OneRouge Community Check-In: Week 250

250th Call Celebration: Growing Together & Taking Action

250th Call Celebration: Growing Together & Taking Action The OneRouge coalition recently celebrated its 250th weekly call with a special session focused on community, collaboration, and environmental justice. The call opened with reflections and gratitude for the leadership and dedication that have sustained this space over time. Participants were reminded that OneRouge is built on working together—not competing—to create lasting change in Baton Rouge.

A major announcement introduced the launch of quarterly Action Summits. These events will take the weekly conversations and turn them into focused, collective action. Each summit will center on one of the nine drivers of poverty, starting with environmental justice during Earth Day weekend. The goal is to learn, build solutions, and follow through together.

Speakers from the Baton Roots Apprenticeship Program shared how local youth are already making an impact. Apprentices are learning tree planting, sustainable agriculture, and job-ready skills while giving back to their communities. The call also included a look back at the origins of Earth Day and a powerful group discussion about what a better, greener Baton Rouge could look like.

Notes

Meeting Notes

OneRouge Weekly Call – Meeting Notes Date: April 18, 2025 Call #: 250th OneRouge Call Theme: Environmental Justice & Collective Action

🎉 Call Highlights

• Milestone Celebration: This call marked the 250th OneRouge Weekly Call, a major milestone for the coalition. Participants reflected on the commitment and collective energy that has shaped the space over time.

• OneRouge Leadership Council Recognition: Special thanks were given to members who have helped sustain the coalition:

  • Adonica Duggan – Baton Rouge Alliance for Students

  • Alfredo Cruz – Community Advocate

  • Jan Ross – Wilson Foundation

  • Dr. Donald Andrews – Southern University

  • Katie Pritt – BBR Health District

  • Dustin LaFont – Front Yard Bikes

  • Sherreta Harrison – Metamorphosis

🆕 Program Update: Action Summits

• OneRouge will begin hosting quarterly Action Summits, transforming the weekly conversations into focused solution-based gatherings centered on the nine drivers of poverty.

• These summits will include speakers, breakout sessions, and real-time action planning, with follow-up check-ins on Friday calls.

• First Action Summit kicks off April 19, 2025, with a focus on Environmental Justice as part of Earth Day weekend.

🌿 Baton Roots Agroforestry Apprenticeship

Presented by: Whitney Hall, Agroforestry Apprenticeship Manager

• 13 apprentices enrolled in a USDA-funded program led by The Walls Project

• Focus: Horticulture and arboriculture education, hands-on tree planting, and sustainability practices

• Weekly programming includes classroom learning and fieldwork

• Licensing support provided for horticulture and arborist certification

• Current project: Planting 200+ trees across EBRPHA sites in partnership with Baton Rouge Green

Apprentice Spotlight:

• Janice Davis, owner of @Seeds of Faith Garden, shared her inspiring journey from food insecurity concerns post-COVID to urban farming and educational empowerment through the apprenticeship program

• Emphasized practical skill-building, organic practices, and upcoming CSA launch for North Baton Rouge residents

🌍 Origins of Earth Day – Mini History Lesson

Presented by: Jesse, Walls Project Team

• Earth Day originated in 1970, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson and student activist Denis Hayes

• Sparked by events like the Cuyahoga River fire in Ohio (1969) and the Santa Barbara oil spill

• Designed to raise awareness of unchecked industrial pollution and environmental damage

• Key takeaway: Community mindset and awareness are critical to lasting environmental change

🧠 Reflections & Discussion

Participants discussed:

• Environmental harms visible in Baton Rouge (flooding, stormwater mismanagement, pollution, littering)

• Importance of shifting community mindset toward sustainability

• Intersection between poverty and environmental degradation

• Calls for collective action, equitable development, and localized solutions

💬 Closing Remarks by Sherreta Harrison (Metamorphosis)

• Framed environmental justice as deeply tied to poverty, health, housing, and equity

• Encouraged attendees to "dream and imagine" a better Baton Rouge free of environmental harm

• Emphasized the power of aligned aspirations and collaborative action

• Set the stage for tomorrow’s summit to build shared goals and actionable strategies

🧾 Takeaways

• Mindset is the root of many environmental and equity challenges

• Community-driven solutions must be grounded in lived experiences and inclusive participation

• Even small steps—like planting, recycling, or speaking up—contribute to larger collective progress

🌟 Announcements

Next Friday Call: Final April session will recap insights and outcomes from the Action Summit and explore next steps.

Links

Community Announcements