Spotlight on Community Changemakers: Connecting for a Better Baton Rouge
At One Rouge, we're committed to building stronger, healthier communities by connecting individuals with local organizations making a real impact. In our latest spotlight, we’re thrilled to welcome six incredible groups working tirelessly to address key needs in Baton Rouge.
Our featured guests are:
Families Helping Families – Empowering individuals with disabilities and their families through education, resources, and advocacy.
Fathers on a Mission – Strengthening families by equipping fathers to be leaders and role models in their communities.
NOW Baton Rouge – Advocating for reproductive rights and providing access to critical resources in family planning and maternal health.
Mid City Redevelopment Alliance – Revitalizing neighborhoods and creating pathways for homeownership and economic growth.
Louisiana Health Equity Alliance – Championing equitable access to healthcare and tackling health disparities.
Baton Roots – Cultivating community and sustainability through urban agriculture, with their newest agroforestry apprenticeship program aimed at empowering individuals with skills in sustainable farming and land stewardship.
Together, these organizations will:
Share the vital services and resources they offer.
Highlight the unique ways they address our community’s most pressing challenges.
Provide actionable steps for you to get involved and support their work.
Join us in amplifying their efforts! Whether you’re looking to volunteer, donate, or simply learn more about these initiatives, there’s a place for everyone to make a difference. Let’s continue to build a Baton Rouge where equity, opportunity, and wellbeing thrive.
Notes
Casey Phillips: This week I would like to give the same gift to you so that our community knows you from a moment of joy from this week.
Jordan Howard: Sure. Honestly I would say it's carried over from last week, but , I just got back from Vegas for the first time with my husband and that was a blast. We did like some SSV kinda like dune buggy riding and stuff, so I'm just still on the cloud Nine. But yeah, I'm really relaxed. I'm looking forward to the holidays, spending time with family as well.
Casey Phillips: I love that. I love that. One of the first things that we've learned about you is that you like catch big air going off of sand dunes in the dune buggy. That makes me happy. And I feel like we're off to the right foot. Also miss it. Thank you for sharing Jordan. Welcome everybody. Welcome everybody in the One Rouge family to another Friday together. I want to continue this this season of gratitude. I was talking about the biggest thing that I'm grateful for are the human beings in my world across the board. And as said in that spirit of gratitude really is from all this year. This year has been with this community and the One Rouge community another really important year. To me personally, and to the walls and our partners at metromorphosis. So I'm grateful that y'all are here on Fridays that y'all show that everybody shows up and shares and also provides a sense of community. That goes well beyond just, putting it in a grant application that we're in the grant application. This is actually like real community. So I appreciate I'm grateful for all of you as well as our friend Tia Fields, who's going to take it over from now.
Tia Fields: Thank you Casey. Good morning and peace and wellness to everybody. Welcome to this Friday's One Rouge call. We have some amazing community partners that are going to share space with us. Each of you guys will have 3 to 5 minutes to just introduce yourself, the organization that you're representing. Representing and then we're gonna fall into a community conversation on the resources and services that you provide to the community and anything it is that you need from community or community members as well as what you're offering. Can we start with Rayna, please?
Rayna Winnfield: Yes, ma'am. Okay. My name is Rayna Winnfield and I am the program manager for real estate services at mid city redevelopment alliance. I have two other colleagues that's going to jump on the call as well to go over our community building engagement department, but I'm over real estate services. So what we provide is first time home buyer education financial literacy going over the main topics, credit budgeting and savings. We also do credit coaching foreclosure prevention services, and homeowner and renters rights advocacy. So what happens is we have first time home buyer education that really. Shows the clients how to purchase a home. Just hold them accountable for different things on the credit report. Give them an action plan and we go step by step with them to learn about the process and also offer down payment assistance program information as well. We partner with different lenders real estate agents and other community Organizations as well. Financial literacy is basically coming in, learning about credit budgeting and savings. We might have a few topics that we go off of and credit coaching foreclosure prevention services. What we have is basically a client that's behind on their mortgage, or they know they're going to be behind on their mortgage. You're trying to get back on track. We help mitigate with different lenders on this process to get them back up and current with their mortgage and then homeowner and renters rights advocacy. So we have a lot of tenants that come in and may want to File complaints on landlords or the landlords may want to know some information about tenants rights. So that's basically in a nutshell what the real estate services department does at mid city redevelopment Alliance. And I didn't want to take too much time, so I'll. Pass it on back to you.
Casey Phillips: Rayna, I appreciate the brevity because that's a lot of information, but I would like to just lift up I was actually at the Dallas affordable housing coalition summit yesterday and for nine hours. Oh my goodness. Did I learn so much specifically around renters rights and understanding the differences between those laws in Texas and Louisiana so that we can bring that work into our policy work in Louisiana. I'd really love to lift up the space to really go a little bit deeper with you.
Tia: Go ahead and introduce yourself. And I don't know if Casey's on the call. You guys can piggyback.
Kaytlin Mychell: I always forget to unmute myself on these calls and then I end up talking. Sorry. Casey's here. Usually you'll find us together. Just like this. I'm Kaytlin. I am the community events coordinator and I do the collaborations and partnerships with Now Baton Rouge.
Casey Carr: I'm Casey, I'm the president of Now Baton Rouge, and I also am the Plan Baton Rouge Plan BR program director.
Kaytlin: Yeah, so with Now Baton Rouge and Plan BR, we do free Plan B to anybody in the Baton Rouge area. We go out to different communities and tabling events. We just like to show up and stand out and hand out free plan B. they come in little kits with condoms, pregnancy tests, sexual health information and our little QR code. So they can always request more if they need them later. Yeah. Anything else
Tia: Well, tell us a little bit about what NOW is and what type of organization is it? I know we talked about the program, the plan B programs, but just explain to the community what lane of advocacy or community resources do you guys represent?
Casey Carr: Absolutely. National Organization for Women, or NOW, is the biggest grassroots feminist organization in America. We are the Baton Rouge chapter. We started about 2014, and in 2022, 2023, we were able to step it into the bigger roles and really promote our Plan BR program. So we do a lot of advocacy work for reproductive justice and there's six core issues that, that. National organization for women can work on, but right now in Louisiana, a lot of our focus has been on reproductive justice. So we are a member based organization. We do member meetings, meetups, and then, together, collectively, we can decide how we want to impact the community.
Tia: Awesome. Thank you so much for that, Casey and Kate. Next, Mr. Levar.
Levar Robinson: Good morning. Levar Robinson, FOAM: Fathers On A Mission. Fatherhood Resource Organization here in Baton Rouge. We have two locations. Our main office is at the Family and Youths Service Center, the Old Blind School 1128 Government Street, and then we have our satellite office in North Baton Rouge, which is at 32 55 Choctaw Drive. Which is on the corner. We provide resources for fathers and father figures. We have weekly fatherhood classes, engaging father classes on Tuesdays at 6:30 where fathers and father figures are able to come. And join a group of fathers father figures when we have different pillar conversations about pillar topics on fatherhood and guys are able to see that. Hey, there are other guys that want to have these conversations about fatherhood. I can learn. I can share. I can help. I can vent. I can just find out different resources, support the journeys through fatherhood. We also have our project family bill, which is a case management process where again, just like no case management with families with mothers and children intake process where we find out what are the needs of the father and his family and we mentioned to those needs regardless if it's through our organization or other organizations through our city, through our areas. We also have our fatherhood workshops or just workshops in general. Last night. We just completed a 3 week series on new homeowners. Workshops that was facilitated by red river bank. We also have our cooking with dad's that's coming up on December 7 cooking with dad's is opportunity for fathers father figures to sign up them and their kids to come out and have a 1. Spend some quality bonding time together. A lot of fathers don't spend quality bonding time. So you spend that bonding time and then you mix it in with the fun of cooking, cooking healthy meal where we have a chef that leads that that event, we give him a shelf had chef apron. All the food ingredients are utensils. They make these food items. In a fun way on location, then we also give them the same ingredients to take home. They get to keep all the utensils and get to keep the chef has the chef aprons. That's this is now 4th, 1 for the year that we've done. We also do both and daughter dance different activities and events surrounding quantity bonding time with fathers and the kids of all ages. We also have our our office are available for guys to come in and just have the conversations, find out what they don't know, what they do know what they want to know more about when it comes concerns fatherhood. We have different resources on our resource tables concerning fatherhood and other community organizations that are available. We also have a treasure room. Treasure room is a large room. We have suits. Clothing for kids, household items. This is all free for the guys to join the project family bill to get access to the treasure room. We also have diapers and wipes. So we have a plethora of things all around support for fathers and families, with everything that we have going on in our city, I think this is something that we started that has been overlooked for decades. But next best time to start it is now. And so when we started the top, we started enhancing fathers and father figures. And that spirals down to the kids, we start reducing some of these negative effects that we have going on in our city. There's no, no fees or anything to join it. Come. They reach out. They call. We just had a couple of guys that was recommended that was referred to us through the juvenile court system. There's no age barrier. Your father figure, you make it real easy. You're not a father. Okay. Do you have least nephews? No. Do you have kids in your neighborhood that you tell, Hey, stay out of trouble. Yes. And you are a father figure. Come on, let's do this. Let's run it. So our goal is again to support fathers and father figures, but we also, even though we support them, but we also hold them accountable. For those who are in child support, you're not paying child support. Okay. Why? Why are you not paying child support? I'm not working. Okay. Let's see. Why are you not working? I can't keep a job. Let's have a sit down conversation. Let's do a mock interview. Let's see if that may be the point where you can't get to an interview, or maybe you need some workforce development. Now, we refer you up to hope ministries, right? Another organization has a workforce development program, a thorough program or whatever case may be. So we are really intentional. About. Helping supporting fathers here in our city. We also are working towards we're going to do some part where we're trying to get involved some policy work to get some laws put in place for alienation. Alienation is data that's not tracked nationally. We are tracking the numbers that we have at fathers on mission, but a lot of kids who don't, who are not involved. Their father is due to alienation. And so that's nothing that's talked about, but that's something that needs to be dealt with, put some things in place so that kids have not access but a custodial periods with their father also for those fathers that want to be involved. But our state makes it hard. Doesn't support that net from a broad perspective. So that's something that we're working on having fathers having support for the fathers that want to be involved without them having to go and pay no 5, 10, 000 for a lawyer, what they may or may not have. Then also we have some programs that we do in the parish jail systems. We did 16 weeks of father classes and such a Paris jail and one of the amazing things is to see guys of different races share tears in their eyes saying they want to be the best father, but they never knew. I can't attest to myself. My father was never in my life, but yet I all came different boundaries. And still fight data to be the best father I can. But if I was prepared and taught how to be a father, my father could have made things a lot different for the path that I even took for myself. So just imagine if we get, if we prepare fathers for fatherhood, if we prepare young people for parenthood this could be a game changer in what we have going on in our city. We're also working on last thing. We're also working on an engaging co parenting class. It's just not a class where Currently, you go in and sit in front of a person and they read stuff to you. You're sitting there and check off a box right now. This is a co engaging co parenting where if there's a communication problem where we're going to practice. Communicating skills inside the class, right? These will be things there'll be certain benchmarks that you have to complete before you get that certificate completion. So it's not going to be a, you show up and you pass the class, but we are, want to put things together so that it makes a huge positive effect. On the kids, because remember, no matter how much we say, we're about the kids. If we're not about the foundation at the home, are we really about the kids? Again, and fathers on a mission.
Casey Phillips: 1st, I want to go, I want to start off with Kaytlin and Casey from plan. B. R. And BR now especially today in today's climate, may I tip my cap of respect to you helping empower people to make their own health decisions and specifically to trust women with their own medical decisions. And I feel like it is important now for all voices across the board to remind everyone that women should have the right. To decide their own destiny, and I just wanted to say that I appreciate what you stand for. And that work is not to be underestimated that kind of work gets met with some pretty intense hate from time to time. So I appreciate that courage that y'all show out in the streets and doing that for the community. And on the flip side of the coin, it's all one coin, but on the flip side, Levar, man, it has been amazing watching you and your journey of foam. Like when you were working, full time, you were still working full time and you were doing this part time. And I remember standing outside of the of the laundry mat. When I looked at you, I'm like, The fact that what happened and you're doing this full time, the world is a better place. And give it up, man, for doing things for, doing things for dads and guys. Look, it's a man's world, James Brown style, that's real, right? But the attention that you're giving to men in this city, Like in the love, man, you show up everywhere and you're always there for the people. And I just want to say that my admiration, my respect for you goes really deep, my friend, and watching you grow from afar and everybody who wants to help foam and plan VR. And MCRA and the rest of our speakers, that's what the point of today's call is not to be passive and hear feel good stories, it's to actually get involved in the work they're doing and help build in 2025 and that Tia was very intentional about building and so Tia back to you and I'm going to lean out for the rest of the call.
Tia: Sure. And just in case if anybody's wondering what is the nature of this call, it is an opportunity to highlight some of our community partners and organizations that are truly making an impact in the work that we do not always get to see. We do have a few more individuals who's going to introduce themselves and just want everybody to stay in a space of gratitude as these presenters share what it is that they've been given to our community. Next up we have Jordan Howard. with the Louisiana Center for Health Equity. Good morning, Jordan.
Jordan Howard: Good morning. Okay, I may not have as much under our wings as Levar, but I'm excited to be here. Thank y'all so far for sharing all of y'all's work that you do and I'm excited to hear everybody else's involvement in making this state better. I'll start with just introducing myself. My name is Jordan Howard. I'm the adolescent health coordinator here at Louisiana Center for Health Equity. That's a tongue twister. So I'll say for the rest of this introduction, but I am a proud native here. I have been a part of a lot of work with the Walls Project. So this has come full circle because I was a teenager through the mayor's program. It's just always full circle to being similar spaces as this one. A lot of my work is dedicated to adolescent health, their overall well being and equity in Louisiana. I have my bachelor's degree in social work from Southern University and my master's from L.S.U. I am a representative statewide and governmentally as far as outreach partnership, development, grant management and writing. I am a writer and graphic designer as well. I do grant writing, compelling writing pieces or relevant writing pieces around presentations, articles, blog. I do graphic design and I also develop social media and branding strategies for us in certain events and campaigns that we do have. I also do curriculum development and coordinating events around our work. I also seasonally manage some collegiate level interns every year from Southern and or LSU and then we have some virtual opportunities as well. We are dedicated to advancing health equity to improve the overall health and being of all Louisianans. We also work to eliminate health and health care disparities structural, institutional and social disadvantages. We are a nonpartisan nonprofit and we focus on policy and advocacy community outreach and engagement and evidence based practices and strategic solution development and specifically what I do is I facilitate all of our grassroots initiatives on the boots on the ground activity, so I will, you will see me at community events with tables, getting kids signed up for summer camps free. Everything that we do is free regarding our youth engagement. Right now we have school based initiatives that will trickle over into our summer initiatives. So we are more so dedicated now to year round services to these students and youth in the community, as we see that they lack consistency of support. Sometimes you come in, you see them in a classroom or never see him again for another month or so. And they really desire that continuity of what they're being taught and how they're being supported mentally, emotionally, physically, just holistically as human beings. And so our goal is to really develop them into healthy human beings, which contributes to our bold vision right now that we have which is LA 40 by 2030. And so that bold vision is to get Louisiana to be ranked 40th by the year 2030. And as we know, Louisiana, it sucks in certain areas, but we're also amazing in certain areas. Yes, but we're ranked 50th and so that goal is to really get us is a 10 year campaign. It was slowed down due to covid, but it also exposed some things to help us truly get there. And so that goal is to really just address certain, key determinants that are lacking for us. Using America's health rankings to really help us move that work forward. And one of those are children in poverty and just lack of education. And so that's how my work is centered around pushing Louisiana to a better ranking overall. So we do that by one program right now, which is called the Weight Institute for youth equity. That is our school based programming where we teach social, emotional learning and try to promote the pipeline to post secondary education and trades. That way they can have healthy living, healthy lifestyle, successful lifestyles and become healthier adults, which ultimately contribute to a healthier Louisiana. So I'm going to stop there. And open to any questions if that's okay. And yeah, thank you all for having me.
Tia: Thank you so much. Jordan. 1 thing that I'm hearing along the lines for those who have spoken so far is that in this climate policy work is essential to drive and change. Next up, we have.
Flitcher Bell: Hey, if I may just jump in, one of the things Jordan is leaving out with LCHE is that her grandmother, the director, Mr. Alma Stewart is a very dynamic person. And when I was doing the work with Southern university law center, we teamed with LCHE and was instrumental in developing the office of women and health. Which is now part of Louisiana and without their leadership that office would not be here. So that's something very important that she left off.
Tia: Thank you. Amazing work. And it just reinforces the need for community organizations, not to only be in the community boots on ground, but also behind the scenes talking to our law and policymakers. I was going to say I was gonna open up space for SK as well as Whitney to talk a little bit about Baton Rouge and this dynamic program that they have launched. And then after that, our last person to introduce himself will be Fran Peterson with Families Helping Families.
SK Groll: All right. Good morning, One Rouge. I just Wanted to say I'm so glad to be here with such a great group of organizations. I'm glad that we're having this conversation today. My name is SK. I work with Baton Rouge and I've seen many of you before and I'm so excited to be here with Whitney Hall, our new Agroforestry Apprenticeship Manager, but someone who's been with the farm for almost a year now. Whitney, do you want to introduce yourself and then we can talk about the program?
Whitney Hall: Hello. My name is Whitney. I am so grateful to be here today with y'all and to serve as agroforestry apprenticeship manager. My role as an agroforestry apprenticeship manager I will be with their apprentices on a daily basis. Supporting them as they learn fields, build work skills, job placement, readiness and receiving mentorship opportunities. I will be supportive to them as they gain a deeper understanding of agroforestry and ecosystem management and principles. My goal as an agroforestry apprenticeship manager is to connect with the apprentices in such a way that provides a space to where they are able to comprehend the program. Enjoy the program and feel heard and promote them to be truly invested in this program so that they will be beneficial and then be able to receive all the amazing things that this program offers. I believe that myself, but the team as a whole, S.K. We have what it takes to provide and foster this type of balance and learning environment. As SK says, I am, I would have made a year, if I'm not mistaking this next month with farming with Baton Roots in the Walls Project, which is ironic, because I actually started as a volunteer with them. However, my background, I have a diverse background in health care, holistic health, coaching, regenerative practice, practicing, and, and farming, so I'm just so grateful to be here today and be managing this program with hopefully, I think it's going to be filled with 10 great applicants that will really benefit from this program and enjoy it. And that this would be a great bunch for the Walls Project for that move as a whole and for the community. So thank you all for my time.
Tia: Oh, Whitney. What is it? What is this dynamic program? What does it entail? What is the benefit that the community is going to receive from participating in this?
Whitney: It’s a 12 month program where we choose 10 applicants and actually our application just went live. And so we would love if we can send the link to the social media for the application to our partners, which are here today. And so it's a 12 month program. The applicants are part time. They will be receiving 20 an hour and, have spring onboarding, we have they will work build work and both classroom work and they will be let me make sure I have my screen. And, yeah, if I can, yeah, you're perfect.
SK: Sorry. I could have said this up top. So the agroforestry apprenticeship program is a 12 month program, up to 10 applicants after 10 apprentices are going to receive training in horticulture and green infrastructure, and they're going to do field work with Baton Roots and our wonderful partners at Baton Rouge Green. They're going to learn skills and get certified in state licenses for horticulture and our culture so that they can go on to work either as tree care experts. Or as landscapers but they'll have skills and the tools to start their own businesses following that apprenticeship and to work as contractors or to apply for jobs in green industries. We are also along that time planting a whole lot of trees and doing a lot of agroforestry working communities to get food into the hands of community members that need it and get more plants in the ground that are going to be food producing long term. So it's an amplification of a lot of things that Baton Roots has been doing before, but a way for folks to get paid while they're learning. And like, when you said the application went live just recently, I've dropped the link in the chat and you can find it on all walls project and social media and Internet presences. But we would love for folks to share it throughout their networks. And we are accepting anybody 18 and up with no educational requirement. The only requirement is that they're authorized to work in the US. We will do background checks, though the results of those are not prohibitive. They are guidance for us in terms of where folks conduct their fieldwork. And so this is an opportunity for folks who might have things that disqualify them from other kinds of employment or who have had opportunities removed from them to get access to hopefully living wage employment going forward as well.
Tia: Thank you so much for that. S. K. And last but not least, we have Miss Peterson, you have a few moments just to introduce yourself in the organization. And then I just have a few questions for you guys panel style. And from there, we'll go.
Fran Peterson: Hello, good morning, One Rouge. My name is Fran Peterson. Before I start, I do want to tell Jordan though that I attended the equities conference last week. So I was able to meet Ms. Elma Stewart Allen and she is phenomenal. When I tell you she is just an amazing powerhouse of a woman. So I'm so glad that I know that now, cause I never would have known that was your grandma, but. She's amazing. So I just wanted to say that. My name is Fran Peterson. Oh, you're welcome. My name is Fran Peterson. I work along with Early Steps. I am the Outreach Specialist for Early Steps, and I am the Disabilities Initiative Specialist for Families Help and Families of Greater Baton Rouge. And we work with families with disabilities. Not just the individual with the disability, but the entire family, because as if anyone has a family member with a disability, a child with a disability is not an individual attack. It's an attack on the entire family. And the reason why we say it's an attack is because it's so many limited resources for those with a disability. In the greater Baton Rouge region. So we try to educate, navigate and support those families with disability starting as early as birth. Early steps works with babies from 0 to 3, any type of early intervention that the child needs. If you notice that the child is not walking at a proper time, or, my baby is 7 months now, he's not sitting up or is not holding his head up correctly, or I'm noticing that his speech is delayed. Early steps is where you want to get your child first for their early intervention when you start noticing the signs. Now, mind you, there are some mothers of family members who may be in denial and may say, because they can understand what their baby is doing because they can understand what my baby wants. They may not actually think that child may need the help. We find now that it's not until the child is entering pre K3 or pre K4 that the family notices that they're not on the same level as their peers. But by that time, they've already aged out of Early Steps because Early Steps end at 3 So now you're into part B. Part of the program. And that's when you start getting into those IEPs and the pupil appraisal and getting those evaluations through the school or any other avenue that you want to attend mid or card or the eMERGE center. I know you guys may have heard of these centers for ABA and other types of therapy. So at Families Helping Families, what we try to do is navigate those families in the direction that they may need. Sometimes. They may feel that, my child has all autism traits or may seem to be on the spectrum and then they get tested and their child's not on the spectrum at all. They may have some type of other exceptionality. What we want to do is navigate them in the right direction to be able to get the help that they need. Now, we don't stop once the child graduates from high school because we have programs starting from 0 to 3 with our early steps. They go on to our education department. Once they get into school. School after education is the empowerment program where we try to get them to navigate into the transition from high school to college or into the workforce or whatever that may be. Whatever the next step we don't, they don't leave us until they decide, look, family self and families has helped me enough. I think I can go on and live independently. So it's okay. You can take your hands off me. We don't even take our hands off. We try to let them live independently, but we developed this, so it's really hard to let them go. So at families helping families, that's what we do. We help educate, navigate and support those families with disabilities. And I just want to tell you guys about a few things that we have coming up on December 7th, we have our sensory Santa, and that's an event that we have for our children with sensory issues who may not like loud noises or certain things that they like to touch or certain things that may Their attention. So we do a sensory Santa event for those specifically on the spectrum, but it's open to anyone. And that's December 7th. And that's at rec. We also have our toy drive giveaway in our open house on December 14th. And this is something that we do every year. We send out a link. We collect families that may be in need and have child with a disability and we bless them and their siblings with Christmas gifts. Not just the child with a disability, their sibling as well. And I'm going to put that link out there too because it's still open for any family that would like to be blessed during the Christmas holidays. So that's on December 14th that we actually give the toys away. And on December 20th for our teens and young adults, we have our sunshine social, which is an event that we have once a month for teens and young adults to be able to socialize amongst their peers. We have a dance party, they're themed, they have a great time. But in December is our really big winter wonderland ball where they get to dress up and come in their finest fashions and they just have a ball. So that's what we do at Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge. So if anybody needs my information, I'll put it in the chat and I would love to collaborate with each of you guys. And I love you, Casey Carr.
Tia: I'm so thankful to be on a call with you this time around, Fran, cause as Jordan was talking about full circle moments, this community work is always not only A lot of our nine to fives, but really the life that we live. So to see each other in different capacities in all aspects of life is a beautiful thing. And I know that took a little bit, cause normally we only have three or four people, but there is so much information from these organizations that's on the call that I wanted to share before the holiday seasons. So I'm just, and I also I'm going to jump into the questions, but I don't know if we had an opportunity to introduce one of One Rouge's not even One Rouge's, The Walls new co director, Dr. Ashlyn Harris. So before I get to that question, I just want to hold space for her to hop on, tell us a little bit about herself, and then I promise you guys I'm going to ask y'all three or four questions, and y'all can go back to y'all Friday. Dr Harrison. Okay she may not be available right now. So I'm just going to go ahead and jump into the conversation and I'm going to I want to start with Rayna with mid city redevelopment talking about how we address the community needs. What are some of the challenges and gaps in resources that your organization has identified? And how are you guys addressing those needs?
Rayna: I'm just gonna jump in with foreclosure because we have a tremendous amount of individuals and families in the East Baton Rouge parish and surrounding parishes that they're in need of resources for to help them get back on their feet as far as mortgage assistance. So we had mortgage assistance during COVID a little bit afterwards in around 20. I want to say 22. It ended. We have a lot of community members that come in needing that assistance. A lot of the lenders and banks that I deal with, they don't really understand that we're out of money. What they do is they send them to me to the redevelopment alliance as a hood or hood approved organization. And we help mediate. So I believe that is the resources that is needed is basically funds to help a family get back on their feet. I know we do have some programs in Baton Rouge that help with with rental assistance, but nothing really with mortgage. The more it seems like the mortgage piece is out of whack when we don't really have the funds to help assist, but we do mediate sometimes mediation is really. Good. And sometimes it's not as good because the payment plans or the help that they get may be still above their needs and they're trying to meet it. Basically, the resources that's needed is just funding for. Mortgage assistance, that's what I see that's needed on my end in the housing space.
Tia: Thank you so much for that. What about you, Mr. Robinson? What are some community needs that your organization has identified and what are some resources that you guys can use or input that you can utilize to make your work more impactful?
Levar: Yeah, thank you. 1 thing that we find is that a lot of people advertise that they're hiring. They're really not. They're really not, but they're not really not saying it. But we've done some on our own applying for jobs because we're getting guys saying they apply for jobs and they're not receiving callbacks. They're inquiring future. They'll call them, but they don't. But there are a lot of companies. Organizations that say they're hiring and they don't call back. So it makes me wonder, are they really hiring? They put up signs. Is it just some false type of advertisements? So employment opportunities are a critical need, which we again do our best to try to connect guys to employment opportunities. So that's something that we find as a struggle to find places that are actually hiring. That's 1 of the biggest ones.
Tia: And what could you use from community members on this call or the partners on this call? How can we assist you? What can we do?
Levar: When it comes to employment opportunities, employment opportunities that are known share about those opportunities. It's 1 thing to say, hey, there's a job fair, but. Is the employer coming to just let people know about the company that exists or are they actually hiring? So connect this to those employers that are hiring and then also just getting the word out about fathers on the mission. It's a space is different. We want to make sure that we let guys know it's okay to be a man, but also share your feelings and vent and cry things like that in the right spaces. So just getting word out about the work that we do. We're doing with fathers and also connect, strictly know if you notice that our mission statement is to enhance father and father to enhance fathers and father figures, which will ultimately strengthen families. Our goal is to strengthen families, but we're doing it through father and father figures, which is a huge piece of what we're missing here in our city. So just get the word about getting word out about what we're doing. That's the greatest that we can have.
Tia: Okay, I'm notating that and I'm just making sure that everybody is paying attention to hear what it is that our community partners needs from us. And what we can give as I think about the needs and offer aspect, it makes me go into engagement and accessibility. Kaytlin and Casey, how are you guys ensuring that your services and resources are meeting those who need it the most? Women who may not have access to a doctor's office or women who may not have access to quality internet to know that these services are available and what are you, how are you guys doing your engagement piece?
Kaytlin: So a lot of those in those instances, we are at a lot of community events we have done Scotlandville Sundays and Helpful the Sharing Lessons Room initiative.
Tia: Oh, I think her mic may have went out.
Kaytlin: Can you hear us now?
Tia: Yep. Yep. There we go.
Kaytlin: We were trying to use the ear pods and we got a whole thing going. Sorry. Yeah, we try to just be everywhere as much as we can or as many places as we can. Yeah, just tabling and not just rely on our social media or the Internet. In the last 2 years, we've done LSU we've tabled at Southern, we've tabled at Scotlandville Saturdays, we've tabled at Summer of Hope, we've tabled at the free clinic that they do at, they did one at Southern a couple of months ago, they did one at the River Center we try to put up, or we do, we have drop spots at the Ra Shop we try to get drop spots wherever we can and just have people that'll hold our plan B, so that way if somebody needs it. We can just be like, Hey they have it here. Yeah, we try to just. As many places everywhere, as many places as we can.
Tia: That's something new that I didn't know about. So you guys do have drop spots on where you guys will leave the plan B. If you do, you have access or link to where we can drop it in the chat. Just so as a FYI, or it's not a living thing.
Kaytlin: So we have a map. I don't have it on my computer and that's the 1 we're on right now, but I can. Or Casey can send it to you because I think she has it and then we can send it out later. I'm sorry.
Tia: Yeah, no worries. So every morning we'll do a report out of, like, all shared events and, links of that nature. So just get it to me and I'll make sure that the network gets it.
Casey Carr: Another thing, if anybody wants to hold kits for us, or have them to distribute, we're more than happy to bring you some kits that y'all can have, but as everyone was saying earlier, the political climate with reproductive rights right now in Louisiana is a bit rocky. So a lot of that is just finding companies and groups that are willing to hold our kits for us because there's such a stigma with the morning after pill. There's confusion that it's the abortion bill. The questions about legality and stuff like that. Yeah, more partnerships to hold kits for us. That would be amazing.
Tia: Okay, I heard that and also if I'm not mistaken, I see you guys are partnering with some other community partners and hosting an event this week or next week.
Kaytlin: Yeah. So we've actually got a few things coming up next week. We're doing we'll be tabling at the sexual health workshop at Southern with the honors college. And then the next day will be at spread the warmth with evolve. And the people's political did I say that right? People's political projects. And then. Nancy Davis is putting together a rally. an art market in January and we'll be helping her out with that also.
Tia: Oh, that's awesome. There's a question in the chat. They want to know what are in the kits.
Kaytlin: So in the kits includes your plan B, pregnancy tests, condoms, and STI information.
Casey Carr: And information about how the morning after pill works. That's a great resource to know.
Tia: My next question is for Fran. What are the ways that community organizations can become involved? What's the, what does that look like?
Fran: Right now we are. Partnering with a lot of community partners for our annual active for autism walk. I don't know if you guys have heard about our annual au active for Autism Walk and Run 5K that we have every year in April doing autism month. And we are now getting our sponsors and our vendors and everything together 'cause that's usually our huge event that we have year round. And that's what we really try to rally everyone around to get the au the autism awareness. Word out in the community and just to piggyback off of what Kaytlin and Casey was saying. We do a lot of tabling as well. We have to get out there in the community because a lot of times they don't come to us until it's too late. Once the child is severely on the spectrum or he's causing problems in the classroom and they're ready to suspend him and they're ready to kick him out of school, now they're like, I know my child has an issue, but I, now I need help. We want to get out to them. Before that happens. So a lot of times we have to get to them because they won't come to us until it's too late. So we do a lot of community events. We try to really be out at whatever is happening because the disability community and mental health awareness. In the city of Baton Rouge and in the capital area is tremendous. I don't know if you guys have taken a ride down Florida street lately. But if you could see the mental health crisis before we can even attack the disability or what they may be dealing with, or if they're homeless, or if they need mental health. First, what can I do for you? How can I help you get through the day? How can I calm your spirit? Just so we can be able to find you the help that you need. We just want to have to, we have to be hands on because we've noticed in our community, they don't come to us. Until it's too late, so we have to come to them. So as far as community partners and what you can do to help, please go. I put the website in the comment section, www.fhfgbr.org. If you wanna donate, if you wanna volunteer, if you just wanna come in and see what we do and how your organization can partner with us at any time, just let us know.
Tia: Thank you so much for that. One more question, friend. So if if a parent or caregiver has a concern and they need a connection to see if to get their child assessed for autism or any other cognitive disorder, is that something that your office provides?
Fran: Yes. Yes. Now we don't do the testing in house, but we can tell them exactly where they need to go. What office has a waiting list where you can go and get it for free, where they were half of Medicaid will cover it. And then you may have to cover the other portion or who has a stipend where you can go and get your testing done for free. So we just try to help point them in the right direction of where they could get that testing. And a lot of times Okay. In certain areas in the point copy area in those distant areas, testing is hours away, so it's hard for them to be able to get there to get their child the exact testing that they need. So we try to give them not only the location transportation for them to be able to get there and all the things that it takes. takes to actually get that testing done. Sometimes people think that it's just walking into the office and the doctor go back and do a screening. Sometimes you have to go 34 times before you actually get the correct diagnosis. And if the family is in need or don't have the resource to actually make it to the doctor or take the bus or however that may be, we try to give them all the means, all the resources that they need to just to be able to get that. One test or three tests or whatever evaluation they need done. So yes, we do that.
Tia: Thank you connect with me because I can imagine some fathers having questions or needing that type of support when it comes to making sure that the next question I have is surrounding around policy. Mr Bell, when you made mention of the great tangible impact that L A H C E. Did I say that right? No, I didn't say it right.
Flitcher: L C H E.
Tia: L C H E. Jordan and Dr Bell, you guys can tag team on this one. What? What all goes into? How are you guys impacting policy? Talk to us a little bit on what that process was. And what that meant for the community.
Jordan: Would you like to go first?
Flitcher: Sure. What was was the need for women's inequity was recognized represented Denise Marcelle at the time called special committee and they reached out to Alma Stewart to do a study. And a part of that study was we had to do research on the differences between what's going on with women in Louisiana and women in similar states and some of the health gaps, health needs that are not being assessed. And that included everything from lack of education to lack of accessibility, things of that nature. Once the once things were bullet pointed for them and actually the realization of The policy being part of the problem, then the office was came to mind and we're trying to access to make it more more of a level playing field to bring Louisiana back to the point where it needs to be to so that we could be more of a healthy state.
Tia: Thank you for that. Jordan, can you share a little bit about your involvement? And so because he shared about the technical part about the research and the case study that's needed in order to implement this change. And again, you guys, I'm just trying to draw the connection that the way that we show up in community. Is far more than what most people can see. So there's moving parts. Sometimes we're giving direct services. Sometimes we're providing suits. Sometimes we're providing education. And then behind the scenes, we're doing things to make sure that a good policy is in place to ensure the overall will be. Jordan, can you share a little bit about your involvement or your interest when it relates to impact and policy change?
Jordan: Sure as far as my involvement I will say, like I mentioned before, a lot of my responsibilities are those boots on the ground initiatives and outreach. And so I just want to take a moment to highlight. The way that we do our work in policy because I think that's what makes us unique. So our work is literally based on the people's voice. And I've if we create equitable opportunities and create spaces for every person in every crack and crevice of Louisiana and we make sure that their needs are being able to be met because sometimes data misses them. And Because there is a lack of representation and diversity in data and even trust to. In the community to want to be a part of adding on to that data and adding on to that representation. We go out into these communities and we do these surveys. We do these assessments in the schools to really see what they need. And then we go back and create policy. Based on exactly what the community is saying that they need, because it's easy for us to look at data and say, okay, this is what we think we should do here. And they're like, what the heck? I never asked for that. That's not really what I need. And so there's that there's a gap there. It's we mean but how do we do? And right now, one of the things that we're doing is the LA 40 by 2030 tours. And so we are going, it's like in a Z shape. So calling like Z tours, but it's to five regions in Louisiana. And we're basically going to, in their rural areas, they're the overlooked cities that are not being addressed, which goes back to that LA 40 by 2030, that campaign that, Piece of legislation that we're trying to push to really get Louisiana to be ranked 40th by the year 2030, because we can't get there. If everybody's not at the table, everybody's voice has not been heard. And so we really highlight doing that. And so these tours truly focus on. Okay. We just went to Winsboro and Bastrop some people don't even know what that is, and there we were able to do some engaging activities to really ask what are the needs? What are the issues what's working? What's not what services are available? What's not and how can we bridge that gap? And how can we use what you're sharing to. Propel this state and to support you all in those areas to become better. And so I really think that is my interest, truly, because a lot of times I was born and raised in the guard area, and that's where a lot of our work is based and to see the community support. And how it has shifted this area if that's being able to be done in all spaces of Louisiana and Baton Rouge imagine what we could become. And honestly, this is what drives my personal passion, like you said about, like, why am I interested in this policy piece? And that's why, because I can see the impact of. Personable approaches, and really just giving people the space to say, this is what's wrong and I need help and actually being able to use that to represent them in spaces that may be intimidating or that they don't feel are, that they can come into and be a part of. And yeah, I hope that answers that.
Tia: It did. And I thank you guys all so much. We are coming up on time. I just wanted to, I know that a lot of these organizations are well known to those that are listening on the call, but I just wanted to bring them to the forefront as we embark upon this holiday season. And we may see an exasperation of need from the community and wanting to know who is where when it comes to some immediate resources and, or offer up if you have a interest in policy that aligns with any of these sectors that's being represented those who are doing that work to reach out to them at this time, I do want to again, thank all of you for taking your time out on this Friday to just give input and share a little bit about your organization and give your needs and offers. This is the moment for community announcement. So if anyone on the call has anything going on, please drop in the chat or come off mute and share. And I do want to remind you that today is early voting for the runoff. So go ahead and do that. If you have community announcements, please feel free to take the space.
Dallas Wilson: Hey, so my name is Dallas Wilson. I'm an AmeriCorps member serving at Mid City Redevelopment, and I just want to share that on the 7th, December 7th, we're having our second annual holiday festival, and right now, since it's White Light Night weekend, we're having a discount on vendor registrations. I can drop that information in the chat. That's something everyone. Anyone is interested in and that is on December 7 from 2 to 6 p. m.
Tia: Yes, please. Darren, please put that in the chat for me. Okay. Thank you so much.
Pat Leduff: Good morning. This is Pat. Happy Friday to you guys just want to give you a reminder that posh pop is open at 3716 Perkins road at Acadian and please pop on in and see what's popping. Thanks
Ashlyn Harrison: Hi, good morning, everyone. This is Ashlyn Harrison with the W. O. S. Project. I'm sorry I didn't come off mute earlier. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women has launched their scholarship. It's for any undergrad, graduate, or current student in technical college here in Louisiana. The only requirement is that you have to be a girl. Please apply.
Tia: I don't know, Dr Harrison, you can't get off that easy. So I know you couldn't come off of mute earlier but I think that was a perfect opportunity for you just to introduce yourself and let the people know how you will be operating the Walls.
Ashlyn: Good morning everyone again. So my name is, as Tia said Dr. Ashlyn Harrison. I am a whole four days into the Walls Project. I have a background in clinical mental health counseling and education even though I have been in education for about 15 years. I truly do hold a special place in my heart for nonprofit work. I worked at BigBuddy for about six years. I am excited about partnering with all of you and bringing these resources to the community. I am an advocate through community organizations, but now I'm an advocate through Walls, and I just really look forward to continuing this work. I am very familiar with a few of you all on this call. We've done work in the past together, and I look forward to continuing this work and leveraging these resources so that we can build a better Baton Rouge.
Tia: Thank you so much. Do we have any other community announcements or shares that we want to do at this time? Oh, I see. Okay. There are some job opportunities in the chat. We here at the Walls and One Rouge are actually looking for a One Rouge program coordinator to work alongside with me and then in a larger capacity for the Walls, a program manager to oversee the current programs running here. So if you or anyone, may be interested in these positions, please contact who, at the walls or, and, or apply via our website. All right. Hearing no other community announcements. I want to thank everybody for the time. Happy Friday, and we will see you all on next week.
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