Blog – September 2023 – Louisiana First Foundation

BLOG OF FIRST LADY OF LOUISIANA DONNA EDWARDS

FALL-ing in
Love with Louisiana

September 2023

John Bel and I have a little more than three months left in office. It is so hard to believe. As we work on the packing- up process of moving home, we also have so many wonderful things happening over these next few months.

This month John Bel and I had the privilege of welcoming to the Governor’s Mansion, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, from London, England. In addition to being the cardinal of Westminster, he is also the president of the Santa Marta Group (SMG). Along with the cardinal were two SMG directors, Dr. David Ryall and Kevin Hyland, former commissioner of the Scotland Yard Human Trafficking Unit.

The Santa Marta Group is an anti-trafficking charity that aims to act as a catalyst for law enforcement, civil society, and the Church to work together to combat this global crime. The alliance was launched in 2014, supported by Pope Francis and named after his residence, Santa Marta, in which the group stayed. At that first meeting, Pope Francis described human trafficking as “an open wound on the body of contemporary society; a crime against humanity.

The Santa Marta Group seeks to “identify, inspire, initiate” so that Church actors, law enforcement and civil society groups can collaborate more effectively to combat the sources of human trafficking.

Relationships are at the heart of this endeavor. By building trust between partners, Santa Marta develops creative and effective strategies to reduce demand, counter criminal networks and make communities more resilient.

We had the pleasure of introducing Cardinal Nichols along with our other visitors to many from around our state during their visit. All in attendance were able to hear the work that SMG is doing around the globe in working to expose the predators of human trafficking. Also, we learned of their work to educate and build up law enforcement in communities all over the world to understand and have the tools to fight against this horrible crime.

Cardinal Nichols, SMG directors, Msg. Robert Murphy of the United Nations in New York, Mr. Bill Canny of USCCB from Washington, DC and others were able to tour Metanoia Manor and hear of the work that the Hospitalier Sisters of Mercy are doing with girls under age 18 who have been rescued right here in our state. The majority of them are from Louisiana. So often these girls are trafficked by family members and so-called boyfriends, and many are groomed and lured into trafficking through trickery and coercion.

“Metanoia Manor is a faith-based residential facility. This program offers a place of refuge to female adolescent victims of human trafficking, in which to heal physically and mentally. Metanoia is licensed to provide direct services for mental, physical, and spiritual health, instruction in academics, and life skills to biologically born girls aged 0-18.”

We also toured the Eden Care Center and House. This program is geared toward those 18 and older. There is amazing work being done within these beautiful places of healing. Work of unconditional love and nurturing of women and now men into becoming who they are meant to be.

“Eden House offers long-term housing and comprehensive recovery services to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. We offer survivors a safe place to dream and overcome their pasts, while developing substantive skills to move forward in their lives and become self-sufficient, flourishing members of society. Our program is intentionally small to focus on the individual needs of each survivor who passes through our doors. We provide each resident with the resources they need to focus and reflect on themselves and their goals.”

Metanoia Manor and Eden Care Centers are two of many programs in our state that are working with victims of human trafficking.

Our visitors from London were all appreciative of the opportunity to learn more of our work. We were able to collaborate on ideas, laws and future work in bringing even more awareness and preventions of this horrible crime. A crime happening in our own communities.

Another bit of good news, I have been selected to join the Santa Marta Group as a trustee. I’m both honored and humbled to be part of this incredible organization that is doing great work to eliminate the terrible crime of human trafficking. You can read the press release below.

And like all Louisiana guests, our new friends from across the Big Pond and those from the East Coast were treated to some good Louisiana food. Several of our guests tried, ate and enjoyed some alligator and oysters cooked many different ways. They enjoyed some gumbo, duck soup, turtle soup, beignets and a fresh muffuletta sandwich. They were even bathed with the sound of Jazz music right on the streets of New Orleans.

As the focus begins to turn to fall events, final projects and football season, I will be writing the next few months about our time over the last eight years and our final months as we move into the Home Stretch.

I can’t thank you all enough for reading my blog, sending me encouraging emails, sharing your own stories and for Lovin’ Louisiana.

Love ya’ll,

CLICK BELOW to read a newsletter written by a Sister from the Marianites of Holy Cross in Covington, Louisiana. Thanks, Sister for the great work.

PRESS RELEASE

Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards is to join the Santa Marta Group as a trustee, joining Cardinal Nichols, Yasmin Waljee, Russell Walters and Bishop William Kenney on the Board.

During a visit to Louisiana to promote the work of Santa Marta Group in combating trafficking as a guest of Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards, Cardinal Nichols invited her to become a trustee of the charity and bring her experience in community activism and specifically in anti-trafficking work.

Mrs. Edwards has long been active in her community, supporting various organizations, school, and church groups. In 2022, she established a national coalition in the USA with several other First Ladies for the prevention of sex trafficking, focused on victim identification, addressing causes of the crime, and supporting victims. The national coalition launched a campaign in January 2022: Stop Trafficking LA: Human Trafficking is R.E.A.L. The R.E.A.L stands for Recognizing the signs, Educating others, Acting immediately, and Listening to victims and survivors.

The coalition’s first big event was The R.E.A.L public awareness campaign, which was held in April 2022 during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship tournament (US College Basketball Finals) in New Orleans. The Final Four attracts around 15 million TV viewers and is one of the most high-profile sporting events in the USA. Later in 2022, Mrs. Edwards also gave one of the keynote speeches at the Santa Marta Group conference in the Vatican drawing attention to the work she was undertaking locally, and the way sporting events could be used to bring public attention to the crime of human trafficking.

Cardinal Nichols, Santa Marta Group president, said: “I am delighted that First Lady Edwards is joining the Santa Marta Group as a trustee. She will bring her experience, drive and enthusiasm to the Board as we continue to develop our work to eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery. Partnerships based on trust are at the heart of our work and Donna embodies those values.”

First Lady Donna Edwards said:

“It’s truly an honor to join the Santa Marta Group and work alongside Cardinal Nichols and the other board members who are doing a tremendous job of educating people around the world about the horrors of human trafficking as well as helping the survivors regain control of their lives,” said First Lady Edwards. “This is work that my husband and I are passionate about, and I’m incredibly proud of the work he is doing to make our state tough on the perpetrators while also helping to create a safe haven for survivors. Our deep faith is what guides us. This is a big problem, but I believe there is something each of us can do to make a difference and working together in bringing an end to human trafficking.”

“Eradicating human trafficking, preventing more suffering and helping survivors is something that Donna and I are committed to achieving,” said Gov. Edwards. “Thanks to Donna using her platform as well as our state legislators, I am proud to say that our efforts in Louisiana are making a difference, and we are excited to share what we have learned about raising awareness and continuing to work with everyone who shares our desire to end this heinous crime.

To learn more about human trafficking visit the Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Centre of Louisiana at HumanTrafficking.la.gov and to learn more about the state-wide public awareness campaign visit StopTraffickingla.com. For more information about Santa Marta Group: www.santamartagroup.org

FALL-ing in Love with Louisiana

September 2023

John Bel and I have a little more than three months left in office. It is so hard to believe. As we work on the packing-up process of moving home, we also have so many wonderful things happening over these next few months.

The Santa Marta Group seeks to “, inspire, initiate” so that Church actors, law enforcement and civil society groups can collaborate more effectively to combat the sources of human trafficking.

Metanoia Manor and Eden Care Centers are two of many programs in our state that are working with victims of human trafficking.

I can’t thank you all enough for reading my blog, sending me encouraging emails and sharing your own stories for Lovin’ Louisiana.

Love ya’ll,

CLICK BELOW to read a newsletter written by a Sister from the Marianites of Holy Cross in Covington, Louisiana. Thanks, Sister for the great work.

PRESS RELEASE

Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards is to join the Santa Marta Group as a trustee, joining Cardinal Nichols, Yasmin Waljee, Russell Walters and Bishop William Kenney on the Board.

Mrs Edwards has long been active in her community, supporting various organizations, school, and church groups. In 2022, she established a national coalition in the USA with several other First Ladies for the prevention of sex trafficking, focused on victim identification, addressing causes of the crime, and supporting victims. The national coalition launched a campaign in January 2022: Stop Trafficking LA: Human Trafficking is R.E.A.L. The R.E.A.L stands for Recognizing the signs, Educating others, Acting immediately, and Listening to victims and survivors.

First Lady Donna Edwards said:

To learn more about human trafficking visit the Human Trafficking Prevention Resource Centre of Louisiana at HumanTrafficking.la.gov and to learn more about the state wide public awareness campaign visit StopTraffickingla.com. For more information about Santa Marta Group: www.santamartagroup.org

FEATURE

Calling All Louisianans!

Kylie Altier

School has started again, and as a teacher, I am already feeling inspired by my students and the opportunities this school year will bring! However, our class is bigger than my students and I, as it also includes our entire community… that’s right, you! Our children and our future are not only our collective responsibility but also our collective gift. The time is now for everyone to have a direct impact on children, in my classroom or any classroom across Louisiana!

When I moved to Louisiana two years ago, I found myself chasing two dreams. I wanted to be an amazing teacher and an amazing mom at the same time. I wondered if I would be able to provide all the things my school and home babies deserved. However, joining the community of Baton Rouge taught me that I am not alone and that I do not have to provide it all by myself. In some instances, the community came to me, and in others, I sought out the community. In either case, the results were far greater than I could have imagined. It has truly maximized my effectiveness as a teacher and also allowed me to find balance. Below are a few ways the community and classroom have become one for my students:

Guest Teachers: I started Genius Hour in my class and allowed my students the space to research passion projects. When they began picking topics way over my head like paleontology, herpetology, and fashion design, I looked to experts throughout our community to come to share their knowledge. We got to hold hissing cockroaches when learning about insects, write with actual lead stones when learning about geology, and hear from a perfect 10-scoring LSU gymnast about what it takes to be a champion. These community partners delivered lessons far superior to what I could teach. When an LSU Geology Ph.D. student came to my classroom. He came with a wide array of magnets that amazed every child. Within his presentation, he casually mentioned the SC Maglev, a train in Japan that runs on magnets. When he left, my student said “What if all cars could run on magnets too? Do you think we could go super-fast?” In this moment, the impact of studying passions was so clear. In our midst, we have future world-changers. So if you know a lot about anything, can you share that knowledge with the future?

Story time Readers: When I arrived at my new school, I learned about a 40-year partnership with a local church that has adopted our school. They partner volunteers with classrooms to read stories anywhere from once a month to once a week. My story time reader, Mrs. Laura, has truly become a part of our class. My students jump for joy at the opportunity to be read to for pleasure. This also connects them to another adult who values literacy. This partnership not only benefits my students but makes me feel loved in a big way. When she reads, she encourages me to sit back and enjoy the book along with my students and these minutes feel like magic as we cling to every word. When she walks out of the door, I feel invigorated to make sure each of my students feels as loved as she has made me feel.

Big Initiatives: At my previous school, I had started a school garden. It took endless hours of work, research, and effort. When I became a mom, I thought my gardening days would be on pause for a while. However, yet again, this community came in to teach me that it is not all on my shoulders. Atmos Energy, Southern University and Volunteers in Public Schools teamed up to give 3 schools brand new school gardens and I happened to be at one of those schools! This amazing initiative allowed me to start a garden club of 47 tiny gardeners. The garden has become a place of nourishment for our bodies, minds, and hearts. The garden is theirs and gifted them a huge opportunity in their educational career to be the ones making decisions, leading the charge and collaborating with students across ages and classes. Big initiatives could be anything you believe a school needs. If you can dream it, our students can bring it to life!

One-on-One Tutors: Through Volunteers in Public Schools, any students in my classroom who need extra help can get assigned to a one-on-one tutor. Having this individual time with an adult gives them the opportunity for truly individualized learning and a personal connection. One of my students last year was a developing reader, so when I instructed him, I had a targeted focus. When he was partnered with his very own reader, she allowed him to choose one book for them to read together. He instantly went to a lengthy chapter book about dragons that would easily take them the rest of the school year to read and she never even blinked. She took the time to help him through the big words and taught him to reread choppy sentences. When she showed up at the door, this formerly reluctant reader ran like he was running toward a candy store. By the time the book was finished, he was forever changed. I offered him specialized foundational reading instruction and she offered him her time and his choices. Together, we created a lifelong reader.

Grants: Two weeks after moving here, I got my first email informing me of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Academic Distinction Fund. This grant seeks to inspire innovation in the classroom and aims to fund teachers’ wildest ideas to promote student growth. Fast forward to my spring semester. I got to take students to the moon and hear a new type of excitement squeal from the most deserving little ones! We have walked alongside Komodo dragons, peeked over the edge of the Great Wall, and looked up at the larger-than-life redwood trees in California. There are loud moments of students screaming out about all they are experiencing, and there are quiet moments where one may sit on the ground in awe. In all the moments, I see curiosity, connections and critical thinking taking place. While these headsets have changed my classroom, another huge impact has been learning that local companies and organizations want to hear from teachers on how we make schools and our communities a better place.

All my life, I have believed that if I give love to the world, that same love will come back to me. Every day I feel a small microcosm of this. I go to work and give all my love to my students, and I leave feeling so loved in return. But since being in Louisiana, I have felt that power amplified in a whole new way. The love I gave to my students seemed to echo back with endless love from our community. Today and every day, the children will give that love back. In a small way, this might look like the huge smile on your face when they run to hug you. In a big way, they may be changing the agricultural landscape of the future, inventing magnetic levitating vehicles, or authoring our next great adventures. When you take the time to give to children, you will be rewarded immediately, and our community will be a better place because of it. Since partnering with the community, it is so clear to me that this is our path forward in education. Whether it is with an organization, as an individual, with time or with donations, any time you spend spreading love to children will bring you love in return. So this school year, I am here to rally everyone! We need you!

FEATURE

Calling All Louisianans!

Kylie Altier

Guest Teachers: I started Genius Hour in my class and allowed my students the space to research passion projects. When they began picking topics way over my head like paleontology, herpetology, and fashion design, I looked to experts throughout our community to come to share their knowledge. We got to hold hissing cockroaches when learning about insects, write with actual lead stones when learning about geology, and hear from a perfect 10-scoring LSU gymnast about what it takes to be a champion. These community partners delivered lessons far superior to what I could teach. When an LSU Geology Ph.D. student came to my classroom. He came with a wide array of magnets that amazed every child. Within his presentation, he casually mentioned the SC Maglev, a train in Japan that runs on magnets. When he left, my student said “What if all cars could run on magnets too? Do you think we could go super-fast?” In this moment, the impact of studying passions was so clear. In our midst, we have future world-changers. So if you know a lot about anything, can you share that knowledge with the future?

Story time Readers: When I arrived at my new school, I learned about a 40-year partnership with a local church that has adopted our school. They partner volunteers with classrooms to read stories anywhere from once a month to once a week. My story time reader, Mrs. Laura, has truly become a part of our class. My students jump for joy at the opportunity to be read to for pleasure. This also connects them to another adult who values literacy. This partnership not only benefits my students but makes me feel loved in a big way. When she reads, she encourages me to sit back and enjoy the book along with my students and these minutes feel like magic as we cling to every word. When she walks out of the door, I feel invigorated to make sure each of my students feels as loved as she has made me feel.

Big Initiatives:At my previous school, I had started a school garden. It took endless hours of work, research, and effort. When I became a mom, I thought my gardening days would be on pause for a while. However, yet again, this community came in to teach me that it is not all on my shoulders. Atmos Energy, Southern University and Volunteers in Public Schools teamed up to give 3 schools brand new school gardens and I happened to be at one of those schools! This amazing initiative allowed me to start a garden club of 47 tiny gardeners. The garden has become a place of nourishment for our bodies, minds, and hearts. The garden is theirs and gifted them a huge opportunity in their educational career to be the ones making decisions, leading the charge and collaborating with students across ages and classes. Big initiatives could be anything you believe a school needs. If you can dream it, our students can bring it to life!

One-on-One Tutors: Through Volunteers in Public Schools, any students in my classroom who need extra help can get assigned to a one-on-one tutor. Having this individual time with an adult gives them the opportunity for truly individualized learning and a personal connection. One of my students last year was a developing reader, so when I instructed him, I had a targeted focus. When he was partnered with his very own reader, she allowed him to choose one book for them to read together. He instantly went to a lengthy chapter book about dragons that would easily take them the rest of the school year to read and she never even blinked. She took the time to help him through the big words and taught him to reread choppy sentences. When she showed up at the door, this formerly reluctant reader ran like he was running toward a candy store. By the time the book was finished, he was forever changed. I offered him specialized foundational reading instruction and she offered him her time and his choices. Together, we created a lifelong reader.

Grants: Two weeks after moving here, I got my first email informing me of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Academic Distinction Fund. This grant seeks to inspire innovation in the classroom and aims to fund teachers’ wildest ideas to promote student growth. Fast forward to my spring semester. I got to take students to the moon and hear a new type of excitement squeal from the most deserving little ones! We have walked alongside komodo dragons, peeked over the edge of the Great Wall, and looked up at the larger-than-life redwood trees in California. There are loud moments of students screaming out about all they are experiencing, and there are quiet moments where one may sit on the ground in awe. In all the moments, I see curiosity, connections and critical thinking taking place. While these headsets have changed my classroom, another huge impact has been learning that local companies and organizations want to hear from teachers on how we make schools and our communities a better place.

-Kylie Altier

2024 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
McKinley Elementary
First Grade Teacher
ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies

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LOUISIANA FIRST FOUNDATION

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Teach Mam

Foster Families During Emergencies

Louisiana Fosters

High Quality Therapy for Youth

Human Trafficking

GOVERNOR’S MANSION

What if you could be part of history? What if you could give that gift to a loved one? Buying a personalized brick at the Governor’s Mansion is more than just a gift, it’s a way for a name to live on forever, on the grounds of the magnificent Louisiana Governor’s Mansion.

If you would like to purchase a brick for yourself, a loved one or a colleague, please click the link below and walk through the steps to complete your order. Once your order has been placed, you will receive an email from the Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation regarding the personalization specifications. Once those details have been relayed, your brick order will start the production process and you will receive a digital certificate that you can keep or share with the gift recipients.

Order your personalized brick TODAY for only $150 and be part of history forever!

Click here to purchase: https://louisianafirstfoundation.com/governors-mansion-preservation-foundation-store/

*All donations received will go directly to the preservation of the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion.

Visit the Governor's Mansion Store

Women’s Health

Working Together to Protect Women in Our State

by Torrie Harris

Assistant Secretary, Office of Women’s Health and Community Health

Whether at work, home, school, or simply on the other end of a phone call, you don’t have to look very far to see the impact women have in nearly every aspect of our personal lives and the well-being of our entire state.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has made improving the lives of women, children and families a top priority of his administration. As a result, there have been many opportunities for women from all walks of life to collaborate on a variety of initiatives designed to benefit communities throughout our state. This passion and excitement to see women succeed and flourish in our state grew even more deeply this last summer when the Legislature created our state’s first-ever Office of Women’s Health and Community Health during the 2022 Regular Session.

People of
Louisiana

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

from the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion

This decadent flourless chocolate cake is the perfect dessert for any occasion. With a rich and velvety texture, it will satisfy even the most discerning chocolate lovers.