Blog

What an Annual Meeting! We had a great presentation by Congressman Carter who spent some extra time with us when Congresswoman Letlow unexpectedly had to cancel right before the event. We then elected four new board members, Stalanda Butcher (Monroe), Raegan Carter (Baton Rouge), Danny Mintz (New Orleans) and Julio Galan (Lake Charles). After our 2021 Legislative Wrap-Up, Board Chair Ashley Shelton led an informative discussion about the upcoming redistricting efforts in Louisiana. We also...

Following a brief mindfulness check-in, PACEs Connection staff meetings begin with the review of our Vision, Mission, and Values statements, as well as our Equity and Inclusion Statement. At a recent meeting, top row, L-R, Ingrid Cockhren, Carey Sipp, Donielle Prince, Jane Stevens. Middle row, L-R, John Flores, Porter Jennings-McGarity, Jenna Quinn, Gail Kennedy. Bottom row, L-R, Rafael Maravilla, Natalie Audage, Alison Cebulla, Samantha Sangenito. A couple of times last week I felt my body...

Improving the lives of children is a personal calling for Louisiana first lady Donna Edwards. Before her husband, Gov. John Bel Edwards, took office in 2016, Donna Edwards spent eight years as a music teacher for her local public elementary school. She knew that many children in her classroom faced unknown hardships at home, but she didn’t realize how deeply trauma impacts children in different ways until 2017. That was the year that Dr. Charles Zeanah, a leading authority on adverse...