Louisiana Inspired

Free 'lunch and learn' meals offer senior citizens food for the body and the mind

BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer
12 hrs ago

Lunch was half an hour away, but seats were already filling up in the dining room at Congregation Gates of Prayer synagogue in Metairie.

A Louisiana master gardener is breathing life into this school garden: 'I'm in awe of the kids.'

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 5, 2024

Shirley Flake has been a member of University United Methodist Church for 17 years. A former elementary teacher, she is in her 15th year serving as the director of Kids Hope, in which voluntee…

Join Louisiana Inspired's live discussion with author Amor Towles about 'Rules of Civility'

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 5, 2024

The Louisiana Inspired Book Club will launch its second conversation with readers today at 12:15 p.m. Central time best-selling author Amor Towles.

Black women in Baton Rouge inspire through advocacy, training: 'It's a labor of love'

BY JAMES WILKINS | Staff writer
Jun 4, 2024

For Courtney Hunt, eliminating inequity by advocating for Black women and girls is what inspires her to lead an organization making moves in Baton Rouge to do just that.

Alternative communication devices are transformative in New Orleans schools: 'a game changer'

By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer
Jun 2, 2024

Ereeni Roulakis is a speech language pathologist who uses play-based speech and language therapy to help New Orleans children with communication disorders and differences. Such disorders can i…

Mudbugs' DJ continued to lift spirits despite needing a miracle: 'I know where I'm going.'

By ROY LANG III | Staff writer
Jun 2, 2024

Editor's Note: Jason LaFlame died on May 28, 2024 before the publication of this article. He was 42.

Blackberries germinate the good stuff: Long Story Short by Jan Risher

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 2, 2024

The blackberries are ripening earlier than I expected.

Volunteer opportunities for Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport/Bossier

Staff report
Updated Jun 2, 2024

Check out volunteer opportunities across Louisiana.

Harlem church offers vegan cooking classes to promote healthy lifestyle

BY FIONA ANDRÉ | Contributing writer
Jun 2, 2024

NEW YORK (RNS) — On a recent Sunday afternoon, staff members of Harlem’s Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church traded their Saturday church clothes for aprons as they prepared to host the churc…

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport/Bossier

May 26, 2024

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana and the Shreveport/Bossier City area. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainsp…

100-Item Challenge plus: Readers inspire with donations to food banks across Louisiana

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 26, 2024

Two months ago, I announced the 100-Item Challenge, asking readers to donate to their local food banks. The challenge was designed to help food banks across Louisiana prepare for summer, a tim…

Asian Jewish Americans have a double reason to celebrate their heritage in May

BY SAMIRA MEHTA | Contributing writer
May 26, 2024

(The Conversation) — May is both Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. Two entirely separate commemorations for two entirely s…

The Fightingville Fresh Market creates sustainability in a food desert in Acadiana

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
May 23, 2024

Nicole Johnson is a local entrepreneur with a stake in businesses like CPR 2 Geaux, L4S Farms, Fightingville Fresh Market and The Fresh Growers’ Collective. She’s passionate about entrepreneur…

Postcards are evidence of 'a little love thrown in for good measure'

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 22, 2024

"There are two towns in South Africa that have penguins, Boulder's Beach and Betty's Bay. Every year they play a futbol game for a trophy called the Golden Penguin. Betty's Bay Leopards always…

Army sergeant who lost both legs in Iraq bomb blast receives new home in Pearl River

BY BOB WARREN | Staff writer
Updated May 24, 2024

If there’s pandemonium coming from Pearl River this football season, pay no mind.

How clean water and faith go hand in hand

BY SUSAN BARNETT | Contributing writer
May 19, 2024

(RNS) — Earth Day is no longer the one day a year we dedicate to thinking about the health of our planet. The urgency of climate change has made concern about the environment a daily considera…

A new building allows New Orleans Women & Children's Shelter to expand services

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer
Updated May 19, 2024

Dawn Bradley-Fletcher knows a thing or two about having a home.

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport-Bossier

Staff report
Updated May 19, 2024

Check out local volunteer opportunities in north and south Louisiana.

How a tufted titmouse, five backyard photos and a Boy Scout prepared me

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 19, 2024

Nature has been working all spring to get me prepared for this weekend.

Baton Rouge Youth Coalition goes beyond K-12, mentoring students through college, careers

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
May 14, 2024

During her time at Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Allie Diefendorf has served in a number of roles. She started part-time in fall 2019 and transitioned to full-time as the director of underclass…

Louisiana 11-year-old Girl Scout creates more inclusive play experience in Lafayette

BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer
May 13, 2024

Acadiana children with diverse communication needs now have a new way to play thanks to the work of an 11-year-old Girl Scout.

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport/Bossier

May 12, 2024

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana and the Shreveport/Bossier City area. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at lainsp…

Creating special love languages between mother and child takes different forms: Jan Risher

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 12, 2024

We tightrope walked a balancing act between my parents' professions in my childhood home.

‘The Ally’: The cost of not being angry

BY BETH KISSILEFF | Contributing writer
May 12, 2024

How can people with opposing points of view who inhabit the same spaces — a campus, a neighborhood — share their ideas in a way that promotes deep listening?

Small actions to gain mastery over seven sins: Amor Towles explains 'Rules of Civility'

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
May 12, 2024

Best-selling author Amor Towles' "Rules of Civility" is the next Louisiana Inspired Book Club pick.

'There's no handbook to being a mom': Why it's important to secure your oxygen mask first.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
May 10, 2024

Before takeoff, the flight attendant says, "Should an emergency situation occur, secure your own oxygen mask first before helping others."

Volunteer opportunities in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport/Bossier

Staff report
Updated May 5, 2024

Check out local volunteer opportunities.

Lessons from a garden party keep growing: Jan Risher

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Updated May 6, 2024

One thing leads to another — and sometimes the results are their own brand of magic.