OneRouge Community Check-In: Week 254

Rouge Reach: New Voices, New Vision

The May 16 OneRouge Coalition call marked the third week of the Rouge Reach series, focusing on mental health, community violence, and trauma-informed crisis response. Licensed therapist Mictissa Chapman shared insights on the intersection of behavioral health and community violence, emphasizing the importance of accessible care and multi-systemic therapy for youth and families. Breakout discussions explored how organizations could better coordinate and respond to crises, especially during summer months when violence tends to rise. Participants highlighted the need for trust-building, centralized resources, and proactive community engagement. The call closed with reflections on showing up beyond job titles and a reminder that small actions, when taken together, can lead to unstoppable impact.

Notes

OneRouge Coalition Call – Meeting Notes 

Date: May 16, 2025 

Theme: Rouge Reach Week 3 – New Voices, New Vision

Focus: Mental Health, Community Violence, and Community-Led Crisis Response

Opening & Icebreaker

• The meeting began with personal celebrations, including a participant sharing their achievement of becoming an LMSW and working toward a clinical license.

• Icebreaker question: "What’s one small, everyday thing you do to protect your peace or reset?" Answers included gardening, unplugging devices, walking dogs, listening to vinyl, and going to the gym.

• Participants shared joyful reflections around music, old-school record players, and ways they unplug to restore their mental health.

Featured Speaker: Mictissa Chapman

• Spoke on the deep connection between behavioral health and community violence.

• Highlighted Medicaid-available services including in-home and telehealth therapy for ages 5–99.

• Emphasized Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), which supports not just individuals but also their family, school, and social environments.

• Advocated for continued support of Community Violence Interruption (CVI) programs, especially in light of recent funding cuts.

• Shared a call to action: engage youth, mentor, and break the stigma around mental health—especially during the summer when violence tends to increase.

Breakout Session Prompt

Scenario: A major traumatic event (violence, disaster, public health crisis) has occurred in Baton Rouge. Question: What would a trauma-informed, community-led response look like if we broke down silos and coordinated across organizations?

Breakout Highlights:

• Group 1: Advocated for creating a centralized, accessible hub for crisis resources and services, emphasizing that people in crisis can't always locate what they need.

• Group 2: Reflected on mutual aid models and the importance of holistic support (food, legal, emotional) for both individuals and families.

• Group 3: Noted how slow disaster response processes are and emphasized the need for readiness and better inter-agency coordination.

• Group 4: Stressed the importance of treating formerly incarcerated individuals as valued community members with skills and insight to offer.

Key Themes Across Groups

• Shift from reactive to proactive crisis response.

• The importance of community trust, presence, and consistency—especially with youth.

• Removing barriers to access: transportation, funding, awareness.

• Bridging behavioral health and community programming for long-term impact.

Community Announcements

• Health Equity Survey: Dr. Ashlyn Harrison asked attendees to complete a quick community feedback form to inform a grant proposal focused on addressing health disparities in Baton Rouge.

• O’Brien House Car Wash Fundraiser: Raising funds for a youth retreat, June 6–8, focused on drug prevention, cultural education, and mentorship.

• Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery Festival: May 31, 10 AM–1 PM, inviting vendors and families to learn about school offerings and summer programs.

• JOLTcon 2025: June 12, Southern University – a tech and eSports conference for youth aged 12–18 with workshops, gaming, and free meals.

• Erie Street Park Dedication: June 18 – community mural and public event.

Closing Reflection

• Affirmation: “We don’t have to do everything, but we do have to do something. And together, our somethings become unstoppable.”

• Call to action: Continue building community, meet new neighbors, and bring someone to next week’s call—the final week of the Rouge Reach series.

Links

Community Announcements