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Maddie’s Footprints – Footprints Forever Marathon & Fun Run

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We recently discovered Maddie’s Footprints, an exceptional organization that offers both emotional and financial support to families in the Greater Baton Rouge area experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Countless families, including my own, have endured the silent heartache of losing a pregnancy or child. It’s a sorrow that no one should bear alone, and thanks to Maddie’s Footprints, no one has to.

Maddie’s Footprints

Maddie’s Footprints was established in January 2010 in memory of Madeline Noelle McGrew. The vision of Maddie’s Footprints is to help families who have experienced miscarriages, stillbirths, or the loss of an infant. We help lead these families in the right direction when they are in need of information and/or counseling. We also offer these families financial assistance for end-of-life expenses and/or medical expenses that can be overwhelming during their difficult time.

Maddie’s Footprints

Footprints Forever Quarter Marathon, 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run

Race registration for the Annual Footprints Forever Quarter Marathon, 5k, and 1 Mile Fun Run benefitting Maddie’s Footprints is now OPEN!

All are invited to this special event where families can unite in remembrance of their little ones who left too soon. This year’s “Footprints Forever” race, dedicated to supporting families facing miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, is set for October, aligning with Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Maddie’s Footprints

Hosted in the scenic Pointe Marie neighborhood, the event promises more than just the race. Join fellow local families post-race for a celebratory gathering featuring a DJ, food and drinks, fun jumps, face painting, and more!

The vision of Maddie’s Footprints is to help families who have experienced miscarriages, stillbirths or the loss of an infant.

WHAT:

Footprints Forever Quarter Marathon, 5k, and 1 Mile Fun Run

WHEN:

Saturday, October 28, 2023

WHERE:

Pointe Marie Neighborhood
14200 River Road
Baton Rouge, LA US 70820

REGISTRATION:

https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/BatonRouge/FootprintForeverQuarterMarathon

Register before September 28th and lock in your spot now to take advantage of the early bird pricing AND receive a Footprints Forever t-shirt! 

 

Free Summer Meals in Baton Rouge – IDEA Schools

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With summer upon us, many children eagerly await the freedom from school routines, ready to embrace weeks of fun and relaxation. However, for numerous students in Baton Rouge, summer break may present an unintended consequence: limited access to nutritious meals. Fortunately, IDEA School is bringing back its Free Summer Meals program that ensures that every child receives a wholesome breakfast and lunch, regardless of their economic background or where they attend school.

Free Summer Meals in Baton Rouge

Free Summer Meals for Kids – Baton Rouge

Breakfast and lunch will be served at all campuses Monday through Friday for kids 18 and younger, regardless of whether they attend an IDEA school.

For many children, the end of the school year signifies the end of regular, nutritious meals provided through school lunch programs. It poses a significant challenge for families struggling to provide enough food during summer. IDEA School’s free lunch and breakfast initiative guarantees that every child can concentrate on learning, playing, and growing without worrying about hunger.

Food insecurity is an issue facing families in communities across the country; nearly one in five children in America lives in households that struggle to put food on the table. Louisiana has the country’s fourth-highest rate of children living in poverty. You might never know this because child hunger in America is often invisible; it could be friends, neighbors, and even family members that are struggling with food insecurity.

This program serves as a beacon of hope for families struggling to make ends meet, ensuring their children have access to at least two wholesome meals daily. Moreover, IDEA School’s summer program partners with local organizations and food banks to source fresh and nutritious ingredients, further enhancing the overall quality of the meals provided.

FREE Summer Meal Times & Locations

Summer meals provided will include breakfast and lunch for kids 18 and under. The program begins Tuesday, May 30, and ends Friday, July 21.

Breakfast: 7:30 am – 9 am
Lunch: 11 am – 1 pm
Please note that all meals must be eaten within the school’s cafeteria.

Locations
IDEA Bridge
1500 N. Airway Drive
Baton Rouge, La. 70815
IDEA Innovation
7800 Innovation Park Drive
Baton Rouge, La. 70820
IDEA University Prep
7701 Plank Rd.
Baton Rouge, La. 70807

Free Summer Meals in Baton Rouge

You may also want to read the following:

I am hungry.

RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

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Tis’ the season to get into the holiday spirit! We are RACKing up Random Acts of Christmas Kindness this season, and we would love for you to join us! We are spreading the joy of the holidays by performing a Random Act of Christmas Kindness each day throughout December. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the true reason for the season… family, togetherness, community, and giving!

The best part of participating in even the smallest act of kindness and/or giving is that generosity and kindness are contagious!

Goodness spurs goodness: A single act can influence dozens more.

Please join us for our 8th Annual RACK! We are showering the Baton Rouge community with Christmas Kindness all month long!

RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

What is RACK, and how does it work?

 It’s a way to infuse holiday spirit in others by performing a Random Act of Christmas Kindness throughout December! Many do a RACK a day for 25 days leading up to Christmas, an advent of sorts. However, we are asking you to join us in doing what you can, when you can, however big, however small. Be creative and lead with your heart! Most importantly, get the whole family involved!

We have created printable RACK cards in different sizes; print and attach them to your RACK. Although there are many ways to offer a RACK, we have put together an extensive list of ideas and a calendar if you want to follow a list of acts.

RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Ideas:

  1. Rake the yard of a neighbor who can’t rake it themselves.
  2. Bless your garbage collectors with a treat or small gift card for lunch.
  3. Have your children make the mailman or lady a Thank You card or poster with treats taped to it.
  4. Tape coins on vending machines for snacks or sodas. The hospital would be an excellent place for this!
  5. Tape single dollars to items at the dollar store. (plus a dime for tax)
  6. RACK a Red Box by leaving a dollar or two and some popcorn or a candy cane.
  7. Donate items to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
  8. Pack toiletry or snack bags for Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge homeless shelters.
  9. Donate a coat to Pat’s Coats for Kids.
  10. Bake treats and take them to the police station or fire station with thank you cards for their service.
  11. Take a break from texting and mail an actual handwritten letter or card to someone you love.
  12. Send letters or gifts to an assisted living home. Coordinate with your local nursing or retirement home first.
  13. Take Get Well balloons or flowers to the hospital and leave them with a nurse for someone who is alone.
  14. Fill a Good Samaritans Christmas Box
  15. Tape quarters to laundromat machines.
  16. Leave a basket of Christmas gifts on the doorstep of a family in need.
  17. Leave a $5 bill on the pump at a gas station.
  18. Bring treats to your local urgent care office on Christmas Eve.
  19. Cook a meal and deliver it to someone who could use a meal. Someone who is sick, a new family in the neighborhood or at church, a new mom.
  20. Take a person who’s working on Christmas Eve something special.
  21. Drop off books to give to patients at the OLOL Children’s Hospital.
  22. Drop off a coffee and a treat to a busy mom.
  23. Bring a gift to Santa.
  24. ‘Ding dong ditch’ your neighbors with fresh-baked goods.
  25. Before paying at the grocery store, buy a gift card, and then turn around and hand it to the person behind you or to the cashier.
  26. Leave an extra big tip at a restaurant.
  27. Donate to the local animal shelter. Contact a local animal shelter to find out what they need. (food, blankets, towels, and food bowls, etc.)
  28. Put something you no longer need on Craigslist’s FREE section.
  29. Fill purses you no longer use with toiletries and fun items for men and donate to your local women’s shelter.
  30. Foster a dog for the local animal shelter.

Rack Tag printables…

RACK CardsDownload Medium RACK Cards HERE.

RACK Christmas TagDownload Small RACK Cards HERE.

Small RACK CircleDownload XSmall Circle TACK Tags HERE

 A RACK Advent calendar can be found here.

 More cards and tags can be found here.

It’s our responsibility to discuss gratefulness, generosity, unselfishness and service not just during the holidays but year-round. We are our children’s greatest role models — we should start early to mold our children’s perspectives on the holiday season. May we create such treasured memories of family time and togetherness, and the joy of giving, that our children will hold on to these memories for a lifetime and pass them on to their children.

We wish each of you a blessed Christmas Season full of RACK!

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Hurricane Laura Relief: How to Help Louisiana Victims

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Hurricane Laura was the strongest of any hurricane making landfall in Louisiana since the Last Island Storm in 1856, according to NBC meteorologist Bill Karins said. The storm has seen over 580,000 coastal residents placed under evacuation orders, while nearly 470,000 homes and businesses were left without power, as the hurricane made landfall in Louisiana early Thursday. We’ve put together a list of Hurricane Laura Relief organizations directly helping those impacted by the storm. 

Hurricane Laura Relief

Hurricane Laura Relief – How You Can Help:

Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana: The Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana is raising money to issue grants to local non-profits that will help people recover from Hurricane Laura.

The Salvation Army: Your donation helps keep The Salvation Army on the front-lines, buying meals, drinks, snacks, and other critical commodities desperately needed by survivors and rescue workers.  For more information, visit  www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.  Or if you or someone you know needs to talk, please call our emotional & spiritual care hotline at 1-844-458-HOPE (4673).

Catholic Charities USA: Your support helps people through the immediate aftermath and continues helping them as they work through the long process of recovery. 100% of donations go to relief efforts through this link. 

Save The Children: Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. By transforming children’s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours.

Second Harvest Food Bank – Feeding South Louisiana: The team stands ready to respond to Hurricane Laura. They are in need of volunteers to help prepare meals for this devastating storm. Please consider signing up or donating at no-hunger.org/volunteer

Delgado Athletics: the Delgado Athletic Department is relaunching its Delgado Cares Project, which will be collecting gift cards of any denomination that can be shared directly with those impacted by the storm.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief – Meets the urgent needs of communities in crisis, from serving food to volunteers in rebuilding communities.

Direct Relief USA: Direct Relief offers prescription drugs and other medical supplies to those who need it in emergency situations, and works with clinics and primary care doctors to ensure that people are able to get what they need when they need it. 

Animal Aid for Vermilion Area (AAVA)
 

Bethany Church: Bethany is focusing our finances and manpower on feeding thousands of displaced people and helping to muck out flooded homes and churches. They are partnering with organizations to make efforts more efficient.

Fine and Dandy in Gonzales: My husband and I will be collecting items Friday from 10-5, Saturday 10-2, and Sunday 12-4 pm at the storefront location 38011 HWY 621, next to Ace Hardware. We will be delivering these items to needed communities Monday. If you feel it in your heart to help, here is an Amazon wish list you can order from, or a list of needed items that can be purchased and dropped at the store during those set times.
 

Louisiana Hospitality Foundation The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation is planning to deploy resources shortly after Hurricane Laura’s landfall to provide hot meals for first responders and community members impacted across southwest Louisiana. Please consider donating to help offset the costs of this effort: https://louisianahospitalityfoundation.org/laura/

Samaritan’s Purse : Samaritan’s Purse is deploying staff members and one of our Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief units to Lake Charles, Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

We will continue updating this list daily as we receive news of more ways to help and assist the victims of Hurricane Laura. 

Baton Rouge Halloween Parade: Fifolet Festival & Fun Run

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It’s Baton Rouge Halloween time!! If you’re looking for Trick-or-Treat times and Trunk-or-Treat locations click here. If you’re looking for Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Guide click here!! Halloween parade and Haloween festival information are below! 

10/31 Consortium is a Baton Rouge-based non-profit organization established in July 2010. The organization is a club for Halloween enthusiasts which hosts several Halloween-themed events throughout the year. These events all lead up to the organization’s largest events, the Fifolet Halloween Festival, Baton Rouge Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Pi 3.14 Mile Race and Tough Pumpkin Challenge! The organization remains dedicated to children and the preservation of this Autumn tradition by raising money for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, collecting food for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, collecting costumes for children in the Baton Rouge Big Buddy Program and by working with area neighborhoods to promote safe Trick or Treat practices. Baton Rouge Moms is honored to partner with 10/31 Consortium as their media sponsor and we have an amazing giveaway to share with you, see below! 

Baton Rouge Halloween Town

Halloween Town is your one-stop location for all things Halloween this fall! Scheduled between the Pumpkin Pi Race and the Halloween Parade, Halloween Town offers vendor booths, food and beverages, live entertainment, contests, character encounters and much more!

DATE: Saturday, October 19, 2019
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Baton Rouge

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

7:30 – 9:30 am: Alias Page Band
8:00 am: Pumpkin Pi Race begins
9:30 – 10 am: Race awards and presentations
10 – 10:30 am: Festival Singers – Baton Rouge Magnet High A Cappella Choir
10:30 am – 1 pm: The BOBS Band
1 pm – 4 pm: Hoppin John Band
4 pm: Halloween Parade Rolls

Family fun throughout the day!
*CONTESTS
*FACE PAINTING
*PUMPKIN PAINTING
*CARNIVAL /YARD GAMES
*LIVE MUSIC
*ARTS & CRAFT VENDORS
*FOOD TRUCKS
*BEER GARDEN
*Ninja Obstacle and Aerial performances by GymFit – Adventure & Fitness
*Feats of Strength performed by The Atlas Strengthshop
*Live mural painting by Marc Fresh Art

Baton Rouge Halloween Pumpkin Pi, Tough Pumpkin Challenge, Lil’ Pumpkins 1 Mile Fun Run

This is no ordinary 5k. This 3.14 mile long race on the Mississippi River Levee (by the USS Kidd) is exactly 200 feet longer than a 5k. And, it is Baton Rouge’s only Halloween costume race! Take the Tough Pumpkin Challenge and run “the pi” while holding a pumpkin! All participants will receive a finisher’s medal. A special medal will be awarded to those completing the Tough Pumpkin Challenge. Additional prizes will be awarded by age group. REGISTER HERE

Baton Rouge Halloween Parade

Baton Rouge Halloween Parade

Baton Rouge Halloween Parade This year’s Halloween parade will be out of this world!! Don’t forget to DRESS IN COSTUME and bring nonperishable FOOD DONATIONS for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. The food bank truck will lead the parade and actively take donations straight from the crowd!

Walk in the Parade!!

No Krewe? No problem! Individual Walkers must dress according to categories as they will be grouped together with other Individual Walkers to form the semblance of a Walking Unit. This is a great way to make new friends and start your own krewe next year! Members can register as an Individual Walker for $15. 

INDIVIDUAL WALKER REGISTRATION FORM

 GIVEAWAY: 4 Spots on 10/31 Consortium’s Baton Rouge Halloween Float!

Baton rouge halloween parade

Enter the Giveaway on our Facebook & Instagram pages!

Be sure to check out our 2019 Baton Rouge Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze Guide for more Baton Rouge Fall Family Fun! 

 

Casas for CASA 2019 – Baton Rouge Playhouse Fundraiser

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The 25th annual Casas for CASA 2019 playhouse fundraiser which generates public awareness and funding to support the work of Capital Area CASA Association is officially underway! 

casas for casa

Casas for CASA 2019

Playhouse Raffle: July 27- August 18, 2019

Be sure to stop by the center court at the Mall of Louisiana to take a peek at the gorgeous Magnolia Estate playhouse. The playhouse will be on display through Aug. 18 and $5 raffle tickets can be purchased at www.casabr.org, at the mall or at the CASA office, 848 Louisiana Ave. The playhouse winner will be drawn at 5 p.m. Aug. 18th, and the winner does not need to be present to win. Click here to purchase raffle tickets.

What is CASA?

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Capital Area CASA Association serves East Baton Rouge Parish and trains volunteers to advocate for these children. Children need to do more than survive;  they need to thrive in the safety and love of a family. CASA volunteers do not provide legal representation, nor do they replace social workers. A CASA volunteer is an independent voice speaking solely for the best interests of the child with the ultimate goal being a safe, permanent home.

Casas for CASA

CASA volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone involved in the child’s life to gather facts about the child’s history and current situation. Using this information, the volunteer submits recommendations in a report to the juvenile court judge.

Since most CASA recommendations are accepted by the court, children with CASA volunteers are more likely to find permanent homes and spend less time in foster care. CASA volunteers also ensure that children’s needs are being met while in state custody.

The Casas for CASA 2019 playhouse fundraiser generates public awareness and funding to support the work of Capital Area CASA Association, CLICK HERE to purchase raffle tickets today! 

For orientation dates and additional information, call CASA at (225) 379-8598, visit www.casabr.org or email volunteer@casabr.org.

Volunteer Baton Rouge – Giving Back to the Community

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Are you looking to give back to our community? BREC needs volunteers to fulfill their mission of providing park and recreational opportunities for all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. With a range of facilities and programs, from Volunteer Tree Planting to clean-up and events, BREC has a volunteer opportunity for everyone. Check out this short video to see how BREC involves the community in making our home better, with over 400 partners and more than 12,000 volunteers!  This would make for a perfect activity to do as a family throughout the year! 

Volunteer Baton Rouge

This summer and throughout the year we can make a difference right here at home by volunteering. Make it a family effort, go through the list of volunteer needs and make a decision as a family. There is no better way to teach our children that we value our community and our neighbors than by giving back as a family.

Collectively, we can strive to make a difference in our community, our efforts will in turn help create a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge for all! Join your neighbors today and become part of a growing tradition of helping and giving.

Volunteer Baton Rouge

BREC Volunteer’s monthly volunteer e-newsletter provides all of our upcoming volunteer opportunities and updates. All you have to do is sign up and it will be signed, sealed, and delivered straight to your inbox at the beginning of each month. Wait no more!!! Sign up today at http://bit.ly/VolunteerBREC

Phone:272-9200 ext.1332Contact Person: Ciara LindonEmail: volunteer@brec.orgWebsite: http://www.brec.org/volunteer

Casas for CASA – Speaking up for abused and neglected children

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The 24th annual Casas for CASA  playhouse fundraiser which generates public awareness and funding to support the work of Capital Area CASA Association is officially underway!

Casas for CASA 

Be sure to stop by the center court at the Mall of Louisiana to take a peek at the gorgeous Magnolia Estate playhouse. The playhouse will be on display through Aug. 19 and $5 raffle tickets can be purchased at www.casabr.org, at the mall or at the CASA office, 848 Louisiana Ave. The playhouse winner will be drawn at 5 p.m. Aug. 19, and the winner does not need to be present to win.

Casas for CASA

What is CASA?

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Capital Area CASA Association serves East Baton Rouge Parish and trains volunteers to advocate for these children. Children need to do more than survive;  they need to thrive in the safety and love of a family. CASA volunteers do not provide legal representation, nor do they replace social workers. A CASA volunteer is an independent voice speaking solely for the best interests of the child with the ultimate goal being a safe, permanent home.

Casas for CASA

CASA volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone involved in the child’s life to gather facts about the child’s history and current situation. Using this information, the volunteer submits recommendations in a report to the juvenile court judge. Since most CASA recommendations are accepted by the court, children with CASA volunteers are more likely to find permanent homes and spend less time in foster care. CASA volunteers also ensure that children’s needs are being met while in state custody.

All proceeds from the Casas for CASA playhouse fundraiser benefit Capital Area CASA Association in its mission to help abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes. 

CASA will deliver the playhouse to the winner within 60 miles of the Mall of Louisiana. Click here to purchase raffle tickets. The last day to purchase raffle tickets is August 19.

For more information on orientation dates and additional information visit www.casabr.org or email volunteer@casabr.org.

You can also visit CASA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

 

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge to Make a Difference

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When I used to think of animal shelters I imagined dark and dreary places with rows of sad animals who were left alone all the time. A year and a half ago- just a week or two after having our fourth child- I got it in my head we needed another dog. Maybe it was the crazy postpartum hormones, but I spent hours searching listings online and fell in love with a little black and white dog named Allie who was in foster care through our local shelter, Companion Animal Alliance. Little did I know that meeting this sweet baby with a burn scar on her back would be the beginning of a love affair with fostering dogs in Baton Rouge and learning more about the importance of spay/neuter and animal welfare.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge to Make a Difference

As it turns out, shelters are not sad, scary places. They are just little pit stops for special animals in-between a hard situation and finding their forever families. Some come in as strays, others are surrendered by their owners, and occasionally they come in as cruelty cases, but once at CAA the animals receive the highest quality care and tons of attention before meeting their new loved ones. And no worries, mamas, they’re all behavior and aggression tested before they’re put out on the rows to be fostered or adopted, and once they pass each of them also gets daily doggie play groups to romp around with their four-legged friends, as well.

The summer season is always extremely busy at Companion Animal Alliance and we joke that it’s literally raining cats and dogs because they can receive between 30-50 homeless animals every single day, just like FelineLiving.net does! Just from May 1 until today, over 1400 animals have come through intake at our Baton Rouge shelter but the average for the entire year is about 8000. To free up kennels on the rows, CAA depends on fosters and rescue organizations to pull the animals and open up space.

The staff is always happy to work with foster families to find the perfect fit for their home, they even offer a complimentary photo-shoot for your family and your pet, so they can officially become part of the family, courtesy of pet photographer las vegas. Have a small child? They will make sure to send you home with an animal that will be gentle. Have a rambunctious dog that needs to be exercised? They can match you with another pup with lots of energy for them to wrestle and run with. Live in an apartment? No problem! There are plenty of animals that will do great in that environment.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Rio is our current foster dog available for adoption.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Volunteers are needed daily to give the dogs more play time, socialization and walks outside and to give the kitties some good lovin’, but once someone volunteers they fall in love with the animals and often also become advocates. In turn, friends, family and co-workers end up hearing about CAA and the amazing work they are doing and decide to volunteer or adopt as well.

All volunteers and foster parents attend a short training which are conveniently held 2-3x a month. Once you go through that you are free to come and go as you please to take out dogs to walk, play with, or train to make them more adoptable, or spend time with the cats on the newly renovated Catio! You can also go pull a foster just for a quick weekend together or a foster-to-forever that you keep in your home until the perfect family comes along. Watching animals who came in scared or reserved or just in need of some extra attention blossom into the perfect pet and find a home and people to love them forever is an indescribably beautiful feeling. Our family has found this experience to be so rewarding and it has taught our children so many lessons on responsibility, compassion and the welfare of animals.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

The beautiful McCurry family who adopted our former foster dog, Rosie.

Be sure to check the Companion Animal Alliance website for tons of great info on fostering dogs in Baton Rouge, to learn more about what they do, the importance of spay/neuter, their Fostering Hope program for cancer survivors, their capital campaign to raise funds for a new facility, and other important topics. You can also sign up for an orientation so you and your babies can love on some fur babies, you won’t regret it. We hope to see you soon!

Thin RedLine Project – Baton Rouge Spotlight

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“This is what it feels like to heard… It feels like being trapped inside a dark room with no windows or lights. There is a singular door locked from the outside. You scream but the room is soundproof; no one hears you. One day someone opens the door and the light rushes in, blinding you. Someone takes you by the hand and leads you. You look around and there’s a room full of people who you never knew were there and you know that you are seen, that you are heard, that you are not invisible.”

It has been my goal over the last few years to give people a platform to tell their stories, to be heard. When I brought the Listen to Your Mother show to Baton Rouge in 2015 I realized the enormity of the impact felt by those who were able to share their experiences with others. I have a very even left brain/right brain split so sometimes my creative energies are battling with my detail-oriented perfectionistic historian, but I knew there was something else in my heart that needed to be breathed to life.

After the tragic Summer of ’16 I found myself deeply saddened-as we all were- not only by the horrific events that had transpired, but also by the response of people around me to the suffering and pain felt by so many in our community. As men and women took to the street to protest what they understood to be injustice, thousands of angry folks flooded the internet with their opinions of them, and having read many of the comments you would have thought we were flashing back to the 1950s. I saw so many assumptions made about my black brothers and sisters regarding them being lazy or ignorant or dangerous. I remembered how Martin Luther King, Jr. was treated during the first Civil Rights movement and the awful hate speech that was poured against him and those who fought beside him. I checked that place in my heart that wanted to help people tell their truths, and a vision began.

Thin RedLine Project

I shared my vision with a high school friend who is very involved in the community to be sure that the idea would be respectful and never feel exploitative. Walter “Geno” McLaughlin jumped on-board and added his creativity, background and expertise, and within a month the Thin RedLine Project was born. He has been the perfect partner for this project and has elevated it in fresh and powerful ways. 

Thin RedLine Project

The name “Thin RedLine Project” comes from the act of redlining- the official practice of grouping black people into specific communities and then denying those same neighborhoods of resources, infrastructure, and investment. Though no longer officially sanctioned, the effects of decades of these practices and others like them are still felt strongly today. Many people feel that the realities of some African-Americans are solely a result of poor choices rather than a product of institutions and policies. But in fact, through systemic issues in our structures and laws we have created and maintained generations of inequality in a cycle that seems stuck on “repeat.

We all know that the mainstream media picks and chooses what stories to tell and sadly, they too often continue the false narrative that black people are inferior, less educated, criminal or come from broken families. We hope to shine a positive light on hard-working individuals, close-knit families, and creative souls- dispelling myths and crushing stereotypes. We also hope to help educate the public about the policies and practices like redlining and others that continue to hinder progress in certain communities.

We hope you will join us as we offer stories of hope to the world from across the Thin RedLine.

You can check out our website at thinredlineproject.com, follow us on Facebook or Instagram and nominate people or events to be featured by emailing meghanmatt@gmail.com.

You can read more about the Thin RedLine Project in this months 225 Magazine.

Thin RedLine Project