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2022

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Teach MAM – First Lady’s “Steps To A Healthier Lifestyle” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teach MAM

 

Teach MAM: An Exciting Partnership to Strengthen Arts Education Across Louisiana

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TEACH MAM

First Lady’s “Steps To A Healthier Lifestyle”

In Conjunction With:
Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
By: Keyre’ Reed Bradford

 

On January 24 – April 25, 2022, the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will host its annual Own Your Own Health (OYOH) Physical Activity and Nutrition Challenges! This challenge is an opportunity for Louisianans to take ownership of their health and physical activity levels by completing various nutrition and physical activity challenges.  

This event aims to help combat and eliminate people suffering from underlying health conditions. According to Dr. Johnny Jones, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Baton Rouge General, chronic medical conditions, what many may call “underlying conditions” – include diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, and kidney disease. (https://www.brgeneral.org/news-blog/2020/march/whats-an-underlying-condition-/). Louisiana has the highest obesity rate in the country, high rates of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and high blood pressure.

In a recent study conducted by AARP, in regards to which underlying medical conditions played the most significant role in COVID-19 complications and death, doctors reported :

  1. Obesity
  2. Diabetes (with complications such as organ damage)
  3. High blood pressure (with complications such as heart damage or kidney disease)

All three are inflammatory diseases that are prevalent among American adults, and experts say they are closely linked. (https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/covid-underlying-conditions.html).

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, almost anyone, at any age, can do some physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Physical activity may help. (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercising-chronic-conditions). Even if you are overweight, don’t let that stop you from doing physical activities, including all four types of exercises (endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility). If you have difficulty bending or moving easily or feel self-conscious, try different activities, like walking, water exercises, dancing, or weightlifting, to see what works best. Anything that gets you moving—even for only a few minutes a day in the beginning—is a healthy start. (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercising-chronic-conditions. )

Our hearts keep us moving and living. That’s why it is imperative to keep it healthy. Choices you might make every day, such as eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, and aiming to be more physically active, can contribute to heart health. Being physically active is one of the most important things you can do to keep your heart healthy and prevent underlying medical conditions from taking over your life and health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercising-chronic-conditions. )  

Several conditions can be controlled, managed, or eliminated with a proper exercise and nutrition regimen. OYOH promotes and creates healthy habits to increase the likelihood of individuals remaining active after the challenges have been completed. When working with friends, family, and colleagues in fitness and nutrition challenges such as OYOH, those participating are more inspired to keep going, motivated to be successful, and become more accountable for their actions.   

We urge you to become physically active and adopt healthy lifestyle choices to help fight those underlying health conditions that can lead to larger, more severe health diseases and illnesses. 

Registration is now open for the annual Own Your Own Health Challenges. Please visit www.oyohla.com for more information and to register. In addition, weight loss and nutrition challenges are offered for a comprehensive health approach to wellness. People across the country are signing up now! So go ahead and get your team together and choose a name. Just set up the challenges so everyone in your group can track their steps and miles! We have team and individual competitions for fitness enthusiasts and casual strollers.

So join the First Lady’s office and others across the State of Louisiana to encourage our citizens to live a healthier, active lifestyle.

Works Cited:

Three Most Dangerous Underlying Conditions for COVID-19: Michelle Crouch, 02/03/2021,h .

What is an Underlying Condition?: Dr. Johnny Jones, 03/16/2020,https://www.brgeneral.org/news-blog/2020/march/whats-an-underlying-condition-/. 

Exercising with Chronic Conditions: NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA), 04/03/2020, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercising-chronic-conditions.

Own Your Own Health: www.oyohla.com: Louisiana Department of Health, 08/01/2021, http://idh.la.gov.

 

LFF_Blog_Feb2022_WomensHealth

Women’s Health – Heart Health

 

Women’s Health

WOMEN'S HEALTH BLOG February 2022

Women’s Heart Health:
“We Have Come A Long Way, Baby”

Written by
 Jessica Thibodaux, APRN, MSN, FNP-C
 

If you are old enough to remember the old advertisement slogan, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” then continue reading.  In the decades since this campaign that appealed to the modern woman was first launched, there has been a dramatic increase in women’s contribution outside the home and more men staying home or working from home.  Despite this progression and blending of traditional gender roles and responsibilities, exclusive biological differences in men and women influence cardiovascular health.  

Heart disease had been traditionally thought of as a man’s disease by both men and women alike.  As an answer to the call for greater awareness of women’s needs beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, more research was dedicated to women’s health concerns.  As women age and lose estrogen during menopause, the risk of heart disease climbs to equal that of their male counterparts.   This risk may be even higher in women of specific ethnic populations or even geographic regions such as south Louisiana, where risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and poverty are the highest.

In the past, women were less likely to seek care for their heart-related symptoms, and they were less likely to be referred to a specialist for cardiovascular evaluation even when they did.  While presenting symptoms are highly variable, women may not exhibit the same typical chest pain from obstruction of larger heart arteries as what happens to their male counterparts.  Women are more likely to have microvascular disease, which is a disease in the smaller arteries of the heart that may not even be detected on traditional testing, and present with simply shortness of breath, heartburn, fatigue, or palpitations.  

While heart disease remains the #1 killer in the United States, the incidence has been on the decline in recent years.  Programs that raise awareness and promote education have empowered women to know their risks, recognize their symptoms, make positive changes, and be their advocates.  We really have come a long way, baby.

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 Jessica Thibodaux,
APRN, MSN, FNP-C

Jessica Thibodaux, APRN, MSN, FNP-C is a family nurse practitioner who practices at Cardiovascular Institute of the South. She has over 20 years of experience in cardiology in both the ambulatory and hospital settings. She is passionate about life-long learning, community outreach and patient education.

 

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Feature: Keep Louisiana Beautiful

 

Let’s Keep
Louisiana Beautiful

Written by Susan Russell

 

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Let’s Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Love the Boot Week is April 18-24

Written by Susan Russell

Keep Louisiana Beautiful invites Louisianans to work together to organize and participate in cleanups and beautification events during Love the Boot Week, our state’s week-long Earth Day initiative happening April 18-24. Across the state, we will see involvement from businesses, schools, families, individual citizens, and entire communities.

Litter in Louisiana
Litter is not a new problem for Louisiana’s 64 parishes. For decades, litter has become increasingly detrimental to our communities, leading to a multitude of repercussions such as:

  • Blight on natural areas, cities, towns, roadways, and waterways
  • The death of wildlife and marine life due to polluted habitat
  • Consequential decline in quality of life in neighborhoods
  • A negative impact on economic development, hurting investment, infrastructure, and tourism
  • Flooding caused by storm drains clogged with litter and debris

The Story Behind Love the Boot
Since 2000, Keep Louisiana Beautiful and its network of 39 affiliates focus on education, enforcement, awareness, litter removal, and beautification. Our goal is to promote personal, corporate, and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. Seeing the need for a statewide effort to address our litter issue, Keep Louisiana Beautiful developed Love the Boot Week. We couldn’t be more excited to get this vital campaign off the ground with the support of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Let’s Work Together
Sportsman’s Paradise won’t be litter-free overnight. Still, by coming together during Love the Boot Week, we can bring awareness to the issue and take steps toward achieving a more beautiful Louisiana.

Visit www.lovetheboot.org to register your Love the Boot Week event or sign up to volunteer for an existing opportunity. We look forward to seeing how you #LovetheBoot on social media!

Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Susan Russell has served as Executive Director for Keep Louisiana Beautiful since 2014. Before leading the state office, she spent eight years as a local affiliate director for Keep Mandeville Beautiful.  

Her experience specializing in non-profit management, strategic development, program development and implementation, grant administration, event planning, communications, and marketing spans over 30 years. She has worked for the national non-profit organizations, Special Olympics, and Volunteers of America during her career.

Susan serves on the executive committee for the Keep America Beautiful State Leaders Council and the executive committee for Keep Louisiana Beautiful. She serves as a board member for the Louisiana Recycling Coalition and the Ozone Music Education Foundation.

As Executive Director, she leads the only statewide organization focused on litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. She oversees a grants program that has awarded over $3 million to fund local projects, offers environmental education lessons targeting K to 5th-grade students, conducts training and professional development, and supports local communities and a network of 39 affiliate organizations to increase their capacity to facilitate community and behavioral change.  

You can view a video from First Lady Donna Edwards about this campaign here.

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Blog – February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

VALENTINE'S TRADITIONS

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Like most of you, we have summer traditions, a week with family at the beach. We have Thanksgiving traditions like Mom’s table of plenty, Ginger’s pumpkin roll, and Dad’s smoked turkey. Christmas traditions with our special Christmas stockings hung over the fireplace, special supper on Christmas Eve, etc. Most of us have fun family traditions.

This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. I remember as a little girl knowing that every Valentine’s Day, my Daddy would give me a small heart-shaped box of chocolate candy, and Mom always received the large shiny foiled box of chocolates.

John Bel and I have a Valentine’s tradition that started on our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. The tradition began when we were stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI, in 1989, far away from home. Four thousand plus miles away from home, to be more exact. John Bel was gone quite a bit due to military training and protecting the Pacific. One afternoon after I got off work, I had to go to the PX, Post Exchange, to pick up a few things before going home. As I walked through the front door of the PX, I noticed a Valentine’s display. A heart-shaped waffle maker was among the many items suggested for a Valentine’s Day gift. Long story short, I purchased the waffle maker, and we have used it every year on Valentine’s Day. Our waffle maker is now 33 years old and a fun tradition for our children. One of my favorite meals is when we have our heart-shaped waffles and Cutrer’s sausage for supper.

Traditions ground us and give us stability in our lives and our families. And the good news is that traditions don’t have to cost you money or involve a lot of time. In Louisiana and the south, we have tons of traditions. Embrace the culture around you, embrace the love of friends and family, and you will experience a life of joy. Make up your own traditions or pass other traditions down through your family. Having family traditions gives life that special touch. What are a few of your favorite family traditions? We want to know. Ask your children and family what traditions they treasure the most. You will be surprised by their answers. Some of your family traditions may have started without even planning them.

This month’s blog provides encouraging words, reminders of heart health, and ways to bring a healthy start to your year by being conscious of your exercise and food options. It also offers profound words from Susan Russell on keeping Louisiana beautiful and the extraordinary story of a man who contributed to the building of the Mansion through his gift of carpentry.

Mardi Gras is March 1st this year. As we celebrate the many traditions celebrated around Mardi Gras, remember to take time to enjoy a piece of King Cake and laissez les bons temps rouler!

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More thoughts on the true goodness of traditions.
https://youthfirstinc.org/the-importance-of-family-traditions/

To make our Edwards Family Valentine’s Sweetheart Waffle Recipe visit: 
https://louisianafirstfoundation.com/featured-recipe-sweet-heart-waffles/

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FEATURE Let’s Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Love the Boot Week is April 18-24

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Susan Russell
Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Keep Louisiana Beautiful invites Louisianans to work together to organize and participate in cleanups and beautification events during Love the Boot Week, our state’s week-long Earth Day initiative happening April 18-24. Across the state, we will see involvement from businesses, schools, families, individual citizens, and entire communities.

Litter in Louisiana
Litter is not a new problem for Louisiana’s 64 parishes. For decades, litter has become increasingly detrimental to our communities, leading to a multitude of repercussions such as:

  • Blight on natural areas, cities, towns, roadways, and waterways
  • The death of wildlife and marine life due to polluted habitat
  • Consequential decline in quality of life in neighborhoods
  • A negative impact on economic development, hurting investment, infrastructure, and tourism
  • Flooding caused by storm drains clogged with litter and debris

The Story Behind Love the Boot
Since 2000, Keep Louisiana Beautiful and its network of 39 affiliates focus on education, enforcement, awareness, litter removal, and beautification. Our goal is to promote personal, corporate, and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. Seeing the need for a statewide effort to address our litter issue, Keep Louisiana Beautiful developed Love the Boot Week. We couldn’t be more excited to get this vital campaign off the ground with the support of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Let’s Work Together
Sportsman’s Paradise won’t be litter-free overnight. Still, by coming together during Love the Boot Week, we can bring awareness to the issue and take steps toward achieving a more beautiful Louisiana.

Visit www.lovetheboot.org to register your Love the Boot Week event or sign up to volunteer for an existing opportunity. We look forward to seeing how you #LovetheBoot on social media!

Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Susan Russell has served as Executive Director for Keep Louisiana Beautiful since 2014. Before leading the state office, she spent eight years as a local affiliate director for Keep Mandeville Beautiful.  

Her experience specializing in non-profit management, strategic development, program development and implementation, grant administration, event planning, communications, and marketing spans over 30 years. She has worked for the national non-profit organizations, Special Olympics, and Volunteers of America during her career.

Susan serves on the executive committee for the Keep America Beautiful State Leaders Council and the executive committee for Keep Louisiana Beautiful. She serves as a board member for the Louisiana Recycling Coalition and the Ozone Music Education Foundation.

As Executive Director, she leads the only statewide organization focused on litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. She oversees a grants program that has awarded over $3 million to fund local projects, offers environmental education lessons targeting K to 5th-grade students, conducts training and professional development, and supports local communities and a network of 39 affiliate organizations to increase their capacity to facilitate community and behavioral change.  

You can view a video from First Lady Donna Edwards about this campaign here.

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LOUISIANA FIRST FOUNDATION

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TEACH MAM

On January 24 – April 25, 2022, the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will host its annual Own Your Own Health (OYOH) Physical Activity and Nutrition Challenges! This challenge is an opportunity for Louisianans to take ownership of their health and physical activity levels by completing various nutrition and physical activity challenges.  

This event aims to help combat and eliminate people suffering from underlying health conditions. According to Dr. Johnny Jones, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Baton Rouge General, chronic medical conditions, what many may call “underlying conditions” – include diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, and kidney disease. (https://www.brgeneral.org/news-blog/2020/march/whats-an-underlying-condition-/). Louisiana has the highest obesity rate in the country, high rates of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and high blood pressure.

Learn more
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LOUISIANA FOSTERS

The Department of Children and Family Services hopes more families will make a difference in 2022 by becoming foster caregivers for youth in the State’s custody.

There are approximately 800 Louisiana teens in foster care on any given day. These youth account for 1 in 4 of the total population of children in Louisiana foster care. Only 6% of the State’s current foster families provide homes specifically for teens. When there aren’t enough families available for teens, it means teens must leave their schools, friends, activities, and communities. It means disconnection and instability at a time in their lives when young people most need consistency and support.

Fostering a teen in your community will help ensure stability for that young person as they continue to grow and develop. You can encourage and build the solid and supportive relationship they need to reach their fullest potential.

Learn more
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ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Most people think of women as victims of human trafficking, but it affects males, too. The American Psychological Association reports that “mounting evidence, along with the accounts of front-line psychologists and social workers, shows that men and boys make up a significant proportion of victims of trafficking, validating Procopio’s realization. A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2012 estimated that men accounted for 25 percent of trafficking victims globally. Further, the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons estimated that 27 percent of all victims detected globally were children, and of those, one in three victims were boys.

Additionally, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline identified more than 24,000 cases of human trafficking in the United States from 2012 to September 2016. Of those, 13 percent—or more than 3,000—were men. Boys and men who have been trafficked present with issues that are similar to many victims of complex trauma: poverty, sexual abuse, violence, or living in a home where substance abuse takes place. Behaviors can include drug use, running away, depression, anxiety, and oppositional behavior disorders”. (APA.com)

Learn more

GOVERNOR'S MANSION Martin Brignac

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In 1963, during the administration of Governor Jimmie Davis, the new Governor’s Mansion was built. The inspiration for the exterior design was Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana. During the build-out, a gentleman named Martin Brignac worked on the three E Bay windows famously seen in the Governor’s office, Breakfast room, and Capitol Suite located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Mansion.

He was most recently known as an octogenarian local artist that created 3D art and was even acknowledged at the Governor’s Mansion during the Changing of the Arts for the Tricentennial of New Orleans.

Martin Albert Brignac Sr., a native of Lutcher, LA, and resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at his home with his family at his side, at the age of 97.

The Governor’s Mansion will never forget Mr. Brignac and the hard work he dedicated to building the State’s home.

If you would like to help preserve the Governor’s Mansion, please visit our store to purchase one of our unique gifts!

https://louisianafirstfoundation.com/governors-mansion-preservation-foundation-store/ 

VISIT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION STORE

WOMEN'S HEALTH We Have Come A Long Way, Baby

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 Jessica Thibodaux, APRN, MSN, FNP-C

If you are old enough to remember the old advertisement slogan, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” then continue reading.  In the decades since this campaign that appealed to the modern woman was first launched, there has been a dramatic increase in women’s contribution outside the home and more men staying home or working from home.  Despite this progression and blending of traditional gender roles and responsibilities, exclusive biological differences in men and women influence cardiovascular health.  

Heart disease had been traditionally thought of as a man’s disease by both men and women alike.  As an answer to the call for greater awareness of women’s needs beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, more research was dedicated to women’s health concerns.  As women age and lose estrogen during menopause, the risk of heart disease climbs to equal that of their male counterparts.   This risk may be even higher in women of specific ethnic populations or even geographic regions such as south Louisiana, where risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and poverty are the highest.

In the past, women were less likely to seek care for their heart-related symptoms, and they were less likely to be referred to a specialist for cardiovascular evaluation even when they did.  While presenting symptoms are highly variable, women may not exhibit the same typical chest pain from obstruction of larger heart arteries as what happens to their male counterparts.  Women are more likely to have microvascular disease, which is a disease in the smaller arteries of the heart that may not even be detected on traditional testing, and present with simply shortness of breath, heartburn, fatigue, or palpitations.  

While heart disease remains the #1 killer in the United States, the incidence has been on the decline in recent years.  Programs that raise awareness and promote education have empowered women to know their risks, recognize their symptoms, make positive changes, and be their advocates.  We really have come a long way, baby.

PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA 1. Community

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CarniVOL 2022

The schedule is out for CarniVOL 2022! Join the United Way HandsOn Entergy Volunteer Center next week to celebrate the #MardiGras spirit of community at three service opportunities. View projects and sign up: http://UnitedWaySELA.org/Volunteer

PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA 2. Schools

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Bridget Berry

Pass It On – A New Teacher Collaboration


“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other.
Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.” -Robert John Meehan  

We, as teachers, are continuously learning from other teachers. Collaboration and mentorship from other teachers are essential for our growth process. During my first year as a teacher, I remember having the power to persevere thanks to having an inspirational mentor teacher, Mrs. Alanna Bradford. Her support, guidance, and encouragement helped me survive and thrive during my first year of teaching. As I reflect on my journey as an educator for almost 28 years, I realize that I have continued to learn from the exceptional teachers at the schools in which I have taught and have been able to build a network of collegial support from them.

These are some of my lessons learned.

  1. Be a Life-long Learner– To be a teacher is to be a life-long learner. Teacher mentoring, teacher coaching, and teacher advice from colleagues is an essential ongoing professional development piece. Continue to listen and learn from others.
  1. Collaborate– Each year brings new challenges and new learning opportunities. Each year, a new classroom awaits us, filled with students with different interests and learning styles. Collaboration with colleagues is essential to our growth as an educator and to meet the ever-changing needs of our students. 
  1. Embrace Your Uniqueness– As we learn from our mentors, instructional coaches, and colleagues, we are always trying to find a balance. This balance includes learning from other teachers while continuing to process our own unique and evolving teaching styles. As we learn from and collaborate with others, we examine how to assimilate what we have learned into our unique classroom using our own unique teaching style.

By reflecting on my own experience, I have utilized my opportunity as the 2021 Louisiana Public Interest Fellow and the support of my district to design a program to support the needs of new teachers in our district. Pass It On started with the need to provide new teachers with various opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other teachers and have mentors throughout the school and district to give advice. We began to Pass It On before the school year started with an in-person induction professional development day. At the beginning of the school year, each teacher was also assigned a school-based mentor teacher who would provide daily support and guidance. In addition, an instructional coach at the district level was assigned to new teachers to provide hands-on instructional support in the classrooms. Finally, Pass It On also provides a virtual collaboration every two weeks. These collaborations discuss a specific education topic. During meetings, our district’s veteran teachers share advice and take questions from our new teachers. The Pass It On virtual sessions allows each teacher to learn from various veteran teachers or mentors, examine their perspectives, and assimilate what they have learned into their classroom. As a result, the overall program provides teachers with many learning opportunities.

Some of our favorite meetings involved all of our district’s principals and a teacher from each school sharing tips for successful Compass observations. Still, another meeting involved all instructional coaches in the district sharing advice about examining and using student data to drive instruction. In another meeting, veteran teachers shared classroom management tips. Some Pass It On sessions have also hosted special honorary guest presenters such as Grammy Award Winning Educator of the Year, Mickey Smith, Jr; Torrence Williams, 2017 the Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year; Trinette Landry Wallace, the Louisiana 2021 Middle School Teacher of the Year and Louisiana Public Interest Fellow; and Miranda Britt, coauthor of The Tier One Curriculum Trap.  

To sum it up, the collaborations through Pass It On sessions allow teachers to gain a community of mentor teachers and various educational perspectives. Here is what educators from our program have to say:

      “From teaching me how to set up and maintain a classroom structure to knowing when to leave the work at home and take care of myself, this program has been extremely beneficial to me! There’s not a single meeting that hasn’t given me something to go home and reflect upon:  whether it was something about the classroom or just knowing I wasn’t alone in the first year.” – Kaelin Maloid, Teacher at Livonia High School.

     “The Pass It On Program is the exact mentorship and more that I wanted when searching for a school district to begin my first year of teaching. This program has equipped me with the skills I needed to become a better educator and connected me with a network of people who are glad to provide advice and assistance to increase my success in the field of education.” – Faith McFadden, Teacher at Stem Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee.

Even though our Pass It On virtual collaborations facilitate and support the growth of new teachers, each session has allowed me to learn and grow as a teacher. I have enjoyed watching the growth and collaboration of our teachers in the program and look forward to continuing Pass It On in the following school years. Our growth potential is unlimited, and collaborating and seeing different perspectives is genuinely a valuable resource.

-Bridget Berry
2021 State Teacher of the Year Finalist
5th Grade Teacher at Stem Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee
Pointe Coupee Parish Schools

Twitter:  @BParkerberry

PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA 3. Military

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Honoring Black Veterans During Black History Month

General Charles McGee

During Black History Month, we will honor the Black men and women who have served our state and country. Our first feature is Gen. Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman, who recently passed at the age of 102.

Before enlisting in the Army, Gen. McGee pursued entrance to an elite corps for pilot training. He was chosen and sent to Tuskegee Army Air Field where the climate was ideal for year-round flying. Most didn’t finish pilot school, but Gen. McGee did and earned his wings in June of 1943. During his remarkable career, he flew a total of 409 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Gen. McGee, who held many command posts through the years, received the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the French Legion of Honor and the Bronze Star, among other decorations.

Read more about Gen. McGee in a New York Times article about his life and service at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/16/obituaries/charles-e-mcgee-dead.html.

FEATURED RECIPE Superbowl Snacks - Poppy Seed Sandwiches

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It is almost time for the big game!
The Governor and First Lady will celebrate with friends and serve some of their favorite South Louisiana snacks.
Here is one of First Lady Edwards’ favorites:

Cheers to all of our Louisiana players in the Super Bowl!

Ingredients:

1 ½ sticks butter
 3 T mustard
 3 T Worcestershire
 2 T poppy seeds
 1 small onion, chopped fine
 12 Hawaiian Rolls
 1 pound thinly sliced ham
 1/2 pound sliced Swiss cheese

Directions:

Sautee onion in one stick of butter until onions are no longer opaque

Add:
3 T mustard
3T Worcestershire

Stir and blend in 2 T poppy seeds

Slice Hawaiian Rolls down the middle

Place sauce on each side

Place ham slices on the bottom

Place cheese on top of ham

Butter the tops of the bread

Place sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

MEMORABLE VERSE February 2022

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THE FIRST DOGS The First Dogs wish you a happy Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras!

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MEET OUR EDITOR Delery Rice

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A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Delery has lived there all of her life except during undergraduate school and a brief stint in Seattle, WA. She is a mother to four boys, ranging in ages from 21 to 16, and they are the heart and soul of her life.

Delery earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University. She completed a fellowship at Loyola University, New Orleans Institute of Politics, and currently attends Harvard Kennedy School of Public Policy. Her volunteer work has mostly evolved from issues that have affected her personally. Actively engaged in disability rights advocacy, Delery has testified numerous times in the Louisiana Legislature regarding issues that affect persons with developmental disabilities. She served as the chair of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, worked for seven years directing regional advocacy efforts and is a graduate of Louisiana’s Partners In Policymaking.

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The Governor’s Mansion: Mardi Gras Tree

Mansion
Mardi Gras
Tree

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Mansion Mardi Gras Tree

Every year, after Three Kings Day, the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion replaces their holiday décor with Mardi Gras decorations! Click through the photos to see this magnificent transformation, all thanks to our designer and dear friend of the First Family, Audry Hendry.  

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LFF_Blog_Jan2022_Recipe

Featured Recipe: Louisiana Style Braised Beef Short Ribs

 

LOUISIANA STYLE
BRAISED BEEF
SHORT RIBS

 

LOUISIANA STYLE BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS

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Follow Real Cajun Recipes on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/realcajunrecipe 

Original recipe published from:
https://www.realcajunrecipes.com/recipe/braised-beef-short-ribs/ 

  

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef short ribs
3/4 cup flour
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2-3 cups water
1 medium onion
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp oil or shortening

Directions:

Salt and pepper the beef ribs. Then roll and coat the beef ribs in flour. Place the oil in a heavy roaster and brown the ribs. Add the onions, water, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. As an option add 1 chopped bell pepper, 2 stalks chopped celery, red pepper and garlic. There should be enough water to cover the ribs. As the Cajuns would say at this point, “you let the meat cook down”; actually it is the water that will evaporate and the meat cooks in the process.

Simmer, covered just at boiling for 2 to 3 hours or until ribs are tender. Watch it and stir and skim off the fat as needed. You may need to add a little water towards the end to prevent sticking or burning. Cover the pot at the beginning of the cooking cycle and then in the last half hour of cooking, remove the lid and get the ribs brown again. Add water as needed.

Method 2 – Baking the ribs – Preheat oven 350 degrees – In a Magnalite roaster brown ribs add onions, water, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and bake until tender approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours until fork tender adding water if needed.

As another option, you could add 1 small can tomato paste, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons yellow mustard.

 

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Women’s Health – New Year New Mood

 

Women’s Health

WOMEN'S HEALTH BLOG January 2022

New Year New Mood – Considerations and Strategies to Improve Your Mood

Written by
Dr.  Kashunda L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D       
 

Women often juggle many roles like wife, mother, caretaker, student, worker, and leader.  A 2021 Cleveland Clinic article notes that in our society women tend to put the needs of others before their own. Managing multiple roles coupled with triggers like living in a pandemic, severe weather events, loss, and relationship challenges can cause women to feel overwhelmed and unhappy most of the time.    

It is normal to feel “down” occasionally in response to change or problems but having a consistently low mood is a signal that you may need support. Women that are consistently unhappy might be tearful, desire to spend large amounts of time alone, and lack the usual energy or motivation to initiate tasks.  For many women, feelings of unhappiness typically do not disrupt daily life.  Women can successfully handle responsibilities which often gives an illusion that life is in order. Yet, the ability to accomplish responsibilities and goals can cause confusion about why we feel “down.”

Self-care strategies that change thinking and behavior can help improve mood. You can reduce feelings of unhappiness by thinking positively and by reacting to negative events with healthy responses (i.e., a technique called behavioral activation).  Below are strategies that have been shown to improve mood.  

THINKING

  • Allow yourself to be sad or cry. A release of emotions may bring relief, as opposed to “bottling emotions up.”
  • Self-reflect. Think about what is making you unhappy and try to identify a related loss or event.  Doing so may be the first step to appropriately work through your unhappiness.  
  • Increase use of positive self-talk.  Challenge any negative thoughts you have and immediately following them with thoughts that are realistic and positive.  Intentionally shift your internal dialogue to include more affirmations and optimism.     
  • Take responsibility for your own happiness by avoiding codependence.  Happiness is an individual responsibility.  Your partner, children, family and friends add to your happiness but are not responsible for it.  Think about ways you can bring joy into your life.

BEHAVIOR

  • Spend time with supportive family and friends.  Avoid negative people and situations.   
  • Spend time doing an enjoyable activity or hobby.  
  • Entertain yourself with content that is positive or funny.  Avoid negative or traumatic content on TV, internet, social media, books and in music.  
  • Establish a consistent sleep and exercise routine, which can improve your physical and mental health.
  • Talk with a counselor or therapist.

As women navigate their responsibilities, it is essential for them to be aware of their mental health.  While feeling unhappy is normal, it is important to recognize when a low mood might stem from something more serious, like depression.  According to the American Psychological Association, depression is a negative affective state, ranging from unhappiness and discontent to extreme feelings of sadness, pessimism, and despondency, that interferes with daily life.  The primary difference between being unhappy and depression is that depression interferes with daily life and typically does not trace back to a specific cause. Depression can also make it tough to find the energy to do anything at all, even the things you used to enjoy. If you suspect you are depressed, seek help from a licensed mental health professional.  People with depression need treatment to feel better.  Depression is often treated with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.  If you need assistance finding mental health treatment facilities and programs in your area, use the following link,  https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ , to access an online resource.  

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Dr.  Kashunda L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D

Dr. Williams is a Louisiana native and serves as the owner and executive director of Sundry Behavioral Services. Dr. Williams is a Licensed Psychologist and a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst – Doctoral Level.  Dr. Williams completed her graduate studies at Louisiana State University and she has over 18 years of professional experience. Among her roles, she is a consultant, trainer, practitioner, and researcher. Her clinical experiences focus on direct services to youth (e.g., individual, group, and family therapy) for a variety of presenting psychopathology and utilizing ABA methodologies in treatment planning.  Her administrative experiences are in healthcare operations including behavioral health program development, accreditation, federal grants, informatics/analytics, and complex project management.  She has developed and facilitated trainings and workshops for mental health centers, schools, and community organizations. Dr. Williams has authored book chapters and her research can be found in peer reviewed journals. 

 

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People of Louisiana – Military (January 2022)

 

LAWRENCE
BROOKS

Oldest Living Veteran in Louisiana,
Dies at the Age of 112

LAWRENCE BROOKS

Governor and First Lady Edwards were sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Lawrence Brooks, America’s oldest World War II veteran and a proud Louisianan. Lawrence Brooks, the nation’s oldest living World War II veteran, died January 4, 2022 in New Orleans at the age of 112. Mr. Brooks’ service to our country and his infectious energy will be remembered throughout Louisiana.

 

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People of Louisiana – Schools (January 2022)

 

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DR.
JEREMY
MUSE

Lake Elementary in Ascension Parish

2022 Louisiana Middle School Principal of the Year

DR. JEREMY MUSE

Lake Elementary in Ascension Parish

2022 Louisiana Middle School Principal of the Year

What We Learned from Mrs. Landry

Our schools have persevered through one of the most challenging school years. We have worked together to teach our students in person, virtually, or even both at the same time. We have covered grade level content standards while also working to grow each child, regardless of where they started the school year. This all culminated in the publication of our simulated school scores for the 2020-2021 school year, and we saw what we have always known – the more time students have with a teacher, the better they perform. As we begin this new calendar year, we have the opportunity to improve our student achievement like never before.

Throughout our careers, educators have administered standardized assessments. While these have informed us about some of the progress our students are making, there are many things that these assessments simply cannot capture. Our teachers have a tremendous impact on the futures of our students by also teaching invaluable lessons. One of those exemplary teachers who taught her students more than could ever be assessed was my high school band director, Mrs. Claudia Landry.

Even though I graduated from Walker High School twenty-five years ago, the respect all of her students have for Mrs. Landry prevents us from calling her by any other name. She embodied so much that was right in education and is still located in our great state. Below are some of the lessons that I learned from Mrs. Landry and while they cannot be found on any assessment, mastering them made them who I am.

Be smooth through rough times.

           The reason a marching band has a steady sound and doesn’t make music that jumps with every step is because of the way they are taught to walk. The musicians “roll heel to toe” with each step to even out their movement. During one practice Mrs. Landry told us over her bullhorn that, just like the field we were practicing on, life would not always be perfectly smooth. It is how we respond that matters. Paul Landry, Mrs. Landry’s husband, recently told me that nothing really ruffled her feathers. If it did, it never showed and was just temporary.

With that attitude, you are right.

           One morning Mrs. Landry asked me if I was going to try out for an honor band, and I replied, “No, I probably wouldn’t make it anyway.” Her response has resonated with me ever since: “Well, with that attitude you won’t make it. You have already decided if you are going to make it or not; it’s always been up to you.” How profound is that? When we decide that something can be done and we will not stop for any reason, we find a way to make it happen. Whether it is through personal or professional goals, we often decide our own success before we begin. Can I really reach that student or lead a school to grow all of the students – yes, I can, because I have already decided.

Do it right.

           As we froze during 6am practice or melted during after school rehearsal, our best was expected at all times. If it was worth being there in those conditions, it was worth doing it right. Mrs. Landry would inform us when something was not to her expectations. I can’t say we always appreciated that feedback, but we would do it again, over and over, until we were out of time or we met her expectations. That constant work is what our educators do across our state. We give our best to our students and colleagues, reflect on how it went (usually a bit too overcritical of ourselves), and then come back for more the next day. The magic that happens in education is not by accident, it is the result of our focus to get it right.

Leave things better than you found them.

           Each of us will leave a legacy with people and places. Our interactions with students, coworkers, and colleagues shape everyone involved. As educators and people who care about other people, our responsibility is to leave things better than we found it. We work together to lift up our kids, coworkers, and community. No matter where we go or how long we are there, we are impacting the lives of those around us, especially in education. What an amazing privilege it is to be in this profession.

We lost Mrs. Landry on October 2, 2021. When I made it to the front of the line at her funeral, I wanted to tell her husband that his wife meant the world to me, that my life would be less if I had never met her, that I learned so much from her, and that she was the educator I strived to be. But all I could get out was that I was a former student. Mr. Landry gratefully pat me on the back and said that many students had come by, and she would have been so happy to be with us. In truth, she has been with us and will forever be as we carry out the lessons she taught us.

Dr. Jeremy Muse
2022 Louisiana Middle School Principal of the Year
Lake Elementary School, Ascension Parish
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjeremymuse/
Twitter: @teachergrower
#InvestInTheTeam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeElementaryLionsPride

 

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People of Louisiana – Community (January 2022)

 

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CHAMPIONS
OF SERVICE
AWARD

 COMMUNITY

CHAMPIONS OF SERVICE AWARD

Do you know a person or a nonprofit worthy of recognition? Or someone who is committed to making a difference in their community by volunteering?

Please click the link below and fill out this form to let us know! We would like to feature them in the blog!

FILL OUT FORM

Champions of Service Award
The annual Champions of Service Award recognizes outstanding volunteers from seven geographic regions across the state, plus outstanding AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Corporate volunteer programs. Nominations close on January 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Find guidelines for the awards here and a see a sample nomination form here. To nominate a volunteer, fill out the form here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Lori Pilley at lpilley@crt.la.gov.

Louisiana Volunteer Service Award
The Louisiana Volunteer Service Award recognizes groups and individuals who serve with distinction and demonstrate excellence. Volunteers who have contributed 150 or more hours of service in a calendar year can recieve this award along with a volunteer service lapel pin. To nominate a volunteer or for more information, contact Lori Pilley at lpilley@crt.la.gov.

 Community Service Diploma Endorsement
The Community Service Diploma Endorsement is a diploma endorsement that Louisiana high school students may earn upon graduation for volunteering a cumulative 80 or more hours. To learn more about this award, click here.

Additional Volunteer Awards
In addition to the Volunteer Louisiana awards listed above, there are various other national volunteer service awards available to recognize individuals and groups:

Congressional Award
Presidential Volunteer Service Award
Prudential Spirit Award
Jefferson Awards

 

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