Rodnenya's, Kim's and my points https://youtu.be/wg_a79MDfKU
09:26:26 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
but there's tension in knowing you can't be on the front lines even if you're doing the work you're supposed to be doing. So if you feel that struggle - you're in good company.
09:26:48 From Summer Steib (she/her) to Everyone:
I wanted to make sure folks were aware that the LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting the MLK Keynote on Tuesday, Jan 18th at 5:00 in the Union Theater. The keynote will be given by David J. Dennis, Sr. The event is free and all are invited.
09:26:50 From Alfreda Tillman Bester, SULC to Everyone:
So happy to be with you all on this morning. I have to exit, because I have to go teach the next generation of lawyers! 😇
09:26:55 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Thank you for the space guys
09:27:00 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Say that! Always follow the money!
09:28:12 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
DuBois speaks to the overall immigrant experience, not just Black, in the USA. How "double consciousness "how some have this internal struggle of selling out or survival, retaining heritage or becoming "American", the idea of two souls. Also how The term "double consciousness" helps develop and understand theoretical frameworks to apply to other dynamics of inequality.
09:28:14 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Absolutely! Pass Fair Chance this time around!
09:29:49 From Kendra Hendricks to Everyone:
Thank you all for a great conversation this morning.
09:29:56 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
We need to recognize there are multiple tactics to achieve the goals.
09:30:13 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
Yes, Pepper!
09:30:49 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
YES!
09:30:50 From Meredith Dunbar to Everyone:
Yes
09:30:59 From Donald Andrews to Everyone:
To help with the economic transformation the College of Business University Economic Development Center is providing a E-commerce Short Course Link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CKP5PC8
09:31:10 From Elizabeth Shephard to Everyone:
Truth talk. Multi-pronged approach!
09:31:22 From SK Groll to Everyone:
Thank you Pepper! Multiple tactics, not demonizing other facets of the movement with different tactics, working in solidarity, and staying movement centered not individually centered!
09:31:30 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
Additional Unsung Heroes of the Movement https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/black-history-month-17-lgbtq-black-pioneers-who-made-history-n1130856
09:31:37 From SK Groll to Everyone:
UGLY UNCOMFORTABLE WAYS <3 Thank you, Pepper!
09:31:57 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Good morning, Pepper!!!!
09:32:59 From Kim Mosby to Everyone:
Have a great weekend everyone! I have to run to prep for an interview. I'm still on the job market. Feel free to reach out if you know of any organizations looking for passionate, dedicated staff to change the world! kmosby517@gmail.com
09:33:54 From David Beach l Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
I too have to depart. Thanks for the words and passion shared this morning.
09:34:20 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
YAAAASSSS!
09:34:27 From Elizabeth Shephard to Everyone:
Yes!!!!!
09:34:44 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Love SK's sprit!
09:35:23 From toni bankston to Everyone:
There will be two additional and final opportunities to attend the introductory level course in MindBody Medicine through the citywide training project. The advanced training is in April. This training is open to anyone who is interested in developing tools within themselves and in working with others exposed to stress and trauma. We also would also like to recruit a group of young people to train to be peer counselors in this model. Email me for details toni.bankston@gmail.com The February training is 2/2-4, 7-8
09:36:11 From Shavon Knighten to Everyone:
Yes! Very inspiring! It’s Beautiful!
09:38:41 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Never neglect home!
09:38:49 From Rodneyna Hart to Everyone:
The exhibition that is up right now at Captiol Park Museum talks about the intersection of race, community and the interstate system. The Yellow Book. 400 homes, businesses, and brand new schools were leveled to build this interstate just in Old South Baton Rouge
09:41:05 From Orhan Mc Millan to Everyone:
Thanks all for an uplifting morning.
09:42:12 From Sherreta Harrison to Everyone:
https://shilohbr.com/event/black-baton-rouge-yesterday-and-today/
09:42:26 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Yes
09:42:38 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
If you have a moment this weekend, please spend it reading about king from a new or different perspective of those who worked with him. Learn about the movement outside of the mainstream soundbites so that you can see these very human leaders clearly through their superhuman legacies. <3 What I’m reading today “The Dangerous Road Before Martin Luther King”- James Baldwin
09:42:41 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Awesome!!
09:43:44 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
@morgan thank you for sharing that. i will try to add that to my reading list
09:44:00 From Morgan Udoh (She/Her/They) to Everyone:
Welcome @pepper!
09:44:06 From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone:
Dfr Warren please drop the Course in the chat
09:44:06 From Jen Tewell (she/her) to Everyone:
thanks y'all
09:44:08 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Thank you everyone!
09:44:16 From Ann Zanders to Everyone:
Save the Date REAL Help Symposium April 19th
09:44:17 From Derrick Warren to Everyone:
To help with the economic transformation the College of Business University Economic Development Center is providing a E-commerce Short Course Link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CKP5PC8
09:44:18 From Pepper Roussel to Everyone:
have a great weekend!
09:44:23 From SK Groll to Everyone:
Thank you, Morgan! for that rec and all the other shares this morning
09:44:26 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Thank you thank you!!
09:45:13 From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone:
Apologies. Must head to next meeting. Thank you for an amazing event!
09:45:17 From Tristi Charpentier to Everyone:
Junior League's third Women's Leadership Conference will be March 11 at the Hilton Capitol Center. Keynote speaker is Emmy nominated sports broadcaster Erin Andrews. Details and tickets: www.juniorleaguebr.org/wlc
09:45:20 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Yes, I agree!!
09:45:48 From Chelsea Morgan to Everyone:
Applications are open for funding policy change in Equity in Governance or Food Access. If interested in learning more, email chelsea.morgan@heart.org. Due date is just two weeks away.
09:46:11 From Tristi Charpentier to Everyone:
Junior League's family-friendly Touch A Truck will be March 26 at BREC's State Fairgrounds. Tickets and details at www.juniorleaguebr.org/tat
09:46:17 From Tatiana Begault to Everyone:
Thank you very much for the bits of wisdom! Incredibly inspiring. lets continue to work collectedly for a better future and prosperous action plan to benefit everyone, not just some. lets strive for better education, criminal justice reform and workforce development! Key
09:46:39 From Tristi Charpentier to Everyone:
Membership applications for Junior League are due 1/31. If any women are interested in learning more, please contact me: Tristi@hwilson.org.
09:48:19 From Rodneyna Hart to Everyone:
Off topic, I learned of someone with housing insecurity and is profoundly deaf, she also is on the autism spectrum. Who should I reach out to?
09:49:13 From The Red Shoes to Everyone:
Thanks y’all so much!!!
09:49:38 From Patrick Tuck to Everyone:
Inspirational meeting today! Thanks all!
09:49:49 From Pat LeDuff to Everyone:
Happy MlK!!
09:50:02 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Have a great day and weeekend!
Community Announcements
Samantha Morgan
I will be leading a bike ride on Saturday, January 22 from the Capitol Park Museum as a part of the Yellow Book exhibit. This exhibit focuses on the destruction the interstate had on the Old South neighborhood. The ride will start at 9:30 a.m. and will last about 2 hours. https://www.facebook.com/events/641835807230679
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To help with the economic transformation the College of Business University Economic Development Center is providing a E-commerce Short Course Link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CKP5PC8
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NBRITI Open House 2022
Baton Rouge Community College and ExxonMobil invite you to the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative 2022 Session Open House. We are excited for the upcoming session and can't wait to share more information about program offerings and results from last year.
January 19, 2022
6:00 p.m.
BRCC Acadian, 3250 N. Acadian Thruway
Register now:
NBRITI Contact Form | BRCC (mybrcc.edu)
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There will be two additional and final opportunities to attend the introductory level course in MindBody Medicine through the citywide training project. The advanced training is in April. This training is open to anyone who is interested in developing tools within themselves and in working with others exposed to stress and trauma. We also would also like to recruit a group of young people to train to be peer counselors in this model. Email me for details toni.bankston@gmail.com The February training is 2/2-4, 7-8 _________________________________________________________________
Redistricting Summit On Friday, January 28, from noon until 2 p.m., there will be a redistricting summit. It will be held on Zoom.
If you are an attorney it is approved for two hours of CLE credit.
The legislature will be doing a special session to redraw district lines and will determine what legislators get elected.
For more information, contact Alfreda Tillman Bester at alfreda.bester@sulc.edu.
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Ready to Take a More Active Role in Your Child's Online Life? Calling all parents of gamers! Nexus Louisiana and Code Ninjas are teaming up with a new program to help grownups better understand the basics of the popular gaming platforms that their child may be using — or begging to try. Our first session is all about Roblox, one of the most popular games on the market today. Join us to learn the basics of how the game works, safety issues you need to keep in mind, and more. When: Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 7 - 8 p.m. Central Where: Nexus Louisiana Tech Park, 7117 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge Cost: FREE! If you can't make it to the in-person event, we've got you covered: We'll share a recording of the session afterward that you can access on-demand.
CLICK HERE to register
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Call for Applications! Voices for Healthy Kids works around the country to improve or create equitable policies that will make the places kids live, learn and play healthier. We are excited to announce an exciting grant opportunity in East Baton Rouge!
Our goal is to support long-term, equity-centered policy change in the city-parish of East Baton Rouge that improves the health of children and their families. We will do this by funding a cohort of organizations who collectively advance a set of policy issues that have been identified by the communities most impacted by health disparities and led by these same communities.
Along with funding campaigns, we will leverage Voices for Healthy Kids' assets including campaign funding, technical assistance and coaching, extensive grassroots, science, and consumer networks. The goal is not just to pass good public policy. We want to share and build skill sets and power to develop a stronger advocacy network within the community and be better able to identify and support equitable policy solutions to address health and wellness.
Advocacy Impact Grant Opportunity: Baton Rouge Applications are now being accepted to support advocacy campaigns in Baton Rouge in two issue areas (1) increasing access to healthy foods and (2) increasing equity in governance. We seek to support and drive local policy change efforts that will dramatically improve the health of children with a focus on those experiencing the greatest disparities including Black, Brown, and Native children or from families from low income. In addition to providing direct campaign funding, Voices for Healthy Kids provides training and technical supports including science review, issue specific policy expertise, health equity training, message and public opinion research, advocacy and power-building campaign strategies, direct lobbying, and more.
Commitment to Equity Voices for Healthy Kids believes that lived experiences are important qualifications in community-driven policy change work. We acknowledge that organizations led by people of color often face more barriers and receive less funding than white-led organizations. Addressing racial and health inequities is key to the Voices for Healthy Kids’ mission. Voices for Healthy Kids is working to increase funding to organizations and campaigns that have leadership that is led by communities of color. This project will focus on engaging, collaborating and funding organizations led by people with lived experience and with leadership from Black and Brown communities.
Issue Areas Healthy Food Access—Campaigns should work to change policies that will result in increased access to healthy food for the communities most impacted by disparities. Examples of campaigns could include advocating for healthy school meals for all, produce prescriptions, healthy corner store initiatives or other related campaigns the community sees as a solution to lack of access to healthy foods.
Equity in Governance—Campaigns should use policy change to alter the way governmental systems function to make them more equitable. Examples of campaigns could include advocating for equity screenings for all proposed legislation in front of the city council, establishing needed offices or positions to help governing/government be more equitable, or other related campaigns the community sees as a solution to inequities in governance. Grant Opportunity Application Timeline January 28, 2022 - 5 p.m. Pacific
Application Deadline February 7, 2022 Notifications of Award/Decline Applications must be specific to an individual campaign for public policy change in the city-parish of East Baton Rouge. Applications should focus on public policy changes that will increase access to healthy foods or increase equity in governance with a focus on impacting those experience greatest inequities and disparities. Applications must focus on changing public policy through official channels, such as a executive order through the Mayor’s Office, passing an ordinance through the Metropolitan Council, or East Baton Rouge School Board policies. Applications can be submitted for up to $100,000 for a duration of up to 24 months and can support non-lobbying and lobbying activities. Up to four applications will be funded.
Online Grant Management System Information and the application for the Policy Campaign Grant and IEE Workgroup Grants are online. All applications will be submitted in this system and registration is required. Registrations are approved within 2 business days and often within the same day. Please follow these simple steps to register:
Visit https://voicesforhealthykids.fluxx.io and in the lower right corner of the webpage, click the create account now button. Be sure to use Google Chrome as this site does not work with Internet Explorer.
Complete the eligibility quiz.
If your organization is eligible you will then need to complete a registration form for your organization and individual information.
Once submitted, your registration will be reviewed and approved within 2 business day.
Instructions and application link are located in the Advocacy Impact Pilot page on the grant management system
We appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with organizations working on local, state or tribal advocacy campaigns. Together, we can make each day healthier for all children.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at voicesforhealthykids@heart.org.
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Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation is accepting applications for the 2022 College & Career Ready Initiative’s Pre-Law Institute, which is being offered in partnership with Southern University Law Center. The institute will take place beginning January 26, Mondays through Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Pre-Law Institute is open to high school students from the Baton Rouge area with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Parents/guardians of interested students can apply for the program here. There is no cost to participate. Previous attendees are eligible to re-apply.
During the institute, participants will:
Network with law professionals
Participate in a mock trial
Gain experience with preparing an opening statement, writing a closing argument, introducing evidence, and examining witnesses
Develop an understanding of the civil and criminal justice systems
Plus a lot more!