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Anti-Human Trafficking – The SLEAT Taskforce
ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Words from
LaVonya Malveaux
The St. Landry Evangeline Anti-human Trafficking (SLEAT) Taskforce
The St. Landry Evangeline Anti-human Trafficking (SLEAT) Taskforce was formed in April 2017 in response to a singular trafficking incident involving a local youth. Its sole mission was to compile an organized document of recommendations for the St. Landry and Evangeline Parish communities to provide education and awareness, create tools to identify and track occurrences, and to avail resources to assist with the eradication of human-trafficking. This document was intended to serve as a resource guide to assist the St. Landry and Evangeline Parish School Districts, the Sheriffs’ and local law enforcement agencies, the 13th and 27th Judicial District and City Courts, and the St. Landry and Evangeline local communities in their development of prevention and educational awareness strategies to address human trafficking; thereby, resulting in coordinated responses to such a heinous crime from a proactive position rather than a reactive one.
The SLEAT Taskforce’s membership consisted of thirty-four prominent women from varied professions with demonstrated passions relating to a myriad of community concerns and initiatives. The list of females identified and selected included persons ranging in ages from 17 to 70 who were college students, mothers, grandmothers, business owners, educators, healthcare workers, social workers, counselors, media personalities, economic development practitioners, religious laypersons, law enforcement officers, municipal employees, court employees, elected officials, and family members of human trafficked survivors. Taskforce members commenced their work, first, by educating themselves about this issue of human trafficking by attending various local, regional, state, and national conferences, symposiums, and workshops. The group convened monthly meetings over a period of 20 months and hosted community events during April 2018 (featured author, Mimi Crown, “Stuck in Traffic” and a screening of the documentary, “Not My Life” with over 200 attendees) and during the national awareness month of January 2019.
Nevertheless, the work and presence of the SLEAT Taskforce have created open environments to facilitate “conversations” and build awareness that human trafficking exists in even the remotest parts of our communities. Residents of St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes appear concerned when news media reports instances of human trafficking. Their empathetic responses to the victims seemingly serve as defense mechanisms to mask their otherwise amazement and “shock” to discover such crimes occur in rural settings. Throughout the development of this taskforce, individuals have repeatedly responded by asking “how can [they] help”. Various organizations, agencies, groups, and social clubs within Louisiana work closely within networks seeking to bring community awareness and education to the residents of Louisiana. Thus, human trafficking not only affects families but impacts communities.
The SLEAT Taskforce printed and distributed approximately 30 booklets to community stakeholders (i.e., the educational system, judicial system, local law enforcement agencies and healthcare service providers) within the parishes of St. Landry and Evangeline.
Electronic versions are available on the Opelousas City Court’s website, www.opelousascitycourt.com.
TASKFORCE PARTICIPANTS
1. Tracey Antee, Opelousas General Health Systems
2. Tracy Auzenne, Universal Health Services, Inc.
3. Wanda Bagent , Office of Juvenile Justice
4. Laura Balthazar, St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault Center
5. Phyllis Tyler Beverly, Opelousas Police Department
6. Lisa Boudreaux, Opelousas City Court
7. Jessica Charles, New Life Church of God
8. Lynnette Chevis, St. Landry Parish Sheriff Department
9. Lydia Curette, North Central High School
10. Elizabeth Davis, St. Landry Parish Crime Stoppers
11. Andrea Dean, Holy Ghost Catholic Church
12. Janel Dugas, 4nsic Services of Louisiana
13. Hilda Edwards, City of Ville Platte
14. Jane Edwards, Immaculate Conception Church – Lebeau
15. Marcelle Fontenot, KATC – TV3
16. Jo Ellen Frilot, Office of Juvenile Justice
17. Ramona Fruge , St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault Center
18. Joy Guidry, Cypress Grove Venue
19. Janice Henry, Holy Ghost Catholic Church
20. June Inhern, St. Landry Parish School District
21. Taylor Irving, University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Student
22. Quaniqua Joseph, Northwestern State University – Student
23. Roxanne Kennerson, Opelousas Junior High School
24. La’Pearl Keys, SLESAC/St. Landry Parish Drug Court
25. Gail Lark, Innovative Solutions/Town of Grand Coteau
26. Brandy Ledet, St. Landry Economic Development
27. Melanie Lee, City of Opelousas Tourism
28. Deanna Lejeune, Opelousas Genereal Health Systems
29. LaVonya Malveaux, Opelousas City Court
30. Damian Mott, Innovative Solutions, Inc.
31. Angela Roberts, St. Landry Parish Families In Need of Services
32. Jenny Stelly, Safety Premiere Training/Sephora USA, Inc.
33. Amber Tezeno, University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Student
34. Tiffany Zachary, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Women’s Health – January 2020
Women’s Health
WOMEN'S HEALTH BLOG January 2020
Words from Elena Mann, M.D.
Ladies First!
Women’s health is perhaps one of the most influential health initiatives of our time. Women play a vital role in ensuring others receive the care they need, but many women often neglect themselves. As we enter into the time of year when resolutions are made, resolve to put ladies first! This will lead to profound changes in women’s health and family well being. As most well-intentioned resolutions are not kept, let this be a handy guide in which to refer if you get off track during the year. The key to change is to make small steps that you can build upon.
At the core of a good women’s health program is you. A theme to focus upon is mind body awareness. This will encompass nearly all aspects of a successful health platform. Examine your personal and family history, your current lifestyle, and your goals for yourself and your family. Create your team which should include your physician as your health coach. It should also include support from close family and friends.
Make 2020 the year that you put ladies first—yourself included!
One primary focus should be on the maintenance of your mental health. Many women suffer from depression, anxiety, or a combination of these. Often, this is hidden or ignored. Resolve to help yourself or another woman address mental health concerns. Mental health challenges can affect your physical health and the ways in which you interact with those around you. Ensure you have a trusted support system. Develop good sleep hygiene. Finally, try to incorporate a few minutes of daily meditation or other relaxation techniques. Doing so will help create a sense of calm in the midst of the hustle and bustle of your everyday life.
Another important aspect of women’s health is attention to your breast and reproductive health. This should begin in the teenage years and continue throughout menopause. Breast self-awareness involves ensuring you are familiar with your breasts and alert to any changes. Both self examinations and clinical examinations are vital first steps in breast cancer surveillance. Annual mammograms should also be a part of your breast self awareness regimen starting at age 40 or sooner based upon your personal and family history.
Many women seek care for family planning purposes. It is important for women to be proactive with their reproductive planning. Additionally, when pregnancy occurs, it is essential for your health and the developing baby’s health to establish and maintain prenatal care. Reproductive health also includes having annual examinations. Your doctor will perform or arrange age-appropriate cancer surveillance, including Paps, when needed. General physical and mental health care needs are addressed at annual examination visits as well. Blood pressure and weight will be examined and recommendations made that will help support your heart and cardiovascular health. Any areas in which you can improve will be identified. Your physician will provide guidance on ways in which you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Two great sites to reference for more information on women’s health are:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
and
The Centers for Disease Control
These include facts, guidance, and current recommendations. Bookmark these as they can be valuable resources for you and your family.
Make 2020 the year that you put ladies first—yourself included! Establish a regimen that includes daily exercise and healthy lifestyle choices. If you don’t quite reach your goals, try again. Enlist the support of family and friends.
Dr. Elena Mann is an obstetrician and gynecologist with South Louisiana Medical Associates and Terrebonne General Medical Center. She also serves as the medical director for the Hope Restored Pregnancy Resource Center. She graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a degree in Biology. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Mann completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She enjoys teaching and has served as a medical school instructor, residency instructor, and a preceptor for nurse practitioners. She is licensed to practice in four states. Dr. Mann frequently volunteers with local organizations and is active in her community. She enjoys spending her free time traveling with her husband and family of five.
People of Louisiana – Community (January 2020)
COMMUNITY
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!
Do you know a strong woman (or man) who has a nonprofit worthy of recognition? Or someone who is committed to making a difference in their community by volunteering?
Please fill out the form and let us know! We would like to feature them in the blog!
FILL IN NOMINATION FORM HERE
People of Louisiana – Schools (January 2020)
KIMBERLY ECKERT
Kimberly Eckert Educators Rising
What Louisiana State Penitentiary Offenders Taught My Students and I about Great Teachers
For the past two years, I’ve taught a course called Educators Rising, aimed at exposing high school students to the teaching profession that our students desperately need us all to see: a means to social justice, a grantor of access, a hero training of sorts where we each figure out how best to change the world. This year, however, I knew that if I was going to teach my students about the systemic impact of poverty, and race, and disabilities on a person’s educational experience, I would need to provide experiences that transcended numbers, figures, and books. I wanted to take them to the last stop of the K to Prison Pipeline so that we could retrace our steps. My students realized that in the data we viewed and the research we read, there were some voices and stories missing: those belonging to the inmates. They wanted the chance to understand a human experience from a perspective we seldom get to hear first-hand. What better place to go than to a prison where over 80% of the offenders never finished high school or any other formal education?
As we went through gate after gate, we finally got to the school building where we noticed posters hanging warning about the dangers of Extortion and reminders that Sexual Assault is an Act of Violence. These were already in stark contrast to Brusly High School’s Taylor Swift Drink Milk posters warning of the dangers of calcium deficiency.
But what happened once we entered the classrooms themselves, the entire atmosphere shifted and it no longer felt like a prison. It felt like a future. Just like any classroom, the walls of their HiSET (former GED) classes were filled with posters of periodic tables, food pyramids, geometric shapes, algebra formulas, planets and even a revision checklist! I teared up when I looked at the bulletin board and saw a motivational message: Shoot for the Stars.
I couldn’t help but think back to something that Gary Young, the assistant warden, had impressed on my class before we even got off the bus. He said that the penitentiary “had to start taking a more holistic approach. He said it’s not just about educating the mind. It’s about educating the heart. You gotta go for the heart, otherwise if they attend our school here, we’ll just end up with smarter criminals”
Now… this idea of educating or nourishing the heart is at the heart of social and emotional learning in schools, but to hear it as the cornerstone of learning at a prison made for people serving life sentences gave us all a shock. Perhaps it was because this approach to teaching has not traditionally been supported in our schools. But we saw it in the classroom and we were in immediately. As my students engaged the offenders in round table conversations, we could immediately see the pride they had for their new shot at an education. One man had been trying to get his GED for 20 years and is now within arms reach of his HiSET diploma in January 2020 if he just passes reading. 20 years! That’s grit! He accepted the consequences of choices that placed him in the prison system, but said that teachers here made him feel he could finally achieve something, even if it took a while.
We also heard some sadder stories, marking experiences in our education system that were devoid of culturally responsive teaching, dignity, and social and emotional care. One offender hated school since fifth grade when a teacher in the late 70’s told the class that as an African-American, he was still part ape and hadn’t fully evolved. Another man said his fourth grade teacher made a prediction to the class that half would end up pregnant, dead, or in prison by the end of high school. She didn’t have very high hopes for the other half, either.
But the thing is, despite some of these key examples of how schools failed to keep their promise for a good education by failing to support the social and emotional learning of these men as children, two things were clear: 1) They, in no way, blamed past teachers for the terrible choices they’d made and 2) Their current opinion of school was very different today and they attributed the shift solely to their teachers at the penitentiary.
However, what’s fascinating about the teachers and mentors at Louisiana State Penitentiary is that they’re nearly ALL offenders! In fact, there are only three full-time, certified teachers. But every single teacher is trained on holistic learning that puts the learner at the center and ensures the emotional needs are met. The expression of these outcomes became the best professional development for teaching that I’ve ever had and the most powerful experience I could’ve hoped for my rising educators.
Every offender remarked that what was different about school this time around was discovering that
- Education should be used to better help those around you,
- Each teacher took the time to learn each student to find out where their potential was and
- Each teacher worked with them to see the possibilities in a world behind bars that were nearly invisible to them when they lived on the other side of them.
As my students broke off into small groups to lead discussions, I heard them ask the offenders for advice they would give to anyone considering becoming a teacher. These men have life sentences in prison and are striving for GEDs but the advice was exactly what every teacher needs to hear:
- Be mindful of words you use and choose around the students. They’re listening, watching and “they’re not dumb”.
- A teacher can change the direction of a life. They can make a child gain or lose a dream.
- Challenge EVERY student. Not just the ones you think have the best shot.
- Learn your students as quickly as you can. They desperately need you to.
Truly, these offenders were helped to understand that their job is to help society and communities, even from inside a prison. They not only benefited from incredibly high expectations but felt empowered and loved. They were being taught social and emotional skills and how self-management and resilience can make all the difference in the world.
Considering that these ideas are the very foundations of social and emotional learning, no one at Louisiana State Penitentiary calls it that. They just know that these elements have to build the foundation of their reentry program if they’re to ensure their safety. By also ensuring dignity and quality of life, offenders, even after realizing they may never see beyond the barbed wire, know that they are still worthy human beings capable of making their world a better place. Back on the bus as we reflected on the experience, there were few dry eyes when one of my students remarked, “It’s a shame that some of them had to go to prison to get their first great teacher. We need to do better.”
That’s really the heart of the matter. Long before I knew the jargon or buzzwords for social and emotional learning, I knew that my classroom had to be a safe place for students to explore, feel valued, and discover their potential. Much like the approach of the assistant warden, I realized that if I didn’t ensure that education in my class involved relationship building through human connection, I was just going to churn out really smart robots who didn’t care enough about any problem to bother to solve it.
Part of the power of teaching is that once we find out something exists, we find a way to harness its power so that we can give it to our kids. In this case, my Educators Rising students and I discovered that great teaching through attention to and empowerment of human beings goes a long way in delivering a true education, capable of changing the world around us. Content alone simply can’t hold a candle.
This experience certainly changed more than a few viewpoints of my students who were still resisting the call to be educators. After that day, they felt a sense of hope and purpose in education. Through an authentic experience, the teachers and offenders at Louisiana State Penitentiary showed my students a different view of what it means to teach. They showed us all that if we present education as a means to change, then we are giving each of our students a life-long key to unlock the barriers around us… whether made out of steel bars, fear, or disbelief that any one of us has the ability to make the world better.
Kimberly Eckert teaches Educators Rising and serves as the Innovative Programs Coordinator for West Baton Rouge Parish Schools in Louisiana. She holds a BA in social work, an MEd in Special Education, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Learning, Innovation, and Instruction. Eckert has been teaching for 11 years, is a national fellow for Understood.org, an expert teacher for NCLD (National Center for Learning Disabilities), a 2019 NEA Social Justice Activist of the Year national finalist, 2018 Louisiana Teacher of the Year, and the 2018 Louisiana Public Interest Fellow.
Class Website: https://sites.google.com/wbrschools.net/eckertsecksperts/home
Twitter: @2018LaToy
Facebook: @2018LaToy
Instagram: @2018LaToy
People of Louisiana – Military (January 2020)
Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund
Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA)
Governor John Bel Edwards shared in his Second Inaugural Address that Louisiana has 491 men and women in the Louisiana National Guard and Air National Guard currently deployed overseas. You may not know that, over the next twelve months, more than 2,000 Louisiana soldiers and airmen will deploy to the Middle East. We are so grateful for these military service members and pray daily with their families for their safe return.
While these brave men and women are serving our country overseas, we do not forget the strength it takes their families to serve here at home. Our Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) administers the Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund, which provides grants to eligible military service members and their families who demonstrate certain types of financial need. The Louisiana Legislature originally established the MFA Fund in 2005 to help members of the Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana Military Reserves and their families address financial hardships encountered while on active duty status. Still today, this fund covers the cost of a bus trip home for National Guardsmen and women to see their loved ones one last time before they deploy.
In 2016, the MFA Fund opened up to serve all eligible Louisiana service members, veterans and their families. Today it serves as a fund of last resort, helping to meet immediate needs such as mortgage and utility bills, some medical services and other essential expenses creating documented financial hardships for veterans. The MFA board meets each month to approve awards up to $10,000 per year for a veteran.
The MFA Fund is a state treasury fund, but is funded solely by donations (no taxpayer dollars).
Please visit www.vetaffairs.la.gov/how-to-help/ to donate today.
To apply for assistance, visit https://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/benefit/military-family-assistance-fund/.
Thank you for supporting Louisiana veterans and their families.
People of Louisiana – Business (January 2020)
KIM LEWIS
KIM LEWIS Owner, Ole Orleans Winery
The road to success is never easy, but it’s rewarding.
No one knows this better than the owner of the winery, Ole Orleans, Kim Lewis. A single mom of four kids, Lewis’s journey to entrepreneurship was not an easy road; it included a lot of blockage, detours, & potholes. But eventually, she would become a part of the 1% of Black women who would own their own wine company.
The New Orleans native wanted to do something for her city, & reflect the culture in her business. It’s one of the reasons why her wine sells out in most of the New Orleans local stores, including Second Vine Wine, a popular wine store that holds classes & wine tastings.
Her wine business idea came to Lewis while she was traveling with her then-husband to beach destinations, where she compared the culture’s wines with American wines. Her interests peaked, & she thought what it would be like starting her own company. “People would tell me all the time that I drink enough wine to start my own company!” Lewis recalled.
However, it wouldn’t be until her divorce was finalized in 2016 that the New Orleans native would act on her idea. Lewis started doing her own research when she found that people in the industry wouldn’t give her insight on how to even begin. She started calling attorneys’ firms & consulting businesses to assist her with the paperwork. “I filed for my own paperwork for my business.”
Next, Lewis looked up vineyards to produce the wine. Her first one was in Napa Valley, where they were open to help produce and package the wine, however, it was costly. “I didn’t think to include permits & shipping when I first inquired about them,” she remembered. So she moved on to Texas, where it took her four to five months to find one. When she did, it took seven to eight months for the winery to harvest, distribute, and let the wine sit to get a good taste. Things looked promising for the mother until the winery decided to halt all new customers in the middle of her distribution.
Refusing to quit, Lewis continued her search. She finally found a winery in Louisiana; the Landry’s. The Landry’s winery loved the New Orleans references and street names on every bottle, with its depiction of old New Orleans. So, they agreed to work with her.
In April 2019, Lewis officially dropped Ole Orleans, dedicating the business and all of the hard work to her beloved city & her kids: “I wanted to do something different, but I wanted to stand out. I’ve given my kids part ownership of the company so that they have something tangible.” Her eldest son helps with the business; promoting his mother’s company is the highlight for Lewis starting her own company. She said, “If you have a child that’s proud of your brand, then you’re doing something right.”
Within the first year of her wine business, Lewis has done multiple interviews, has been a panelist during Essence Music Festival, and has been honored with an award. But for her, being a part of the 1% of Black women who own a wine business, is the greatest achievement of all: “I like to go against the odds. Being that 1% means that I broke a barrier down. For more than just my family, but for women – especially black women.”
Blog – January 2020
January
2020
Volume 2, Edition 3
A Word from the First Lady of Louisiana
January 2020, what a month!
New Year’s Day 2020 was the beginning of a new decade. And January 13th not only marked the beginning of our second term as Governor and First Lady, but also the incredible College Football Playoff National Championship victory of the LSU Tigers!
I had been praying about my Word of the Year for 2020 but was having a hard time deciding between three words that I felt God was bringing to my attention: thankful, gratitude, and praise.
Recently, my mom received some excellent results from a health test, and she said, “Donna, I am like the tenth leper. I am running back and giving thanks to Jesus.” I thought of that message so often over the next few months. How often we pray in earnest and although things don’t always turn out as we would like, we still have so much for which to be grateful and thankful. How often do things turn out just like we ask and pray; yet, we fail to run back and say thank you? We fail to be grateful and to praise God for our blessings.
One Sunday, we were given a basket of goodies at a church we visited and one of the items was a bottle of bubble bath with the scent Thankful. “Hmmm,” I thought, that word had appeared in so many of my readings and meditations. And after John Bel won the run-off election in November, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude for being trusted to serve four more years, I am so grateful John Bel will be able to do even more good things for the people of our great state and for the opportunities I will have to continue giving back and doing more to help our children and families through my initiatives. We’re both excited to get to work!
In December, I received The Catholic Commentator publication. The Commentator contained an article, “A Time of Waiting and Living in Thanksgiving,” by Father John Carville. It is worth reading over and over again. I plan on doing that throughout this year. Below is a link to the article.
After I purchased gratitude journals for many of my friends, the word praise kept showing up in so many ways. One particular time was when we were preparing for Inauguration Day, the director gave me the title of one of the songs that had been suggested the choir sing, “Total Praise.” For the next week, I saw “Praise” everywhere. Wow, I was confused about what my word would be for 2020. Then I thought, I’ll look up the definition of praise. Then I looked up the meaning of thankful and then gratitude: one a noun, one an adjective, and the other a verb.
So, as this new year continues to unfold, I will be Thankful, I will show Gratitude and I will give Praise to God. Amen
It is John Bel and my wish to continue the good work we have started with guidance from God. This poem came to me through the grace of God, and speaks exactly to what we would like to do. Enjoy!
LCYTC The Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative
During January, public-private entities across the United States have engaged in activities to highlight the importance of the prevention of human sex and labor trafficking during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This month, here in Louisiana, we have been very fortunate under the leadership of our Governor and First Lady Donna Edwards, to host the first training for The Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative (LCYTC). LCYTC is a 1.5 million dollar federal project through the US Department of Justice to address human trafficking among juveniles. The overall goal of The LCYTC, also known as The Collaborative, will be to improve Louisiana’s response to child and youth trafficking utilizing a multi-disciplinary, region-based approach to achieve statewide coverage. Other goals of the project will be to work collaboratively with public-private sector partners to achieve the following: 1) Reduce child and youth sex and labor trafficking in Louisiana, 2) Strengthen identification of Louisiana’s child and youth victims’ sex and labor trafficking, 3) Develop a strong collaborative statewide network of coordinated local multi-disciplinary teams, and 4) Implement a comprehensive service system that supports child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking.
Funding for The Collaborative will allow the Governor’s Office to sub-contract with the Louisiana Alliance of Child Advocacy Centers and local Child Advocacy Centers to hire Regional Child and Youth Trafficking Coordinators, to train professionals on a best practice risk screening and identification tool, and to establish a survivor advisory council that will help to inform a region-specific protocol for identification and treatment services for victims. This model has been widely used in several other states such as California, Texas, and Massachusetts and has seen much success.
The State of Louisiana has seen significant progress over the last decade in professionals acknowledging the issue of human trafficking, in improved victim identification, and in passing laws to decriminalize child victims and to place the blame on the exploiters. Government leaders, state lawmakers, and community providers alike are each doing a better job of working collectively to understand the gaps and soft spots better and to set forth a plan to improve. Although we still have more work to do, with this continued collaboration, I do not doubt that as a state, we will continue to improve public safety for children and families and see fewer child and adult victims of this horrific crime.
If you would like to become involved with the work of the Collaborative, please contact Dr. Dana R. Hunter at dana.hunter@la.gov. Also, if you suspect that someone may be involved in human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or text “BeFree” to (233733).
LOUISIANA FIRST FOUNDATION
Yes Mam, No Mam, Thank you Mam = Teach MAM!
INAUGURATION John Bel Edwards sworn in for Second Term as Louisiana Governor
John Bel Edwards was sworn in for a second term as Louisiana governor on Monday, January 13th. The inaugural festivities began early on Monday morning with Catholic mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge. Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop Aymand.
Governor Edwards was sworn in during a ceremony on the steps of the Louisiana Capital beginning at 11:30am. During his speech, the Governor spoke of his priorities and laid the foundation for his next term. Among his priorities are addressing early childhood education and funding this important issue across the state.
“We know that education is key to economic opportunity and the pathway to prosperity must begin at the earliest stage of life,” Edwards said. In addition to early childhood education, he will also focus on his plan to increase education funding across the board and provide a bump in teacher pay.
“Over the next four years we’re going to continue increasing classroom funding and we’re going to give educators additional pay raises that will get them to at least the southern regional average,” Edwards said. Other priorities for the governor include setting the state’s minimum wage at $9 per hour, passing equal pay legislation, and improving the state’s infrastructure.
“As our economy grows, so must the quality of our roads and bridges,” he said.
“The future is ours to seize, but we have to commit here and now to be great, to work together, to continue to reject the partisan rancor and dysfunction that plagues Washington, D.C.,” Edwards said. The inauguration ceremony featured a 19-cannon salute, a performance by the West Point Glee Club as well as prayer and hymns sung by the Centenary College, Grambling State University, and Southern University choirs. The ceremony ended with a reading of Maya Angelou’s “Continue”.
The annual inaugural ball was delayed until late 2020 due to the LSU vs. Clemson National Championship game. More information about the ball will be provided at a later date.
Women’s Health Blog
January 2020
Words from Dr. Elena Mann
Dr. Elena Mann is an obstetrician and gynecologist with South Louisiana Medical Associates and Terrebonne General Medical Center.
Ladies First!
Women’s health is perhaps one of the most influential health initiatives of our time. Women play a vital role in ensuring others receive the care they need, but many women often neglect themselves. As we enter into the time of year when resolutions are made, resolve to put ladies first! This will lead to profound changes in women’s health and family well being. As most well-intentioned resolutions are not kept, let this be a handy guide in which to refer if you get off track during the year. The key to change is to make small steps that you can build upon.
PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA Making a Difference
COMMUNITY
Nominations Are Now Open!
Do you know a strong woman (or man) who has a nonprofit worthy of recognition? Or someone who is committed to making a difference in their community by volunteering?
We would like to feature them in the blog!
SCHOOLS
Kimberly Eckert
Kimberly Eckert teaches Educators Rising and serves as the Innovative Programs Coordinator, for West Baton Rouge Parish Schools in Louisiana. She holds a BA in social work, an MEd in Special Education, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Learning, Innovation, and Instruction.
MILITARY
Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund
Governor John Bel Edwards shared in his Second Inaugural Address that Louisiana has 491 men and women in the Louisiana National Guard and Air National Guard currently deployed overseas. You may not know that, over the next twelve months, more than 2,000 Louisiana soldiers and airmen will deploy to the Middle East. We are so grateful for these military service members and pray daily with their families for their safe return.
BUSINESS
Kim Lewis
Owner, Ole Orleans Winery
The road to success is never easy, but it’s rewarding.
No one knows this better than the owner of the winery, Ole Orleans, Kim Lewis. A single mom of four kids, Lewis’s journey to entrepreneurship was not an easy road; it included a lot of blockage, detours, & potholes. But eventually, she would become a part of the 1% of Black women who would own their own wine company.
FEATURED RECIPE
Chef Natasha St. Pierre Clement’s
Canoe Cake
Natasha was a former contestant on MasterChef Season 6 and a contestant and WINNER of Food Network’s All-Star Academy Season 2 under the tutelage of Chef Robert Irvine. This month she shares her recipe for her Canoe Cake: Andouille Crusted Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Shaved Mirliton, Carrot & Apple Slaw, Calabrian Chili & Smoked Paprika Aioli. Enjoy!
Something To Discern
May health and happiness
follow you and yours
during the year to come!
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
Contact Us
Contact Us for More Info
Featured Recipe: Canoe Cake
Chef Natasha St. Pierre Clement
Canoe Cake:
Andouille Crusted Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Shaved Mirliton, Carrot & Apple Slaw, Calabrian Chili & Smoked Paprika Aioli
Chef Natasha St. Pierre Clement Sophisticated Southern Plates
Andouille Crusted Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Shaved Mirliton,
Carrot & Apple Slaw, Calabrian Chili & Smoked Paprika Aioli
CRAB CAKE
Ingredients:
1 lb Jumbo Lump crab meat
2 egg whites
¼ cup mayo
1 Tbsp ( Creole or Dijon) mustard
½ tsp seafood seasoning
½ tsp crab boil (liquid)
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp cracked black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
1/8 cup chopped chives
¼ cup panko
Method:
Drain & pick through crab. Whisk together egg whites, mayo, mustard, lemon juice, crab boil and all dry seasonings. Fold in crab and chives. Add panko to tighten up mixture. Set in fridge for 20 minutes.
Panko & Andouille Crust
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups panko
1 ½ cups toasted & dried andouille crumbs
Method:
Blend together in food processor for about 30 seconds to mix well.
You will need a 3.5 to 4.0 ounce round ring mold. Create a bed of half the crust mixture on a sheet pan. Placing the ring mold on crust mixture, tightly pack the crab cake mixture in the mold, topping the cake with more crust mixture, firmly pressing down before removing mold. Repeat. Set crab cakes uncovered back in fridge for 15 minutes before cooking. Yield 8 crab cakes per this recipe.
Pan fry in butter and grapeseed oil, just enough to cover the pan. Medium-High heat, 2 minutes per side.
Shaved Mirliton, Carrot & Apple Slaw
Ingredients:
1 apple
1 mirliton
1 carrot
Method:
Using a Japanese mandolin, thinly shave and julienne the apple and mirliton. Also, using the mandolin, thinly shave carrot medallions. Toss in bacon fat slaw dressing. Add thinly sliced green onions on a bias.
Garnish plate with smoked paprika calabrian chili aioli. Micro greens.
Chef Natasha St. Pierre Clement
Natasha St. Pierre Clement, as Southern and French as you could guess, was born and raised where the sugarcane sweetens the crawfish tails. She is married to the love of her life, Chesson Clement, and together they have 3 children. She is a self-taught home cook turned small town chef with a long line of family inspiration in farming and agriculture.
With a culinary spirit as long and winding as the Mississippi, her true love is bringing elevated custom southern dishes with international flare and sophisticated, graceful plating to your table. She owns her own catering and private chef business, Sophisticated Southern Plates, specializing in creating unforgettable dining experiences for anywhere from parties of four to parties of hundreds.
Natasha was a former contestant on MasterChef Season 6 and a contestant and WINNER of Food Network’s All-Star Academy Season 2 under the tutelage of Chef Robert Irvine. Some of her most recent accolades include catering to the King of New Orleans, Drew Brees, for his surprise 40th Birthday Party as well as being the only private chef invited to participate in the New Orleans Bourbon Festival! When not cooking for hundreds, she also enjoys keeping some of our beloved New Orleans Pelican basketball players on their game with healthy meal prep and local fresh inspired dishes.
You can follow Chef Natasha on Instagram @cheftasha_nola, @sophisticatedsouthernplates and on Facebook at Sophisticated Southern Plates.
For any further recipes related to this dish please contact Chef Natasha at cheftasha11@gmail.com
Teach MAM and the Lafayette, LA Public School System
Teach MAM
Teach MAM: An Exciting Partnership to Strengthen Arts Education Across Louisiana
Teach MAM and the Lafayette, LA Public School System
The public school system in Lafayette, LA is fortunate to have a rich culture of arts. Educators in the public school system have long believed in the power of the arts to enrich the lives of students in Lafayette. We are able to provide students in all of our 45 schools with exposure to a wide variety of different arts programs with a talented and dedicated staff of certified arts teachers. Providing students with rich experiences in the arts is not limited to local school system programming, however. Over the years the Lafayette Parish School System has developed a number of lasting partnerships with the community to provide additional arts experiences to our students.
The Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) is a local community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the arts and culture. The AcA and the Lafayette Parish School System have been in partnership since 1979 providing tools for educators and art experiences for students. In 1993, the two organizations, along with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, were accepted into the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program. They were selected because they demonstrated commitment to the involvement of education in and through the arts. The partnership team participates in a number of ongoing collaborative efforts to make the arts integral to education in Lafayette.
The Primary Academic Creative Experiences (PACE) program was originally developed in 1999 to assist schools in establishing instruction that richly integrates visual and performing arts. Through the collaborative efforts of teaching artists, educators and the community, this program facilitates artists’ residencies in elementary schools. Teaching artists in the PACE program conceive of and implement the lessons with students in Kindergarten through third grade.
The Arts in Education Program provides a broad range of quality art events and workshops. One component of the Arts in Education program is the Teaching Artist Program. Teaching Artists present a variety of arts experiences ranging from hands-on folklife and visual art to music and creative movement workshops. Another component of the Arts in Education program is the Touring Arts, providing performances in dance, drama, music, puppetry and storytelling, to name a few. Touring Arts performances are available to students in grades K-12.
All of the arts programs are showcased annually at the Student Arts Expo. This is a great opportunity to show off and publicize the wonderful work that students have created in visual arts, music, theater, dance, film, poetry, fashion design or puppetry and to increase public knowledge and appreciation of the arts by and for the youth of the community.
Its strong partnerships combined with the wide variety of art programs provided by certified teaching staff sets Lafayette apart from most other school districts in the state.
