One Rouge Community Check -In - Week 140

Join us at 8:30 am for Week #140 via Zoom. Our Education to Career Coalition Co-Chair Dustin Lafont has been saying for what feels like forever that one of the larger pain points felt in EBR is that we don’t have enough youth programs.
Kids get bored, disengage from academic programs, and end up falling through the cracks and into trouble. We all know what they say about idle hands. But we do have really great programs that are intended to catch those very kids before any of that happens.
We will have the discussion of how we leverage what we have to support our greatest resources under the Driver of Poverty: lack of educational attainment with:
Murelle Harrison, Executive Director of Gardere Initiative
Jasmin Johnson, BRAYN Administrator
Dexter Jackson, Executive Director of Humanities Amped
Enlight, Unite, & Ignite!
Quick Links: Notes, Zoom Chat, Community Announcements
Notes
Jasmin Johnson: I'm the network administrator for the Baton Rouge Area Youth Network. I see so many familiar faces on the line, so hello to all of you. I am here to talk about brain for those of you who you know are unfamiliar. We are a fairly new organization, but what we are working to do is figure out, like Pepper just said, there aren't enough programs, so we want to figure out what's there and what we need to build. So, we have a mission to strengthen the capacity and the efficacy of youth organizations. We want to strengthen the ability to produce for organizations to produce. So first we need to see what they need. If you're just joining the call before you join Dr. Harrison was talking about something very a common problem in that youth organization space. Another one is transportation. BRAYN is working to take all of those common issues and solve them as a collective. So, we are a member-led organization where your voice is your organization built by you for you to solve those problems. We are here in East Baton Rouge Parish with a fiscal big buddy is our fiscal agent. And we want to build, we want every organization you, that serves the youth to be a part of our organization, to make it easy for families to find, but also to create a standard for all youth organizations to serve the youth safely. We had our first conference. It is called the You Are the Connection Conference. This is going to be an annual conference where you will renew membership, but also we will have youth development training for your frontline staff moving forward as well as your leadership is a place to come and network. It was so much fun to see everyone coming together. We have these five working groups that work in the different areas. It. BRAYN has. So we have a convening working group, communications, school community partnerships the resource sharing working group, And so we all have these strategic goals that align with what I just talked about. You. Doing what, what's needed in youth development. And so they all have their specific goals. And so we talked about that a little bit at the conference about the work that we've been able to accomplish. We now have an MOU with East Rouge Parish where all of their youth organizations that work in the schools will need to come through our organization to be certified to either continue or to start working in E V R starting next school year. It takes a working group like Dr. Harrison's to you certify those members. If I had more time, I would talk a lot about membership because that is definitely what's needed to. Build this filled. But if you are interested in membership, I'm going to put the email address in the chat so that you can reach out to me for a prospective members meeting. Someone asked, what was the name of the conference again? You are the connection is the name of the conference. It's a reminder that you are the connection. All of your organizations are the connection to solving the problem of not having enough programs. There are statistics to support that. For every student that is in a program, there are four waiting. So brain has to see who's waiting, where are they waiting, and then what do they need? and then where do we need to build that? That's a lot of coordination. So we need all of you to be a part of brain so that we can close those gaps.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: I am so excited to tell you about the Gardener Initiative. If you don't know who we are we start, we were establishing 2006 because of the clash between the 2 25 s and the 5 0 4 s at Katrina when folks were displaced from the New Orleans area. Many of them landed in the Guyer community and it just wasn't a good fix at first. What the city did was to put a substation to contain the violence that was there, because guard deer is only 3.39 square mile area, but it has over 13,000 people. When you think about the density, that's more than 3000 people per square mile. Okay? It wasn't quite that big at 2005, but that's what happened. We always knew that we needed to be in the community, but it wasn't until I officially retired from Southern University in 2013 that we were able to start seeking money. So, we got $200,000 from the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District, and we were able to rent one space and we were I and we identified our space so that the Hartley Bay Park would be our backyard. But when we looked at the backyard, there was nothing but I want to be polite. They said it was a ball field, which meant it was nothing. And so for all of these people that were living in that community, there was absolutely nothing for them to do. And the first thing we did was started. Collaborating with Brett and we were able to get a $15,000 kaboom playground, and that was really good. And then we continued working with them until we got a $350,000 renovation of the park. So now in our park, we have a regulation size basketball court. We have pavilions for families to get together. We have eight bin garden that families come and work together. We have soccer fields, the fields for the football. And so now it's like a real community. We have had one or two homicides in the past year but just think there were seven homicides in 2008 in this 3.39 square mile area. Okay, so then we started our afterschool program. I see that David Beach and Jan Rosser were on there. The Wilson Foundation gave us money to start our afterschool program. At that time, the population was largely African-American and the need was for math teachers. So we had funds to hire a. Two math teachers to come and help our elementary school children and then our middle and high school children. But then the flood of 2016 came and our community changed. It transitioned from African American to Spanish speaking population. And then the need was no longer math, it was English. And so we had to switch from getting the math teachers to getting tutors. So we have partnered with LSU foreign language Department, and they had been sending us tutors. We also partnered with the Big Buddy program, which is a 21st century program. And they have helped to hire these college students to come and work with us. But I was saying at the beginning is that we need space. What hurts me, just think this week is the temperatures have been in the forties and fifties in the afternoon, our young people just come and hang up, hang out on the stairs. We only have space now for our elementary school children and Oh, okay, let me and so the high school, the middle school and high school, they were going to the park vaping, and we didn't want them to vape, so we just invited them in. And so now they just come and hang out if we had more space. Just think they just want a safe place to come and hang out in the afternoons. To address the significant ESL problem that we have in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. We have formed an exploratory group with I see Dexter is there, but Anna we are what the idea would be this, if we just took incoming immigrants in the ninth grade and immersed them into the English language, and then they would be able to prosper in the 10th, 11th, 12th grade. The way it's done right now, they never get a command of the English language, and so they continued to fail. And then one more thing. It's really difficult to engage the Latinos into the to school because they don't have social security numbers. And then it's very difficult for them to think about going to b RCC Southern University or LSU after school because they, you need so LSU you can get in without a social security number, but you can't get the financial assistance. And that's where we are.
Dexter Jackson: I am Dexter Jackson, the new Executive director of Humanities Amp coming in after the incomparable Dr. Anna West, who is the founder and first executive director of this organization. I have to say, this is I can tell I'm still new at it. I work for Humanity Amped, which has been around since 2014. And we have a different philosophy when it comes to doing work with the school and with youth. We work very deeply inside schools. Currently we are in residency at Tara High. We have, this is our first year there. After spending some time at a few more places, McKinley and Broadmoor and we work in a different, a couple of different fashions. The first thing we do is we provide afterschool care for the kids. We also push into classrooms, which my teammate Dr. Gist is here. And I'm going to give her the opportunity to talk about our pedagogy and how we view education in just one second, but, our true philosophy is that we want to be one place and we want to go into that one place deeply. So as Dr. Harrison was talking about ESL, we support that work. So, we actually have volunteers who come in from LSU to support English language learning in classrooms along with the newcomer work that we're trying to do with Dr. Muriel Harrison and the newcomer committee. But I'm going to pass it to Dr. Gist because I want to make sure we get a lot of time in on how we look at education and the work we're doing in classrooms.
Dr. Emma Gist: I'm going to talk a little bit about the work that we do in classrooms with teachers. Like Dexter said, it really matters that we are at the school and that we're doing work alongside the teachers at the school. So, one of our residency pieces is in the freshman academy. In the freshman seminar class, they are doing some project-based learning work where they are drafting children's books about how to overcome a challenge. And so my colleague, Ms. George, and I have gone in there to support the teacher, the classroom teacher. In planning that project from beginning to end and focusing on not just the product, it turns out that the book is not actually what matters. What matters is the work in collaboration that the students learn along the way. It's the work in time management that the students learn along the way. The benefits of revising and getting someone else to get eyes on your work, all of those pieces are actually the magic that's happening in that. Freshman academy class. And then we also do some residency push-ins that we match with coaching. So, Dr. West is still going into model lessons that center SEL and also literacy practices in. Several different classes, so English classes and then also one of our ESL classes. And the effect of this is that we get to embed professional development in a way that makes it really accessible to teachers. Sometimes the way we do professional development for teachers is that they go to a presentation and someone stands up at the front of the room and they say, here are all these great strategies. And then as a teacher, and I have been a classroom teacher, so I know this feeling deeply, it's very easy to say, that sounds great, but it would never work with my kids and it would certainly never work in my third hour. So, what we do is we do that work alongside the teachers in the classroom in their third hour so that they can see not only that, that the, it's worth trying the things that we suggest, but also. That it can be done. And then we balance that with coaching. So, then the teachers also they meet with me, they reflect on what they saw Anna do and then what they want to try themselves. And then I go in and observe them trying those strategies. And then they go on a learning journey with us there. And then like Dexter said, we also have our volunteers who push into various classrooms to support the English language learner population at Tara, which is really high. I think it's the second highest high school in the district for. or ELs. That's it, that's what I have to say. Awesome.
Dexter Jackson: We also provide social emotional support and restorative conferences. So, we have a licensed clinical social worker on staff that works with the school. So, when kids get suspended, expelled excuse me, they, but when they come back, they have a restorative conference, right? And they talk to this, they talk to Ms. Harris about what they could do different and how they can make improvements to be able to stay in class and what the transition coming back to school looks like for them, which is super important because a lot of times the kids come back for those of us who have been in classrooms and are just thrown back in, and there may be some embarrassment there or some other feelings that have gone unresolved. And so the opportunity to be able to have those conversations with a trusted adult who is not necessarily an authority figure is extremely important to the success of the student. And The school provides us with a list of kids who are coming back and we support them in that way. And then I know my time is up, but I will be remiss if I did not announce. If you're going to play the Oscar music, please feel free to go ahead. But I would be remiss if I did not re mention the work that we're doing at U City Lab where all four of us humanities amped, front yard bikes, big buddy at line for line, or trying to create a community space on Government Street where kids can come and people can come and be and ask and participate in all of these programs that we offer in one place. So I'm not going to go that far over time, but if you have questions about that or anything else, feel free to drop 'em in the chat or ask 'em when we're done. Thank you. So happy to see so many people whom I love on this call, and I'm excited to get to know. And those of you who have shown me such love and support as I have taken my first ed job, and I will leave it at that.
Pepper Roussel: So, the reason that we're having this call, and I know that we've talked about this before, or I've mentioned it at least I think I have said it a lot, but we've got these programs that exist that our youth are not connected to. And then we've got programs that you used to exist that that just aren't there anymore. And the objective really is to figure out how it is that we can connect. Young people to places that will support and give them what they need. But it sounds like we also, as those programs need support, so brain seems to be filling or at least attempting to fill in that gap. Tell me more, Jasmine, about how it is that not only through membership, can we get to a place where we do have opportunities for programs to support youth, but also how do we connect the youth themselves to those programs?
Jasmin Johnson: We are definitely at the beginning stages of figuring out how to connect the students. It takes the work of all of our members to figure out. Common issues. We have Dr. Harrison on a call. Dexter is new to the group, but we've had Dr. Anna West and several others a part of brain that are working on asset mapping, seeing where programs are, seeing what students need, and seeing where we need to build programs. So, it does take that membership, it does take that the work of the different groups and the time and the talent of those groups to figure out how we fill in those gaps.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: I'd just like to add, we have our website, our brain, and so youth and families can go to and as Jasmine said, you can. Identify where the programs are throughout the East Baton Rouge Parish school district.
Pepper Roussel: When we met was out at the Gardere Initiative over at MLK Day, and there were all of these really incredible programs that were going on, not the least of, which was the GAR Initiative, which was something that was really interesting to me because it does integrate community into actually trying to support youth, right? So, it's not just this very narrow and very siloed view of it is a child who needs a place to be for two hours after school. Help us understand a little bit more about how it is that program not only works to quash disputes between the 225 and 504, but how it is that as you transition from focusing on African-American needs and math teachers to Spanish speakers and English learning, that the community is supporting both of those initiatives.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: The Gardier Initiative is not a program. It's community development, I guess you would say initiative. And so we have, because we've been there in the community since 2015, we have gotten to know our neighbors. And so I have some of our African American youth who are participating. I knew their mothers; I knew their grandparents. And that's the value, that's the value of staying in a community. Then with the influx of the Latinos into the community, we just started developing that same relationship. And let me tell you how we started. I think it was St. John's Food Pantry that gave us two, 25 pound bags of onions. And we didn't know what to do with these onions because they were smelling up our little space. So, we put 'em on the outside. So then we said, why don't we just take 'em and put 'em in little bags and give them to the neighbors? And that's how we started connecting to the Latina community, giving them a bag of onion. And that evening, one of the boys came and he couldn't speak English very well, and he said, my mama said, and he didn't know how to say onion in the English. So, he got on the computer and he found a picture. And then that's how he knew his mom wanted another bag of onions. And that's how we started. Again, if families know that you care and they begin to trust you with their children. And last year the Salvation Army gave us 1500 pairs of stocks. We just went through the community and we were trying to match 'em, but we couldn't. And so we just gave out a pair of socks. And so, it is just to let the community know, but I think that's how you establish community. And but I want to say something else about the undocumented Dexter mentioned social emotional. Do you know that if many of the social workers in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. have social workers, but you have to have a social security number because they're paid through Medicaid. If you don't have our children, there is a social worker at Highland Elementary, but they can't see our children because they don't have social security numbers. But thank God for, again for the Wilson Foundation. I'm so excited about this because I just founded out this week. But, and I'm trying to think about what the counseling service name greater something of Greater Baton Rouge. I'm having a senior moment, I can't think of the name, and I'm so excited, but now they have funds and they will provide a counselor to come to our office four hours a week to see our children. That is going to be such an incredible service for our children and for our adults who just don't have the funds to seek that kind of help. And all of us know the trauma. We have so many children who are here without their moms or their dads. They haven't seen these are elementary school children who haven't seen their moms in four or five years. And so it is just going to be so good to have them to have that service in our community. So that's exactly the sort of thing that I want to hear, right? So one rouge is readdressing these issues, poverty, how is it that we do connect with community that we may be integrating with for the very first time community that we are really not sure how to integrate with.
Pepper Roussel: I was pretty stunned when we were talk when Dexter mentioned not only organizational skills, but psychological and emotional because I was just like, where do I sign up? Tell us more.
Dexter Jackson: Dr. Gist, this may be a perfect time for you to jump in with our trauma informed socio-emotional learning.
Dr. Emma Gist: Yeah, definitely. So, we have a framework that has two layers to it. The first layer is culturally responsive teaching and learning. So, we recognize that students come in to the classroom with various backgrounds and we recognize all of those backgrounds as an asset. And we draw from Dr. Goldie Mohamed's work with historically responsive literacy strategies. So, we focus on the development of we, we focus on identity. So, students come in and we recognize that their identity matters and counts in the classroom and is valuable. We develop skills with them. So, like in that book project, there's the writing skills, like I said, there's the revising skills, the collaboration skills, all of those pieces. We include intellectual development, so they should be learning something when they're in, when they're in the classroom. And then also criticality. So, thinking about the world. in a way that allows us to ask questions about it and to pursue our own questions about it. And then that second layer, the trauma informed, healing centered layer is about recognizing that many of our young people come in with trauma and they come in with complex trauma that needs to be addressed, but also they are more than their trauma, which is this healing centered approach that we like to also center in the work that we do. And so this has to do with making sure that the classrooms feel like a safe space where they can share what they need to share with adults and get the supports that they need. And also elements of peer support and collaboration show up in that layer also. So those kind of two lenses inform everything that we do in the classroom on top of the stuff that's already happening in, in classrooms.
Pepper Roussel: Just a really quick follow up though, because it sounds like, especially if we're talking trauma informed that there are similarities but also very distinct differences between the traumas that a an immigrant child would be experiencing and an African American child would be experiencing. Are these, are, is the support system the same or are they very separate support systems? So you have to have two different types of mental and emotional support coming in, or is this the same provider?
Dexter Jackson: I think this is one of those places where we've talked internally as a team and I think this. Leads into that question as well, even though it wouldn't seem like it. A lot of times we first of all, we as a unit have recognized the need for that kind of separate conversation about being culturally competent for the Latinx community that we serve, because there are differences in that. I actually just found a study a couple of days ago that talked about the mental health barriers in the Latin community based on where they come from, what generation they are in America, and a few other different things that if anybody's interested in, I can definitely send you. It was a very good read. But more importantly, I think that. We need to answer your question to COA, it's really, it's a simple answer, but it's so interesting that it's really about the leadership at the school, right? The leadership at the school has to be bought into whatever you're going to be doing in that place around social-emotional learning, and they have to prioritize those things. And when you run into a situation where, and I know this, my, from my work at Metro Morphosis is the Walls Project and now Human Example where I've been focused in schoolwork for the last, since before the world ended in 2020. It is about what people will prioritize on their particular campus. And luckily we are at a place that does prioritize those things. So, when I mentioned it to the great the new principal of the year John Haman at Tara High, that, hey we were thinking about doing some d e I work, but we were thinking about doing it from the lens of being culturally competent for the Latinx community that we serve. As Dr. Gist mentioned I think Tara is now number two after Broadmoor with the influx of folks English learners. He was all about it. There wasn't any pushback. He was like, I don't know why I didn't think about that. Yes, that's something we absolutely need to do. Whereas some other places, they're not as inclined to be that open. And so that re that really is what creates that kind of immersion effect that you see in flame is the buy-in that you have from the administration. at the top level, not only in the principalship, but at the administrative level of the district as well. And so, you need both of those entities to be bought into what you're doing in order to be effective. And I hope that wasn't a rambling answer to your question, but that is the true crux of what gets at the real change in any school that you want to be in.
Pepper Roussel: No, that's actually a really sound answer. I appreciate it. And it really does dovetail us into the, for the question in the chat, which is what's the language and cultural training for those people who are working in the communities? And this is not just for Humanities Amped but for those of y'all who are sending folks in, are we preparing them before they arrive?
Dr. Murelle Harrison: One of the things that uh, for us at the Initiative, we have a Spanish speaking staff person, and it has just made a tremendous difference if. And thank you for whoever put in the chat family services. That is the group that I was thinking of. But we had family services had met with one of our parents before this week. And so, we had our staff person had to do the translation. You had to have a degree of trust in order to be able to do that. But I do think that we need, of course, in our schools, we need more Spanish speaking people who really understand. I can tell when our children, when a student comes, who actually knows the language, little face lights up because they can tell the difference. When and it makes them feel so good when somebody speaks their language. Sure. They trust us and they care about us, but I can tell the difference when they have one of their own.
Pepper Roussel: Not to be insensitive to any of the other languages because we focus a lot on Spanish. But do we have other native speakers or languages like Portuguese or French or anything but Spanish or is that the only thing that we've decided that is valuable in these areas?
Dexter Jackson: I think that over the last 7, 6, 7 years it's not that any language or culture is more important than any other, it's more that we have seen a giant influx of Hispanic speaking people in the last six or seven years or so. I know I began seeing it at Villa Del Ray and it just blew up. That was the first time I saw it, and ever since I've been in school since then, with the exception of maybe the schools. North of Florida Boulevard. That is what I have seen mostly. Yeah. So anything SMA and Glen Oaks don't necessarily have a whole lot of Latinx folks in their buildings, but the Broadmoor, the Tara’s, the Villa Del Rays, the Belaire which is technically north of Florida Boulevard they definitely do it. So, I think that's more the reason that you see this, and I do want to say that we had a training last Saturday to that, that was focused more about supporting kids in classrooms. But our board president Dr. Alex Torres, her dissertation was on the learning style or the learning of English people. Okay. Emma, I'm going to ask you to articulate better what her dissertation was on, cause I'm fumbling here. Yeah.
Dr. Emma Gist: She specifically worked on thinking about the experiences of undocumented Spanish figures. I, no, actually, no. It was undocumented students in. In the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. So the challenges that, that Dr. Harrison was bringing up about not having social security number and all those different things, but that was the work that she did because I think that I really appreciate this question about the translation ability. And I think that one way to think about it is to recognize that the simple ability to speak the language is not sufficient for what these students need, right? Just because you can speak Spanish doesn't mean that you like, see these children as an asset to our community. You know what I'm saying? Those the mindset and that that focus really matters too. And that I think translates across different, no pun intended, across different groups Also, because we also talk about, in the training that we did on Saturday, we frame. With this idea of accompaniment for our folks that are coming in from LSU and they're all undergrads and have some dual language ability. But we frame it within this idea of accompaniment from Latin American liberation theology that we're not showing up in the classrooms to fix or save these children, right? Like we're recognizing that they come with their own expertise, in their own experience. And so this idea of being with them and walking in the classroom experience with them and supporting them that way is part of that mindset that really matters. Because otherwise we get into this kind of like saviorism thing, right? Where we show up and I'm here to fix you and save you which is really damaging and dangerous. So, I think that. The language skills, the ability to communicate huge, enormous, right? But just like y'all are saying there, there are also instances where there are ELs who don't speak Spanish. There are native languages. Some other language that maybe we don't have someone on site to necessarily translate for. We should have all of those resources. But the willingness to be, to walk with the young person through their different experiences is also part of what makes the work possible and healing in a way that isn't further damaging.
Dexter Jackson: And we are looking we have been seriously looking at ways to take our methods and our trainings out in, into the community. And so if you are looking for a training or anything along those lines around this topic or socio-emotional learning or beloved community or all the other things that human. Preaches. Then please feel free to reach out to me. I'm going to drop my email in the chat so that we can have a deeper conversation about it. But our goal is very specific. We choose to stay in one place for this very reason because it allows us to understand the complexities of the issues that surround not just the school community, but we are able to build deeper connections with the people in the school community. That helped us to, that helped to inform us about. what's needed in the broader community. And so, with that in mind, we are more than willing to offer trainings to your staff or to your particularly your youth serving and youth development staff. But if you have administration that needs to learn as well to have part be part of these conversations, please reach out to us and let us know, because we are looking to increase our impact in this way across the community.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: I would like to add something. Also, we talk about Spanish speaking or Latinas, but then also to recognize that each of these the children from different countries, so like the Guatemalans, the Ecuador, Honduras they're, they have different, they have cultures within themselves. And I had to learn that the wrong way, hard way, I guess you would say. Because tacos made from Mexico are different from the way that the Honduras makes them. And so, we also have to be respectful of the various backgrounds, countries that these children come from. I know like when they, when we first started having the influx of Latinos into the community, the African Americans were saying like the Mexicans and they're, and then the Mexico is quite different from all of the countries. So, it also teaches us a little geography as well.
Pepper Roussel: Without a doubt. Costa Rica is not Colombia and it's not Panama and it's an just because they speak the same language. It's very much the same as English excuse me, as at the US is the same as Australia or England itself. And these are not the same at all. Very different cultures and even different ways of speaking the language. Speaking of Colombia, I was actually spent a little bit of time talking with Marcela Hernandez to the Brain Summit, right? So, this is how we all get connected and we're Marcela go. I know she can't be far. We were talking about some of the challenges that not only are we trying to address through the brain network, but ah, there you're, but also how it is that language is creating additional opportunities for growth.
Marcela Hernandez: I just absolutely love this session. I think this is one of my favorite ones because everything that is being said is so truthful. Every single thing that I'm listening today, and it's just, it's very exciting for me to hear that there's so much awareness. I love everything you said, Dr. Harrison. It's so true. And I want to share with you something that I'm dealing with one of our youth. We have a youth empowerment program at Glory. And I want to bring a human face to this whole conversation so you realize that this is the real matter. One of our youth leaders, an A+ student, 4.0, he came to the United States when he was about four or five he has not been back in his country. And he's been undocumented during this whole time. Graduated was able to get scholarships from high school. However, because of his documented status, he could never claim them. He enrolled himself into college. Very difficult. It was a painful, long and stressful process, but we were able to do it. Started going to college, 4.0 chemical engineering. Amazing. He's been in college for the last four years, struggling to pay a tuition out of pocket. Last two weeks ago, he called me and he said, I'm dropping off. I freaked out. I asked Why was that? I'm dropping off because I don't have any other opportunities to do my internship or to get a job when I graduate from here. This is the reality that we face. This is not only numbers and this is not a narrative that it just happens. This is real, and unfortunately we have to address this in a local level, but also in a national level. This is not only bringing principals together, this is not only bringing teachers together or organizations together. This and a structural change in the system must be completed. Now this young man is trying to decide what is he going to do with his life now? and this is the real phase that the, this is the reality that we face on a daily basis. So I would love this opportunity to make that call in action in this wonderful medium and make you realize that the struggle is real. Not only with learning English, not only with coming into a country that sometimes is not welcoming to us, but also what are those opportunities that we as organizations are actually creating humanities amp, all of those wonderful initiatives. Brian, we also need to be considerate of those who are undocumented, those who have more limitations and just be have that sense of solidarity because they're real, they're kids, they're youth, their families and we just want to be the best. We, and we do the best 4.0 and he dropped off because there was not an opportunity for him to succeed. Thank you.
Pepper Roussel: And as we talk about not only finances, right? So this young man not able to continue to pay out of pocket, but also looking at the finances of those who might want to step in and help, right? So, there's a question in the chat. Is there language learning for educators or even those who work at NGOs, can this be government subsidized? Do you all know of any programs that'll help folks to learn another language if they can't afford to make the financial investment themselves?
Dexter Jackson: I don't know of any programs, but that's a great question. I'm going to look and see if I can find any. But one of the things that I can say that has helped me in learning languages is I actually get the kids. If you are in a position to. To have the youth teach you their language. It creates really good connections and also educates you a lot. And it's just as simple as playing. What's that? You walk around and point at things and say, what's that? And then they say it in English and you say it in whatever language that may be they may speak. And that's one way that you can dive in and it may be a really great way for you to build those connections and really get a deeper a deeper feel for the youth that you're trying to serve. And once you get a little bit proficient, and I say this from experience, once you get a little bit proficient you, they will no longer speak to you in English. So I have become fairly proficient in Spanish, French, a little bit of Russian and a couple of other languages just because I would walk around playing what's that? And knew how to say Good morning and goodnight. And now you have, they will not speak to you in your English language. So that's one way that you can hop in and try and be a part of it if you can't find any other free resources.
Jasmin Johnson: there are several free re resources through the library. I know in the children's room, I don't know the specific names of the programs, but I just talked to Mary Stein prior to the conference about underutilized resources that our membership could benefit from. And there were so many, she mentioned several that had to do with language and even disabilities or all abilities such as like deafness. There were all types of programs available through the library, even consulting. So brain will be bringing you uh, more information about resources like that. Yes, we I am so excited. I'm hearing so much from the programs and that's what Brain is here to do, to make this comprehensive effort to bring all of the challenges to one table, to one network and see what we can solve when we can solve it and serve our community effectively. So yes, I love this. And yeah, definitely reach out to Mary Stein at the library for resources about language.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: Just wanted to add, there was another dimension to the issue with newcomer immigrants. And it's not really newcomers, but it was re what prompt us to start this exploratory group. But what happened is that we had a mom had received a letter from truancy saying that her 17-year-old wouldn't go to school. And the 17-year-old was just adamant that he was working. He was not going to stop his job to go to school, but then the mom would have repercussions from the legal system. And that is what prompt us to talk to Roxanne Welch at the truancy Center. So you have these high school, Spanish speaking young men who are just dropping out of school because they don't see the need because of what you're just saying, Marcella. And so, they're going to work. They can make money. But yet their parents have repercussions from our legal system for truancy.
Casey Phillips: Thank you, Dr. Harrison. And just to build, because all these conversations are interconnected and we're talking about afterschool options. I just want to make sure that there's a really big part of our demographic in our community that isn't being discussed when we are talking about Old South Garden and North Baton Rouge and that conversation super. And there are a lot of young people in Ville outside of Baker in Prides are Zachary. There's a lot, there's a lot of talent. And so I would love to hear our speakers that are either working directly in those communities or no nurse who are, cause I lifted up because the ASCE Parish Fish Council, the United Way has put together has been meeting for years now and rouge based organizations, New Orleans based, or,
Helena Williams: I think that his question is around outside of the EBR school parishes, how are we connecting to those external cities that are very close to us to connect them to the same kind of youth programming?
David Beach: I'll go ahead and chime in and I didn't catch the end of what Casey was trying to say, but and he mentioned a lot of communities where we don't necessarily have a place-based focus right now. But maybe we will in the future. Right now we are rolling out a grant round related to North Baton Rouge wide. And it's got to focus on housing, education, economic mobility, and health and wellness, and any organizations that are intentionally focused in a group of zip codes that essentially comprise what we anecdotally know as North Baton Rouge are eligible for this grant round. You can go to our website and we'll drop, I'll drop that in the in the chat and you can learn more about specifically this grant round. But we also welcome any questions that you may have.
Jasmin Johnson: And I'll add the membership working group is actually focusing on what members we have and what zip codes they currently serve so that we can build more programs specifically in Bat North Baton Rouge. But like Casey said, there are so many, there's a need everywhere. In the future Brain definitely will be looking into how do we serve all of the youth in Baton Rouge, but right now our focus is North Baton Rouge. If you were at the conference and to get advantage of the networking it was Toko was on this call. She facilitated that networking and we did record zip codes for that reason. So, we are thinking about that and making plans to attack that issue. Casey, I hope I answered the question.
Marcela Hernandez: In terms of resources for newcomers and those who wants to learn English, you should know that. Laurie, the Louisiana Organization for refugees and Immigrants, we do offer ESL classes and we actually started them this week. We have ESL classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from five to 7:30. And not only that, but if you know anyone who would like to come and learn but are having transportation issues, please get in touch with me because I know we are aware that transportation is one of the greatest issues to actually get into the office. So please let get in touch with me because, we'll, we might be able to accommodate that transportation challenge.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: If you're familiar, maybe two years or so that the city offered love heals free clinics. But they were held at the airport this year. They're going to be held at the river center April the 15th and 16th. We are looking for volunteers again, undocumented people and African Americans who are older and don't have access to Medicaid they don't have access to healthcare. And when I attended the first meeting last week for this clinic, The last time they held the clinic, 933 dental procedures were performed. And I took seven children to the, to the clinic. I went at seven o'clock in the morning. We stayed until three o'clock in the afternoon. It must have been like 40 degrees in the cold. And we stayed there only to be told that they didn't have any more pediatric dentists. And so that's why I'm involved this year. I know the need, but let me tell you, even the reason we didn't, we weren't seen at seven o'clock is because you need to be in line at two or three o'clock in the morning. So, when the doors open at seven, then you are seen. So, we need, I put the website in the chat if you are able to. volunteer, please do seven to seven on that Saturday and seven to 3:00 PM on that Sunday.
Casey Phillips: I know some folks have to start jumping off at 9:30, so we'll get to community announcements in a second. But I do just want to make sure and give space to Dexter and Jasmine and Dr. Harrison. Just for any kind of parting thoughts, anything that's in any inspiring words or anything that you're planning for the future that you would like the folks on this call to collaborate and support you on. So, anything in that realm?
Jasmin Johnson: I will say we definitely need members as you all here on this call, we are all doing great work to serve the youth. Some organizations specialize in certain things that other organizations can use. The coordination that brain provides it's a one stop shop. I don't need to explain the impact of collaboration. That is what brain is for your organization. These working groups are not like anything else. Dr. Harrison can tell you, not only do we have fun on these in these working groups, but we really are doing important, impactful work on a larger scale. Your organization gets to focus on what you do well on your partners for what they do well. We need to hear all of these issues that all of the organizations are fa facing. So, we figure out how to make a collaborative and a larger impact on the issue instead of your one organization trying to do it on yourself. We do better when we do things together. One of our values is collaboration is community collaboration and consensus. And so, we will go slow because we want to do, it's impactful and together. So please reach out to me. I did put the email in the chat, and I'll do it again for those who joined later. To inquire about membership, I do one-on-one perspective member meetings so we can see what the needs of your organization are and how you fit into brain. This is how we will figure out where the organizations need to be, how you can expand your programs. What zip codes need programs. We have to do it together.
Dr. Murelle Harrison: I just want to thank you for this opportunity to come and talk about the Gardener initiative and the work that we are doing, and there's always room for someone to come to us, regardless of what your skills are. I have four youth who are waiting for me to take them on because the date is the mentoring date. Thank you so very much. Thank you,
Dexter Jackson: thank you for letting us come here and talk about our program and the work that we do, how the world comes full circle. I'm back up The Walls Project again, my beloved, if you will. And so, I do want to say that one of the cool things about being at Tara is that it actually has the largest zip reach of any school in the district. So, we work with everyone from Scotlandville all the way over to Gardere. It has the widest zone of all. And so we have a lot of opportunities to touch a lot of different communities and a lot of different zip codes. And so, if there's a way that you want to partner to be able to increase your impact with your work or increase our impact with our work, please feel free. If you want to come take a tour of the school and see what we do, we have a great relationship with that administration, with that school, and they are more than welcoming to anyone who we bring in. So, I just want to throw that up there. And of course, I left my, my email in the chat and I do want to give a special shout out and thank you to my education director, Dr. Gist, for her expertise today. And I look forward to seeing and working with all of you.
Zoom Chat
08:19:45 From Helena Williams to Waiting Room Participants:
Good morning, the doors will open at 8:30 AM
08:31:40 From Esperanza Zenon to Everyone:
Good morning everybody
08:31:51 From rodneyna Capitol Park Museum to Everyone:
Good morning
08:32:05 From Fran Have to Everyone:
Good morning everybody!
08:32:31 From Judy Touzin to Everyone:
good morning!
08:32:49 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
Good morning! Marcela Hernandez, LMSW. Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LORI). mhernandez@mylori.org
08:33:54 From One Rouge to Everyone:
New, but mighty!!!
08:34:08 From One Rouge to Everyone:
Good morning, OneRouge!
08:36:46 From Fred Johnson IV (he/him) to Everyone:
What was the name of the conference again?
08:37:51 From Fred Johnson IV (he/him) to Everyone:
thx
08:38:47 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
BRAYN= BR Area Youth Network, correct?
08:39:07 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
Yes, Manny.
08:39:30 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
admin@ourbrayn.org or jasmin@ourbrayn.org
08:45:48 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
I'm curious why "typical" school doesn't achieve the same immersion effect as flaim. Any thoughts?
08:45:56 From Casey Phillips to Everyone:
DJdj
08:46:24 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
Congratulations Dexter!!!
08:46:31 From Esperanza Zenon to Everyone:
Congrats!
08:46:45 From Fred Johnson IV (he/him) to Everyone:
Thx Murelle! What’s your contact info?
08:47:26 From Verna Bradley-Jackson to Everyone:
Congratulations Dexter J!!
08:48:10 From One Rouge to Everyone:
@Tekoah, I’m not an academician, but I suspect it is because that is not their focus. Typical schools have state set standards and metrics to meet and ensuring our new neighbors have a command of the English language is not expressly on that list.
08:48:52 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
Reacted to "@Tekoah, I’m not an ..." with 👍
08:50:59 From Patrisha’s iPhone to Everyone:
How awesome is that!
Simple and workable
Proven success
08:52:21 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
❤️❤️❤️
08:56:35 From Aimee Moles to Everyone:
Heading to next call. Great info and Gardere initiative is amazing!!
08:57:46 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
That's absolutely true!
08:57:57 From Susan Rogers to Everyone:
I have to jump off for another 9:00am meeting. Love all the work that is being done in our community.
08:57:58 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
There’s a title of a movie or book in that story
08:59:17 From Karla King - concerned citizen to Everyone:
Kevin, the story of the onions is indeed intriguing.
08:59:35 From Jan Ross - Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
Murell is talking about Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge
08:59:36 From Flitcher R. Bell to Everyone:
Cebolla is the Spanish word for Onion
08:59:45 From ROSALYN AUGUSTUS to Everyone:
Reacted to "Cebolla is the Spani..." with ❤️
08:59:46 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
Thank you for bringing that up. This is the reality we face
09:01:40 From Ebony Starks-Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad is wonderful! Was fortunate to do work with her at Facing History
09:01:48 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Q: I know there is language other than English for those displaced individuals. What is the reverse? What is the language/cultural training for those working with those communities?
09:04:10 From Dominique Dallas to Everyone:
^^!
09:05:05 From Patrisha’s iPhone to Everyone:
Yes, leadership is essential
09:05:36 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
Interesting. Very good information
09:05:52 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
This must be addressed in a national level. This is more serious and complicated than anyone can imagine.
09:06:51 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
Amen for that Dr. Harrison!
09:06:54 From Dominique Dallas to Everyone:
^^ Monolingualism is keeping us at a competitive disadvantage.
09:07:25 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Arabic, Viet, Mandarin
09:08:10 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
LORI makes a great effort to include french, Vietnamese, arabic and Spanish in its communication efforts
09:09:09 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
College!
09:12:09 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
Through shared planning, learning, and resource development between members, BRAYN is able to bring the strength of programs to the community.
09:12:25 From Casey Phillips to Everyone:
Marcela, we are so excited to partner more with you and LORI!
09:12:38 From Emma J. Gist to Everyone:
Yes, absolutely!
09:13:15 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
Amen for that!
09:13:16 From Helena Williams to Everyone:
Is language learning for educators or NGO able to be government subsidized? Many people want to learn languages but aren’t able to make the financial investment.
09:13:35 From Sherreta R. Harrison to Everyone:
Language is only one part of culture!
09:14:06 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/index.html
09:14:31 From Heidi Howat Wendt-Ochsner Health to Everyone:
Have a 9:30 appt. Thanks for the insightful info. Great call. Have a great weekend!
09:14:34 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/14679922/homepage/grant_programs.htm
09:15:46 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
NY-Specific but wonder if there is a similar program in LA: https://dos.ny.gov/news/office-new-americans-announces-new-english-learning-program-help-immigrants-language
09:16:09 From Helena Williams to Everyone:
Thanks Manny!
09:16:47 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
09:17:07 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
T Above, I wonder if there is a virtual component?
09:17:15 From Dexter Jackson to Everyone:
djackson@humanitiesamped.org Please feel free to email me any questions or to set some time aside to chat. Blessings!
09:17:32 From Fran Harvey GGI to Everyone:
Thank you so much for putting a face on thus situation. We have a situation too with regards to proper use of social media.
Thank you! What I have heard today from this group gives me hope.
09:17:51 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
Is there a comprehensive source that explains the legal/institutional barriers facing undocumented youth? That would help orgs create solutions
09:18:31 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
LORI
09:18:33 From Fran Harvey GGI to Everyone:
I will have to drop off in about 🔟 min. My apologies for leaving early
09:18:38 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
ESL classes
09:19:03 From Emma J. Gist to Everyone:
I'll share the link to Dr. Torres' dissertation here for folks interested in learning more about the research she did: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/5256/
09:19:06 From Dominique Dallas to Everyone:
❤️
09:19:32 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
To Dexter’s point - https://cas.nyu.edu/speakingfreely.html
09:19:49 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
You can copy that model
09:19:55 From Kelli Rogers to Everyone:
EBRP Library has some great language learning programs. https://ebrpl.libguides.com/languages
09:20:03 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
Thanks to the panelists today for such great information and wisdom. I'd like to invite each of you to join the upcoming Greater Baton Rouge Charter Board Leadership Academy....there is no cost other than your time and commitment and it's great way to understand more about nonprofit board service as well as service to kids and communities across Baton Rouge.
09:20:20 From Kevin Guitterrez to Everyone:
https://lacharterschools.org/what-we-do/programs/cbla/
09:20:33 From rodneyna Capitol Park Museum to Everyone:
Prescheduled fieldtrips booked through schools at Capitol Park Museum are FREE. If you can plan it and get the kids here we are overjoyed to have them.
09:23:36 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Is my connectivity bad?
09:23:47 From Helena Williams to Everyone:
No its Casey
09:23:54 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
I thought it was my Colombian network! LOL
09:24:06 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
I can’t hear Casey?
09:24:17 From Casey Phillips to Everyone:
Yes, thank you Helena
09:26:03 From David Beach l Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
09:26:03 From Murelle Harrison to Everyone:
09:26:08 From Casey Phillips to Everyone:
Sorry everyone for the tech issues. If any of you are interested in collaborating in Ascension & the surrounding 8 parishes please message me (casey@thewallsproject.org)
09:26:24 From David Beach l Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
under the Empower link
09:26:32 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
We're expanding to those parishes later this year
09:26:46 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
It's coming!
09:27:41 From David Beach l Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
Need to roll off. Have a great weekend everyone!
09:28:01 From Murelle Harrison to Everyone:
www.lovehealsfreecllinic.org/get/involved
09:30:41 From Jan Ross - Wilson Foundation to Everyone:
Wilson Fndn is offering Nonprofit Capacity Building Institute, applications due today: https://www.grantrequest.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapplication.aspx%3fSA%3dSNA%26FID%3d35082%26sid%3d771&SA=SNA&FID=35082&sid=771
09:32:31 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
09:32:39 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
09:33:30 From Baton Rouge Area Youth Network to Everyone:
Community “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” (Nelson Mandela). The quality of our relationships and trust matter. We move at the speed of trust.
Collaboration We can fight for the scraps that fall off the table, or we can build a bigger table together. Collaboration builds the table.
Consensus Getting there together requires us to slow down; we take time to build shared understanding and value equity in decision-making.
09:34:09 From Caitlyn Scales to Everyone:
Need to jump for another meeting. Hope everyone has a great day. So grateful for the insight today!
09:34:32 From Kelli Rogers to Everyone:
Thanks everyone. Happy Friday!
09:34:57 From Dexter Jackson to Everyone:
I have to drop off y’all! Great talking to you. djackson@humanitiesamped.org
09:37:20 From rodneyna Capitol Park Museum to Everyone:
January 28. 10-11a | $20 | Historic Spanish Town Walking Tour.
Feb:
9. Baton Rouge Bus Boycott Exhibition Opening
5. 9-4p | Free | Free First Sunday
9. 6-9p | Free | Performing Louisiana’s Culture in the Nation’s Capital
16. 5:30-7p | $5 | Untold Stories of Black History
18. 10-2p | $25 A, $10K | Spanish Town Parade Party | Discovery Day
25. 10-2p| $5 for museum entry the fest is free| 225 Fest Day
28. 9-7p | Free | Alliance for Students - Education as a Civil Right
09:38:41 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Krewe of Oshon February 4… or is it too early to say?
09:38:46 From Karla King - concerned citizen to Everyone:
Thank you again for the valuable information and to everyone out there making our community stronger. Thank you OneRouge!
09:39:22 From Patrisha’s iPhone to Everyone:
Yes
That will be awesome
09:39:26 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Dr. Bell, I will be in town next week! Casey said he would pay for dinner for us ;-)
09:39:50 From Patrisha’s iPhone to Everyone:
Include us please - thanks tight
09:41:12 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
I will be working BBR table at Krewe of Oshon festival, and have some availability Thursday and Friday during my very short trip. I am also bringing some friends who are exploring low-cost connectivity project locations
09:41:31 From Helena Williams to Everyone:
You’ll be in town Manny?!
09:41:55 From iPhone (2) to Everyone:
Awesome.
09:42:24 From rodneyna Capitol Park Museum to Everyone:
09:42:30 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
Yes… already dinner date with Pam Wall, and Coffee with Wilson on February 2
09:46:44 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
The HousingLOUISIANA Listening Tour aims to uplift its Louisiana residents while having deep but necessary conversations on what is happening in our community. As you know, record-breaking numbers of families cannot afford a decent place to call home. Nationally, there is a shortage of more than 7 million affordable homes for our nation's 10.8 million plus extremely low-income families. In Louisiana, we are seeing more and more families being pushed out of their communities because housing has become so expensive.
JOIN US for a very much needed conversation, I promise you won’t regret it. Please registered below and if you have any questions, please reach out to HousingLOUISIANA Statewide Organizer Brandon Caples at bcaples@housinglouisiana.org or call 504-473-8228.
REGISTER HERE:
Monroe
Registration: bit.ly/Monroe2023
FB Live: https://fb.me/e/2BUcrIRg7
09:49:36 From Whitney Ariss to Everyone:
Thank you, I’m grateful to be here!
09:51:04 From Jesse Watson, Ph.D. to Everyone:
09:51:12 From Tekoah Boatner to Everyone:
09:51:22 From Lindi Rubin Spalatin to Everyone:
09:51:32 From Lindi Rubin Spalatin to Everyone:
https://www.pbrc.edu/training-and-education/community-outreach-and-events/events/sbahf/
09:51:48 From Jesse Watson, Ph.D. to Everyone:
Virtual Info Session
Prospective parents are invited to attend a Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery Virtual Information Session on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Noon for an opportunity to meet the team, learn about Discovery’s curriculum, school culture, and admissions process. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
See link below to register for the webinar:
09:51:51 From Jesse Watson, Ph.D. to Everyone:
09:52:11 From Manny Patole to Everyone:
HAHA… no
09:52:59 From iPhone (2) to Everyone:
No one can say no to the earth angel that is Mrs. Pam Wall!
09:57:32 From Dauda Sesay to Everyone:
I am so excited to be in a community with all of you and the Diversity and belonging incorporated in this space. Thankanf LORI is more than welcome to work with you to ensure all Louisianians have equitable access to available resources.
Dauda Sesay, President and ED at LORI.....
09:57:34 From Jesse Watson, Ph.D. to Everyone:
Thanks again everyone. Have a great weekend!
09:58:05 From Marcela Hernandez to Everyone:
Jumping into another meeting! Thank you for todays topic. Love it! have a great day!
Community Announcements
Casey Phillips: There's an application to close today for, I think Equip and then the Empower Grants are next week. So with L O I. So I just want to make sure everyone is really aware of these great opportunities. So if y'all would like to come off mute, take some time.
Jan Ross: Casey, you do a good job of ensuring that the Wilson Foundation gets a little bit of airtime so that we can spread awareness as to some of the opportunities that we do have coming up, just because they are so different from what, how we have operated. For the last 22 years. But it is a new day and it's a great day and lots of exciting things that are happening. As Casey had said, we do have equip, which I put some information in the chat on, and that is our nonprofit Capacity Building Institute. That is a yearlong commitment. The first 12 weeks of which is meeting in person for three hours on a Wednesday morning to learn about different aspects of nonprofit governance, operations, fundraising it runs the whole gamut. And then the remainder of the year is a couple of check-ins where organizations continue to work on areas that they have identified of capacity building needs within their organization. And all of that is through with partnership with an organization web. Platform called Resilia, where you have access to resources and tools and coaching for the remainder of the year. It's a huge opportunity and it's a huge investment of time for the organization. As I had put in the chat, the link to the application, which is due this afternoon. If y'all have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. And I can help you with that. As Casey also said, we have on power, which is our place-based focus, which we've had a couple of comments on today, and that is our focus in the greater North Baton Rouge area. David had talked about the particular zip codes and but didn't list them off, but that's 70802, 05, 06, 07, 11 and 12, if I'm not mistaken. But again, that information is on our website. That will be a grant opportunity that's at the level of what we would traditionally grant out in the range of the average would be 30 to $40,000 on programs that may not be reside in one of those zip codes, but serves people and intentionally serves people in those zip codes. But that opportunity is a two-step application where you have a letter of intent and then a full application. That information is again on our website. I won't take up any more time, but if anybody has any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Casey Phillips: The other resource that we're going to dive in the coming weeks as the coalition is to with the One Rouge community, is to really come together and drive 2 25 gifts that's coming up in the spring together. You are welcome to do your thing on your own. Absolutely. But what we're hoping to do is organizations that have a little bit more capacity and bandwidth to find some of the smaller organizations in the city and some activist of one, and try to share best practices and campaign tips and help cross promote so we can create more abundance together. So that's going to be something we're working on with the United Way on these Fridays coming up. And. and I just want to make sure, and just say the resources isn't the focus. The work is, but the work doesn't move forward without the resources. So, I said that is we need to work together on that front too.
Rodneyna Hart: Yeah, we have a lot coming up. One of my dreams has come true. We now have an educator here at Capital Park Museum and she's doing programming. We're starting a new series called Untold Stories and it will highlight and uplift different. Demographics throughout our city. We want to give voice to people who have historically been relatively disenfranchised or has not had a broad opportunity to speak about their experience in in life. Each month we're going to focus on a different demographic that is present here and we hope to continue this program and to maybe grow it. But it's brand new, so we're going to see if people like it and want it and tweak it as we go. But I'm very excited about that. We also are partnering with Alliance for Students with Adonica at the end of February to do an education as a civil rights program. That will include a tour, a bus tour of historic old baton old South Baton Rouge. We are doing black history programming. We're opening an exhibition that's a small exhibition that really highlights the bus boycott because we've got anniversaries coming up this year. It's a lot going on. You're going to see a lot more flyers, you're going to see a lot more social media, a lot more things that we're doing. And they're all very exciting. And hopefully we are putting our money where our mouth is and saying that we are creating community. We're uplifting voices, we're making this museum the living room of museums where everyone feels comfortable. So, if anyone wants to partner, if anyone just wants to come over, I've got a Keurig in my office. You can just come up, put your feet up, talk about whatever thing we might be able to possibly think about in the future, or just space share. Like I'm here for all of it. I am Rodney Harts the museum division director for the Capitol Park Museum. I'm going to put my email in the chat and reach out to me.
Marcela Hernandez: So, we started our ESL classes. So, these classes are amazing because their ESL is slash citizenship classes. So, if you know anyone who would like to become a citizen or who is in the process of changing the status, please send them our way because we're having those cultural enrichment e s o classes. We also have our legal department, our immigration legal department, and we're currently taking cases right now. If you know anyone who's trying or attempting to fix her status or to adjust their status, please tell them to call us, and our attorney will be more than happy to talk to them and make an initial assessment and see if we can take their case. We're also organizing a health fair for March. If you know anyone who would like to partner with us who delivers services health services, dentists of technologist medical services, we are trying to put this together so we can bring help to the immigrant communities and especially for those who have no insurance. So, if you know anyone who would like to come and partner, do a screening on the site or anything in terms of health or safety, please send them my way as well. Give them my email address. I want to also to share with you tomorrow. , there's an initiative with housing in Louisiana. They are on their listening tours. I don't know if Alfredo is on this call, but I'm going to go ahead and say it because we're going to participate on this. They are having this listening tours, where they're going and hearing the community members about housing concerns. I'm going to put it on the chat before going and I just want to encourage you to also participate. Our next woman's wing dialogue is going to be about culture shock. So, I will be sending you more information. And then also on March the 25th, we're going to have the Mexican Consulate coming into our office. If you know anyone from Mexican descent that needs passport, disclose uh, or IDs we're going to be at the office. Please tell them not to spend any money or pay anyone to go to New Orleans, $200 or $300 to go to New Orleans. The Mexican console is coming here, and they're going to be at our office March the 25th. Thank you, guys so much, and you have a wonderful.
Casey Phillips: I wanted to lift up that Aetna CVS is having a health screening event in Scotlandville on March 18th at the I think it's the Robin Street laundromat. I'll forward you that flyer, but that would probably be a really good place to make a lot of connections for your health screening as well. I also wanted to just say, welcome Dr. Watson. Principal is busy today, I got to imagine, but thank you for sharing space today. What's happening, Jesse?
Dr. Watson: I am working with the Discovery schools, we are actually new to the Baton Rouge area. We're opening Baton Rouge Ashner Discovery, and the school will actually open in August of 2023. So that's our start to teach date. We are partnering with Ashner Health. Our organization is 10 years strong. This is year 10 for us. I actually served as accounting principal back in our first campus in Kenner. We are this school will be a replication of our first campus back in 2013, as well as our second campus, which was. Which is titled which is named Dr. John Ashner Discovery. The school will start as pre-K through fourth grade. So we'll start pretty small, but again, this is the our third replication and we're happy to be a part of your Baton Rouge community. And again, this will be a health sciences emphasis for our students. So we are looking at giving all the kids the obviously the fundamentals that they need so that they can go out and be productive citizens within hopefully they'll stay in state and be productive citizens in the Baton Rouge area. But again, I've welcomed the opportunity to meet with anyone and share more information about what we do, and what we've done over the past 10 years. But we're really excited about the work we're doing. We've had a high retention rate as far as students are concerned, as well as staff. But we're looking to actually hire a full staff. We do have a principal that we have hired for the school, so we're excited about that as well as a parent liaison. But we will have a webinar actually coming up this this coming Thursday. And there'll be a multiple webinars that will take place as well as the information session that will be in person. But I can put a link to the actual webinar signup in the chat as well. So, I'll do that before I get off the call. But again I'm welcome to any questions or a sit down to share more about everything that we're doing within discovery. And we, again, we're glad to be in the Baton Rouge community and if there's any support we can provide or any way we can partner, I'd love to talk about that.
Tekoah Boatner: I am the executive director of Youth Oasis for youth services agency and we focus on response really to youth in crisis or experience or with lived experience of trauma. Couple announcements. We are drop-in center is at in a soft open phase right now, so we're only open from nine to two, but the drop-in center is that place of rest and respite for youth that just need somewhere to go. There's no obligation. We don't, they don't have to come in and fill the long intake packet don't have to fill out intake packet at all. You can just come and say, I'm hungry, I need to wash, I need to sit. And they're welcome to do we also have our rapid rehousing and transitional housing and shelter program. These are programs, housing programs for youth 18 to 24 needs. We are currently getting ready in the spring to roll out our program with Google. We partner with Coursera to provide digital certificates. So, we're looking for mentors to work alongside the youth as they enroll in those programs to help with their employment. And of course, always is to help with resources for you. And as always, if you are running across an issue with you, call us. Let's figure it out together.
?????: I just want to make sure that y'all are aware that we have two health fairs coming up at Pennington that are open to the public. The first one is the 23rd annual wellness Day for Women, which I'm going to throw in the chat. There'll be health screenings, presentations, things like that. And then we also have our second annual senior Black American health fair coming up at the end of March as well. There's a lot of free resources for the community. Just make sure that your people know. We'd love to have y'all come by and see what we got going on.
Manny Patole: I'll be there to help with Build Baton Rouge and celebrate at the crew of Ocean Festival on Saturday. From 12 to six. But I do have availabilities and some folks I'm bringing from out of town about some potential opportunities for connectivity and tech justice education. We'd love to talk with folks about what's going on, give people updates on community land, bank trust, and other things that are going on.