Louisiana Inspired

How faith leaders can get a grasp on the mental health crisis

BY NICOLE GUZIK | Contributing writer
Jul 7, 2024

(RNS) — The COVID-19 pandemic was the first time America’s mental health crisis became obvious to many. Quarantined at home, often with children deprived of peer contact or with adults who had…

Band camp: Count me in for fun, friendship and a big finale at an adult rock music retreat

BY BLAZE STUTES | Contributing writer
Jul 7, 2024

Jack Schneider has loved playing the guitar for decades.

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

Staff report
Jul 7, 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…

'I Never Thought of it That Way' is the next Louisiana Inspired Book Club pick

staff report
Jul 7, 2024

For our next Louisiana Inspired Book Club pick, we have chosen "I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" by journalist and aut…

Working to combat crime, this man creates safe spaces for young people in Alexandria

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jul 5, 2024

In 2018, Frederick Burgess established Stop the Violence to combat gun violence and crime with young people in Alexandria. As a reserve law enforcement officer and Alexandria native, Burgess l…

'Pride or die:' Queer Northshore champions LGBTQ+ support in rural Louisiana

BY SOPHIA BAILLY | Staff writer
Jul 4, 2024

Mel Manuel and Jeremy JF Thompson struggled to meet other LGBTQ+ folks when they moved to Covington three years ago. Having previously lived in New Orleans, Manuel and Thompson, who both use t…

23 words the cool kids know — and how to have a better jawline (or not): Jan Risher

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jul 3, 2024

According to all sources, my 9-year-old nephew Sam Risher has the rizz.

Joan Nathan on cooking to remember, mourn and discover who we are

BY BETH KISSILEFF | Contributing writer
Jun 30, 2024

(RNS) — In honor of Joan Nathan, I am writing this in my kitchen. Nathan, as she tells us in her new “memoir in recipes,” “My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories,” does her writing in …

'We the People': A mystery man's display of patriotism and call for American unity

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 30, 2024

Ahead of the Fourth of July in a quiet neighborhood in Acadiana, a mystery man has taken it upon himself to line the street with American flags.

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

Jun 30, 2024

Acadiana: Magnolia Kids Club, 120 Malveaux Road, Lafayette, has a mission to provide free public events to the community. These events aim to bring joy and entertainment to families who may no…

In New Orleans, 'The Young Men Olympian prepared me to go anywhere.'

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 26, 2024

As most New Orleanians know, social aid and pleasure clubs originally formed to ensure Black people would be able to have a proper funeral and burial during a time when that wasn’t guaranteed.

'You can't keep pouring out for others while your cup is empty': Anita Byrne on intentionality

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 26, 2024

Anita Byrne is a community champion in Baton Rouge. She is involved with several civic engagement endeavors, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Urban Restoration Enrichment Corp, the Epis…

Beyond 'Ten Percent Happier' and six ways to build community: Jan Risher

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 23, 2024

An old friend messaged me last week asking for my thoughts on building community. She sent me a podcast called "Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris," saying it made her think of me.

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

Jun 23, 2024

Louisiana Inspired highlights volunteer opportunities across south Louisiana. If your organization has specific volunteer opportunities, email us at [email protected] with details on …

A vibrant church in Ukraine rises as a symbol of the country’s faith and culture

BY JILL LAWLESS | Contributing writer
Jun 23, 2024

LYPIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — This Orthodox Easter season, an extraordinary new church is bringing spiritual comfort to war-weary residents of the Ukrainian village of Lypivka. Two years ago, it als…

CASA Jefferson trains volunteers to serve as advocates for children in foster care

BY BLAKE PATERSON | Staff writer
Jun 21, 2024

Getting placed into foster care is often an overwhelming experience, and with the state of Louisiana facing a shortage of case workers, a child’s needs can easily fall through the cracks. That…

Join the 2024 Postcard Project

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 20, 2024

In May, we announced the 2024 Postcard Project with the goal to receive postcards from every state and as many countries as possibly by Labor Day.

Preserving paradise: This 87-year-old woman helped save City Park Golf Course

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer
Jun 17, 2024

Lillie Petit Gallagher tells her story while sitting next to her front window's view of Baton Rouge's BREC City Park Golf Course.

Former Saints player Delvin Breaux works with New Orleans clinic for mental health awareness

BY TOREY BOVIE | STAFF WRITER
Jun 16, 2024

For former Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux, a chance meeting changed his life — for the better. A friend simply asked him about his mental state.

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

Staff report
Jun 16, 2024

Check out local volunteer opportunities across Louisiana.

Artists created images of Christ that focused not on historical accuracy but on reflecting different communities − a scholar of religious history explains

BY VIRGINIA RAGUIN | Contributing writer
Jun 16, 2024

(The Conversation) — In 1915, Norwegian artist Emanuel Vigeland, one of the most respected Scandinavian artists of his time, created an image of Christ with golden hair and fair skin.

Celebrating unsung heroes on Father's Day: Dad's day in the shadows

BY JAN RISHER | Staff writer
Jun 16, 2024

My children may be confused when they hear people talking about uninvolved fathers who never help at home and don't know how to cook or clean. Their father is the opposite of that. He cooks. H…

Small efforts contribute to the greater good: Acadiana's Annie Spell is committed to service

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE | Staff writer
Jun 12, 2024

Annie Wingate Spell, a native of Lafayette, has a long history of service to others alongside the pursuit of excellence. Spell previously owned and directed a psychological services clinic in …

Psalms of a Soldier: Songwriter helps veterans heal with music, reflection and collaboration

BY MATT BRUCE | Staff writer
Jun 10, 2024

David St. Romaine belted out a guttural riff as he plucked the strings of his guitar.

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

Jun 9, 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…

New crop of Swiss Guards prepares to serve the pope through hard work and listening

BY CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ | Contributing writer
Jun 9, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — With a determined gaze, Renato Peter clenched the flag of the Swiss Guard in his fist while holding up three fingers of his other hand in a salute to the Holy Trinity. Whe…

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

BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer
Jun 6, 2024

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…