September

September 4, 2019

People of Louisiana – Community (September 2019)

PLEASE

FOUNDATION

People Leading Educational
And Spiritual Excellence

The PLEASE Foundation

The PLEASE Foundation (PLEASE) was founded in 2007 by native New Orleanian, Yvette Endom. A passion for helping at-risk children and displacement from her home for nine months due to Hurricane Katrina, drove Yvette to make our community a better place.

PLEASE adheres to its mission by identifying at-risk students in the New Orleans area who have a desire to attend college, have a strong work ethic, and continuously aim to achieve academic success. Through mentoring and education, PLEASE inspires at-risk children in New Orleans to achieve their greatest potential. Parents of the chosen students must also have a strong desire for their child to attend college and be willing to partner with PLEASE and participate in all activities to ensure their child’s success. By forming this parent/student/PLEASE partnership, at-risk students develop into young leaders in our community through mentoring, leadership training, college readiness, and scholarships to Catholic college preparatory schools in New Orleans.

The Foundation provides scholarships and all tools necessary for its students to attend and succeed in Catholic college preparatory high schools. The ultimate goal is for the students to be accepted into college with scholarships and to achieve their greatest potential. PLEASE is changing lives through education, one child at a time.

The uniqueness of PLEASE is that it works closely with each student, their parent(s), and the child’s school to ensure that each student is achieving their greatest potential. Through intense mentoring, the Foundation transforms these students into leadership roles in their schools and communities, ending the cycle of poverty through education – one child at a time.

Once a student is accepted into the Foundation, there is a commitment to pay for their education through the 12^th grade. To continue as a PLEASE student, each child must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, have a high attendance rate, be in good standing with their schools, and attend our community volunteer activities. The students must be involved in clubs, sports, or other extra-curricular activities as well. PLEASE prepares its students for leadership roles both in schools and in their communities.

Community service is a big part of PLEASE and our students and families volunteer as a group.

We expect our graduates to go back and volunteer in their communities – and many come back and volunteer with PLEASE! Our first college graduate, Mark Woods, is now the PLEASE Foundation’s Director of Volunteer Outreach for our current PLEASE students. Mark graduated from Jesuit High School in 2014 and ULL in 2018.

As of today, the PLEASE Foundation has experienced tremendous success helping these students. Over 320 scholarships have been provided for students to attend Catholic Schools in New Orleans. These scholarships total over $1,000,000 in scholarship money to our students. 100% of our 2014-2019 high school graduates were accepted into college with scholarships.

PLEASE currently has 20 students in High School, 22 attending college, and 7 college graduates. Each student strives to have and provide a better life for themselves and their future families, helping to end the cycle of violence and poverty that they are surrounded by every day. Education is the only way to pull a child out of poverty. The PLEASE Foundation students are the future leaders of our city.

You can learn more about the PLEASE Foundation on our website: www.pleasefoundation.org

If you would like to support the PLEASE Foundation, click here: www.bidpal.net/please

September 4, 2019

Louisiana Fosters – 3rd Annual Summit

Louisiana Fosters

3rd Annual Summit

Louisiana Fosters
3^rd Annual Summit

The event theme was “One Church, One Family, One Child” – a statewide call for faith communities to recruit and support families within their congregations to foster a child in the state’s custody.

“On any given day, Louisiana has over 4,000 children in foster care. We also have over 4,000 churches,” First Lady Donna Edwards said. “If each church-family recruited one foster family for one child, then wrapped themselves around that family in support of that child, we could change the direction of that child’s life, their future and the future of our state.”

Over the past two years, Louisiana Fosters has grown from a handful of groups scattered around the state doing work to support the foster care system to an interconnected network of more than 50 organizations working together to support Louisiana’s children, said Madeleine Landrieu, Dean of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and a co-founder of the Louisiana Institute for Children in Families.

Every church in the state can do something to support foster families, said Kim Carver, also a co-founder of the Louisiana Institute for Children in Families.

\”Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.\” —James 1:27

Carver, who works through Crossroads NOLA to help churches establish foster/adopt support ministries, invited the summit attendees to think about ways they could build support for foster families into their existing ministries and programs.

Fostering is rewarding but difficult work, he said. Families who are called to foster a child could benefit immensely from the support of their church family through babysitting or respite care, meal delivery, yard work, car repair or transportation to the child’s court and doctor appointments.

The event highlighted the work of six Louisiana Fosters partners – Open Table, James Samaritan (formerly James Store House), Empower 225, Crossroads NOLA, One Heart NOLA and Geaux 4 Kids’ Project Geaux Bags – and invited attendees to network with, learn from and work alongside one another to recruit and support foster families in their own congregations.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the work and support of our partners,” said Secretary Marketa Garner Walters, of the Department of Children and Family Services. “We do our best, but truly, we cannot and should not do this work alone. These are Louisiana’s children, and only by working together can we ensure their future.”

For more information about Louisiana Fosters, visit www.LouisianaFosters.la.gov.

Presentation materials and photos from the summit can be found at www.LouisianaFosters.la.gov/2019-summit.html.

September 4, 2019

The Teach MAM Certification Pilot

Teach MAM

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

Teach MAM Certification Pilot

The Teach MAM Certification Pilot wrapped up in August, and we are planning our statewide rollout later this year! During our pilot phase, the New Orleans Arts Education Alliance collected data from 14 schools in 4 diverse parishes across the state – Natchitoches, Orleans, Tangipahoa and Lafayette Parish. Each school nominated a MAM Liaison – a key staff member to participate in a survey and interview cycle about strengths, areas for growth, and upcoming need areas for music, arts and movement in their school and parish. Major findings included:

MAM programming benefits from strong support at the district level. Parishes with strong district-level support experienced more strength and growth in their MAM programs. Central district offices should appoint at least one key staff member to coordinate enrichment opportunities across schools.
Movement was the most commonly offered programming, with 71% of schools offering the state-mandated 150 minutes or more per week, followed by Music and Arts, with 47% of schools offering the state-mandated 60 minutes or more per week in each area.
The three highest need areas statewide for MAM programming were: funding (79% of schools in need), professional development (57% of schools in need), and adequate instructional time (50% of schools in need.) Schools also expressed a need for more community partners and qualified teachers.

These findings (and more) will be released in a comprehensive report this month. We will also develop a plan from our pilot findings to roll out Teach MAM resources across the state this year, concentrating on local funding support, professional development, and instructional planning support. Our goal is to ensure all schools have what they need to provide music, arts and movement to all students in Louisiana.

September 4, 2019

Featured Recipe: BRQ Smoked Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Chef Justin Ferguson\’s

BRQ Smoked Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients:

3 cups dark roux
4 cups diced onions
2 cups diced celery
2 cups diced bell pepper
2 cups sliced fresh okra
3/4 cup minced garlic
1 cup diced smoked Tasso
1 lb smoked Andouille sausage
1 lb smoked pulled chicken meat
3 each smoked ham hocks
7 quarts chicken stock
2 T Creole seasoning
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 each bay leaves
1 T ground file
1/2 tsp ground cayenne
Kosher Salt (to taste)
4 cups cooked Louisiana rice

Roux:

1 1/2 cups canola oil
2 cups AP Flour

Directions:

The Roux
Heat 1 ½ cups canola oil on medium high heat in a cast iron skillet. With a wooden spoon stir in 1 1/2 cups of the flour continue to stir for 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure to continue to stir the roux so it does not burn. Once the roux gets to be a deep dark brown color add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Take off the heat. Place roux in a metal bowl so it does not burn in cast iron skillet and set aside.

The Gumbo:
In a large cast iron pot sauté onions, garlic, celery, bell pepper, and okra in butter. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until okra is falling apart and completely cooked down. Add 1 Tablespoon Creole seasoning mix and stir in. Then add dark roux. Stir in with wooden spoon until well incorporated, then slowly add hot chicken stock while mixing. Once all the stock is in the Gumbo add 3 ham hocks, Worcestershire, Hot sauce, bay leaves, file, cayenne, and remaining Creole seasoning and cook on medium/low heat for 45 minutes. Add the smoked chicken and smoked Andouille and cook for an additional 15 minutes on a low simmer. Taste and season with salt. Skim fat and oil off the top then serve over Louisiana long grain rice and garnish with green onions.

Serves 4

Chef Justin Ferguson Chef/Owner, BRQ Restaurant

Justin Ferguson is a Baton Rouge native and Army veteran who completed two tours in Iraq before enrolling in a culinary arts program at the Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in 2005. After graduating from LCI, Ferguson moved to Boston and worked as a line cook at both Tresca and Via Matta. He later returned to Baton Rouge, for the opening of Stroubes Chophouse where he was the Executive Chef.

In 2010, Ferguson was approached by Superior Restaurant Group with an offer to assist with opening Superior Seafood in New Orleans, in the role of Executive Chef. Ferguson later moved on to the Roosevelt Hotel a Waldorf Astoria Property in New Orleans, where he was the Chef de Cuisine of the Hotel, Teddy’s Café, Sazerac Bar, and the Fountain Lounge.

Ferguson most recently worked in Chicago as the Corporate Executive Chef at Ideology Entertainment, where he assisted in opening four concepts and directed the culinary teams at five restaurants. He had the pleasure of working alongside celebrity chef, Art Smith in the development of Blue Door Kitchen and Garden and also worked with Pitmaster, Lee Ann Whippen during her time at Chicago.

He has since returned to Baton Rouge and in June 2017 opened BRQ, which is a Southern Seafood and Barbecue restaurant that is currently receiving rave reviews.

He has partnered with the owners of LCI and is the Chef/Owner of this concept. Justin and his team are set to open BRQ Seafood and Barbeque’s second location in Denham Springs this month.

Additionally, Ferguson is bringing his culinary talents to the world of catering with the launch Bacon & Fig Events, a BRQ/LCI partnership focused on producing the highest quality, fine dining events possible.

BRQ Seafood and Barbecue Restaurant

Recent Awards & Honors:
• Chicago Magazines Top 50 Restaurants
2014 – Blue Door Farm Stand
• “La Storia” Most Anticipated Restaurant Opening
Chicago Magazine and Chicago Tribune
• Recipient of Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine’s:
“Chefs to Watch” Award – 2010
• First Place in Southern Breeze Magazine’s
“Top Chef Competition” – 2008
• Dig Magazine – “Greatest BBQ” – 2018

September 4, 2019

People of Louisiana – Schools (September 2019)

Kelly Stomps

2016

Louisiana
Teacher of the Year

Kelly Stomps 2016 Louisiana Teacher of the Year

I have just embarked on my nineteenth year of teaching music. During this time, I have taught over 5,000 students. I have taught students of different races, religions, backgrounds, and abilities. I have taught students that have experienced poverty and/or extreme trauma. I have also had students that come from financially secure and/or supportive homes. Over these years, I have come to realize that there are three undeniable truths regarding music education. While you may find a multitude of research that can support these truths, I only need the evidence that has been before my eyes the past eighteen years. Here are my teacher truths.

Every child is musical.

Out of the 5,000 plus students I have taught, all have had musical ability. The variations only occur within how that ability is demonstrated. Many students have been talented vocally. Others have had an amazing sense of beat and rhythm while others seem drawn to understanding the structure of music. Beyond all having some form of musical talent, all have been able to respond to music with emotional expression. This includes my students with severe special needs that limit their ability to move and communicate. I still remember with great joy the giggle-like sounds a boy with special needs would emit whenever I sang the folk song, “I Bought Me a Cat.”

As I have been able to witness this universal musical ability, I consider it a great honor and responsibility to help my students uncover these abilities. It is my job to nurture this natural talent and help their abilities grow. I am not teaching students to make music for one year. I am teaching students to make music for a lifetime.

Music is a natural way for students to learn.

From their earliest stages, children are naturally drawn to music. Babies vocalize sounds, shake rattles, and bang on all manner of things. With these musical explorations, the babies are learning about the world around them. Parents and caregivers expand a child’s knowledge through singing lullabies, modeling finger-plays, speaking rhymes, and singing the ABCs. Thanks to School House Rock, I am still able to sing the words of the Preamble of the Constitution. Our brains are hard-wired to learn through music.

With the knowledge that my student’s brains are innately designed to learn through music, it is my responsibility to design lessons that connect across the curriculum. We dance to life cycles. We sing about the states of matter. We use body percussion to solve multiplication problems. English Language Arts skills are interwoven into every lesson. I love it when teachers express how much our musical lessons have helped their students grow academically. I teach about music, and I teach through music. This helps every child grow. In addition, not every child does well with pencil and paper assessments. Being able to demonstrate learning through music enables all of my students to feel academic success.

Music is a time-machine to the past, mirror for the present, and inspiration for the future.

Music is a gateway. It gives students the ability to travel through time. Not every child has the background experiences to connect with the things they study in history. I am able to build that connection and make history come to life through musical experiences. One of my favorite moments last year was when my third graders made the connections between Funga Alafia, a folk song from Nigeria, to Eliza Jane, a folk song from Virginia, to our New Orleans Brass Bands. Our history can be uncovered in the music of today.

The world around us is also reflected in our present day music. My students are able to gain a greater perspective of the world while learning how to safely express their points of view through music. It is breathtaking for me to hear the world through my students’ musical creations.

As for the future, music is a way to instill hope in all kids. This feeling of hope is a key ingredient for a successful future. I will forever find ways to wield the power of hope through music.

In Conclusion

As the 2019-2020 school year progresses, I will carry these teacher truths close to my heart. They give me hope, purpose, and are at the heart of why I am a music teacher. As “the truth will set you free”, these truths give my students the wings to fly.

Facebook link – Kelly Stomps 2016 Louisiana Teacher of the Year
Twitter – @KellyStomps
Blog – https://stompnchat.com/

September 3, 2019

Blog – September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 BLOG

Volume 1, Edition 11

SEPTEMBER 2019

A word from the
First Lady of Louisiana

LEADERSHIP

On August 22, 2019 at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, we celebrated the life of former Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.

Many people have shared their memories and thoughts of Kathleen. One that I thought was especially touching was by a mutual friend. He said, “A great irony of her time in office is that people perceived her humanity and empathy during Katrina as weakness. When in reality, she is probably the strongest person I’ve ever known. She really is the definition of a Steel Magnolia.”

John Bel referred to Kathleen as a “Steel Magnolia” the day before. How appropriate. John Bel was determined to find a special magnolia tree and have it planted on the Mansion grounds of the Governor’s Mansion for her family to see on following the Celebration of Life Service honoring Governor Blanco.

As I contemplated Kathleen’s leadership style, I looked at my husband’s leadership style. I began thinking about what it means to be a true leader. What is the definition of a leader? Does the leader always have to be the one in charge, the president of an organization, the chair of a committee or the one in front of the group? The answer is no. However, certain characteristics are common to the best leaders, and good leaders are respected.

As I began to research the different characteristics essential for good leadership, I came upon the following list. Each of us has a responsibility to be a leader in some way, maybe in your classroom, family, job, civic organization, among our friends, etc. An essential attribute of good leaders is compassion for others.

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco leaves behind a legacy of good leadership, of kindness and true love of neighbor.

Some definitions of good leaders:
Leaders find purpose in the needs around them.
Leaders not only know where they’re going; they also take people with them.
Leaders earn the right to be heard.
Leaders should listen to God before asking others to listen to them.
Trust is formed by a leader’s character and credibility.

“A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.” — Proverbs 29:4

“Life is about discovering who we are; leading is about striving to become better than we are, and helping everything and everyone around us to become better too.” –Lolly Daskal

“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” –Marian Anderson

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” —Woodrow Wilson

“Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.” –Seth Godin

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” —Ronald Reagan

“To add value to others, one must first value others.” –John Maxwell

“The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been.” –Henry Kissinger

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.” –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” –Mahatma Gandhi

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” –Douglas MacArthur

THE GOVERNANCE OF POWER

Darrell Bourque, appointed poet laureate of Louisiana 2007

THE GOVERNANCE OF POWER

For Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
December 15, 1942 – August 18, 2019

Power is a woman who looks directly into the camera,

says a defining moment in her life is the loss of a son.

Power is a woman who always writes her own script.

Power is a woman who takes a 15 year turn to raise children,

Karmen, then Monique, Nicole, Ray, Pilar, and beloved Ben.

Power is a woman who cares about the health of others first.

Power is a woman who teaches, and then teaches teachers.

She teaches them to build their schools first from the inside.

Power is a woman who falls in love with the one Blanco

she knows she’ll spend the rest of her life with, and does.

Power is fearless of foreign tongues and places and peoples.

Power is a woman never hedging when it comes to her God,

how she will walk with Him and talk to Him and rest in Him.

Power is a woman who can say “I am a powerful woman,

and I don’t say that because I was governor.” She says,

“I’m not powerful because I wield power, then or now,

but because I claim personal power and I claim that power

to define my personal happiness.” She says this to students

at the beginning of a new phase in their lives, a last phase

in hers. She says, “I suggest you give yourself that gift too.”

All power comes from big-heartedness, and a plan, from

hope and faith. She’s saying, “give yourselves that gift too.”

Louisiana First Foundation

Yes Mam, No Mam, Thank you Mam = Teach MAM!

TEACH MAM

The Teach MAM Certification Pilot wrapped up in August, and we are planning our statewide rollout later this year! During our pilot phase, the New Orleans Arts Education Alliance collected data from 14 schools in 4 diverse parishes across the state – Natchitoches, Orleans, Tangipahoa and Lafayette Parish. Each school nominated a MAM Liaison – a key staff member to participate in a survey and interview cycle about strengths, areas for growth, and upcoming need areas for music, arts and movement in their school and parish.

Learn More

LOUISIANA FOSTERS

First Lady Donna Edwards welcomed foster care advocates and faith leaders from across the state to the Governor’s Mansion on Friday, August 23, 2019, to celebrate the success of Louisiana Fosters and to increase involvement of faith-based communities in support of foster parents and the children in their care. The event theme was “One Church, One Family, One Child” – a statewide call for faith communities to recruit and support families within their congregations to foster a child in the state’s custody.

Learn More

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This is a poem written by Megan, a 16-year-old girl who was rescued from human trafficking and became a resident of Metanoia Manor. While at Metanoia, she wrote this poem. The First Lady asked if she could read it to people, and Megan said, “Yes, but read it to big groups of people who will help.”

Learn More

SUNFLOWERS

at the Governor’s Mansion

Two rows of glorious sunflowers are waiting to bloom in front of the gates of the Governor’s Mansion. The yellow color of the sunflower symbolizes vitality, intelligence, and happiness and friendship. Sunflowers are often given on 3rd year wedding anniversaries as signs of adoration, loyalty, and strength. Here in Louisiana, the sunflower can be seen growing in fields and gardens all over the state.

Words from Kimiyo Harris Williams, M.D., FAAP

“Self-Love is Healthy Living”

Whether you’re single, married, a single mom, working wife and mom, business owner, homemaker or the “boss” lady, keeping abreast of current women’s health recommendations is paramount.

I must admit, it can be somewhat overwhelming to carve out time to focus on our health and wellness. After all, we as women, have to make sure the kids have clean uniforms, breakfast is available, homework is completed, and lunch is prepared. After the school day, we transport the kids back and forth to extracurricular activities, make sure we have dinner cooked, take care of aging parents, complete a project for work, prepare a presentation for the boss, make it to our church meeting and serve as leaders in our church; not to mention, all of our community service projects and organizational commitments. Therefore, it’s no surprise that our health is often put on the “back burner.” However, I would like to urge the women of Louisiana to practice some “self -love.” Loving ones’ self can potentially change health outcomes both physically and mentally.

Self -love is demonstrated when you decide to schedule an annual physical exam. Every woman should have a medical physical at least once a year. Additionally, learning your family history is very important and can help your doctor regarding your individualized medical care. Moreover, regular interaction with your provider develops a healthy rapport and establishes trust. This trust and rapport allows for overall better health care outcomes.

As you embrace this idea of “self-love,” don’t get it confused with selfishness. Some synonyms for selfishness are egotism, self-seeking and self- serving. The “self-love” that I am referring to is neither of the above. This self-love is all about caring and loving yourself enough to check-in on your wellness and to work daily in fostering healthy living. I encourage focusing some energy on taking care of “self” so that we can be our best for others. Taking care of our mental and physical health is very important.

COMMUNITY

The PLEASE Foundation (PLEASE) was founded in 2007 by native New Orleanian, Yvette Endom. A passion for helping at-risk children and displacement from her home for nine months due to Hurricane Katrina, drove Yvette to make our community a better place. PLEASE adheres to its mission by identifying at-risk students in the New Orleans area who have a desire to attend college, have a strong work ethic, and continuously aim to achieve academic success. Through mentoring and education, PLEASE inspires at-risk children in New Orleans to achieve their greatest potential.

I have just embarked on my nineteenth year of teaching music. During this time, I have taught over 5,000 students. I have taught students of different races, religions, backgrounds, and abilities. I have taught students that have experienced poverty and/or extreme trauma. I have also had students that come from financially secure and/or supportive homes. Over these years, I have come to realize that there are three undeniable truths regarding music education. While you may find a multitude of research that can support these truths, I only need the evidence that has been before my eyes the past eighteen years. Here are my teacher truths.

SCHOOLS

MILITARY

The recent overseas deployment of the 832nd Engineer Utilities Detachment, a Louisiana National Guard unit headquartered in Plaquemine, is a reminder to all of us that our support of the Nation’s war fight continues. Since 9/11, over 18,750 Louisiana Guardsmen have deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. Currently, over 700 LA Guardsmen are deployed overseas and another 450 are pending deployment. For nineteen years now, Guard units continue to perform admirably, professionally, honorably, and return as heroes. To those Guardsmen currently deployed and to their families, we say God bless and God speed.

BUSINESS

Leslie McMichael founded LesCo Productions LLC in 1996 as a full-service events and marketing Production Company. Her dream was twofold, one, to create the most uniquely interactive marketing experiences for her clients, another to fashion a career that would allow her to eventually be both a businesswoman and a full time mom. By 2001 both of these dreams had come true for Leslie. LesCo Productions was producing events across the country and at home in Louisiana. Leslie was also raising her two amazing daughters Macy and Mollie McMichael.