We are elated about the progress we are making with our community sound recordings. We are still busy gathering stories and have heard from some very interesting individuals. Our latest project and perhaps most ambitious, is that of 103 year old WW2 veteran, Major Fannie McClendon who grew up right here in Lafayette. She is the last surviving member from Louisiana of the All Black, female WW2 troupe, the 6888 Army Postal Battalion. We are taking our sound lab on the road to get her story. As we near Memorial day and celebrate Lafayette’s 200th birthday, it is amazing to think she lived more than half of that time and risked her life to protect us. We are continually surprised by the hidden gems in our community! We can’t wait to share these stories with you!
Dear Community, We are thrilled to announce that Healthy Acadiana’s Seed Library has officially launched, and the response has been incredible! We are delighted to witness the enthusiasm and participation of our community members as they embrace the opportunity to borrow seeds, replenish our collection, and begin their gardening adventures.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a novice just starting out, the Seed Library is here to support you. Our diverse selection of seeds is available for “borrowing”, allowing you to cultivate a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and pollinator-friendly plants. We are thrilled to witness the abundance of green thumbs within our community, and we encourage everyone to visit the library and explore the incredible array of seeds available.
We are excited to announce that our seed inventory is continuously replenished, ensuring that there will always be options for you to select from. As you sow your borrowed seeds and your plants begin to flourish, we kindly ask that you consider saving a portion of the harvested seeds to replenish our library. By doing so, you actively contribute to the sustainability and growth of our seed collection, enabling future gardeners to embark on their own fruitful journeys.
In addition to providing access to high-quality seeds, we are delighted to share that we are about to launch an engaging lineup of programming at the Seed Library. These programs will be centered around gardening techniques, seed saving, and cultivating a thriving garden ecosystem. Whether you are interested in learning about organic gardening practices, discovering the art of seed saving, or exploring innovative ways to enhance pollinator habitats, our program offerings will cater to all gardening enthusiasts.
Stay tuned for our upcoming program announcements, as we can’t wait to offer a wealth of educational resources, workshops, and hands-on experiences to further deepen your gardening knowledge and skills.
We are immensely grateful for your support and enthusiasm as we cultivate a vibrant gardening community in Acadiana. The Seed Library is not just about growing food, but it’s also about building connections, sharing knowledge, and nurturing a sustainable future for all.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas for our Seed Library, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We value your feedback and are committed to continuously improving and expanding our offerings based on your needs and interests. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey. Together, let’s sow the seeds of a greener, healthier, and more connected Acadiana!
Since our last update, Team GPS met with Brandon Noah of Unitech Training Academy and Mr. Darby, Northside High School’s Senior Counselor, to determine eligibility requirements for three (3) Northside High School Seniors to receive FULL academic scholarships to Unitech Training Academy. We will interview six (6) Northside High Seniors on February 8 to finalize the Unitech Scholarship Recipients to attend Unitech after graduation.
One of the objectives of the GPS Project is to provide guidance and resources to help students improve their ACT scores. On February 3, Team GPS met with NHS JAG students to discuss the significance of taking the ACT. Team GPS will begin ACT Prep with forty (40) JAG students on February 6 until March 7 when juniors and seniors take the ACT exam given by the school district.
Team GPS held it’s second JAG Academic Celebration at Northside on January 27. Students who earned a 3.0 or above with no D’s or F’s and/or successfully achieved their 2nd 9-weeks S.M.A.R.T. goals were awarded a certificate, movie pass, and sweet treats from Nuthin Bundt Cakes.
We are excited about every opportunity to connect with Northside JAG students to provide guidance, encouragement, and resources to help them transition to post-secondary education.
Since receiving the $4,000 from the 24 Hour Citizens Project we have hit the ground running! Inclusive Prom will be taking place on Saturday, March 11th from 7:00-10:00pm. Team Inclusive Prom was initially made up of member of Acadiana Queer Collective but has since grown to include; The Family Tree/Jacob Crouch Suicide Prevention, PFLAG Lafayette, Safe Havynn, and We Demand More. We have met twice so far to begin planning Inclusive Prom and will be meeting with a potential host for the event today. We haven’t spent any money yet and instead are inquiring with vendors and potential sponsors who can offer us in-kind donations to supplement the budget we’ve already created. We will be offering each participant at prom a Swag Bag full of goodies and resources from around the community. We also hope to have a raffle that offers each participant the opportunity to win awesome prizes. Currently, across social media platforms we are asking the community to vote on a theme for prom–currently it’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vs. “The 4 Elements” and “Retro” vs, “Over the Rainbow” in a head-to-head match. We will be sharing the winners of this match soon so that voting for the final theme can happen.
The Seed Library is growing! We are still in awe of the magic that the 24 Hr. Citizen Project gave to us. Between our conversations with the experts, the community support, and the other amazing teams we are so excited to see what’s to come for all of us.
Since receiving the funding we’ve held various meetings to keep planning and moving forward. Most notably:
1. Took photos with the BIG Check with our committee and library staff to gain excitement.
2. Branding discussions
3. Formation of an expert Advisory Council
4. Picked out a cabinet to house the seeds.
5. Figured out processes for “checking out” the seeds.
6. Thanked the amazing backers! In the new year (how is it 2023, already?) we will begin to use the funding we so generously received from the backers at the 24HCP.
We can’t wait to update you again in February because by then we will have hopefully purchased the cabinet, seeds, and have a good understanding of where we need help and be deep in the planning of the launch in March. Our team would like to thank the 24HCP, the amazing backers and you for the support we received during the event and ongoing. We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.
