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December2022

LFF_endofyeargiving

Feature: End of Year Giving

 

End of Year Giving

 

 

 

LFF_endofyeargiving

End of Year Giving

As 2022 comes to a close, we would like to offer our sincerest THANKS to all our supporters. We have accomplished so much, but much remains to be done.

The Louisiana First Foundation has committed to making Louisiana a better place for our citizens, especially our children. We continue to advocate for music, art, and movement through our Teach MAM Ambassadors program. We have engaged in improving outcomes for our foster children through the Louisiana Fosters. We have made great strides in ending Human Trafficking alongside the Governor’s Office for the Prevention of Human Trafficking and through the National Coalition for the Prevention of Human Sex Trafficking.

We can only accomplish our work toward these outcomes with our donors’ generosity. If you want to donate to our End of Year Campaign, please use this link or mail a check to:

Louisiana First Foundation
1001 Capitol Access Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Thank you.

 

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Teach MAM – Celebrating the Holidays through Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teach MAM

 

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

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TEACH MAM

Celebrating the Holidays Through Art

Annelise Cassar
 

It is always a good time of the year to use one’s talents to support and contribute to a community, but the Holiday Season lends itself particularly well to the art of sharing the arts. This year, across the state and around the world, students are using their gifts and talents to help unite families and communities. Bands and orchestras lead festive concerts. Theatre companies ring in the season with performances of A Christmas Carol and the Nativity story, dance programs entrance audiences with performances of The Nutcracker, and singing students lift their voices in song to raise the spirits of those around them. Visual artists contribute as well through the many sights of the holiday season.

This year, the art of Louisiana’s students can be seen in beautiful ways and majestic spaces. This year, First Lady Donna Edwards invited students across Louisiana to create ornaments to decorate the tree in the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. The First Lady is passionate about supporting arts education and creating artistic opportunities for students and has made this an annual time-honored tradition.

This year, students from schools across the state created ornaments showcasing works of visual art that reflect their personal experiences and traditions at Christmas time. From watching favorite movies featuring holiday stars like Jack Frost, Father Christmas, and the Grinch to personal family experiences around holiday food and religious traditions, each ornament reflects the students of Louisiana.

The celebration of Louisiana artists continues past the borders of our state. The self-portraits of Louisiana students can also be seen in Washington, D.C., at the White House. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden invited the 2022 Teachers of the Year students to create self-portraits this year. These works of art are now featured in the White House state dining room on the “We are the children” themed tree.

The Chalmette High students, whom I collaboratively teach with my sister and fellow educator, Arianna Cassar-Cruice, Artistic Director for our school’s performing arts program, joyfully answered the call to represent Louisiana artists. They created works to showcase themselves and their families, community, and state in traditional to modern styles.

When I asked one of the students how he felt about having his self-portrait showcased in the White House, he responded, “Oh my gosh! I’m gonna be famous!”

His exclamation of possibility illuminated the importance of this opportunity. Of course, sharing the arts at this time of year cultivates joy in artists and audience members alike. However, opportunities such as these, where performing and visual student artists are elevated and celebrated, create something even more invaluable. They inspire young people to see beyond their current circumstances and imagine boundless ideas of what they might create and achieve in the future.

This season I encourage each of us to look for opportunities where we might kindle this sense of capacity and hope in people, young and old. May we give the gifts of vision and hope for the future, and may we never shy away from the opportunity to inspire, encourage, and lead in sharing the magic of this season year-round.

Annelise Cassar Tedesco is Louisiana’s 2022 Teacher of the Year and the Teach MAM Music Ambassador for First Lady Donna Edwards’s Louisiana First Foundation. She also serves as Music Director for The Performing Arts Academy and CHS Voices in St. Bernard Parish Public School District. 

Join the conversation and follow Annelise on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annelisecassartedesco/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneliseCassar

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneliseCassarTedesco

Website: https://www.twosistersoneart.com/

 

 

Louisiana Fosters November 2022

Louisiana Fosters – Help Us Spread the Word and Holiday Cheer for Louisiana’s Foster Children

 

Louisiana Fosters November 2022

Holiday Cheer for
Louisiana’s Foster Children

 

Help Us Spread the Word
and Holiday Cheer for Louisiana’s Foster Children

Hundreds of Louisiana’s children and youth in foster care will have gifts under the tree next week thanks to the efforts of Louisiana’s Foster Care Support Organizations across the state. Dozens of churches and non-profit organizations statewide were involved in providing gifts and hosting events for children and families in foster care.

Royal Family Kids in Northeast Louisiana, Roots of Care, Fostering Community, Crossroads, Northshore Enduring Hope, One Heart NOLA, Moving Mountains Ministries, CASA, Unite Ministries, NOLA Families in Need, Connect 1 Child, Our Saviors Church, The Well in Ruston, Trinity Baptist in Lake Charles, Brave Heart Children in Need, James Samaritan, Healing Place Church, Methodist Foster Care, Barksdale Air Force Base, Loving Our Community’s Children, Family Roads of Greater Baton Rouge, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren fulfilled wish lists for children and youth in foster care.

The Family Village, Empower 225, Foster the Love, and Project 2.5+ were among organizations who hosted fun-filled Christmas events.

Foster care support is needed all year long! You can make a difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care next year. Contact your region’s Foster Care Support Ambassador to learn more about support opportunities in your community.

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If there’s a family in your area who needs some assistance this holiday season or throughout the year, help is a phone call away by dialing 211. The Louisiana 211 team works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to listen to needs and identify available resources. Louisiana 211 also works with the Kinship Navigator Program (KNP), an information and referral network for relative caregivers who are providing full-time care to children other than their own. Dial 211 or text KINSHIPLA to 898-211. 

December Adoption Spotlight

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December’s adoption spotlight features Maddox (13) and Jadynn (14) from the Lake Charles Region.

Maddox is a friendly child who loves to engage in conversation. He likes to ride his bike, fish, read books, and play video games. Maddox would like to be adopted by two parents with other children in the home. He is looking for a family who will provide him with love, support and patience.

Jadynn is a polite teenager who enjoys working in the yard and anything mechanical. He has a huge heart and is always willing to share with others. He desires a family that would help him put model cars together and work outside with him.

If you are considering adoption or fostering a child, take that first step by attending a free, virtual orientation session. Check out the current orientation schedule. For more information about becoming a foster/adoptive parent and the training available, visit dcfs.la.gov/foster.

 

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Visit the Louisiana Fosters Website

 

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People of Louisiana – Community (December 2022)

 

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 COMMUNITY

FEEDING
LOUISIANA



FEEDING LOUISIANA

Many families in Louisiana experience food insecurity during the holiday. The five regional food banks created feeding Louisiana within the state to support their collaborative efforts to accomplish statewide policy, advocacy, and food and fundraising objectives.

The Mission of Feeding Louisiana is to be a unified voice for Louisiana’s hungry by providing short-term food relief while seeking long-term solutions to hunger through advocacy, education, and leadership.

HUNGER IN LOUSIANA

  • According to the USDA,Louisiana has the nation’s third-highest food insecurity rate at 15.8%, significantly higher than the national average of 10.5%.
  • Louisiana also outpaces the rest of the South, which has a food insecurity average of 12.3%.
  • According to Urban Footprint’s statistical analysis, 1-in-5 Louisianans, approximately 930,000 people, experienced food insecurity or struggled to put food on the table in 2021.
  • Per Feeding America, Louisiana’s children and seniors experience hunger among the highest rates in the nation.
  • Food insecurity disproportionately impacts Louisianans of color compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
  • Hunger affects every parish and community in the state of Louisiana.

To find out more, visit Feeding Louisiana.

 

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People of Louisiana – Military (December 2022)

 

Lighting of the Veterans
Memorial Park Grove

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Lighting of the Veterans
Memorial Park Grove

On December 7th, Governor Edwards joined Secretary Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Joey Strickland, COL (USA Retired), at a tree lighting ceremony to honor Louisiana’s fallen servicemen and women.

The event was held at Veteran’s Memorial Park. The U.S. Memorial Grove of Lights honors Gold Star Families, preserves the memory of the fallen, and stands as a reminder that freedom is never free.

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People of Louisiana – Schools (December 2022)

 

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JUSTIN TEMPLET

2023 Louisiana State High School Teacher of the Year

English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, and Duel Enrollment Composition II

Chalmette High School/ St. Bernard Parish

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

JUSTIN TEMPLET

2023 Louisiana State High School Teacher of the Year
English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, and Duel Enrollment Composition II
Chalmette High School/ St. Bernard Parish

Make It Write This Season

As I started this composition, I had to check my calendar to confirm that it was true that we were actually in December. As an English teacher, I admit that I am by no means an expert in math, but even still, I can recognize that this month represents the completion of a whole. It is the twelfth month out of twelve—12/12—which, despite my math deficiency, I know is a fraction that equals one. It is the sum of our year. All our accomplishments, struggles, triumphs, and growth have been totaled, but despite what the calendar tells us, they, unlike 2022, are by no means finished. The calendar year may be concluding, but our time is not. After this month and its celebrations are wrapped up like this season’s gifts, we will take our gifts– where we have come from and what we have left to share– with us into 2023.

This spirit of fostering our version of excellence extends to our personal and academic lives. So while classroom doors may be shut for the next few weeks, our learning does not have to stop. 

The year we are now ending marks a significant transition for me professionally. After several years of teaching Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, I moved to teach AP English Literature and Composition. While I am honored to shift my curriculum and instruction to focus on some of the very works of literature by Dickens, Morrison, and Vonnegut that first made me fall in love with books, I would be a liar if I did not admit that composition and rhetoric, the study and instruction of writing, is what still keeps me warm on these cold winter nights.

I firmly believe what I tell my students every day: “if you can say what you mean and mean what you say, the world is your oyster.” The ability to effectively convey your message—your story—applies to both verbal and written communication. Despite common assumptions, the written and spoken word utilize two different cognitive processes and occur in two parts of the brain. As such, writing is a skill that we all should develop in our personal lives as well as in the classroom or office to facilitate our development. After all, we use our voices to express ourselves often; this season, with our time away from work and school, is the perfect time to foster our other voice through writing. After all, reading is listening to someone’s story. Writing is now responding with our own.

Two Ways to Keep Writing at Home Through the Winter Break:

1. Pages:

While I would love to take credit for this idea, the inspiration comes from Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert. When she isn’t eating, praying, or loving, Gilbert is assumedly writing. To get her thoughts and words transformed into the written word, she performs a particular type of journaling, which my students and I have christened Pages. I invite you and your family to join us by engaging with this prompt:

  • Today is your first day of “Pages.” The rules are simple. There are no rules! Well, really, the only rule is that you cannot stop writing for FIVE whole minutes. In room 235, we work our way up to ten minutes, but five is perfectly admirable for our first attempt today. You are not to worry about grammar or even about necessarily making sense. You are to write only what pops into your brain. If something new pops in, go with that! If you look inward and struggle to find a thought at all, just write, “I do not know what to say.” Eventually, I assure you, something will come. When it does, go with it. Go!

Okay, now that you and maybe your family have journaled, I ask, “What did you notice?” While I, unfortunately, cannot confer with each of you, I can report that over the years, my students have consistently reported several similar discoveries year after year, two of which I will share:

  • One, we recognize, perhaps for the first time, how much chatter, both positive and negative, beneficial and nonsensical, is occurring in our brains. The ability to acknowledge this internal dialogue, hear it, and sift through what is important from what is harmful is a gift we can each give ourselves.
  • Two, we realize this practice allows us to bypass the trepidation that is often the cause of the procrastination and writer’s block that prevent many of us from expressing ourselves in writing and transforming our ideas from thoughts into the written word. By embracing the fact that this Pages assignment will be imperfect, we can get our ideas out and accept that all writing is imperfect in some form. We can then, in an hour, a day, a week, or a month, look back at the product of our five minutes and discover a gem amongst the snow—whether it only be a few words or a phrase—of all that what we have written to now expand on in a more formal and deliberate piece of composition.

2. Thank Yous 

This year, my school system in St. Bernard Parish has focused on gratitude. I have embraced this motif alongside my colleagues because it truly represents how I attempt to interact with the world around me. Every experience has contributed to who I am and who I will continue to become; for that, I am grateful. It is important for us to express our gratitude to others. This holiday season is the perfect opportunity to express in writing our thanks for both presents and simply the presence of our loved ones. Composing thank you cards is also an opportunity for all of us, regardless of age, to synthesize our thoughts into a powerfully written message that endures.

Just as this year comes to an end, now, so must I. In doing so, I want to thank the students of St. Bernard Parish for all they have written and will continue to write on Pages and on the pages of their own life stories. As I prepare to go into the new year (and write new stories), I want to encourage you today, and for the remainder of this month, for all of next year, and for as long as we have, to say what you mean and mean what you say. When we do that, the world will be our oyster. So let’s grab the pearl.

-Justin Templet
2023 Louisiana State High School Teacher of the Year
English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, and Duel Enrollment Composition II
Chalmette High School/ St. Bernard Parish
Email: jtemplet@sbpsb.org
Twitter:  @MrTemplet

 

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Anti-Human Trafficking: Training

 

‘Tis the Season
for Human Trafficking Training

 



 

 

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‘Tis the Season for Human Trafficking Training

Dr. Dana R. Hunter and Mary Kate Andrepont

As we end 2022 and look towards the New Year, we pause to share with you the significant efforts surrounding Human Trafficking training and awareness that have taken place throughout the year. Louisiana’s leaders have not slowed down on educating professionals on and raising awareness on the issue of human trafficking. In April 2022, First Lady Donna Edwards held a National Human Trafficking Awareness Summit. The event brought together over 500 leaders and professionals from across the globe during the 2022 N.C.A.A. Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament and marked the launch of Louisiana’s first statewide public awareness campaign, Stop Trafficking Louisiana: Human Trafficking is R.E.A.L. As a result of this inaugural event, First Lady Edwards and the Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, through the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative, have trained more than 2,914 professionals on human trafficking awareness and response.

On October 6, 2022, First Lady Edwards hosted her 5th Virtual Global Human Trafficking Summit, which attracted more than 300 registrants. The summit included national and state experts who gave moving presentations on the importance of a trauma-informed care approach when serving victims and survivors of human trafficking. First Lady Edwards also blessed summit participants with a pleasant surprise — a presentation by the co-author of Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life, Dr. Chan Hellman. Dr. Hellman shared powerful remarks about the importance of instilling hope in our most vulnerable citizens as a tool to aid in their recovery.

Later in October 2022, the Office of Human Trafficking Prevention hosted Louisiana’s statewide Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Convening in Lake Charles, LA. The 1.5-day workshop brought together existing and emerging task forces, their members, and public leaders to strengthen our regional community’s responses to human trafficking. Anti-human trafficking task forces are widely accepted as a best practice to address human trafficking through a victim-centered and collaborative team approach. The Task Force Convening included:

  • Sessions on task force development.
  • Innovations in investigations and prosecutions.
  • Collaborations to serve victims.
  • Partnerships with tribal communities.
  • Grant funding opportunities through the US DOJ Office of Victims of Crime. 

The ninety participants’ diverse experiences and professional backgrounds created a rich discussion and collaboration environment. Attendees hailed from all across the State of Louisiana (rural and urban communities), Texas, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. They represented a variety of professions, including child welfare, C.A.C.s, healthcare, community-based organizations, and legal and law enforcement officers from federal, state, local and tribal agencies.

Next month, Louisiana will recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Prevention Month. Whether you work on the frontlines or are a member of the public, we encourage you to join prevention and awareness activities in your community during the month of January. You can get involved by attending a training, sharing the Stop Trafficking Louisiana social media posts @stoptraffla, or downloading awareness materials at humantrafficking.la.gov/resources. You can also actively prevent human trafficking, exploitation, and other forms of violence by supporting organizations and programs that uplift and empower vulnerable groups in your community.

 For additional information on training opportunities and activities throughout the month of January, please follow the Stop Trafficking Louisiana social media platforms: @stoptraffla.

 

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Women’s Health – Self-Care During the Holidays

 

Women’s Health

WOMEN'S HEALTH BLOG December 2022

Is it a Happy Holiday for You?

Self-Care for High-Vibration Holidays

For some people, the holiday season is their time of year. Just as with everything else, women make it happen. Everyone looks to us to coordinate all the festivities. Our daily duties don’t stop; we just add this to our already overburdened schedules. Between planning luncheons, dinners, parties, gift shopping, decorating, and spreading general cheer —–Whew chile…too much—— we can experience feeling overwhelmed, sad, or alone. We miss loved ones that are no longer with us and traditions that have ceased. Here are some tips to help you cope and add positive vibrations to your holidays.

 

Say No. I know you are saying, “she came right out of the gate with it.” Sit down and look at your calendar for the month. Politely decline invitations, especially if it’s something that is draining or stressful. Set boundaries around how much time you spend on holiday projects.

Make a Budget. Make a budget and stick to it. Your financial health contributes to your overall health. You don’t want to be paying for this holiday season, next holiday season. Thoughtfulness does not have to be expensive.  

Daily Self-Care is Non-Negotiable. There are tons of apps with guided mindfulness exercises. Take time to breathe and gather yourself. Practice saying positive affirmations throughout the day. Keep up with your daily skincare regimen. Soak in the tub. Listen to your daily hype music.

Protect your Temple. Try to eat healthy as much as possible but enjoy some holiday specialties. Stay hydrated and drink holiday libations in moderation. Try to stick to your exercise routine. Make sure to refill medications with consideration given to pharmacy closures. Continue to take your vitamins.

Ask for Help. Be kind to yourself by admitting you are overwhelmed and need support. Talk to someone about your feelings. If you see a therapist, keep appointments. If you don’t, consider seeing a therapist. Do not isolate yourself when you are feeling sad or depressed.

Keep the Main Thing, The Main Thing. Prioritize what is really important to you. Connect with your partner, spend time with those you love, or accomplish a goal. Set realistic expectations for your hopes for the season. Share holiday duties. Let go of the idea of a perfect holiday. It is what you make it.

–Dione Joseph-Breckenridge, MS, LPC-S

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Dione Joseph-Breckenridge,
MS, LPC-S

Dione Joseph-Breckenridge, MS, LPC-S, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. She manages the School-Based Behavioral Health Program at DePaul Community Health Care Centers. Dione owns Life Vision Behavioral Wellness, LLC, and speaks to primarily Women and Young People about the importance of positive mental health practices.

 

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Blog – December 2022

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BLOG OF FIRST LADY OF LOUISIANA DONNA EDWARDS

The Gift of Time

December 2022

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As we become more deeply embedded in the holiday season, I encourage each of us to take time to pause – take a breath – and be present in the moment. It is so easy to become engrossed in details that we often miss opportunities that matter the most. Pausing, sitting and just being still is so important to our well-being both spiritually and mentally.  It’s physically important to be still and rest also.  This time of stillness is important to each of us.

 

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Additionally, being still, available, and listening to those around us is so important. This gift of time is powerful and is the glue that builds our relationships. You see, relationships are built on trust. Trust is built on getting to know one another and believing in their love and commitment. This type of trust can only happen with quality time spent together. Time that involves sharing, laughing, giving of ourselves to another, giving of our time.

Our adult children are coming home, our college students are home for break. All children and grandchildren are home and most often all in the same space. If possible, find the time to be still and be available to those around you. This is the true gift of time. Often, it’s the time of being near one another where no words are needed. The silence and enjoyment of being together while watching a movie or reading books can be time well spent.

The holidays bring lots of busyness. It can be hard to find these times of stillness. When possible, bring in those around you to spend time in the kitchen cooking alongside you. Spend time wrapping gifts together. Spend time laughing about old times and making sweet new memories. Find ways to be purposeful in spending your precious time with those around you. And when you’re out and about preparing for your family gatherings, make time to smile at the stranger, speak a kind word to the cashier or wait staff. This is also a gift of time.

Time charts our existence on earth. You may have heard the story of “the dash.” The dash between the dates of our birth to the last day of our life carries the personal history of who we are. It contains a record of how we lived and what we accomplished during our lifetime.

I encourage you to recognize the gift of time. As I move through life, the passage of time has become more noticeable. Losing loved ones can bring the passage of time into bold and blinding light.

Time cannot be contained. It will not stop for any of us. Our precious memories are all we have left of the time already passed. I encourage each of you to embrace each second of each day. Through the beautiful times and the challenges – in the end, we only have the time that is left for us.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.

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The Gift of Time

December 2022

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 As we become more deeply embedded in the holiday season, I encourage each of us to take time to pause – take a breath – and be present in the moment. It is so easy to become engrossed in details that we often miss opportunities that matter the most. Pausing, sitting and just being still is so important to our well-being both spiritually and mentally.  It’s physically important to be still and rest also.  This time of stillness is important to each of us.

Additionally, being still, available, and listening to those around us is so important. This gift of time is powerful and is the glue that builds our relationships. You see, relationships are built on trust. Trust is built on getting to know one another and believing in their love and commitment. This type of trust can only happen with quality time spent together. Time that involves sharing, laughing, giving of ourselves to another, giving of our time.

Our adult children are coming home, our college students are home for break. All children and grandchildren are home and most often all in the same space. If possible, find the time to be still and be available to those around you. This is the true gift of time. Often, it’s the time of being near one another where no words are needed. The silence and enjoyment of being together while watching a movie or reading books can be time well spent.

The holidays bring lots of busyness. It can be hard to find these times of stillness. When possible, bring in those around you to spend time in the kitchen cooking alongside you. Spend time wrapping gifts together. Spend time laughing about old times and making sweet new memories. Find ways to be purposeful in spending your precious time with those around you. And when you’re out and about preparing for your family gatherings, make time to smile at the stranger, speak a kind word to the cashier or wait staff. This is also a gift of time.

Time charts our existence on earth. You may have heard the story of “the dash.” The dash between the dates of our birth to the last day of our life carries the personal history of who we are. It contains a record of how we lived and what we accomplished during our lifetime.

I encourage you to recognize the gift of time. As I move through life, the passage of time has become more noticeable. Losing loved ones can bring the passage of time into bold and blinding light.

Time cannot be contained. It will not stop for any of us. Our precious memories are all we have left of the time already passed. I encourage each of you to embrace each second of each day. Through the beautiful times and the challenges – in the end, we only have the time that is left for us.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.

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FEATURE

END OF YEAR GIVING

As 2022 comes to a close, we would like to offer our sincerest THANKS to all our supporters. We have accomplished so much, but much remains to be done.

The Louisiana First Foundation has committed to making Louisiana a better place for our citizens, especially our children. We continue to advocate for music, art, and movement through our Teach MAM Ambassadors program. We have engaged in improving outcomes for our foster children through the Louisiana Fosters. We have made great strides in ending Human Trafficking alongside the Governor’s Office for the Prevention of Human Trafficking and through the National Coalition for the Prevention of Human Sex Trafficking.

We can only accomplish our work toward these outcomes with our donors’ generosity. If you want to donate to our End of Year Campaign, please use this link or mail a check to Louisiana First Foundation at 1001 Capitol Access Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Thank you.

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FEATURE

END OF YEAR GIVING

LFF_endofyeargiving

As 2022 comes to a close, we would like to offer our sincerest THANKS to all our supporters. We have accomplished so much, but much remains to be done.

The Louisiana First Foundation has committed to making Louisiana a better place for our citizens, especially our children. We continue to advocate for music, art, and movement through our Teach MAM Ambassadors program. We have engaged in improving outcomes for our foster children through the Louisiana Fosters. We have made great strides in ending Human Trafficking alongside the Governor’s Office for the Prevention of Human Trafficking and through the National Coalition for the Prevention of Human Sex Trafficking.

We can only accomplish our work toward these outcomes with our donors’ generosity. If you want to donate to our End of Year Campaign, please use this link or mail a check to:

Louisiana First Foundation
1001 Capitol Access Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Thank you.

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LOUISIANA FIRST FOUNDATION

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Celebrating the Holidays Through Art

Teach Mam
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 Holiday Cheer for Louisiana’s Foster Children

Louisiana Foster's
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Human Trafficking Training

Human Trafficking

Women’s Health

IS IT A HAPPY HOLIDAY FOR YOU?
Self-Care for High-Vibration Holidays

by Dione Joseph-Breckenridge, MS, LPC-S

For some people, the holiday season is their time of year. Just as with everything else, women make it happen. Everyone looks to us to coordinate all the festivities. Our daily duties don’t stop; we just add this to our already overburdened schedules. Between planning luncheons, dinners, parties, gift shopping, decorating, and spreading general cheer —–Whew chile…too much—— we can experience feeling overwhelmed, sad, or alone. We miss loved ones that are no longer with us and traditions that have ceased. Here are some tips to help you cope and add positive vibrations to your holidays.

Say No. I know you are saying, “she came right out of the gate with it.” Sit down and look at your calendar for the month. Politely decline invitations, especially if it’s something that is draining or stressful. Set boundaries around how much time you spend on holiday projects.

Make a Budget. Make a budget and stick to it. Your financial health contributes to your overall health. You don’t want to be paying for this holiday season, next holiday season. Thoughtfulness does not have to be expensive.  

Daily Self-Care is Non-Negotiable. There are tons of apps with guided mindfulness exercises. Take time to breathe and gather yourself. Practice saying positive affirmations throughout the day. Keep up with your daily skincare regimen. Soak in the tub. Listen to your daily hype music.

Protect your Temple. Try to eat healthy as much as possible but enjoy some holiday specialties. Stay hydrated and drink holiday libations in moderation. Try to stick to your exercise routine. Make sure to refill medications with consideration given to pharmacy closures. Continue to take your vitamins.

Ask for Help. Be kind to yourself by admitting you are overwhelmed and need support. Talk to someone about your feelings. If you see a therapist, keep appointments. If you don’t, consider seeing a therapist. Do not isolate yourself when you are feeling sad or depressed.

Keep the Main Thing, The Main Thing. Prioritize what is really important to you. Connect with your partner, spend time with those you love, or accomplish a goal. Set realistic expectations for your hopes for the season. Share holiday duties. Let go of the idea of a perfect holiday. It is what you make it.

 

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End Of Year Giving

As 2022 comes to a close, we would like to offer our sincerest THANKS to all our supporters throughout the year. We have accomplished so much, but there is still much to be done.

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People of
Louisiana

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Justin Templet <br> SCHOOLS

Justin Templet
SCHOOLS

Lighting Memorial Park Grove - MILITARY

Lighting Memorial Park Grove - MILITARY

Feeding Louisiana - COMMUNITY

Feeding Louisiana - COMMUNITY

SCHOOLS

Justin Templet

SCHOOLS
MILITARY

Memorial Grove Park

MILITARY
COMMUNITY

Feeding Louisiana

COMMUNITY

RECIPE

from the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion

WE ADDED A NEW RECIPE FEATURE!

These southern classics are a favorite at the Mansion and sure to be a favorite in your home too. Their universal appeal makes them the perfect hosting gift, party dessert, homemade gift, and so much more.

Try them out for yourself and prepare to be addicted! Click to download.

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Les Fideles

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Memorable Verse

December 2022

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THE FIRST DOGS

December 2022

Should Santa Claus need any additional reindeer this Christmas, Bandit, Lady, and Mollie are reporting for duty!

 

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MEET OUR EDITOR

Delery Rice

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MEET OUR EDITOR

Delery Rice

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.