Louisiana Inspired

Bridge to Independence, along with other inclusive programs in the state, receive funding

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 12, 2023

Bridge to Independence, an educational program at Nicholls State University, aids students on the autism spectrum or have intellectual disabilities. The program, recently featured in Louisiana…

Orleans Parish Crime Victims Reparations Unit helps victims with more than money

BY JILLIAN KRAMER | Staff writer
Jun 12, 2023

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office Capt. Stephanie Minto and her staff member are here to listen to victims' stories, too.

First she enforced disability rights. Now she's advocating for another group.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 12, 2023

Nell Hahn served as the director of systems advocacy and litigation at the Advocacy Center (now Disability Rights Louisiana), Louisiana’s protection and advocacy agency for individuals with di…

Nothing gold can stay, especially if you overuse a smartphone

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 11, 2023

One evening this week, I went outside without my phone to water tomato plants. I stood there trying to gauge how long I was watering each plant and started wondering what life was like before …

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Jun 11, 2023

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainspired@theadvocate.com with details on …

Working to solve obesity and diabetes: 'I just feel so much better and more confident'

By JACK BARLOW | Staff writer
Jun 11, 2023

Obesity and diabetes can be devastating.

From fast food to savings accounts, $50 weekly payments shift students’ thinking

BY PATRICK O'DONNELL | Contributing writer
Jun 11, 2023

Editor's note: This story, created by Patrick O’Donnell, was produced by The 74, a nonprofit news site covering K-12 education. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that pr…

'Love can build a bridge': New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus sings with purpose and pride

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 9, 2023

These days, the New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus is more about community than it is making a political statement.

Redefining philanthropy: BRAF launches one-stop shop for donating to Baton Rouge nonprofits

By JAMES WILKINS | Staff writer
Jun 6, 2023

When most people hear the word "philanthropy," images often come to mind of wealthy people investing large amounts of money to the lofty cause of their choosing.

This Baton Rouge CEO didn't know she was courageous. Now she inspires others to do it.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 5, 2023

Maxine Crump is the founder, president, and CEO of Dialogue on Race Louisiana. She led the design of its core program, the Dialogue on Race Series.

Host a dinner party to do your part in building a culture of connection

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 4, 2023

A month ago, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued an 81-page report called "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." The report's statistics are grim. For example:

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Jun 4, 2023

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainspired@theadvocate.com with details on …

Vietnamese farming cooperative in New Orleans East creates jobs with healthy food

BY TRISTAN BAURICK | Staff writer
Jun 4, 2023

Amid the long commercial thoroughfares and sprawling subdivisions of New Orleans East is a little oasis of fruit trees, chickens and row after of row of leafy greens that Thanh Nguyen tends to…

How sustainable farms benefit communities: Farmers make money and are environmental stewards

By JACK BARLOW | Staff writer
Jun 4, 2023

Corralled by staff from the LSU AgCenter, the array of cars trundled through the countryside outside Lafayette, stopping periodically at small farms along the route. It was the AgCenter's sust…

Glass Half Full recycles glass into sand for Louisiana storm relief and coastal restoration

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer
May 29, 2023

It all started over a bottle of wine.

Foster Grandparents Program boost confidence in both students and teachers in the classroom

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer
May 28, 2023

Some of the kids call Daisy Jones grandma.

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans

May 28, 2023

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainspired@theadvocate.com with details on …

Postcards: Evidence of how amazing people can be

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 28, 2023

One of the highlights of last year for me was the 2022 Postcard Project.

School alert system gives students added layer of safety

BY BELLA GUERRERO and VIKTORIA KANGAS | Contributing writers
May 28, 2023

Editor's note: This story, created by Bella Guerrero and Viktoria Kangas of The Oglethorpe Echo in Lexington, Georgia, is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Netw…

He saw the coastline he grew up on disappearing. Now, he dedicates his life to restoring it.

By ALENA MASCHKE | Staff writer
May 23, 2023

Growing up in south Cameron Parish, Scooter Trosclair has spent his fair share of time in the marshes and wetlands that make up southwest Louisiana’s retreating coast. As a boy, he would go hu…

How one middle school principal is using TikTok to build school culture & recruit teachers

BY JOSHUA BAY | Contributing writer
May 22, 2023

Editor's note: This story, created by Joshua Bay, was produced by The 74, a nonprofit news site covering K-12 education.

Women are gaining their space in Louisiana oil and gas industry

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
May 22, 2023

Fumy Rita was appointed as the executive director of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, LAGCOE, in January. She previously served as the organization's director of operations and interna…

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans

May 21, 2023

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainspired@theadvocate.com with details on …

Long story short: Believing that things can get better even as other things end

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 21, 2023

I jumped on board the "Ted Lasso" bandwagon the night the show started — Aug. 14, 2020. After I watched the episodes that night, I went on social media to beg people I loved to give the show a try.

At Nicholls State, students with special needs learn life skills and how to build a career

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer and JAN RISHER | Features editor
May 21, 2023

In 2016, Sean Adams was one of five students in the first cohort of the Bridge to Independence, a two-year certificate program at Nicholls State University. During his two years, Adams made ne…

Young cancer survivor helps kids beat boredom while battling cancer

BY SARA PAGONES | Staff writer
May 15, 2023

Bryce Newman was a 15-year-old star baseball player getting ready for the Under 15 World Series in Japan when worrisome symptoms began to emerge: he was dropping the ball, something unexpected…

First she was a single mother. Then she decided to help others in the same boat.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
May 15, 2023

Jennifer Maggio is an author, national speaker and chief executive officer of The Life of a Single Mom — an organization founded in 2011 that works to start support groups, host empowerment ev…

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans

May 14, 2023

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainspired@theadvocate.com with details on …