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With the blazing heat of summer soon subsiding into cooler temperatures, a sigh of relief can be heard from every farming enthusiast. At last, fall vegetables can be planted! Fall and Winter crops tend to be heartier and resilient plants, such as greens and root vegetables. Say goodbye to summer crops like watermelons, okra and corn. The cold weather crops are coming in tasty. Whether you have your own farm or are simply a plant lover, here's a list of some of the best veggies to plant this season. Beans Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Chard Collards Kale Lettuce Mustards Onions Potatoes Radish Turnips

As Baton Roots grew, so did the need for passionate and talented individuals to help run it. Baton Roots was fortunate to find Hannah Wascomb, a gardening enthusiast with a bend toward community togetherness, to manage the largest site, BREC Howell Park. Hannah began her journey with plants from a young age. She was raised by parents who were passionate about nature, hiking, flowers, and maintaining their personal yard. It was when the pandemic hit that Hannah began exploring her own green thumb. She quickly realized she had a love and excitement for vegetables and other edible plants. Hannah felt a calling to return back to the non-profit sector and found the perfect opportunity with Baton Roots. With this program, Hannah has been able to combine both her desires to help and harvest. I have learned tremendous amounts since joining Baton Roots and specifically working at Howell Park Farm. I am an urban farmer because I love it and I love the community. - Hannah Wascomb, Baton Roots at BREC Howell Park Farm Manager Through her work with Baton Roots, Hannah has been introduced to community members who inspire her to continue working hard so those without food access can have the ability to eat healthy no matter their economic barriers. You can visit Hannah and the other Baton Roots staff, learn more about urban farming and harvest during our volunteer events.

Coding is for everyone. There are thousands of website and app developers all over the world. They come from all races, cultural backgrounds and genders. As technology advances, so do STEM career opportunities. Throughout the pandemic, thousands of people were left unemployed. With many businesses, events, organizations and platforms going virtual, coding skills have never been so necessary. When Maurice Toukam, originally from Cameroon, found himself without a job during the pandemic he joined Coding Boot Camp in January 2021 to develop coding and programming skills to apply his knowledge to his own business. Despite being a predominantly French speaker, he has been able to easily comprehend the coding program, connect with others and develop skills to last a lifetime. Walls Project spoke with Toukam to hear more about his experience with Coding Boot Camp thus far. What inspired you to join Coding Boot Camp? I saw the announcement of the Futures Fund Coding Boot-Camp training on the WorkForce Education BRCC website. I was there because I was unemployed and was looking for a short training course that could help me get into the job market quickly. I found this new training for people of all ages and backgrounds and decided to go for it after doing some research on what it is all about. Why are coding skills important for you to have? Coding or programming skills are important to me because they allow me to diversify my professional theoretical knowledge and will allow me to create websites for my personal business. On a professional level, they allow me to be competitive since, in this third millennium, most of the economic fields (medicine, biology, economy, business development and law, Engineering) are migrating towards online automation technology hence a competent workforce. How does being multilingual help you with learning code? Being multilingual has a mixed influence on my learning; first, it allows me to be able to code or program in two languages (integrating the different cultures) but requires extra efforts for the comprehension and interpretation of the explanations of the programming materials. What challenges do you face being multilingual and not from the U.S.? The challenges of being multilingual and non-American are: accent and pronunciation of words and phrases (words are not articulated with all their syllables), vocabulary is sometimes at a high level for some and colloquial for others and the teaching methodology (pedagogy and courseware). How do you plan to apply your coding and technology skills in the future? I would like to pursue further training in the fields of programming and computer technology for wider application in business and if possible, train people in need. Are you interested in creating your own website, developing an app or getting a career in the STEM field? Make the first step and register for Coding Boot Camp here.

The spread of COVID-19 across East Baton Rouge Parish has been devastating to many, often exacerbating problems already existing in our community. This is especially true of the alarmingly high number of individuals in EBR who fall under the USDA definition of being food insecure: those with limited or uncertain access to adequate food. In EBR Parish alone, approximately 64,120 people are food insecure and our child food insecurity rate sits at a staggering 21.6%, numbers only made worse with the spread of COVID-19. The Food Insecurity Coalition (FIC) was founded as a direct result of the outbreak of COVID-19 in EBR Parish by the Walls Project in collaboration with leaders of nonprofits, foundations, city government, and local businesses across the parish. The coalition aims to gather information and resources to enhance food access in the community as we adapt to life in the pandemic. Since its inception, the coalition has met weekly to discuss ways to combat increasing food insecurity. Korey Patty, Feeding Louisiana Executive Director, is one of over 100 individuals who participate in the weekly FIC meetings. He notes that there is more to unpack when it comes to food insecurity. Food insecurity encompasses not only limited access to food but also “not knowing where your next meal might come from, running out of money to buy food, having to make less healthy food purchases to stretch limited budgets, etc.” While food insecurity is often attached to poverty in the global ethos, this is not always the case. Food insecurity affects individuals both systemically and as an outcome of circumstance. Patty elaborates, “[Food insecurity] might also include the middle-class family impacted by job loss, natural disaster, or unexpected healthcare expenses. Our food assistance safety net must be able to support individuals and families that find themselves in need for a wide variety of reasons.” COVID-19 is one such reason many families find themselves food insecure. Access to food is especially difficult for students, the elderly, and those without means of transportation to food distribution sites. Patty, who specializes in connecting policy with advocacy, believes that opportunities that exist to connect our food-insecure neighbors with the appropriate programs. He states, “I am hopeful that, with a new and better understanding of the broad scope of food insecurity in Louisiana, the state will work to coordinate these programs and efforts to ensure that we can analyze and address food insecurity holistically, rather than in siloed interventions.” To read more about the ways Patty and Feeding Louisiana are combatting the increase in food insecurity due to COVID-19 or if you are in need of assistance, visit www.feedinglouisiana.org/covid-19. You can join the fight against food insecurity by donating, volunteering at your local food bank, or using your voice to advocate for impactful policy change.

The weather hasn’t been the only thing coming in hot this summer. The Walls Project team has been collaborating with local businesses and artist Marc Fresh to release two new vibrant and inspiring murals back-to-back in Baton Rouge. The latest locations for the public art installations are Baton Rouge General in Mid City and Elysian III Apartments. To see the map location of all our murals, please click here. Baton Rouge General Mid City Baton Rouge General Mid City wanted a special way to commemorate the one-year anniversary of their Florida Boulevard hospital opening. The BRG staff voted from a handful of designs and selected Spiro by Marc Fresh. Production for the Baton Rouge General Mid City mural began in mid-June and was quickly completed in over a week despite stormy weather and intense heat. Marc used paint brushes and spray paint to paint the 800-square-foot mural on the side of the Emergency Room. “The Walls Project has really helped with opportunities for my growth as a muralist,” Marc says. “Building knowledge through experience over the years has helped so much. One of the coolest aspects of a project is overcoming challenges. Sometimes you can’t know the answer until you problem-solve your way to the result.” On June 18, hospital staff gathered to paint and contribute to the family-friendly mural and celebrate the one-year anniversary as a team. The mural is located on the side of the Emergency Room entrance on Peachtree Blvd at their Mid City location at 3600 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806. Elysian III Apartments The abstract mural for Elysian III was another quick and impactful project. Gulf Coast Housing in partnership with DNA Workshop wanted Walls Project to paint a vibrant, abstract mural concept on the front entrance of the Elysian III housing development. The design, titled ShapeShift, is a play on how the mural unites the three apartment complexes with a cohesive blue motif and colorful portrayal of how individual experiences continue to shape the phases of life. “When designing for Elysian, I was inspired by the clean line aesthetic of the existing buildings,” Marc says. “I felt like a design that amplified that vibe would fit really well.” The multi-story project wrapped up production on July 9. View it in person at the corner of 13th Street and Canal Street in downtown Baton Rouge.

Alexis Jones used her Coding Boot Camp skills to build an impactful website for her job. Coding Boot Camp benefits everyone. Not just IT workers, STEM specialists, or coding experts. Coding is a part of everyday life. It is what makes up our phone apps, television streaming services, and websites. That is why it is so important for people of all backgrounds to develop coding skills. Futures Fund Coding Boot Camp student Alexis Jones is a stand-out student who has taken the skills she learned in the program and applied them to her professional career. In addition to participating in Coding Boot Camp, the 27-year-old is a biologist in training in Baton Rouge. She was also recently promoted at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge to Family Selection Coordinator. Walls Project spoke with Jones to learn more about her coding journey and how she combined her interests in nonprofit work and coding to create a functional project. Read below to see what she shares. If any of this sparks your interest, stop what you’re doing and register for our in-person boot camp today. What motivated you to join Coding Boot Camp? JONES: “I was motivated to join the Coding Boot Camp because I was looking for something that challenged me a little more and helped me fulfill my creative passions. Long-term, I hope that coding can provide me with a sustainable stream of income so that I can continue to live my best life while working in the non-profit sector.” What do you aim to achieve through the program? JONES: “I aim to achieve certification through the program. Additionally, I hope that the connections I've made throughout the Boot Camp go further than just these short 6 months and that my classmates, teachers, and I can continue to lift each other up personally and professionally.” How can coding and website development work hand in hand with nonprofit work? JONES: Coding and website development are incredibly essential to non-profit work, especially as the world continues to advance technologically. Whether it's updating websites at a lower rate or creating databases to target specific audiences, coding is extremely useful. When you get into more technical API work, we've seen that data generates millions and billions of dollars for the for-profit sector through marketing, so being able to translate that into nonprofit work is just as beneficial to generate leads for fundraising or finding new people to help. Tell me about your Habitat for Humanity project. What inspired you to focus on the organization and what did you hope to accomplish by making a website for them? JONES: I was inspired to make a new website for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge because our current website was a bit dated and lacked some functionality. My goal was to modernize our current website and make it a place that people could easily access the information they were looking for. I think I was able to do the modernization of the website, but I still need to add the functionality to it. Hopefully, in the future, I can actually publish the website and have my hard work put to good use. View her Level 2 Capstone project on Habitat for Humanity here.

Students in 2021 have a completely different learning experience than students years before. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, all facets of life have changed. From how we attend public events to how we go to work. While every area of life has adapted to the coronavirus, one area that has especially been affected is the education system. Since schools first shut down in 2020, the way students learn and receive information has completely shifted. Students went from attending in-person lectures to participating in virtual classes from their laptops. Educators went from scribbling instructions on a whiteboard to sharing their screen on Zoom. Despite the fear of the unknown and quick adjustments that were made to classes, school had to go on. As COVID-19 cases continue to ebb and flow and new Delta variants are on the rise, the discussion continues around how students can receive the best education possible and how the Baton Rouge school system can improve. To continue our #OneRouge (Week 66) virtual discussion about schooling during the COVID-19 era, Walls Project spoke with education leaders and community figures to hear their thoughts on the local school system, how it can change and what needs to happen to make these visions a reality. Hear what local leaders had to say including Founding Principal of Helix Legal Academy Chastity George, Southern University Assistant Professor of Art John Alleyne, community advocate Gwendolyn Hamilton, and Baton Rouge Alliance for Students CEO Adonica Pelichet Duggan. Chastity George Founding Principal of Helix Legal Academy How do you think the local education system has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak began? COVID-19 put a magnifying glass on what worked well and what didn't in education. What already existed in the school space became easier to name. We know that teachers are able to pivot and do what's best for kids when it matters most. We also know that the education system continues to do a disservice to students who need it to work in their favor more than anyone. With all of the changes in the education system since COVID-19, what are the areas that need the most improvement in Baton Rouge schools now? We must put the mental health of our students and teachers at the forefront. Although we know scores and testing is important, we need to allow students and teachers the opportunity to learn authentically in real-world settings. Lastly, we have to embrace the importance of real collaboration. All students in Baton Rouge are our babies, and as a city we should be sharing best practices so that all schools can educate children at high levels. As a local education leader, how do you plan to initiate or encourage the changes you'd like to see in the Baton Rouge school system? You will see Helix Legal Academy in the community. We have a completely open door policy to come experience how "We Set the Bar" in and out of the classroom. Our goal is to work with schools all throughout the city, shared events, shared professional development opportunities, networking events, to bridge the gap and unify. I'd love to see us all standing together to do what's best for kids. How can the community help create change in local education? The community knows what they need. We have to trust those who live in the different areas of our city to tell us what they need. Oftentimes we want to bombard neighborhoods with research-based practices that we feel will make them be better. They are already great. Nothing is better than talking to parents and families without an agenda, just with the objective to serve. Trust them and see them through a lens of liberation. John Alleyne Artist & Assistant Professor of Art at Southern University A&M How do you think the local education system has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak began? Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the local education system has been hit with a catastrophic wave of "uncertainty." We have lost, and continue to lose beloved friends and colleagues due to the virus; some through untimely death, while others opt for retirement in attempts of protecting themselves and their families. Other educators have come to terms with teaching in a hybrid or an online capacity. Despite the continued spread of the Delta variant, most schools will be open for in-person only teaching in the fall. Education should be a right, not a privilege. With all of the changes in the education system since COVID-19, what are the areas that need the most improvement in Baton Rouge schools now? We all need transparency right now. Our schools need to be as clear as possible when it comes to planning in this age of uncertainty. Online and hybrid courses still remain in high demand for our students. In my opinion, it would benefit the community at large if we did all we can to protect ourselves and each other from this virus. This includes everything from wearing masks, becoming vaccinated, and ensuring various modes of instruction are available for our students. As a local education leader, how do you plan to initiate or encourage the changes you'd like to see in the Baton Rouge school system? By speaking up and showing out. I am currently working with other local Visual Arts programs to determine how we can better develop a community of artists and art students in the age of COVID-19. How can the community help create change in local education? I would urge parents to continue to show interest in their children's education. Reach out to your student's professors, those in leadership positions to make your concerns known. Gwendolyn Hamilton GPH Consulting LLC (Community Advocacy) How do you think the local education system has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak began? Since COVID began the consciousness and the vulnerabilities of the system have been exposed. COVID forced us to realize that we were not prepared for disasters like this. And as we switched to technology, there was a stark realization that only those families and children that had access to technology could join in when it was offered. I think it's been positive in that I think it's made us as a community step back and start to address some of those vulnerabilities in education and health in particular. With all of the changes in the education system since COVID-19, what are the areas that need the most improvement in Baton Rouge schools now? The most important thing is acknowledging from families and the system that learning loss is real. Children have been out of school, hybrid or otherwise for over a year. There's documented evidence to show that those kids that have been out of school have experienced loss in learning and they now have to catch up. Also, I think that it's really important that as we use this unprecedented amount of federal funds that have come into our community, that we think not short term, but long term in how we sustain ourselves in the event of another catastrophe. As a local education leader, how do you plan to initiate or encourage the changes you'd like to see in the Baton Rouge school system? I have been a community advocate for high-quality public education for nearly 50 years. My role will continue to be a voice for the most vulnerable in our community, a voice that helps them understand what choice is, access is and the benefits it has to the children, short and long term. How can the community help create change in local education? Local education exists to serve the community, so the community has to be informed in a way that they understand so that they would know how to advocate for high-quality education. There should be concentrated efforts to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to make sure that families at all levels have the right information, the best information so that they can demand quality and accountability. Adonica Pelichet Duggan CEO Baton Rouge Alliance for Students How do you think the local education system has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak began? I think the system has had to be more adaptive and flexible in order to meet the diverse needs of families. I believe families have become more aware of the challenges many schools face and have a new expectation of service. With all of the changes in the education system since COVID-19, what are the areas that need the most improvement in Baton Rouge schools now? I believe we need to continue to scale high-quality school offerings and increase equitable access to the most in-demand schools in our city. In addition, we need to allocate additional resources to adequately address the programs and services we want provided at the school building level. As a local education leader, how do you plan to initiate or encourage the changes you'd like to see in the Baton Rouge school system? Our team works to help families understand how to navigate the complex systems, advocates for policies that support the growth of quality schools, and ensures families are represented in the conversation. We must center the interests of students in shaping policy decisions. How can the community help create change in local education? The community must unite around a shared vision of what successful educational outcomes for our students look like and hold policymakers accountable for results. It takes the support of the entire community to achieve an excellent education for every child.

There’s more to summer meals than boring salads and classic hamburgers. From crisp cucumbers to firm and fresh okra, Baton Roots farms are bursting with lively vegetables. Whether you are a Baton Roots volunteer, customer, partner or supporter, here are some delicious and creative ways to eat your seasonal Baton Roots produce this August. What recipe do you want to try most? Tell us in the comments. Recipes to make at home with Baton Roots veggies Cucumbers Watermelon and cucumber salad with feta Savory peach and cucumber salad Spicy lightly pickled cucumbers Eggplant Baked eggplant parmesan with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and crispy breadcrumbs Crispy eggplant with minty yogurt Stuffed eggplant with crispy beef and pomegranates Okra Easy grilled okra Mexican-inspired Okra, Avocado and Tomato Salad with Chili and Lime Juice Roasted okra and cherry tomatoes with pimenton aioli Zucchini Cheesy Zucchini-Eggplant Bake with tomatoes, ricotta and mozzarella Grilled zucchini and red onion with feta Zucchini salad with pine nuts and herbs

Upon hearing the name 'The Walls Project', many immediately think of the nearly 130 vibrant, eye-catching murals and art installations spanning the Greater Baton Rouge Area. Casey Phillips, Executive Director and founder of TWP, has been the man behind the curtain for the mural arts program since its inception in 2012. But as TWP works to expand the reach of the #OneRouge Coalition, founded amidst the 2020 pandemic to combat the 9 Drivers of Poverty as a community, Casey is excited to pass the mural arts torch to Morgan Udoh, TWP's new Public Art Program Coordinator. In addition to being a former K-5 educator, Morgan, a graduate of Xavier University (Ohio) with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is also a talented mixed media artist and small business owner. With over 10 years of public service, including teaching, serving on the Scotlandville Saturdays planning commission, Charter board membership, eXchange Foundation founding membership, fundraising for Orphans of Rwanda, Upward Bound mentorship, and Big Buddy Program teacher leadership, Morgan consistently displays dedication to inclusivity, community, and leveraging grassroots resources for the benefit of the Baton Rouge Community. Morgan looks forward to merging community placemaking and arts expansion within schools across the city: Art is an often underrated medium for education. When implemented with care, it has the power to challenge biases, encourage hope, illuminate history, jumpstart creative solutions, and uplift economies. My hope is that the next 5 years of the public arts program sees a radical expansion of art as an educational vehicle for community transformations. Interested in creating a mural or using your space to display Baton Rouge talent? Visit https://muralrequest.paperform.co/ to tell us more!

When it’s too hot outside to cook, being next to a warm stove in 90º+ weather may be the last thing you want to do. Why not make a cool, fresh salad instead? This month, we paired up with our partners Top Box Foods Louisiana to make a summer salad using ingredients from their vegetable box (plus a few store-bought items). Here’s what we used to make it: From Top Box Foods Romaine lettuce Bell peppers Onions Tomato (also available from Baton Roots) Cucumber (also available from Baton Roots) From Trader Joes Balsamic vinaigrette Feta cheese Mixed greens Olives How to make the salad Wash all of the vegetables Chop romaine lettuce and blend into mixed greens Toss all greens lightly in olive oil, salt, and pepper Dice onions and peppers and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes Start dressing the salad with all of the ingredients Top with olives, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette, then voila! Would you try this salad at home? What salads are you enjoying right now? Let us know in the comments!

Baton Roots has a big future. This summer, the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation gifted Baton Roots $50,000 to support the community farm’s mission of eliminating food deserts. The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation funds efforts in the areas of human services, healthcare, education, and prison reentry. They strive to positively impact and strengthen the organizations and institutions that address the underlying causes of societal problems. Baton Roots Community Farm and extended programming at schools, public housing sites, and other community locations, serve as healthy oases in Baton Rouge’s food desert. Baton Roots blends hands-on gardening, education, affordable food production, local hiring, and creative placemaking to inspire a culture of health and wellness throughout the community. The program recently expanded to three high school sites, Arlington Academy (for special needs children), multiple public housing sites, and a community site through Hope Ministries. With the grant, Baton Roots plans to increase vegetable production, expand distribution, increase the impact of Baton Roots programming through programs such as Hustle and Grow, Harmony Gardens, food preparation demonstrations, and other means of direct community resident engagement; seek alliances with groups who can connect to those most in need, promote educational programming more aggressively and increase Baton Roots employment opportunities. Learn more about the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation on their website.

Remember that “I Want You” poster that recruited men into the military for World War Two? Well, consider this our request to join our Futures Fund Coding Boot Camp. We want to “enlist” veterans into our boot camp to gain coding and computer skills that can last a lifetime. Coding Boot Camp is an integrational training program that can help anyone get the career technology skills needed to become part of the online economy and remote workforce in about six months. The program offers three levels of curriculum to learn basic-to-advanced skills to build websites with the coding languages of HTML, CSS, and introductory JavaScript. We spoke with army veteran Captain Ruth Corfah to find out why coding and computer skills are important for veterans and others. “So much of the workforce relies on technology and systems that utilize or are enhanced exponentially by the integration of technology,” Corfah says. “For veterans entering the workforce, a sustainable skill set would be the application and working knowledge of coding and computer skills. Enabling Veterans an opportunity to continue to add value to a global and domestic infrastructure that military service ensures and defends is a positive step toward reciprocity in a service where death is the ultimate sacrifice.” We are always recruiting new veterans for our program. Register today. Worried about affording the boot camp? No worries. We can assist you! Contact us with any questions.