0:45 1. You’re the Executive Director of one of our community’s great nonprofits – Renesting Project, Inc. Renesting Project is a community furniture bank doing really important work, providing basic furniture and household items free of charge to hundreds of men, women and children in need.

Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the different populations Renesting serves.

2:38 2. You were recently honored by NBC 6 as its Remarkable Woman of the Year, which from my perspective seems well deserved. I don’t have a question around that but I wanted to make sure I mentioned it as I think it’s a huge deal.

Renest Fest, your annual fundraiser is right around the corner, two days before we publish. Tell people about this great and important event.

6:27 3. I came across a quote of yours where you said, “I really believe in the dignity of the human spirit and the collective power of community”. Talk to me some about this.

11:52 4. You and I met because of the great work of Dr. Heather Carpenter who runs the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most know it) at LSUS. In 2023, you were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Nonprofit Capacity Building Cohort. You also earned your Masters in Nonprofit Administration through INAR’s program at LSUS.

Talk to me about INAR from your perspective. Why is the work they’re doing so important in our community and why has it been so important for you and your work?

19:19 5. For those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:34 1. Pam, you are the Principal of Louisiana Key Academy in Shreveport, a tuition free, charter school for dyslexia. In preparing for today’s discussion, I came across two incredible statistics – that 1 in 5 kids suffer from dyslexia but that only about 2% of kids with dyslexia are identified in Louisiana.

Let’s start here today just with some foundational information. What is dyslexia?

3:52 2. For parents listening today, what are some early indicators that a child may suffer from dyslexia?

6:45 3. Once a parent feels that one of their kids might be dyslexic, what are the next steps they should take to ensure THAT is a proper assessment and to consider entering their child into the Louisiana Key Academy?

17:55 4. It’s clear that we do not identify dyslexia enough in our kids and that if we do we often identify it far later than we should. What are some consequences of not identifying dyslexia early?

22:24 5. Talk to me about both some similarities and differences between Louisiana Key Academy and “regular” schools?

Here are the questions I asked:

1:05 1. You grew up in Ruston. You are a Commercial Relationship Banker 1, VP at Origin Bank.

Let’s start here today. Talk to me about how you ended up in Shreveport-Bossier.

8:05 2. Talk to me some about your role and responsibilities at Origin.

9:30 3. Talk to me about what it’s like being a young professional in Shreveport-Bossier.

13:10 4. You are currently the Chairman of the Board for Sci-Port Discovery Center. Share a few of the great things that are happening there right now.

17:58 5. As you look out at the Shreveport-Bossier community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

31:12 6. Lastly, what gives you hope that our community is moving in the right direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:34 1. You can make an amazing claim that very few others can make, that you played football for the great Football Coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling. Tell me 2-3 things you learned about leading people from Coach Robinson.

2:06 2. You have a passion for helping people. Where does that passion come from?

6:08 3. From 2017-2025, you served as the Principal of Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy. As you look back at that time, what do you count among your greatest accomplishments? What about a couple of your biggest regrets?

10:39 4. Fast forward and you are now working for Caddo Parish Schools as part of a newly formed team, entitled TAC. First off, what does TAC stand for? And why was this new team formed?

20:56 5. I know school is just getting started. But describe to me what you expect your work weeks at TAC to look like?

22:52 6. Why did COVID have such an impact on truancy?

0:28 1. Alan, you are the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (or the MPC as many people know it). After 46 years with the City, you recently announced that you will retire at the end of this year. Tell me about some of the different roles and responsibilities of the MPC for the City.

3:51 2. You recently helped spearhead the $300,000 master plan update, the first since the $1.2 million “Great Expectations” Master Plan was delivered to Shreveport residents in 2014. Tell me about the master plan update and why this is so important.

7:30 3. We’ve heard a lot in the news recently about Shreveport’s new One Stop Shop. Tell me some about this and why this is an important development.

8:40 4. We often hear that it’s easier to do business in Bossier than in Shreveport. In your opinion, why do people think or say this?

10:28 5. Lastly, as you look back on your time with the City, talk to me a little about your legacy. What do you count among your greatest accomplishments? How about your biggest regrets?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:44 1. You are a critical part of one of the largest and most ambitious citywide cleanup efforts in Shreveport’s history – The City of Shreveport Block by Block Initiative. How did you first come to be involved in this project?

6:55 2. Talk a little about the Block by Block Initiative.

11:25 3. If you’re part of the community and have never seen one of these - what do one of the 11 clean sweeps look like?

24:39 4. Today is actually your last day in town. Tell me what your work has looked like with the City?

28:43 5. Share one of the most enlightening or revealing moments each of you has had in this work so far.

33:00 6. Rachel, we were all together at the City Council meeting earlier this week when you presented your case study. Tell us more about the material and what you presented. What information have you left for the City to build upon as far as Block by Block goes?

40:28 7. Block by Block is the result of an intensive planning and leadership effort led by a team of city and community leaders selected by Mayor Arceneaux to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative—a global program that helps cities design more effective public policy. Shreveport was one of a limited number of U.S. cities chosen for the initiative.

I’ve read where Mayor Arceneaux said, "You'll see the difference in buildings that are repaired or removed; in streets that are brighter, cleaner and safer; and neighborhoods that people once again feel proud to call home.”

What happens once the eleven weeks end? How do we ensure that this wonderful initiative has an ongoing and long-term effect on the community?

0:27 1. Let’s start with just some family history. Tell me a little about your parents’ background. And when and how did you end up in Shreveport-Bossier?

8:53 2. You are the Vice President and Owner of PPT Inc. Tell me about how the business got started and some of the services you offer today.

19:50 3. You are the Chair of Scholarship for the Hispanic Heritage Association of NWLA and I want to speak about your important involvement and work with the association. Talk to me about the scholarship program you have helped oversee the last several years.

25:52 4. Talk to me about how you have seen the local Hispanic community evolve and change over the years?

28:13 5. What are some steps you feel could be taken to further integrate the Hispanic community into the greater Shreveport-Bossier community?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:31 1. We have an incredible team here. Jason, you come from a family deeply rooted in public education.

On January 1, 2024, you became the Superintendent for Bossier Schools, after serving as Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel for Bossier Schools since 2019. And you have hit the ground running to say the very least. We’ll try to cover some of the high points, of which there are many.

One of your key initiatives was the Empowering Principals mentoring program. Talk to me some about this if you could.

5:31 2. Sonja, how lucky Bossier Schools is to have someone like you. You have been the Public Relations Liaison for more than a decade after spending 20 years in television news. You have been heavily involved in community service and non-profit work and are an Athena Award nominee and Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman honoree and a recipient of the Clyde E Fant Memorial Award.

Talk to me some about your role with Bossier Schools.

9:20 3. The two of you oversee a wonderful podcast entitled “On the Record with Bossier Schools.” Talk to me about the genesis of this project and why it is such an important part of your work.

15:39 4. I read that approximately 13% of your students are from military families. Tell me how you have to think about your military students in a customized way, as well as how you have to think about and approach your relationship with Barksdale.

22:56 5. Talk to me about the Monday Morning Memo. Give me an example or two of what that sounds and looks like.

30:12 6. What does your weekly collaboration look like, the two of you?

33:08 7. Bossier Parish is booming. Talk to me about how this growth is impacting enrollment and your overall approach to overseeing Bossier Schools.

37:07 8. Jason, you were recently selected by the National School Public Relations Association as one of the top 25 Superintendents to watch in the country.

I read something that was incredible. That when school started last year, you boarded a school bus and visited all 34 Bossier School campuses in two days to offer words of encouragement.

What does being a great superintendent and leader mean to you?

45:21 9. One of the recurring themes on this podcast is about how many of our young people leave after school and don’t return. How can we do a better job at holding on to our best and brightest?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:38 1. You recently completed the greatest season in baseball history. 59-0. LSUS Baseball’s first national championship and the first national championship at LSUS in any sport. Clearly you’re doing something very right.

Rather than rehash the season which I know you’ve done in countless interviews, I’d rather spend today just getting your thoughts and perspective on a few different things.

Let’s start here.

You were hired in early 2020. And when your hiring was announced, LSUS AD Lucas Morgan called you a “winner”. What does being a winner mean to you? Both for yourself and if you were using that word to describe one of your players?

7:35 2. You have coached countless pitchers who signed professional contracts. Why do pitchers flourish under your guidance?

16:07 3. You recently received the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award honoring the nation’s top coach from any level of college baseball. In speaking about the award, you said that Coach Bertman embodied everything a great leader and coach should represent. In your opinion, what makes someone a great leader and coach?

18:47 4. All of us face adversity at different times in our lives. In the final game, after going 58-0, your team went down early 4-Zero. Share some of your thought process in that moment, in hopes of helping all of us deal with adversity better when we inevitably face it. Also, what do your think your team’s process was at that time to push through the challenges and early difficulties in the championship game?

23:42 5. In speaking about this year’s team, you said that they became incredibly close, extremely quick. Talk to me about some of the factors you attribute to the team’s quick and strong process of bonding with one another.

31:22 6. You once said, “A lot of cities are built off something, but the athletic piece is what takes it over the top”. I know how important sports can be for a town’s identity, self-esteem, and just for bringing everyone together? How can we make LSUS sports and all the incredible things you are doing part of more of our community’s lives?

0:32 1. Winston, you’re a professional entertainer and tour guide, deeply knowledgeable about the rich and important music history of our area. And we’ll get into all that and many other things today. But let’s start here.

There’s an interesting story I’ve heard about your first gig as a performer. Share that if you would.

4:39 2. You help oversee a fascinating podcast entitled Louisiana Haywire. Tell me about the genesis of this project, as well as the great national news it was recently able to share.

10:29 3. You were recently appointed to the Louisiana Music Commission. What is the Commission and how could this potentially be important for our area?

17:23 4. Like you, I share an interest in seeing a museum locally dedicated to the importance of Leadbelly. Tell us about Leadbelly and what made him such an important figure in music all across the world.

22:30 5. I’ve heard you say that we don’t talk about our rich music history enough. In your opinion, why do we struggle as a city at knowing, preserving, and rallying around (with pride) our city’s rich musical past?

29:40 6. We haven’t talked much about it but you’re one of the area’s most knowledgeable historians about Municipal Auditorium.

Let’s say in your newly appointed position to the Louisiana Music Commission, they tell you that you get one project locally to better tell and preserve our area’s rich music history. What project would you most want to see happen?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:31 1. We’re going to talk all about the Dream Big Interactive Initiative today. But let’s start here.

Pretend you’re in a school and there’s a child listening and you have a chance to encourage them, what would you say?

1:25 2. Talk to me about starting Dream Big. We have so many challenges in our community it can be difficult to know where to start when you set out to address them. How did you decide this is what we’re going to do and where we’re going to do it?

4:08 3. In 2004, Dream Big impacted nearly 7,000 elementary students. Tell me how it works, what I’m going to see and experience when you go into a school?

6:39 4. Tell people your age 3 Michael Jackson story.

13:20 5. Lance, you are a contemporary R&B singer, songwriter and producer, who has amassed over one million video plays over various social media platforms. You believe in showing your gifts and talents to the community where you grew up. Why do you think this is so important? And, what do you attribute your success to compared with some of your peers that you grew up with?

20:10 6. As you look out at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

30:33 7. Lastly, what gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:47 1. For the last 15 years, you have served as the Executive Director of the Bossier Council on Aging, one of the critical nonprofits in our community. Talk to me about 2-3 of your key services and programs.

4:58 2. Your philosophy at the Council is that senior citizens should live independently with dignity for as long as possible. What are some proactive things seniors can do to prolong an independent quality of life?

10:20 3. You and I have both been very involved with LSUS’ Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most people know it). You participated in two of INAR’s cohorts, first as a mentee then as a mentor. What are some reasons that you think INAR is so valuable to have in our community?

15:01 4. On June 16, you will be celebrating an incredible milestone – 50 years of the Council on Aging serving Bossier Parish. What are some challenges today that maybe did not exist when the Bossier Council on Aging first started supporting our seniors?

20:18 5. And for those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:29 1. I put you in with previous guests like Mack McCarter and LeVette Fuller, as one of the great thinkers about community that we have. And I want to nerd out today with you talking about and looking at our community.

But let’s start here. Let’s just level set.

You grew up in Franklin Parish, in Winnsboro, LA. Tell me a little about growing up in Winnsboro.

4:38 2. You are the owner and creative director of Richard Creative. Tell me about Richard Creative and some of the different services you offer.

6:55 3. You have studied social systems, writing an extremely thoughtful book entitled System Redesign Handbook For A Humane Era: Harnessing 12,000 Years of Knowledge to Edit Systems for Human Thriving.

Tell me some of the things you concluded that make a system more humane?

14:32 4. We have a sprawl issue in this community. Talk to me about some of the ways we can begin getting our core more densely populated.

25:32 5. In your book, you look at systems and explain that we made them all up as humans and so we have the power to un-make them as much as we want. I have heard you talk about City Building, Historic Preservation, Infrastructure and Transportation, Planning, and Incremental Development.

In our community, what systems would you prioritize as ripe for a redesign?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:39 1. You have a really interesting journey, with a number of fascinating chapters and hopefully we’ll get to a number of them.

Let’s start here.

You are one of Shreveport-Bossier’s greatest advocates. An absolute fierce defender of this community. Where does that come from?

3:02 2. You are co-founder of Single Source Business Solutions. Tell me about Single Source and what sort of individuals and companies are in the wheelhouse for the services you offer?

5:58 3. Single Source is located in the Andress Artist and Entrepreneur Center. Andress was the vision and brainchild of the late Jim Malsch, who we loved having during one of our early episodes of the podcast and who is deeply missed by so many of us.

It seems from the outside that you have picked up where Jim left off in making Andress a special place of special people all working in a shared space as well as a place that convenes community and serves as a hub for Downtown Shreveport.

Tell me some of what’s happening in Andress today and how you see its role?

13:01 4. You are a relationship guy. I once heard you say, “we have to continue to push each other and celebrate each other.” I know the meaning might be obvious. But talk to me more about this, what does it mean to push each other? And what does it mean to celebrate each other?

16:56 5. We’re nearly 150 episodes into this podcast and numerous episodes have gotten into how we have a hard time with our overall self-esteem as a community and communicating our identity, what makes us unique and special. How do you see this? Who are we as a community?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:43 1. In 2019, you were named the Director of Parks and Recreation for the Parish of Caddo and wonderful things have been happening ever since. Hopefully we’ll cover much of it today.

You once said, "We want to always create and improve quality of life space where people want to be. For us, that's a year-round process, and that's our goal.”

Let’s start here. What is your charge or responsibility as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Caddo Parish?

4:58 2. In October of 2024, you achieved something quite noteworthy. Out of the 10,000 park agencies in the nation, Caddo Parish parks became one of only 214 to be nationally accredited.

And you made the following statement, “As a new nationally accredited parks department, this is now the standard for our Caddo Parish park system. Our resilient Caddo Parish youth and respective families deserve to have quality parks and athletic facilities in their communities.”

Tell me some about the accreditation process and the above quote.

9:10 3. The great Walter B Jacobs Memorial Nature Park is in the process of a significant renovation. Tell me about this project, what all is happening at Walter B Jacobs?

12:29 4. We are partners, the YMCA and Caddo Parish on the Youth Baseball and Softball Complex we are building, and you have been an extraordinary advocate for the project. Tell me about the baseball and softball programs Caddo is currently overseeing and the importance and role of sports, in your opinion, for many of our Caddo youth.

21:07 5. You also said, “Over the past three years, pickleball has emerged as the fastest growing sport in the country. There is a strong demand from our Caddo Parish citizens, young and old, to develop more dedicated pickleball courts, and we are listening.”

Share some of the other quality of life enhancement projects you are part of.

Here are the questions I asked:

0:25 1. Mudbug Madness is coming up. It will be held from May 23rd-May 25th this year. What will be the same about it this year as previous years and what will be different?

3:10 2. I am going to lean on you today for some history. Your involvement and commitment to Mudbug Madness are inspiring and deserve serious recognition. When and how did Mudbug Madness first get started? What is it today versus what was it when you first started being a part of it?

6:02 3. Because I have heard you talk some about it previously. Share some history of how festival plaza came to be.

7:50 4. You are Executive Director of Downtown Shreveport Unlimited (or DSU as many know it). You chiefly oversee four events. Tell me a little about the three others, in addition to Mudbug Madness.

9:08 5. You once said, “I believe we’re supposed to give back to our community. I love Shreveport. Yes, it has challenges. I face them every day. But, it’s where I’ve chosen to stay. If I’ve chosen that, I need to give back."

How do we get our young people to think like you do? Or the generations coming behind you to see this in the way that you see it?

11:57 6. DSU is housed in the Visit Shreveport-Bossier office building. I know Visit Shreveport-Bossier has done great work around trying to pinpoint the best way to brand us and find what our unique identity is as a community. Many cities similar-sized to us have large universities and/or sports teams that bring the community together. We probably will never have either of those things in Shreveport-Bossier. But we do have numerous great events like the ones that you oversee.

So all that to say, because I think about this all the time about the Y where I work. How do we take what happens during your events – the palpable community pride and everyone coming together - and make that more of a recurring part of our daily lives in Shreveport-Bossier?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:32 1. You and I go way back. I believe I first met you in the summer of 1997. We’ve never talked about it I don’t think. But let’s start here today. Tell me how you first got into theater.

7:04 2. You moved back to Shreveport in 2008 after many years in California. You and I were out in California at the same time in fact. I know that Bob Buseick and Patrick McWilliams, two of Shreveport’s greatest theater legends, both of whom unfortunately are no longer with us, both had a profound effect on you.

Tell me a little about Bob and Patrick, what made each of them so good and tell me a thing or two or three that you learned from each of them.

16:11 3. You are the Chair of the Theater Department at Centenary College. Tell me what happens today in the theater department.

25:50 4. Last week I had Morgan Walker, the Executive Director of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, on the podcast and we talked about how to get new people to go to the symphony. When is the best time for someone who is new to theater to come to Marjorie Lyons to see a production?

39:22 5. Last week Morgan and I also talked about what our community would miss without the symphony. I know how lucky we are to have symphony, opera, ballet, community theater. In your opinion, what would Shreveport-Bossier miss if community theater ceased to exist?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:28 1. Let’s just start with some of the basics.

Heather, you are the Fan Club Director for the Shreveport Rouxgaroux Roux Krewe and Chase you are the Center for the Shreveport Rouxgaroux. Heather, start by telling me a little about our newest pro team that we’re so excited to have. Where do you play in town? And when is your next local game?

2:21 2. I haven’t been to a game yet but I definitely plan to come. Chase, I’ve heard arena football described as a circus with a football game or as NFL meets hockey. I’ve heard you say, “Hopefully it will be so loud I can barely hear the quarterback tell me to snap the ball” and “Usually if you’re not scoring at least 50 points, you’re not doing your job right.”

Tell me what I’m going to experience when I come to a game.

5:14 3. It’s a special time for football in Shreveport-Bossier. We have Centenary bringing back football after more than 70 years of not having a team and in a little over a year we’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Independence Bowl. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to have a professional arena football team in our community. Heather, tell me about the Roux Krewe. And tell me some things that will help encourage families to come out and support the Shreveport Rouxgaroux.

7:08 4. Chase, I’ve heard you say, “I just really love to play football.” Tell me some about your football history. Where are you from and where all have you played? And how about the football history of some of your teammates?

10:10 5. I read about an arena football team in Wyoming. It’s a town of 37,000 that sells out a 5,000 seat arena every game. I also read, in preparing for today, that the Rouxgaorux contracts each of their players to do something in the community at least two times a week. And I heard that the Rouxgaroux players stay on the field after each game to meet kids and their fans.

So all that to say how can we make sure that this community adopts the Rouxgaroux as their team and ensures they are here for many, many years to come?

0:35 1. In the spring of last year you came to us from Paducah, Kentucky to take the reins as the Executive Director of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Since 1948 Shreveport has been blessed to have a symphony. In fact, it’s the oldest continuously operating symphony in Louisiana.

We’re going to cover all kinds of aspects of the Shreveport Symphony today. But let’s start here. I know you do a lot of work with and in the schools. Tell me about some of this if you could.

2:55 2. Let’s talk some about your vision and initiatives. Tell me first about some of the things that will continue or stay the same with you at the helm?

3:41 3. And then let’s talk about some of the things that will be different or that are priorities for you to add or change.

5:37 4. What are the Symphony’s greatest challenges today and for those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

9:15 5. I once heard your great Music Director Michael Butterman say the following,

“We are all being rewired through our connectivity, through our devices and so on. We’re looking for the next ding, the next little stimulation. The idea of being multi-tasking and scattered is something that’s just kinda creeping into our very way of being. So that’s a challenge but it’s also an opportunity. What I mean by that is that more than ever I think people are looking for chances to kinda unplug. To transcend that kind of frantic pace. They might find it through prayer. They might find it through meditation. I suggest you can also find it through really losing yourself in great music like we play.”

You and I are a bit in a similar business. We are both selling quality of life enhancements to the community. How do you sell that to people when it’s not necessarily easy to quantify or demonstrate a ROI for?

0:34 1. Neither of you is from here yet both of you have contributed greatly to making our community better. Lindsi, for close to ten years you brought us the much beloved Well + Fed Louisiana restaurant. And Dany you are a Partner and Wealth Advisor at WFA, formerly Williams Financial Advisors.

Today I’m going to lean heavily on your perspective, because it’s so unique, and focus on some of the incredible things you’ve done beyond your professions.

Let’s start here today. Tell me a little about where both of you are from and who taught you this sense of caring about and service to your community.

4:06 2. All right, Lindsi, this one is for you. I have to ask because I am the Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana. Shreveport recently was rated the 6th most obese city in the United States in WalletHub’s 2025 rankings. As someone who owned and ran a vegan restaurant for nearly ten years, is Shreveport-Bossier becoming more health conscious? And, what are some things that we can do to continue to get listed lower in these national overweight and obesity rankings?

9:12 3. This podcast was created in response to what I saw as a growing sense of community apathy and low self-esteem. Both of you represent the exact opposite of that. As a couple who have done and continue to do so much for our community, what do you see as ways to get more people, like you, to focus more on WE than ME?

17:42 4. Dany, I heard you say in an interview that Lindsi describes the two of you and your community work as “gap fillers”. Share some of the story about how your family became bigger through your involvement with Common Ground.

30:20 5. Will each of you share a story of a preconception you had or a gap in understanding or awareness that you had that has changed since you became foster parents?

0:38 1. Jay, you are the Staff Vice President, Technology Shared Services, for General Dynamics Information Technology (or GDIT as many know it). GDIT is one of the largest and most important employers and companies that we have in our community.

Tell me about GDIT and some of the work that they do locally.

2:23 2. Tell me some about your position at GDIT and some of what it entails.

5:10 3. What can local parents do to ensure that their kids are properly prepared to have a career in STEM and/or cybersecurity?

15:45 4. Lastly, what do you see that we can do as a community to bolster your efforts at GDIT to recruit and retain the nation’s best and brightest?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:42 1. Let’s start here today.

Your family came to Louisiana from South Carolina. Can you tell me about this?

7:19 2. Your family and you, for lack of a better phrase, had a front row seat for the Haynesville Shale. Talk to me some about this experience if you could.

14:48 3. You were an integral part of Centenary deciding to bring football back to the university. Take me behind the scenes of some of this process and decision.

21:44 4. The Independence Bowl has a special place for you and your family. Talk to me some about that.

24:45 5. First Presbyterian Church and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary also have special places for you and your family. Would you mind talking some about that?

1:34 1. Sci-Port Discovery Center

37:28 2. Robinson Film Center

Here are the questions I asked:

0:36 1. In March of 2024, you were named the new executive director of the Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse (or CADA as most people know it).

Prior to CADA you worked for 25 years at the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, 10 of those as the director.

CADA has been serving our community since 1958. In a little while, I want to talk about the CADA Mobile Response Team and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that you signed in November with the Shreveport Police Department as you work to reform the local crisis response system.

But let’s start just with some foundational knowledge. I know from preparing for today’s discussion and taking in all the information on your website that CADA offers a number of different programs. Talk to me about 2-3 of your key substance abuse services and programs.

3:38 2. Louisiana is one of the top ten states in the nation for opioid-related deaths. One in ten high school students admits to regularly using prescription opioids for non-medical purposes. More than 225,000 Louisiana residents admit to regular heavy drinking and around 6% of the Louisiana population abuses alcohol.

One of the major new initiatives CADA has implemented since your arrival has been its new Mobile Response Team. Tell me what this is and why it is such an important new addition to the services that CADA provides.

12:10 3. According to LSU Health Shreveport, in 2023 there were 299,939 emergency 911 calls in Caddo Parish. Each of these calls required a law enforcement or emergency medical services response. Many of these calls, however, did not involve criminal behavior or medical needs, placing a disproportionate burden on first responders.

Talk to me about this MOU that you signed with the Shreveport Police Department and how it will significantly improve our ability as a community to provide crisis response.

20:00 4. People in our community generally understand that we have a shortage of police officers and that jails are overcrowded. What a lot of people don’t know is that our emergency rooms are overcrowded too. As far as you know, is that accurate and talk to me about how the reforms CADA is part of making to our crisis response system will help relieve some of the burden our emergency rooms are facing?

29:33 5. What are CADA’s greatest challenges today and for those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

0:32 1. Your father started Total Yard Care with only his children as employees and now it’s a successful company with more than 30 employees. Tell me about how the business got started and some of the services you offer today.

10:06 2. You have been an integral and active part of our local Hispanic community. Your family are a bit of Mexican pioneers in this area. Talk to me about how you have seen the local Hispanic community evolve and change over the years?

15:32 3. What are some steps you feel could be taken to further integrate the Hispanic community into the greater Shreveport-Bossier community?

22:00 4. As you look out at our community in general, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

26:03 5. What gives you hope that our community as a whole is headed in a positive direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:48 1. On November 6, 1920, The Shreveport Sun was founded by Melvin Lee Collins, Senior. It is the oldest weekly newspaper for African Americans in Louisiana.

Fast forward to 2025. You are the fourth generation, I believe, running the paper, and the great-grandson of Melvin Collins, the founder. How long have you been with The Sun and can you share some of your earliest memories of being around this incredible family business?

5:40 2. Tell me about The Sun in 2025. How often do you publish? Do you still publish a print edition? And tell me about some of your social media activity.

10:15 3. On February 12th of this year, The Shreveport Times published an article that according to the US Census Bureau, 56.1 percent of Shreveport is Black, 36.5 percent is white, 3.9 percent Hispanic, 1.5 percent is Asian and 0.2 percent is American Indian and Alaska Native.

The Sun continues to be and has always been an important resource in our community providing information on black people’s progress, noting times of black social events, and acting as a sounding board for black opinion. How do you see the role of The Sun in 2025 versus perhaps what it was in the time of the first, second, and third generation Collins editors and owners?

17:42 4. Newspapers.com is a tremendous online resource providing daily archives of many papers from around the country. Is it possible that The Sun would ever become part of the newspapers.com database?

21:06 5. As you look at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

26:00 6. What makes you feel that our community is making progress or perhaps headed in a positive direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:42 1. For more than 25 years, you have been advocating for autism awareness. Your adult son, Dominique, is non-verbal and was diagnosed with autism at age 2.

Your advocacy efforts have led to so much great change. Talk to me about where autism resources and awareness were when you first started this work 25 plus years ago and some of where they are today.

6:26 2. You grew up in the Cooper Road area and now represent that district, District A, as its city councilwoman. I’ve heard you talk about why your memories of going to pay the water bill with your grandmother was important. Can you share of that story?

9:55 3. You are one of the most positive, forward-looking leaders we have in our community. And I have always been struck by how much pride the people I have met from Cooper Road seem to have.

Talk a little about the Cooper Road/MLK area. How is it similar to the way it was when you were growing up there and how it is different?

14:50 4. As you look out at our community as a whole, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

19:41 5. And what are some of the things that you make you feel that we are headed in the right direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:37 1. You are an integral part of Community Renewal International as the Director of Friendship House and Director of Operation H.O.P.E., Helping Our Pupils Excel.

Let’s start here today.

I believe there are currently 10 Friendship Houses in Shreveport-Bossier. What are these friendship houses and what types of programs do they offer?

4:02 2. How does Community Renewal determine where to place its friendship houses?

5:51 3. You once said, “The call had to go beyond just going to church every Sunday.”

Your husband Eric and you made a significant sacrifice by relocating your family to a less safe area of Highland so that you could run the Friendship House in Highland. Talk to me about that relocation process and some of what your husband, children and you went through (or still go through) as a result of making that significant transition?

10:37 4. As I mentioned earlier, you are the Director of Operation H.O.P.E. Tell me about this program and some of the important work it does.

13:53 5. Sometimes people think it is the sole responsibility of our school system to be our village and to ensure that our kids get all that they need to become responsible, productive adults. How do you see the role of schools, what can they do and what should they do, and what are the gaps that programs like yours need to fill?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:31 1. How did you come up with the idea of Social Bike Rides or SB Rides as most know it?

6:52 2. Tell me about 515 Pierre Avenue.

11:42 3. You have led bike tours focused on black history for our local Juneteenth celebrations and recently you were the guide for the MLK 318 Dreamfest guided bus tour. Tell me about these tours, some of the sites you take people to, and a little about who taught you our local black history.

28:40 4. As you look out at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:34 1. Born and raised in Shreveport, you ended up in Kazakhstan in your early twenties. How did you end up there?

4:30 2. Fast forward a few years and you are now the owner of Osborn Hays Real Estate. Tell me about Osborn Hays, how it started, and some about who you are as a company.

7:18 3. Let’s switch gears a little as we get to another important facet of your current life. In addition to owning and running Osborn Hays, along with your husband and father you own North Port Sports.

Where did the idea come from to purchase the 25-acre site which had been abandoned for more than 10 years? What is North Port Sports today and what will it be ultimately?

15:43 4. Like many of us, you grew up here, went away never expecting to return, returned never expecting to stay, and now you are committed to making your hometown better.

Your husband Phil and you are raising a family with four children. As you look around at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

21:19 5. Lastly, what are some of the things locally that make you feel like our community is improving or has improved since you first came back to live here?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:33 1. You have been an institution in Shreveport journalism. I read that it was a dream come true for you to be a journalist, one you chose many years ago when you were a young child reading The Times on your stoop in Queensboro.

What was it about journalism that spoke to you?

3:02 2. You began working with The Times in 1964 but not initially as the society reporter you would become. When did you first begin writing columns on society parties?

5:50 3. Tell me about one or two of the most memorable parties you ever covered.

10:42 4. You were part of The Times Enterprise Team, a group of reporters and editors that investigated the late Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George D’Artois. The entire enterprise team was actually a finalist in the 1976 Pulitzer Prize competition.

Tell me about Jim Leslie and some of your memories of working on the Enterprise Team.

21:02 5. Your husband, Paul Schuetze, has been a critical part of both your personal and professional life, photographing much of your written coverage for The Times. Tell me about when and how Paul and you first met.

0:28 1. Both of you are part of The Krewe of Gemini, the oldest parading Mardi Gras Krewe in Shreveport-Bossier.

We recently kicked off Mardi Gras season 2025 with Twelfth Night.

Tell me when it was and some of what happened that night.

5:10 2. Tony, you are originally from Michigan but are now Captain for this year’s 36th year of Gemini. Tell me how you first got involved in Gemini.

8:00 3. Karen, you first joined the Krewe of Gemini in 2007, were Queen for the 30th year of Gemini, and are a current board member. What is Gemini for you and what are some of the reasons you continue to give so much of your time to it?

12:16 4. What many people don’t realize is how much of an economic impact Mardi Gras delivers to our local economy. According to numbers released by the Caddo Parish Commission in early 2024, the direct economic impact of Mardi Gras parades in Shreveport was estimated to be more than $9 million. Adding indirect spending, the total economic impact was estimated to be more than $16 million.

Do people travel into the area for our Mardi Gras? Or can you talk about some of the different ways that local Mardi Gras delivers an economic impact?

15:34 5. The Krewe of Gemini parade draws hundreds of thousands of spectators each year along the 5½ mile parade route.

When will it roll this year and talk to me some about its parade route?

17:05 6. For people listening who are interested in becoming a part of a Krewe, what’s the best way for them to get involved?

24:08 7. What distinguishes Mardi Gras in North Louisiana from Mardi Gras in South Louisiana?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:28 1. You and I first met about a year ago. As I have mentioned several times here, I currently chair the advisory board for LSUS’ Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most people know it).

You were one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected to participate in an important INAR initiative, its first capacity building cohort.

Tell me both about your nonprofit, Uniforms For All, and why the cohort was an important initiative for you to be a part of.

4:04 2. For the past 14 years, you have been on staff at Northpoint Community Church in Bossier City where you currently serve as the Connections and Community Relations Pastor. Talk to me if you would a little about the church – its values and focus.

5:47 3. You found the church by way of a fairly circuitous path – having been a victim of domestic abuse, struggling with drugs, even finding yourself incarcerated at one point.

I have heard you talk about how God gave you the grace to care. And I have heard you cite Romans chapter 8, verse 1,”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

For those listening today, talk to me a little about how the church has given you a reboot and allowed you to completely take your life to a different place.

10:07 4. Somewhat unknown fact - you are a WWII buff. If you could, tell me what it is about WWII that is so fascinating to you and perhaps share 1 or 2 of the stories from the war that you find most instructive.

13:27 5. I’ve heard you talk about the “circle check”. Talk to me some about this.

Here are the questions that I asked:

0:46 1. Mack, you are the founder and coordinator of Community Renewal International, one of our community’s most impactful nonprofits that you first started in 1994. You are also one of the great thinkers about community that we have.

The what, where, when, who of Community Renewal are all instructive and invaluable lessons to us all but where I would like to spend the most time with you today is the why. In a little while, I will come back to you to give me a snapshot of Community Renewal but let’s start here.

In numerous podcasts, I have been a detective, asking numerous guests how do we move from a “Me” to a “We” world.

How did we get here? Why are we so me-focused as a community?

6:38 2. Tell me about Harry Blake. How did you first get to know him and what are some of the things you learned from Revered Blake?

15:02 3. You live part time in Washington DC. In an op-ed piece you wrote for The Shreveport Times in 2018, as you looked out at American society as a whole, you wrote these words:

“We must celebrate our diversity as we all commit to common values that transcend each of us for the good of all of us. But how?”

You have studied social systems, trying to discover what kind of society would make possible a world where people love their neighbors. What are some conclusions you have come to?

21:20 4. I don’t want to spend too much time here because I’ll have another representative from Community Renewal International on in a few weeks.

Community Renewal International focuses on three primary strategies– We Care Partners, We Care Neighbors, and We Care Friendship House. Can you give me a snapshot of each of these three strategies?

26:46 5. As you look at our community in 2024, thirty years after you first started Community Renewal, talk to me about some of the things that still concern you the most?

31:32 6. Lastly, what gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:39 1. On March 17, 2017, you were formally inaugurated as Centenary College’s 31st President.

Since taking over, Centenary has experienced tremendous growth, including its largest enrollment since 2011 and the first time on-campus housing has been full in 20 years. Obviously one of your focuses has and always will be enrollment.

Talk to me about some of the ways you have successfully been able to grow enrollment. Where is enrollment today, and what do you see as the ideal enrollment goal for the College?

6:25 2. What are a few of the most challenging obstacles you have faced and/or continue to face in achieving your enrollment goals?

8:50 3. Since I’ve read that you are a fan and my wife and I are watching right now, who is your favorite West Wing character and why?

10:14 4. Centenary College is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River. In fact, starting in January and I believe all year next year, the college will be celebrating its bicentennial.

In conjunction with this very important milestone, the College put together its “FORWARD” capital campaign, the campaign for the college’s third century. Talk to me about some of the key projects and initiatives of the Forward campaign.

21:26 5. On May 31, 2024, it was announced that Birmingham-Southern College, an institution that first started in 1856, had to close its doors. What are some of the things we have to do at Centenary and as a community to ensure that never happens to us?

30:44 6. I’ve heard you say that 1/3 of your freshmen when they get out of college will take a job that doesn’t exist today. How do you as the President of a college use this knowledge about our changing world and strategize to prepare students to thrive in the world that awaits them?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:32 1. You are deeply entrenched in Shreveport restauranteur and bar owner history, having gotten your start with the Cush brothers.

Let’s start here today.

Tell me about the Cush’s, how you first got in with them, and some of the key things you learned during your time of working with them.

12:48 2. You are celebrating your 20th year of being at Fatty Arbuckle’s, the sole remaining original Red River District business. What keeps you committed to downtown?

16:35 3. I should know these things but I don’t. What are the rules today in the following categories.

a. Can you smoke in a bar in Shreveport?

b. How old do you need to be to get into a bar? And how old do you need to be able to order a drink at a bar?

c. At one point, if I’m not mistaken, the Red River District allowed for open container. Does it still?

27:32 4. During my travels, I have been to a number of cities where a body of water runs through the city center. Most, if not all of these cities, have a pedestrian bridge that easily connects the two sides. Do you think a pedestrian bridge connecting Downtown Shreveport and Bossier would make a major impact?

31:34 5. I’ve heard you talk about how we need to bring our city into this century. Talk to me some about this if you could. What would an ideal 21st century Shreveport-Bossier have, that it currently lacks?

0:34 1. You’ve had a varied and rich professional career. From executive editor of the Shreveport Times to Chief of Staff, Director of Governmental Affairs, and Director of Communications and Public Relations for two different Mayors of Shreveport. From Executive Director of Step Forward to now the Assistant Vice President of Government Relations for the North Louisiana Region and Ochsner LSU Health.

In a little while, I want to talk some about the traits you have that have enabled you to excel in so many chapters of your life. But let’s start here.

Tell me some about your current work with Ochsner and some of the important information you are working to convey to policymakers across the state.

4:58 2. I participated earlier this year in Ochsner’s Community Health Needs Assessment, a process that all tax-exempt hospitals are required to conduct every three years. Tell me some about this assessment, its purpose, and some of the key findings coming out of this year’s report.

10:20 3. You also oversee the community engagement and outreach work for Ochsner in the North Louisiana region. Tell me about some of this work and how Ochsner sees its role in the community.

13:14 4. So what is it that has made you so nimble professionally, so capable of excelling in a number of different professional arenas?

16:10 5. As you look out at our community, what are some of the things that concern you most?

18:32 6. What are some areas that make you feel that we are making progress and moving in the right direction as a community?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:34 1. John, you have had a great career as a CPA at the accounting firm Heard, McElroy & Vestal but what I want to focus on today is how much you have done and continue to do for our community.

Let me but graze the surface. Presently or formerly, you have been the Early Education Chair for the Committee of 100, Chairman of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, part of the Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee for Community Foundation, President of the Committee of 100, part of the Advisory Committee for VOA’s Communities in Schools, President of Step Forward and President of the Grayson Foundation.

Let’s start here. You once said, “If we’re going to do anything to improve our community, we’re going to have to put significant resources – time and energy – into early childhood education.”

Tell me a little, if you could, statistically where we are with early childhood education and why it’s so important.

6:02 2. I see advertisements in national newspapers like the Wall Street Journal about Communities in Schools (CIS). I understand that the Caddo Parish School Board has partnered with VOA to implement this program in key schools in the parish.

Are you familiar with CIS? What’s your impression?”  

10:21 3. Like me, I know that you are very concerned about the future health of Downtown Shreveport. Talk to me about where you see Downtown Shreveport today and what we can do to ensure it remains vital into the future.

19:42 4. As I mentioned earlier, you are the President of Grayson Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in Northwest Louisiana. Talk to me, if you could, about some of the types of projects Grayson Foundation is looking to fund.

33:38 5. You had a great career as a CPA and could have simply focused on your profession and your family. How did you learn the importance of giving back so much of your time to trying to make our community better?

37:16 6. My last formal question is, what are some of the things that make you optimistic that our community might be headed in a positive direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:25 1. One of the themes I want to explore with you today is how to get more people like Oliver Jenkins in our community.

To highlight but a few things about your life and career so far - you received your BA from Dartmouth, flew 150 combat missions over a 20 year career as a Marine, served two terms on the Shreveport City Council, and are currently the Board Chairman of the Shreveport Airport Authority and the President of Phillips Energy.

You once said, “We need people to step up across the spectrum, in my opinion to serve, whether it's in the military or their community.”

Who taught you this sense of service or where do you think you learned this trait that has been such a key part of who you are?

3:18 2. Let’s talk 9/11. Tell me where you were on 9/11 and where you spent the next few days and months.

9:34 3. As I mentioned earlier, you served two terms on the Shreveport City Council, from 2010-2018. Talk to me a little about your legacy. What do you count among your greatest achievements while on the Council and maybe a few of your main regrets?

18:14 4. You have two kids. What would have to change, if anything, for you to want them to come back and be important members of this community like you and your wife, Anne, have been?

20:34 5. Lastly, as you look out at the community, what are some of the things that make you feel that we might be headed in the right direction?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:28 1. Many people know you as Senator Peacock. But before you became Senator Peacock, you ran four unsuccessful campaigns for both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature.

Let’s start here today.

What convinced you initially to pursue political office? And how did you overcome the initial setback of four defeats to persist?

3:38 2. You were very involved during your 12 years in the State Legislature with the Jimmie Davis Bridge. Tell me some about this long, difficult project and where it is today.

8:28 3. You had a reputation as someone who could work across the aisle. There’s a story where your first vote as senator was the lone “nay” in the election of President John Alario for the 2012 term, after which you asked President Alario for a ride to New Orleans for that night’s BCS game between LSU and Alabama.

In a community where politics often continues to separate us, what are some words of wisdom you can share with the rest of us to help us to get along and work better with those who may think differently than us?

12:36 4. How did you decide when to tackle an issue and/or author a bill?

16:22 5. You had a very impactful and effective 12 years as State Senator, including serving as Chair of the Senate Retirement Committee and the Judiciary A Committee. As you look back on your time in the State Senate, talk to me a little about your legacy. What do you count among your greatest accomplishments? How about your biggest regrets?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:41 1. You are the Caddo Parish District School Psychologist. In your role, you focus on student supports, positive school climates, suicide prevention, bullying prevention and safe and drug free schools. You are also the lead responder for all crises in the district.

I want to get into a number of different areas of your expertise today but let’s start here.

In speaking about cyberbullying, you once said that certain conversations need to take place between a parent and a child before the child is ever allowed to enter cyberspace. Can you talk some about what you recommend parents explain in these early conversations? And are there other precautions that you suggest parents take as their kids become users of social media and participants in cyberspace?

8:47 2. You were in your role with Caddo Parish Schools during COVID. We have spoken numerous times on this podcast about the negative impact that COVID had on our school-aged kids and the challenges it posed for our students and teachers. Because I have heard you speak about this some in the past, what are some of the positive things that came out of COVID?

15:08 3. We spoke about the conversations that you recommend parents have with their children in an effort to reduce or prevent cyberbullying. What are some other things our parents can do in the home to help our schools and teachers?

17:39 4. You once said, “It always becomes the balance in education. How much mental health should we provide and still be an academic learning community?”

If you could, briefly talk about some of the mental health initiatives that have taken place in Caddo Schools in the last 10 or so years and how you think about this balance between mental health and academic learning.

Here are the questions I asked:

0:38 1. You were born in 1964. In 1981 you were arrested and sentenced to Angola for murdering someone. You were sentenced to life without parole, probation nor suspension of sentence.

Judge John R Ballard when sentencing you said, “We’ve had in you in our juvenile facilities, now we’ve finally got you. All your dreams, hopes and goals are over. I sentence you to life. I confine you for the rest of your life to hard labor.”

Talk to me about your early childhood and life. What put you on this initial path that led to you being at Angola?

3:06 2. I’ve read that the death of a childhood friend altered your life. Talk to me about this and how you ended up working for Warden Burl Cain.

8:00 3. In 2000, Time Magazine came to do a story on Warden Cain. While doing the story, the Time Magazine reporter had your food. They wrote about it and wrote some about your story. Tell me about this.

15:13 4. You served 22 years at Angola. What happened on Christmas Day 2003?

20:00 5. I don’t want to spend too much time on this next question but tell me about your time with the next Louisiana Governor, Kathleen Blanco.

22:48 6. Tell me about some of the work you are doing now and some of the different work you have been doing since being back in Shreveport.

25:05 7. I have two more questions. The first is as follows:

What do you attribute your ability to be rehabilitated to compared to most of the people you met while in Angola?

29:45 8. Do you have any advice on how we do a better job with our reentry work here in Caddo Parish and any guidance on how we work with the 1500 people at CCC in a safe way?

0:38 1. You were the Director of Security for Caddo Schools for nearly three decades, retiring at the end of April 2023. I want to start with this great quote of yours because I think it will frame the conversation well:

“For a lot of years, I talked about the things that you do to make schools safe and really it kinda boils down to about two things. If you can control who comes and goes on your school campuses and you can supervise people that are on your school campuses then you can pretty much keep schools as safe as you possibly can. But if you can’t do one of those things or if you can’t do either of those things then you can’t keep any school safe.

So pretty much in Caddo what we’ve tried to concentrate on for the last 25 years is to find ways to control who comes and goes on our campuses and to better supervise the people that are on our campuses.”

I want to cover a number of things security-related in our schools. How did you approach mass shootings that occurred around the country and tell me some of the things your team learned from looking at them?

3:32 2. I’ve heard you talk about how important situational awareness is for our teachers and students. Talk to me some about that if you could.

15:48 3. I thought this was an amazing stat that I needed to share. I read in an article from 2020 that when you became director of security for Caddo Parish schools in 1993, your budget for safety was about $490,0000. Today, as worries about possible school shootings increase across the country, the parish spends about $6.7M/year on security for its schools.

How are searches done on students in Caddo schools?

20:20 4. I know that one of your main priorities was access control. Tell me what this means, some of the challenges that Caddo schools face in achieving this, and how we’re coming with limiting point of entry at all our schools.

Here are the questions I asked:

0:44 1. You are at least a second-generation local musician. Tell me about your dad, Stan Hoffman.

6:34 2. You have been and are currently a member of a number of local bands. Tell me about the groups you’re currently fronting and/or a part of.

9:14 3. Talk to me about the local music scene. Is it healthy? Where is it thriving, how could it continue to evolve to become even more vital?

15:12 4. Where and how do you suggest someone network who wants to be a part of the music scene here?

21:26 5. We all know that New Orleans has this amazing, vibrant music scene. What keeps you here? And how do we keep more of our local, musical talent from moving to New Orleans or places like Nashville or Austin?

0:43 1. Commissioner, let’s start with you. You serve as the Chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee. How often does the committee meet and can you share some of the issues you are currently discussing?

4:22 2. Captain, it was recently announced that you will serve as the Captain of Community Programs for Sheriff Whitehorn. Can you tell me about this new role and some of the responsibilities associated with it?

10:38 3. Commissioner, you recently attended the North Carolina Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference. Can you tell me about this conference and some of the key takeaways for you?

15:41 4. Captain, I know that Sheriff Whitehorn is only about 90 days into his service, but is there anything you can share so far about his priorities?

20:53 5. These next few questions are for either or both of you. I know we’re having trouble with overcrowding at CCC. How’s treatment and re-entry going? Is that an area we could improve upon?

29:48 6. How are you working with the City in terms of combatting the issue of crime we continue to face?

32:14 7. For someone who wants to live in a safer city, any recommendations you have for how they can get involved as a concerned community member?

38:36 8. I know there has been some talk around the revitalization of the work release program. Is there anything you would like to share about that?

0:27 1. We’ll cover a lot of ground today but let’s start here.

On October 9th you will be the featured speaker at the free entrepreneurial event, 1 Million Cups. In the description for the event, it says, “Many years and family members’ electronic equipment later, coupled with countless times of being electrocuted and even accidentally starting a fire in his bedroom while learning the power of alternate current over direct current, it was only natural that Mario would find his way into the military, specifically the high-tech sector of FM transmissions and satellite communication."

Talk to me about the young Mario Chavez and his interest and curiosity about electronics.

5:26 2. After 12 years in the military, you hung up your combat boots to focus on your business MersaTech. Tell me how MersaTech got started, what it does, and what has come of this business that, 20 years ago, had but one customer.

22:30 3. In 2016, you were elected as Caddo Parish's first Latino Commissioner. From your perspective, is the Hispanic community today unified with the white and black communities in the Shreveport-Bossier area? And, if not, as you look around, what are some of the steps you feel could be taken to help bring these communities closer together?

27:40 4. You ran for mayor of Shreveport in 2022, with a focus on crime, cleanliness and customer service. Shreveport Citizens United is a group you are actively involved in. Tell me a little about this group and how they are working to be on the front line of combatting the issue of crime that our community continues to struggle with.

38:08 5. During your time as Commissioner, 2016-2023, you always struck me as someone who could work across party lines and get things accomplished. Have you always understood diplomacy and how to be diplomatic? And, in a community where politics often continues to separate us, what are some words of wisdom you can share with the rest of us to help us to get along and work better with those who may think differently than us?

Here are the questions I asked:

0:45 1. You appear to have had three large chapters in your professional career; the European Union, at Praeses here in Shreveport and now helping owners with equity transactions.

I can only speak directly about the second one when I worked for you at Praeses. One of the things that impressed me the most at Praeses was the talent you had assembled and the people you had working with you.

Can you talk about some of your hiring philosophy? How much is instinct and what types of people do you typically like to have on your teams?

7:31 2. You’ve talked about your parents always being consistent with the message of learning how to think critically. If you would, define and talk about this and how it’s served you throughout your career.

11:03 3. You are now the Managing Director for STS Capital Partners, a global mergers and acquisitions firm, specializing in sell-side consulting and advisory services for entrepreneurial business owners.

We will camp out on STS for a while. Let’s start here.

How many companies go through an exit and what’s the difference between a proactive and reactive exit?

16:14 4. How should a business owner decide when it is the right time to exit?

22:28 5. I’ve heard you talk about good housekeeping and how essential it is for businesses to maintain so that they are ready when it’s time for them to exit. Talk to me about what is meant by good housekeeping.

28:55 6. My final formal question is simply this - give me 5 words of wisdom or recommendations for business owners or entrepreneurs.

And then Kempten asked me the following questions:

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29:54 7. You suffered a tremendous injury. Talk to me about that and how it influenced your path forward.

33:46 8. You spent time in France as a Fulbright scholar after college, how did that time further impact your ability to watch and observe?

36:42 9. From France you moved to Los Angeles, tell me about your time there and more specifically about the effect Jerry Nachman had on your life.

40:48 10. You sold furniture during your time in Los Angeles. What did you learn from that experience?

44:10 11. Where does your drive for authenticity come from?

47:25 12. What are your top 5 restaurant spots in the United States?

0:35 1. In March of 2023, you were named the first female Chancellor for Southern University Shreveport (or SUSLA as many call it). You are a Shreveport native and graduate of Green Oaks and SUSLA. I want to get into all things SUSLA in just a little bit but before we do I thought we would start here today.

Both the university and Green Oaks are located in the Cooper Road or MLK area of our community. You have clearly thrived when many in that neighborhood and part of our community are unable to achieve the level of success you have attained.

What do you attribute your success to, compared to many of your peers who grew up and/or went to school in the Cooper Road/MLK area?

10:02 2. Established in 1964 and opened in 1967, SUSLA is the only historically black two-year campus in the United States. You are a critical part of our community’s educational ecosystem. Talk to me about some of your priorities and initiatives.

18:04 3. I’ve heard you talk about a college-going culture. How do we create more of that culture across our community?

29:04 4. Talk to me about the age breakdown of your students. And, are most of your programs online or in person?

32:47 5. You come to SUSLA with more than 25 years of postsecondary educational experience from all across the country. I’ve read where you said that all along you wanted to come back home. As you come back home and look out at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

37:55 6. What gives you hope, as you look at the Cooper Road/MLK area of our community and the community as a whole, that we are headed in a positive direction?

0:36 1. Damien, you are a Project Manager and Associate Architect for Mike McSwain Architect. Let’s start here today. Tell me some about where and how you grew up?

13:38 2. What do you attribute your success to compared with some of your peers that you grew up with?

18:28 3. How did you end up in architecture?

21:24 4. What is it like being a young professional in Shreveport-Bossier?

32:20 5. What is it like being a young black professional in Shreveport-Bossier?

49:38 6. As you look out at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

53:10 7. What are some of the things that give you hope that our community is heading in a positive direction?

0:35 1. In 2015, your short film, The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy, won the Louisiana Film Prize. I’ve read where you called this a “life-changing moment”.

Talk to me about why winning the film prize was so important for you?

2:58 2. You moved from Canada to just outside of El Dorado, Arkansas as a kid. How and when did you decide to move to Shreveport?

5:17 3. You have directed short films, feature-length narrative and documentary films, promotional videos, and commercials. Simply put, you are one of the most experienced filmmakers in our community. From your perspective, tell me about the state of our film industry.

Are there a lot of crew members? Is there infrastructure?

We had a boom in our film industry beginning in late 2005. Are we currently in a second boom?

7:41 4. How do we grow our local crew base?

8:57 5. How do Louisiana's motion picture tax credits currently compare with the rest of the country?

13:05 6. You have done promotional videos for BRF, The Port, and Photography by Scarlett, to name but a few. Talk to me some about your process when you are making a promotional.

16:16 7. For those out there listening who are interested in film, is this a good place to live and work? And, where and how do you suggest someone network who wants to be a part of the film industry here?

20:56 8. What are we currently missing to grow our local film industry?

30:40 9. How many places in the country have a film industry as robust as Shreveport?

36:40 10. How do you make a movie that puts Shreveport filmmaking on the map worldwide?

0:34 1. Jillian, you are a pediatric prosthetist for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Let’s start here today. I once heard you tell a story about an American Girl doll and the way the team at Shriners used it at work. Can you share some of that story with us?

2:08 2. In speaking about Shriners, you once said:

”We’re more than a hospital. We are more than an appointment. More than physical therapy. We’re hope, to these kids and to their families.”

For many local residents, Shriners is still a bit of a hidden or unknown gem. How fortunate is this community to have Shriners and what makes it such an important resource to so many?

3:25 3. When you were born, you had a condition called proximal femoral focal deficiency, which required you to have your right leg amputated above the knee. Fast forward, and next month you will be competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Tell me some about your training regimen and how you are preparing for next month’s competitions.

5:22 4. Tell me about the events you will be competing in so that we can watch and pull for you.

6:24 5. Lastly, you once said,

“I hope I’m a role model for the kids I serve. I want them to know regardless of physical differences you can do what you set your mind to.”

As someone who has overcome adversity and turn setbacks into opportunities, what words of wisdom do you have for others who are confronted with what seem like really daunting or perhaps insurmountable challenges?

0:31 1. You are the Director of STRIKEWERX, the innovation hub of the US Air Force Global Strike Command. In a little while, I want you to tell me about a couple of STRIKEWERX projects and the problems they helped solve.

But before you do that, tell me about the origins of STRIKEWERX - when, why and how it started.

3:18 2. You were part of Operation Secret Squirrel. Take me behind the scenes and tell me about this incredible mission.

22:41 3. Choose two projects STRIKEWERX has been involved in. Tell me the problems they were trying to solve and how STRIKEWERX became part of the solution.

36:16 4. It has been suggested to me that there are growing needs and business opportunities locally to support the type of work taking place at Barksdale. I would like to spend the remainder of our discussion here.

First, what businesses currently exist today in our community that are supporting needs at Barksdale?

40:28 5. Lastly, as you see it, what are the gaps that still exist in our community in order for us to best support the evolving needs at Barksdale and for the military as a whole?

0:30 1. Dr. Pierce, you are a world-renowned sports scientist. Let’s start here today. You once said the following:

“I wasn’t a very good athlete. It took me five years to get a half scholarship. I wasn’t doing things right. I wanted to figure out how can I do it better, and how can I help somebody else do it better. I’m still learning about how to help people with their performance in sports.”

Tell me about some of your day to day work today at LSUS.

2:03 2. We had Dr. James Andrews come and speak at the Y a couple of years ago. Like you, I believe, Dr. Andrews is strongly opposed to early sports specialization.

Talk to me about the dangers of early sports specialization and your perspective on why our kids should not specialize in one sport at too young of an age.

9:10 3. You have been the coach for US athlete, Kendrick Farris, at the Olympics, as well as the Head Coach for Ghana at the Olympics.

I thought this was amazing. I read that you had never traveled outside of the US until your 40s but just in recent months you had been everywhere from Saudi Arabia, Burundi, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Cuba.

Talk to me about some of the work you’re doing when you’re traveling to these different countries.

11:54 4. You were inducted into the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame and I believe currently serve as the director of international relations at USA Weightlifting and are a member of the coaching and research committee with the International Weightlifting Federation.

On this podcast we often talk about why so many people have self-esteem issues when talking about Shreveport-Bossier being their home. For someone who Shreveport-Bossier has been great to and who has been great to Shreveport-Bossier, how have you managed to see Shreveport-Bossier as a great location for you to use as a home base, as a place that’s not limiting and as a place you can convince great people from all around the world to come to?

0:30 1. Let’s start at the beginning if we could.

The founder of MLK Health Center & Pharmacy was Doctor Robert J Jackson who in 1985 recognized a gap in our community.

Talk to me about the origin of MLK Health Center & Pharmacy.

8:18 2. There’s a tremendous documentary about MLK Health Center & Pharmacy that KSLA made several years ago entitled Chronically Heal that I recommend everyone seek out. You can find it on YouTube.

I want to share a couple of the stats found in the documentary:

It is estimated that about 15% of residents of NWLA have no Medicare, no Medicaid, no private insurance and do not qualify under state guidelines for free care

There’s between 40 and 45,000 uninsured adults in our area and we suspect that many of them struggle with chronic conditions

Our community clearly needs you and the incredible work that you do. You offer a number of different services. Tell me about all the different services one can receive when they walk into MLK.

22:00 3. For those in our community who are insured and who do not struggle with access to health care, paint a picture of what life looks like for the uninsured, particularly those who have yet to discover or utilize the tremendous resource that MLK is.

27:00 4. In addition to your critical role at MLK, you have been a strong advocate for the Shreveport-Bossier community. For instance you started the I Love Shreveport Instagram and Facebook pages.

I’d like to get your perspective now on our community. First, as you look at our community, what concerns you the most?

28:51 5. Lastly, on the flip side of the previous question, what gives you hope that we’re headed in a positive direction?

0:32 1. For the last two years, 103 podcast episodes, I have been sitting down with folks in our community asking them to help me understand why we don’t take more pride in being from here. I should have just come to you.

The work you have done is extraordinary, inspiring, and exactly what I’ve been hoping and trying to do in my own way. We’re gonna use a couple of quotes of yours today because I love ‘em. So hang in there because they may be a little long but they go deeply to the heart of the matter. You once said,

“The reason New Orleans works so well is because they love what they are. They don’t try to fix it up for anybody. They say, ‘It’s just who we are,’ and the world loves it. That’s what I’m trying to do with our food…When you go anywhere in south Louisiana, red beans and rice is listed as ‘red beans and rice.’ They don’t have some fancy name and when you get the bowl, what is it? Red beans. And rice. They don’t try to do anything to it.”

You were responsible for creating The Official Meal of North Louisiana. Tell me, what is our food?

5:40 2. You once compared our food to a toy that we hurry to put away when guests come, only to serve them more popular food like gumbo or etouffee?

Why do you think we “try to fix our food up for people”?

16:25 3. You are one of the very best authorities on North Louisiana’s foodways. What’s the best way for the general public to learn from you these days? How do they get on your schedule to spend some time with you and eat some of your food?

20:06 4. What’s next for you?

23:14 5. You once wrote,

“Traditional North Louisiana dishes like smothered pork chops, fried buffalo and catfish, purple hull peas, mustard and turnip greens, hot water cornbread and rice gravy can now come out of hiding. They were told to hush and not make a sound. They obeyed, sat still and quiet until company left. We let out a sigh and rushed to the table to eat and enjoy the foods we know and love. Forgive us.”

My last formal question is simply, as you look around at our community what gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction?

0:26 1. Andrew, you’re one of my favorite type of guests to have on here. Someone who is not from here but who is doing great things for and in our community.

You are the relatively new owner of Sportspectrum.

Let’s start here today.

Take me through how you came to live here and then to your journey to succeed a local icon, Matt Brown, in a local iconic establishment, Sportspectrum.

6:53 2. Tell me a little about all the different things that Sportspectrum sells and offers today and what we can expect to stay the same under your new leadership and some of the ways you might expand in the future.

16:10 3. All right, so that brings us to the 2024 Logjammer, the first marathon Shreveport will host in several decades. When is it and why is this an important development for our community and the running community as a whole?

20:30 4. You once said, “Running is not fun until it is fun.” Tell me a little about what you meant by this.

22:48 5. Lastly, for those out there listening talk to me about what the local fitness community looks like and any advice you might have for plugging into it.

0:30 1. Poetic, you are Caddo Parish’s poet laureate.

Let’s start here today.

You grew up in Shreveport’s Lakeside/Allendale neighborhoods. I’m always curious to hear the stories of how people first discover a passion. Can you take me through the beginning of when you first became interested in poetry and spoken word?

4:18 2. Many folks are intimidated by two things and I’m curious to hear your words of wisdom.

First, for people who are intimidated by poetry, who view it as a foreign language and have a hard time understanding what they are reading, do you have any advice for them?

10:28 3. Also, you are a multi creative. You have written fiction and nonfiction, created music, performed spoken word, and been involved in numerous visual art projects.

For people who have something to say but are reluctant to take those first steps to expressing themselves creatively, what suggestions or words of wisdom could you share?

18:18 4. As I mentioned earlier, you are Caddo Parish’s Poet Laureate. Tell me a little about how one becomes poet laureate and some of the opportunities you get to pursue in this role.

23:24 5. Paint a picture of your creative process. How do you decide to create something? Is this something you do daily? Is it spontaneous or is there real structure every day to what you decide to pour your energies into?

26:48 6. As you look out at our community, what gives you hope that we’re headed in a positive direction?

34:31 7. Do you want to share a few lines of something you've written?

0:34 1. Chris, you are the archivist of Centenary College and the Louisiana United Methodist Church. But today I would like to focus on a hobby of yours.

I don’t know anyone in our community who knows more about the history of music in Shreveport than you do.

When did your interest in Shreveport’s music history start. And what motivates you to continue unearthing it?

16:00 2. I want you to choose 2 of 3 of the following key figures of our musical past and tell us about them – Mira Smith, Dee Marais, and Stan Lewis.

39:15 3. Okay, now, if you would, please give me some history of Leadbelly and talk some about his worldwide importance.

50:08 4. About seven years ago I brought back the City Tennis Tournament because it had died and I thought it was important for us to continue to have it because it was rich with history and a critical part of our local sports past. A history by the way that we seemed to take for granted and so unconcerned with protecting and preserving.

For my last formal question, I would like for you to discuss the following. Why do we struggle as a city at knowing, preserving, and rallying around (with pride) our city’s rich musical past?

1:30 1. You guys are the founders and operators of Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters, an incredibly popular group that is preserving the history of our community one photo at a time.

We’re gonna get into all kinds of things, Twin Blends-wise today. Let’s start here.

One of the centers of operations for Twin Blends is the LSUS Archives. I want to deep dive your research process. Take me through play by play what it looks and feels like when you go to LSUS Archives to begin your research on something.

8:39 2. Talk to me some about how you prioritize what stories to tell and what projects to pursue.

10:20 3. I can only imagine how fascinating it has been since you first started your work with Twin Blends. Tell me one or two of the most interesting/surprising historical discoveries you have made since first beginning Twin Blends.

16:15 4. You guys have developed an extraordinary following since first starting Twin Blends nine or so years ago.

Tell me about your marketing approach and process. What have you done to cultivate and grow such a following?

24:24 5. I was recently in the newly opened and renovated Cooper’s Corner building on Texas Street in downtown Shreveport and I spotted some incredible Twin Blends work. Tell me about your collaboration with them during the renovation and how it came about.

0:36 1. Ross, you’re a venture capitalist. Let’s start here today. For the lay people out there, and I put myself in that group, could you explain what venture capital is and how you got into the space to begin with?

26:06 2. You are involved in multiple companies. I want to give people a sense of your work and world by focusing on a couple of them. Can we start with you telling me about Esperance Pharmaceuticals?

35:53 3. Now let’s shift to another company where you are deeply involved. Can you tell me about the Cancer Focus Fund?

47:06 4. My last formal question is - talk to me some about why someone like you with a global reach would want to continue to remain in and call Shreveport home.

0:34 1. You have had an incredibly productive and successful career and I know there’s still much more ahead for you.

You were the Dean of the College of Business at LSUS from 1985-1994. Then you returned to Shreveport where you served as the Chancellor of LSUS from 2014-2023.

Let’s start here today.

When you arrived back at LSUS, it had an enrollment of 3,810 students. Fast forward 10 years and, for the first time in school history, enrollment has surpassed 10,000 students.

Start, if you could, by telling me the story about how LSUS got into offering online programs - one of the keys to its growth and to its unprecedented success today.

5:52 2. In preparing for today, I have spoken to you about your 29 plus years of involvement with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (or AACSB).

What did you notice in your over 30 different university reviews that was different than when you arrived to LSUS in 1981 and that is still different today? And what are some of the factors you attribute this to?

17:56 3. During your time as chancellor, cutting-edge places for learning and research have transformed the LSUS campus, including the centralized Student Success Center, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, IdeaSpace, Cyber Collaboratory, Pilot Education Center, Human Performance Lab and Veterans Resource Center.

Talk to me some about the process you used, during your time as chancellor, for prioritizing your initiatives.

31:06 4. When you first arrived in Shreveport, you didn’t know a single person. You said, “a way to get to know people is to get involved.” And in your time here, you have been deeply involved in so many different aspects of our community.

My next few questions focus on your civic involvement.

You are one of only two citizens that were on both the Biracial Commission and the Black-White Communications Task Force.

We have discussed the subject of race relations a number of times on this podcast. In my opinion, race relations is one of the areas of our city that is hindering us and holding us back. What are some recommendations for change or action items you would suggest as we look to build stronger race relations in our future?

39:32 5. Another common topic on the podcast are the low self-esteem issues many people face when claiming Shreveport as their community and home.

You are extremely positive about Shreveport and one of our city’s very best advocates. What do you see when you look at Shreveport that so many others struggle to see?

42:06 6. Lastly, you are chairman of the Shreveport Capital Improvements Committee, a committee that was formed to help determine what projects should be prioritized in the 2024 bond referendum. What can you share with us about this process?

0:30 1. John, you’ve long been one of the people I really look up to in town.

Let’s start here today.

What role did the Atkins Family play in bringing Centenary to Shreveport in 1908?

8:35 2. Tell me about the loss of your grandfather in the plane crash of 1954.

20:43 3. How does a former Conoco Geophysicist and McKinsey Consultant end up in the Timber business?

47:05 4. Like you, your mom and dad both were very engaged members of our community. Tell us what you may have learned from each.

55:08 5. Your family has actively supported our community philanthropically for decades. What are your personal areas of interest and why?

1:01:05 6. Since 2016, you have served on the Caddo Parish Commission. What compels one of our community leaders, like you, to make the time to serve?

0:33 1. I know you do a lot of different things. Let’s start here today. You once said the following:

“We’re a youth program. We host these really wild camps where kids get to kick loose, meet new friends. You know, city kids, country kids merging, learning about each other.

See, we’re kinda like the superhero of camps. We learn about agricultural trades, horses, cattle. All sorts of that fun stuff, you know. We don’t just do western stuff. We go hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking. Pretty much anything outdoors. See we’re the middle man for the kids who can’t. Who don’t have access to these opportunities. We find them, we plug ‘em in, we take ‘em.”

Tell me about the camp described above and then we’ll get into some of the other programs Just Believe offers.

2:30 2. Your nonprofit, Just Believe, provides hands-on equine and agricultural education programs along with trade introduction for youth. Tell me how it started.

6:25 3. You once said the following,

“It takes $49,000 to keep a kid incarcerated all year long. You can literally run 32 kids through my program at that for 10 weeks.”

Talk to me a little about the quote above and perhaps some of the rehabilitative aspects of your programs.

12:20 4. Tell me about some of the other programs offered by Just Believe.\

15:41 5. There are so many people you've impacted through the years. Give me a story of one kid who has gone through your program, who they were and who they became.

24:10 6. I asked my guests last week this and I wanted to ask you:

Will you share a story of a preconception you had or a gap in understanding or awareness that you had that has been changed because of all your time working with Just Believe?

28:02 7. How do you see an equine program being beneficial to the community?

0:35  1. You are a 3rd grade math and science teacher at University Elementary School. In your career, you have received numerous awards for your work, including Teacher of the Year twice and Teacher of the District in Caddo Parish.

I am so excited to have you, not only because of the wealth of experience you bring to today’s discussion but because you are our very first public elementary school educator in 90 plus episodes.

Let’s start here today.

Teaching school is one of the most important careers one can take on but also one of the more challenging. What are some of the things you personally do to stay resilient and keep from burning out?

5:50  2. What is it like working in a school post COVID?

14:48  3. I know that the environment created at a school makes a huge difference in teacher retention. Talk to me about this and some of the factors that determine whether teachers thrive and remain focused versus factors in the environment at a school that might lead to job dissatisfaction?

23:56  4. What is the biggest challenge as an educator today?

30:39  5. How can community members get more Involved in helping with the challenges our educators face? What opportunities exist to be mentors, tutors, etc?

0:36 1. You are the Youth Program Directors at Common Ground. How did you first get involved with this extraordinary nonprofit?

8:13 2. Common Ground is doing something this year that very few nonprofits have the opportunity to do – celebrating its 20th anniversary! Common Ground was founded as an outreach program of Grace United Methodist Church to Cedar Grove residents.

Tell me about Thursday nights at Common Ground.

14:21 3. Tell me about 2-3 of your other programs.

29:42 4. A couple of years ago I had Clay Walker on this podcast. At the time he was the Director of Juvenile Services for Caddo Parish. He explained that the number one factor for the 66 kids who were repeat offenders in detention was that they did not have a single pro-social adult in their life. Not a parent, not a grandparent, not an aunt, not an uncle, not a principal, not a teacher, not a coach, not a pastor, not a mentor.

I know that mentoring is such an important aspect for the kids you serve through Common Ground.

For those listening and thinking I really want to get more involved in strengthening my community, tell me about the type of mentoring activities you offer.

37:58 5. Volunteering is all about giving back. But often what happens during volunteering is we actually gain more educationally and/or emotionally than the people we are assisting.

Will each of you share a story of a preconception you had or a gap in understanding or awareness that you had that has been changed because of all your time working with Common Ground?

0:28 1. I could cover so much ground with you here as you and your family presently and historically are one of the most important families in the Shreveport-Bossier community.

Let’s start here today.

You have said that your dad, Norman’s, greatest business achievement was the founding of transcontinental gas pipeline. Tell me about this.

3:02 2. Your mom, Peggy, was a force for this community. She believed passionately in education and garnered numerous awards and recognitions in her lifetime for her extraordinary community involvement.

Tell me about Peggy and some of her incredible work to make our community better.

4:42 3. Together with your siblings, you own and manage Kinsey Interests, a family office active in oil and gas, real estate, timber, and public and private equity, based here.

Kinsey Interests employs almost 500 individuals in North Louisiana and over 5000 individuals across the globe through their direct investments in more than 35 companies.

I have heard people describe our community and the process of trying to address some of its challenges as eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

As a family who is extraordinarily philanthropic and always giving, talk to me some about your process. How do you determine where to focus your efforts and contributions in a community that could use so much investment, attention, and support?

19:48 4. You know, from previous conversations that we’ve had that I’m a huge fan of the documentary you helped put together several years back.

Tell me about the Soundbreaking project. How it came about and your involvement with it.

25:56 5. In 2011, your father Norman received the very prestigious honor of Louisiana Legend. During his acceptance speech he ended with the following,

“Although I have had the means and the freedom to locate practically anywhere on the planet, Shreveport and LA is my choice.”

What keeps you and your family here and so committed to this community?

0:26 1. Gary, you are one of our community’s foremost historians. Among numerous other things, you are the chair of the department of history and social sciences at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and the author or editor of 38 books.

I’m just going to jump right in today as I want to pick your brain on several different questions.

First off, one of the recurring themes of this podcast has been trying to understand why so many in this community have a negative self-image about Shreveport-Bossier as their city and home. I was at a meeting last week and someone even characterized this pervasive sentiment as a disease.

As someone who knows where we’ve been about as well as anyone, when did this “disease” start? Have we always had it? And what do you attribute it to?

16:38 2. Maybe not a super deep question. But as I delve more and more into the work on this podcast, I can’t help but think in your words that “history matters” and that one reason we may lack self-respect is because we’re not being taught who and where we’ve been locally.

I know when I was growing up that I took Louisiana History as an eighth grader. But are we being taught local history, Shreveport-Bossier history, in our schools and if not, why not?

22:40 3. Give me one of your favorite stories about our community’s past that many people locally are probably not aware of.

31:43 4. It was recently announced that LSU Shreveport and KTAL/KMSS have partnered to create the Caddo Parish Civil Rights Heritage Trail project. The series will identify the people, places, and events that significantly impacted the Civil Rights Movement in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

In describing the project, I read a description on KTAL’s site of historic trauma. It says the following:

“Historic trauma has the power to destroy people, families, communities, and cultures. And though these subjects are difficult to discuss, historical literacy (digging into history from multiple perspectives) is crucial to understanding the lives, joys, hopes, dreams, misfortunes, and fears of those who came before us. And understanding those who came before us can help us do something significant: understand ourselves.”

Tell me about the origin of this project.

55:04 5. Tell me about the Clio App and what’s the best way to follow this project as it unfolds.

0:25 1. Betsy, you are one of our great local success stories. Graduating from Byrd High School, you went on to become (to name but a couple of the prestigious positions you’ve held), the president of the College of the Bahamas and CEO and Dean of Kent State University at Stark. 

Through our discussion today, I want to learn about you but I also want to lean on you to get your perspective on a number of things Shreveport-Bossier related.

Let’s start today with a fun fact that most people probably don’t know. In 1970, you were responsible for the first recorded flying of the Earth Day flag. Tell me about this.

2:49 2. As I said I want to lean on you for your perspective, as someone who has lived in eight countries what do you think is holding us back from becoming one of the next, great medium-sized cities in America?

4:54 3. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?

6:45 4. Not too different from my second question. But if someone came to you and said, you can have any three new additions to the Shreveport-Bossier community if your children and any children they may have will commit to stay and live in Shreveport-Bossier, what would those three additions or changes be?

9:26 5. Two major themes of this podcast are who are we as a community and why do so many people in this community struggle with Shreveport-Bossier as their city and home. I’d love to hear your perspective on both of these questions.

What is our identity in Shreveport-Bossier, in your opinion?

11:56 6. To what do you attribute the prevailing negative self-image we often find among the people who live here?

15:07 7. Is there anything else you would like to share or talk about?

0:36 1. You came to Shreveport after serving six years as Provost of Valdosta State University in Georgia.

You once said, “LSUS is one of the few institutions, regional universities, that you can find in this country that is not struggling.”

Let’s start here today. Talk to me about what is meant by the “Enrollment Cliff”.

2:15 2. I read where LSUS has the most graduate students of any university in Louisiana. Talk to me about how LSUS has been successful in avoiding the enrollment cliff.

3:37 3. For people who are not technology savvy at all and hear the word "online" class, what does that mean exactly? How does that work?

7:56 4. I believe one of the goals of the administration is to attract more face-to-face students. Talk to me about some of the challenges the university faces in achieving that goal.

12:14 5. Talk a little bit about the relationship between LSUS and LSU Health.

14:02 6. At the end of May 2023, you were named the new chancellor of LSU Shreveport. In addition to all that we’ve discussed, talk to me about some of your priorities and initiatives.

21:00 7. For someone listening to our conversation who says I have an idea of where I think LSUS should plug in or a gap they can fill, what's the best way to get into contact with the university?

23:03 8. In preparing for today’s discussion I learned something fascinating, that you are a first-generation college student.

With roughly half of LSUS's undergraduate students self-identifying first-generation, talk to me about how the University is taking a proactive role in addressing the needs and concerns of this student population.

0:28 1. Barbara, you’re the Executive Director of the North Louisiana Jewish Federation. I want to get into the Federation and all that they do locally. But before we do, I’d like to start here today.

We’ve talked quite a bit on this podcast about how to do better creating and accepting a multi-ethnic Shreveport.

Let’s talk about being Jewish in Shreveport-Bossier. Approximately, how many Jewish families do we have locally?

2:46 2. How many synagogues do we have, where are they located and when do they meet for services or religious school?

6:28 3. The North Louisiana Jewish Federation protects and enhances the well-being of Jews and Jewish communities in North Louisiana, the United States, Israel and around the world, striving to realize its core values of:

Ḥesed (caring and compassion),

Torah (Jewish learning),

Tikun Olam (repair of the world), and

Tz’dakah (social justice)

On October 7, 2023, Israel suffered the deadliest attack on its country since the country was established in 1948. Tell me about the current status of Israel and for people listening today, what should they understand and how can they help?

14:28 4. We’ve been hearing a lot in recent weeks/months about antisemitism on college campuses. Can you help us better understand what is happening across the country and why some universities are allowing this type of sentiment and these types of demonstrations?

23:50 5. Lastly, as you know I am on the Advisory Board for the LSUS Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as it is commonly known). You were recently one of 15 nonprofit leaders selected to participate in an important INAR initiative, its first capacity building cohort.

INAR strives to elevate the future of the nonprofit sector through transformative education, impactful research, and professional development.

Tell me about your experience in the cohort and why it was an important initiative for you to be a part of.

0:38 1. Our community consist of too many families who suffer from generational poverty and too many young people who lack mentors and role models.

We will get into all the nuts and bolts later today of the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club. But let’s start here.

Coach Donny, you once said, “A lot of these kids…no one has taken the time.” It seems kind of obvious, but why does taking the time with these kids matter?

1:57 2. Coach Donny, why do you do it? What drives you to be a mentor and role model for these kids?

3:15 3. Tim, tell me about the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club, how and why Coach Donny and you started it?

6:52 4. Paint me a picture of what the experience will be like for someone walking into the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club for the first time.

8:38 5. Who is welcome to use the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club?

9:57 6. I would love to hear from each of you on this, what is the one thing so far that you have learned from your experience with the kids in the Shreveport Youth Boxing Club that has most surprised you?

14:38 7. The kids that come to you, what can they expect to learn?

18:54 8. Lastly, how do we create more mentors and role models in our community?

0:32 1. Jon, you’re involved in numerous aspects of our community, with a focus I would say on education, our environment and outdoors, and just an overall effort to strengthen Shreveport-Bossier by providing healing knowledge and activities for our residents.

Let’s start today with your interest in the Red River.

Like many of us, growing up you were told to stay out of the river because it’s dirty and dangerous. We are so fortunate to have a river that runs right through the middle of our city.

Why are we underutilizing and undervaluing our river while cities like St. Louis, Austin, Little Rock and Oklahoma City have embraced their rivers and used them to transform their downtown areas and city centers?

8:12 2. We hear a lot here about, how do we attract more people and companies to Shreveport-Bossier? Also, how do we get more residents to feel comfortable spending time downtown?

In that same vein, my question for you, and I really think it’s an important economic development subject is, how do we get more people on the Red River?

14:36 3. Since 2008 you have taught at the Montessori School of Shreveport and been deeply involved there, including starting the Coates Bluff Nature Trail.

How did you first become involved in this beautiful expanse of nature in the middle of our city?

37:01 4. Dionne Procell-Brown, a close friend and collaborator of yours once said, “If we want folks to love Shreveport, to care about this place, then why wouldn't we protect the area where the first settlement and trading post and post office was? Why wouldn't we take care of the oldest African-American cemetery that's right off the trail?”

Tell me about the Friends of the Coates Bluff Nature Trail and your current efforts.

45:13 5. In preparing for today’s discussion, I came across you describing some of your interest and work as place-based education. For the lay people out there, I put myself in that group, what is place-based education? And what value could more place-based education have for our community?

0:38 1. Although you and I don’t know each other all that well, we go way back. We were at Caddo Middle Magnet at the same time and then after that at Captain Shreve together.

I once heard you use the term “invisible backpack.”

Explain what that is and tell me, if you could, what was in your invisible backpack in those years at Middle Magnet and/or Shreve.

9:37 2. You hold a Doctorate degree in Education Leadership from Louisiana Tech University and your area of expertise is in leadership, justice and identity. You have a wide range of experience in education, starting as a substitute teacher in Caddo Parish, and later working as a community mental health specialist, school counselor, and faculty member at esteemed higher education institutions, including Southern University at Shreveport and Centenary College of Louisiana.

A couple of people have said to me recently how the Magnet school system might not be the ideal school system for our community, particularly in how it potentially has a negative impact on some of our neighborhood schools.

In your opinion, is the Magnet school system a bridge too far? Do you know of or see a better approach for our community?

19:44 3. You taught a course at Centenary College entitled “Doing Race”. We have talked quite a bit on this podcast about how to do better creating and accepting a multi-ethnic Shreveport.

How do we do better as a community dealing with our differences differently, and in fact better?

27:48 4. You have a unique perspective as your father, Dr. Raymond Hicks, was the President of Grambling University in the nineties. What is the same or worst today in terms of local race relations?

34:52 5. And, what is better you think now, in terms of race relations, than it was when we were growing up here and when your dad was President at Grambling?

0:56 1. Define adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and why do they matter?

2:41 2. Why do some of us thrive despite adversity while others are overwhelmed by similar experiences?

3:44 3. Is our community resilient? Can resilience be built or is it something you’re born with? Explain.

5:44 4. What are the services provided by the Institute for Childhood Resilience (or ICR as it is commonly known)? When did it start and what is the genesis behind its formation?

9:09 5. I know you were instrumental in ensuring that every Caddo Parish educator receives ACEs training. Why did you do that and how did you do that? Explain how all of that went down.

14:31 6. What could cause a kid to carry an "emergency brain" from home to school?

15:56 7. Where would you go from there? Do you feel like the whole community needs to understand ACEs? If so, why?

17:52 8. What can parents do? What can community members do?

19:37 9. You once said, “There’s this great opportunity for learning but there’s also a great possibility of damage.” Why is the first five years of life the sweet spot?

22:30 10. You also once said, “Every child in this community deserves a childhood.”

I am a parent who has a low ACEs score. Why as a community member should I care about other people in my community who have high ACEs scores?

How are we doing a better job in our community recognizing trauma? And how are we doing a better job building resilience?

28:34 11. If you're a parent, why is it important to understand your own ACE score? What should you be on the lookout for relative to parenting your child?

0:26 1. Mike, you are one of our community’s most beloved architects, having designed countless projects including the Sci-Port Discovery Center, Bossier Parish Community College, the Cyber Innovation Center and renovations to the Shreveport Regional Airport and Municipal Auditorium, to name but a very few.

Let’s start here today.

One of your projects was the creation of the East Bank District in Bossier. Talk to me about the genesis of this project, if you could, and lessons we can learn from its success that might reinvigorate and revitalize other areas of our community.

7:15 2. I have known you for a long time but until I started preparing for today’s discussion I had never heard the story about how you first decided to become an architect. Would you mind sharing some of that? I think you were in Texas Tech in Lubbock and I’ll let you take it from there.

8:35 3. Your wonderful sense of design is not only on display for us to appreciate all over Shreveport-Bossier but you have been the architect on projects all over the world, including designing condominiums in Indonesia and a luxury estate community in China.

You have done a significant amount of travel over the last 15-20 years. When you meet people during your travels and they ask you what it’s like in Shreveport-Bossier, what do you tell them?

10:06 4. Are there particular cities around the country that provide examples to you of what Shreveport-Bossier should aspire to in the future? If so, can you talk about a few of the cities and the characteristics of them you feel we should strive to emulate?

12:46 5. Compared to some other cities around the country, Shreveport-Bossier could be called conservative in its thinking or openness to new ideas or perspectives. Yet, you have seemed to always transcend that, delivering some of the most progressively designed projects our area has seen these last 30 or so years.

What advice or words of wisdom can you offer to our younger creative class – architects or any kind of creative - to make them feel like it is possible to find support for personal and perhaps progressive expression in the Shreveport-Bossier community?

16:08 6. As you look around at our community, what do you think is holding us back?

21:49 7. Lastly, what gives you hope that we might be headed in a good direction as a community?

0:32 1. On 6/5/21, you were ordained the first native-born priest of the Diocese of Shreveport.

I read where you once said: “Being called ‘Father’ will take some getting used to. When I’m with another priest, and someone else says ‘Father,’ I assume they’re talking to him, not me. But then, it turns out they are talking to me.”

My first question today is, have you gotten used to being called Father yet?

2:33 2. You are the administrator at St John Berchmans and one of the chaplains at Loyola College Prep. Give me a snapshot if you could of what a typical week looks like for you at St Johns and Loyola? How are you working with the students, when are you saying mass for the St Johns congregation and for the Loyola student body, what days and times are you available for confession?

Just give me a sense if you could of what a typical week for Father Raney looks like.

6:55 3. What is the difference between a cathedral and a church?

9:58 4. Share, if you could, any advice or words of wisdom you have for people listening, who are contemplating pursuing the priesthood.

11:34 5. Many cities similar-sized to us have large universities and/or sports teams that bring the community together. We probably will never have either of those things in Shreveport-Bossier. What do you see that can help unify us more in the future as a community or help bring us together more than we are today?

13:26 6. As you look at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

15:46 7. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction?

20:26 8. How many individual Catholic churches do we have in Shreveport's Diocese?

0:26 1. Andrew, you are part of the Atkins-Crawford family, one of the most philanthropic and important families in the history of Shreveport. Can you talk some about your family’s history in the community and just some about how you were raised?

6:35 2. You are owner or part owner of 3 Rhino Coffees, Cuban Liquor, Jacquelyn’s Café and the Crawford Design Group. I’ve read or listened to numerous interviews with you and building community is a theme you come back to quite often. How do you explain your commitment to this community and your almost unmatched drive to give back to it and make it better?

10:35 3. Many cities similar-sized to us have large universities and/or sports teams that bring the community together. We probably will never have either of those things in Shreveport-Bossier. What do you see that can help unify us more in the future as a community or help bring us together more than we are today?

12:06 4. As you well know, one of our major issues is the fact that we export so much of our talent. In your opinion, how do we do a better job retaining our best and brightest?

13:28 5. You've been back since 2010. In the thirteen years since you've been back here, do you feel like things are better than when you arrived back home?

14:46 6. As you look around at our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

21:28 7. How do we produce more Andrew Crawfords?

24:45 8. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction?

25:56 9. What conversations, if any at this point, are you having with your kids about their city, their community?

0:27 1. Lieutenant Bowman, you are a Lieutenant in the Shreveport Police Department. Until recently, you were a Community Liaison Officer or CLO, as it is often known.

You once said, “Community policing isn't a unit. It's a concept…We have an opportunity to do so much in the community, and you see the positive as well as the negative. It's the best of the policing world."

Let’s start here today. Talk to me about community policing and why it is such an important aspect in a successful police department.

2:19 2. Dr. Patterson, you serve as the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport. I would like to direct my next couple of questions to you.

My first question is, what defines a crisis?

4:25 3. My next question is, what does Shreveport’s current crisis system look like?

7:04 4. This is going to help with public safety, correct?

8:04 5. I know we're still trying to figure this out because I've participated in some meetings. But is there anything you can tell the public about how potentially this would work? How is there a situation where maybe the police doesn't respond and someone that is more appropriate responds?

10:03 6. And people out there understand for the most part that we have a shortage of police officers, jails are overcrowded. What a lot of people don't know is that we don't have a lot of room in the emergency rooms either. Is that accurate?

11:31 7. I have read that nearly 50% of 911 calls received by Shreveport police are mental health related. How is the Shreveport police better addressing the growing mental health needs of our community?

12:30 8. Is the CIT training (Crisis Intervention Team) for law enforcement somewhat similar to the preparation, for instance, that we're trying to do for our teachers and school staff by training them in ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)?

17:34 9. I believe that the Tommie McGlothen case helped lead to an increased focus on mental health. Can you talk about the case and what it showed the Shreveport Police Department it needed to do differently?

22:46 10. In speaking about mental health, former Police Chief Ben Raymond said, "So we're going to kind of work in conjunction with mental health experts so that we have better encounters with citizens, less violent encounters with citizens and overall just provide better service".

Take me through how you would respond to a call as an officer before this increased focus on mental health and how your approach might look different today?

26:54 11. Dr. Patterson, what are best practices for transforming our current behavioral health crisis care?

29:43 12. Lieutenant Bowman, what has changed and is more challenging today than it was when you first began working with the Shreveport Police Department?

32:16 13. Lastly, Lieutenant Bowman, what is better today than it was when you first started?

0:49 1. Kayvion, you are a massive, local success story. The US book rights for your book Thieves’ Gambit were acquired in a seven-figure deal and Lionsgate has acquired the movie rights with Steven Caple Jr, who directed Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Creed II, attached to direct.

Let’s start here today.

What has it been like to grow up here in Shreveport?

2:15 2. Kayvion, if I am not mistaken, you are 24, a graduate of Caddo Magnet High, and worked at the North Shreveport Branch of Shreve Memorial Library for three years. What have public libraries meant to you? 3:47

3:47 3. Do you feel pressure to be a role model?

4:32 4. I have listened to numerous interviews with you and one thing that becomes quite clear is how driven you are. Can you talk about where that comes from? And, in general, just some about how you were raised?

6:23 5. Did you feel any pressure to maybe reconcile such a nebulous career? A very limited group of people get to actually do what they love, that's creative, and actually get paid to do it. Did you ever feel like there was any push back or resistance from your family about something they might see as impractical?

8:40 6. With all the people you’re meeting, all the new experiences, if you had to drop them into Shreveport, what would you feel like you had to answer for that isn’t ideal?

9:56 7. On the flip side of the previous question, what would you be most proud of?

10:32 8. We struggle here, exporting a lot of our best and brightest. What kind of advice do you have for leadership locally to retain more Kayvion Lewis(es)?

11:52 9. Something we have in common is both of our fathers were police officers. Is there anything in your upbringing, with your father, to make you keenly aware of your situational awareness?

13:50 10. Something we talk a lot about on this podcast is the self-esteem issue that we struggle with as Shreveporters, people just not feeling comfortable or feeling proud to be from here. I don't feel like you have that. If you don't suffer from that, why do think that is? What sort of advice or wisdom do you have for other people to embrace this as their home?

16:32 11. I was very impressed with the character development and the characters that are culturally well developed, in particular your Asian characters. How much of that is because of your travels? And is there anything else that led to that development?

18:15 12. Someone comes to visit you, never been here before, they want to shadow you on a normal Kayvion work day in Shreveport. Take me through what that looks like. I want to see it from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed.

And then they want to do the same, in a typical Kayvion fun day in Shreveport or just a recreational, non-working day. I want you to describe both of those for me from start to finish.

0:25 1. Angel, you recently competed in one of the most prestigious and daunting races in the world, The Ironman World Championship held in Hawaii. For those of you unfamiliar with the race, all in one day it consists of the following:

A 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride followed by a 26.2 mile run

You once said that your goal for this year’s race was to arrive healthy and finish happy.

Tell me about the race and did you accomplish your above goal?

8:15 2. Training for these kinds of races obviously takes incredible discipline and time. Give me an example of what a typical training week looked like for you as you prepared for October’s race.

11:34 3. Even though this podcast is through my work at the YMCA, you are actually the first elite athlete and super marathoner we have interviewed.

You weren’t always a super marathoner, you came from the world of track and field. Specifically, you were an accomplished pole vaulter for Northwestern State University Track and Field.

I’ve read where you said the following about the local fitness community:

“I found my people. My community of like-minded weekend warriors who shared a spirit for pushing our personal limits. Through triathlon I’ve made lifelong friends, many that I consider family.”

For those out there listening talk to me about what the fitness community looks like that we have here and any advice you might have for plugging into it.

14:55 4. You have a full time, important career. You serve as the director of student activities and recreational sports at LSU Shreveport.

Talk to me a little about your role and some of the things the lay person may not know about the different student activities and recreational sports offered at LSUS.

18:26 5. I came across the following quote from you,

“I live life remembering my ‘why’. I have a ‘why’ that applies to my family, my career, and my training. Everyone’s ‘why’ is different, and there are 1000 reasons to say why not, but all we need is to focus on the one reason that keeps us going.”

For those out there who struggle finding their why, is there any advice or suggestions you might offer?

0:29 1. Ryan, you were raised in the MLK community, graduated from Green Oaks and went on to receive your Bachelors and Masters from Grambling and Louisiana Tech.

You are the CEO of several companies and extremely active in our community. Let’s start here today. Talk to me about Seedlinks Behavior Management, your company, and some of the services you offer.

3:42 2. In speaking about mental health emergencies you once said,

“They don’t necessarily need a police officer, they need a doctor, they need a social worker, they need someone to ask NOT what’s wrong with you but how can I help you.”

Talk to me about some of the barriers that exist today in our community for dealing with mental health emergencies.

7:25 3. I’m going to pull another quote from you. You once said,

“If you don’t stop people who are cut from bleeding, they’ll bleed on people that didn’t cut them and I think that’s what we’re dealing with in our community”

Talk to me about the vicious cycle of stress as I have heard you call it.

10:05 4. I have also heard you use the phrase “complete city” before. Tell me what it means to be a complete city and what it will take if we ever want to become one.

14:52 5. Lastly, what gives you hope that this community is headed in the right direction?

0:34 1. Sophia, you are the director of child life & community engagement and a forensic interviewer at the Gingerbread House, one of our community’s oldest and most important nonprofit organizations.

Opened in 1998, the Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center is focused on child abuse advocacy. You serve children 2 to 18 who have experienced any sort of abuse, sexual or physical, or been a witness to any sort of violent crime.

I read where one of your employees once said each case you see is very different but the trauma is real.

Since most of us are unaware of the process, take me through some of the initial steps of what a case may look like.

5:32 2. The Gingerbread House operates to lessen the trauma experienced by child abuse victims while criminal allegations are being investigated and to provide support for the child victim throughout the investigation, prosecution, and treatment phases of a case.

Sticking with maybe the same case that you outlined above, take me through some of what the next steps will look like after the child has first come to the Gingerbread House, received the forensic interview and the investigation of the case has begun.

9:08 3. You once said,

“An opportunity arose where I could put my talents as a child life specialist here at the Gingerbread House and help other children who had probably gone through something similar or an abusive situation, and I can make them feel as comfortable or as heard as I felt when I was 13.”

Would you mind sharing a little about your first interactions with the Gingerbread House?

15:10 4. Before the Gingerbread House, maybe convictions were around a 5% rate in these kinds of abuse cases. Now with the Gingerbread House's assistance, convictions are around the 95% rate.

Can you talk about this?

19:21 5. There are 13 children’s advocacy centers throughout the state and of the 13 in the nine parish area that you serve, the Gingerbread House has the largest case load in Louisiana. I know the Gingerbread House is heavily involved in prevention education and training. Talk to me about some of the work you do in the area of prevention.

23:31 6. The Gingerbread House is also a critical resource for the families in our community. I read the following:

“When the families first come in for the interview, you can hear the pain in their voices, the hurt, they’re scared, they have no idea what to expect. We’re here to provide that support and that comfort to the families and let them know that everything will be okay.”

Can you talk to me about some of the family advocacy work at the Gingerbread House?

0:32 1. Martha, you are the Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.

In a little while, we will get more into the details and specifics of your work at the Food Bank. But before we do, let’s start here today. For the more fortunate and/or moneyed people in our community, paint a picture of what food insecurity looks and feels like for many of our residents in Northwest Louisiana.

3:23 2. The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana is the largest distributor of donated food for our 7 parish area and one of only five food banks in the state. You sort, warehouse and distribute food to over 150 non-profit organizations, shelters and churches in the seven-parish region of Caddo, Bossier, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, and Webster.

Simply put, you oversee one of the most important nonprofit organizations in our community whose mission is to serve as the primary resource for fighting hunger in Northwest Louisiana.

What are the Food Bank’s greatest challenges today and for those in our community listening, how can they best help you achieve your mission?

13:03 03. I know from preparing for today’s discussion and taking in all the different information on your website that the Food Bank offers a number of different programs. Talk to me about 2-3 of your key programs, whether it’s the Backpack Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Senior Program or other programs altogether.

26:33 4. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

31:12 5. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction as a community?

0:32 1. KC, you are a true hero in this community and I find your story so inspiring and so moving.

Your nonprofit, Geaux 4 Kids, Inc, the one that you started, recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Let’s explain the work that you do and the genesis of how it got started. You once said,

“The reality is I always wanted to be a mama…One of my greatest fears was I wasn’t going to be able to have my own biological children and that fear came true. With that said, the dream of having children then expanded. It expanded to foster care.”

Tell me about Hallie-Stella and Jayden and how you first conceived of Geaux 4 Kids and Project Geaux Bags.

11:17 2. In 2020, Geaux 4 Kids, Inc., headquartered in Caddo Parish, officially went statewide, distributing Geaux Bags to all 64 parishes.

You once said the following in describing the thought behind Geaux Bags, “They (the children) have already been through the worst that life has to offer, honestly. While adults try to figure it out, we can at least give them those items, that dignity, that hope.”

Tell me about some of the contents of the bags.

16:07 3. Where are the contents for your bags housed, how are the bags put together and how are they distributed?

19:11 4. I know a lot of people who have interest in starting a nonprofit. Talk a little about biggest challenges to starting a nonprofit and any other words of wisdom you would like to share for people who are thinking about embarking on that path.

34:02 5. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

37:06 6. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction?

0:44 1. Let’s start today with a bit of a civics lesson.

On December 10, 2021, you were sworn in as the US Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. You are one of 94 US Attorneys who serve as the chief federal law enforcement official in each of the 94 US federal judicial districts. U.S. attorneys must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, after which they serve four-year terms.

For us lay people, define the role of the US Attorney.

7:49 2. Gangs are one of the main contributors to our current crime issues. In July of this year, your office announced the indictment of 24 individuals associated with the Shreveport Street Gang, Step or Die or SOD. Talk to me about this indictment. Also, give me a little of the lay of the land of the current gang situation in our community - how many there are, how close are we to diffusing their impact, etc.

18:15 3. In August of this year, you announced the appointment of Jason Waltman to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Tell me why this appointment is important and how it will assist in our efforts to reduce crime in our community.

25:46 4. In addition to the things I’ve mentioned, can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?

34:10 5. What gives you hope that we’re headed in the right direction in terms of reducing drug trafficking, violent crimes and other issues plaguing our community?

0:38 1. I don’t know how you do all that you do. You are and have been involved in so many aspects of our community that I can’t even begin to list everything. But let me at least hit a few of the high points.

You are the market manager at Shreveport Farmers Market, chairman of the marketing committee for the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival and vice president of membership for the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s Northwest Chapter.

In short, as the owner/operator of Lagniappe P.R.I.M.E., LLC, you are a community crusader, epic event planner and business management, public relations and marketing professional.

You and I know each other but I didn’t know your story, how you got to where you are today, before preparing for today’s discussion.

So let’s start here. Take me back and tell me about your journey that led you to become the owner of Lagniappe P.R.I.M.E.

7:55 2. Imposter syndrome, how do you prove that you really know what you're telling people they should pay you to do or to know for them?

9:40 3. Talk to me about some of the things that for you make a great event?

11:55 4. Walk me through some of your process and approach to putting on a successful event?

13:01 5. Where does one find a community calendar?

15:38 6. As you look around our community, what concerns you the most?

19:10 7. Do you feel like we have too many events, not enough events, or a good number of events for a community of this size?

22:28 8. What makes you optimistic that we are headed in the right direction as a community?

39:12 9. Talk about your role as Director of Marketing for Red River Revel?

0:32 1. Like many of our local entrepreneurs, you first made a name for yourself at the Shreveport Farmer’s Market.

You have intentionally and patiently grown a community around your brand and your products. Talk to me about how you view building community and some words of wisdom you would give other entrepreneurs about creating a demand around your product.

10:28 2. You once said, “A lot of people are struggling with skin care issues - eczema, psoriasis, rosacea. So our natural skin care products, like our body butter and our face care products are really popular.”

Tell me about the different products you offer.

13:54 3. Clean Slate Botanicals opened in the Andress Artist & Entrepreneur Center in September 2022. It’s an incredible space you have and I encourage everyone listening to go visit you there. You are open at 717 Crockett Street Mondays through Saturdays from 10AM to 6PM.

You also manage a great website and sell at other venues around the community. Where else in town can people find your products? Can they order online? What else should I tell people who are wanting to know more about your products and services?

22:04 4. Talk to me about interactive retail, as well as the candle pouring experience.

27:32 5. As someone who has been in the trenches, what can this community do better to support entrepreneurs?

31:26 6. Lastly, as you look around the community, what makes you optimistic that we are headed in a positive direction?

0:37 1. On April 20, 2023, you were appointed Caddo Parish Administrator and CEO, after working with the Parish since 1997.

Let’s start today, just explaining some structural things. There are 12 Caddo Parish Commissioners who serve four-year terms and represent constituency that encompasses approximately 900 square miles.

Talk about the role of the Caddo Parish Administrator and some of how you work with the commissioners and provide management oversight of all Caddo Parish functions.

3:20 2. Can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?

7:21 3. You have served in different roles with the Parish. You began as the Assistant Director of Finance, then worked as the Director of Finance and Human Resources for 16 years and spent the last four years as the Assistant Parish Administrator. You are the first African-American woman to be appointed Caddo Parish Administrator and CEO.

You once said, “I appreciate the role women leaders have played in my career development and I want to encourage and inspire future women leaders.”

Can you talk about some of the female leaders who have mentored or inspired you?

11:26 4. What are some ways the Commission has changed in the 26 years since you first began working with the Parish?

15:34 5. Lastly, as you look around at our community, what gives you hope that we are making progress and headed in the right direction?

0:41 1. Toya, since 2014 you have served as the Executive Director of the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation, one of the largest and most impactful family foundations that our community has. Just in 2022 alone, the foundation awarded over $1.5M to nonprofit organizations.

The foundation has two grant cycles, a Fall Cycle and a Spring Cycle. Let’s start here today. Talk to me about some of the kinds of projects the foundation is looking to fund.

5:24 2. One of the reasons we started this podcast is to help our community cultivate a healthier self-image by highlighting the important work taking place amongst us that people may not know about, like the work you are doing at the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation.

On this podcast we have also spoken a lot about how to become a stronger community. In your opinion, how do we do a better job of moving from a “me” to a “we” community?

12:35 3. A recurring theme on this podcast is also our identity as a community - who we have been, who we are are and what we are trying to become.

For friends of yours who maybe have never been to Shreveport-Bossier before, how do you describe this community, this place that we all call home.

16:18 4. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

23:52 5. On the flip side, what makes you optimistic that we are making progress as a community?

0:43 1. In December of 2022, after being a high school principal and the parish Career Technical Education supervisor, you became the chancellor of Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (or NLTCC). NLTCC has three locations – one on North Market near 220 in Shreveport, and locations in Minden and Mansfield.

At NLTCC, you teach people how to make a living.

Let’s start here today. What are some of the “employable” skills a student can currently learn at NLTCC?

7:44 2. NLTCC is one of 12 community colleges in Louisiana’s community and technical college system.

Many people are more familiar with the term “Vo Tech” than they are “Technical Community College”. Talk to me about the shift away from the term Vocational-Technical or Vo-Tech.

10:26 3. You once said:

“There is no excuse to walk across our stage without receiving a diploma in one hand and have an employment in the other hand.”

I know you are working with local businesses to get your students placed. Can you speak some about that process?

15:15 4. Are most of the programs at NLTCC two-year programs? And are they online or in person?

22:35 5. NLTCC has students of all ages, including high school students who are participating in dual enrollment, as well as older adults who are interested in furthering their careers or exploring new career opportunities.

Talk to me about the age breakdown of your students. And for someone who is contemplating furthering their career or exploring a new career, what’s the best way to learn more about the numerous opportunities at NLTCC?

0:33 1. In 2022, you partnered with KTAL NBC 6 to launch the “Operation Kindness” initiative. Tell me about the genesis of this initiative, its mission and some of how it works.

6:33 2. I’ve asked other guests a similar question. How do we move our community more from a “me” community to a “we” community?

9:00 3. As you know, like you I have a very strong and fearless mom. In fact, one of her heroes, biggest role models, and one of the few people she looked up to was your mom, Virginia Shehee.

You once said the following in speaking about your mom:

“Virginia Shehee was a phenomenon. She was a mother, she was a businessperson, she was a philanthropist, she was a politician. She was a do gooder. She was, to some people, an angel. She cared about people very much. And I am very proud to be one of her four children.”

I know your mom has had a major influence on you. Can you talk about some of the lessons she taught you and some of the ways her legacy drives and guides you today?

18:55 4. As you look around our community, what concerns you the most?

20:44 5. What are some of the things that give you hope that we are headed in the right direction as a community?

0:31 1. LeVette, in my opinion, you are one of the top thinkers abut community that we have. You see our problems, you see our strengths, and I could talk to you for hours and just be scratching the surface.

I’m going to try today at least to hit some of the high points.

Let’s start here today. Talk to me about sprawl and land use and how the two pertain to our community.

4:54 2. With founding members Tim Wright, Luke Lee, and Chris Lyon, you created Re:Form Shreveport, whose mission is to build a stronger and more resilient Shreveport by growing a culture of engagement and trust between citizens, businesses, and government.

Re:Form Shreveport has achieved some great things. Talk to me about the genesis of Re:Form, how you all decided to start it and what the future holds for this important initiative.

16:50 3. One of the areas where you’ve been most passionate is trying to make our community a more welcoming environment for entrepreneurs.

What are of some of the areas where we are currently falling short in “being open for business”?

25:34 4. One of the things we’ve discussed on this podcast is our struggles as a community to define ourselves, to know who we are and to be proud of what we have and what we can be.

My question is, how do you see us? Or, in other words, what do you think our identity is as a community?

31:50 5. From 2018-2022, you were in the trenches, serving on City Council for District B. And last year you ran for mayor in the 2022 Shreveport Mayoral Race and one of your campaign sayings was, “We can believe in Shreveport”.

As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

43:25 6. Lastly, what are some of the things that make you optimistic about our future?

0:35 1. On January 9th of this year you became the new chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. You are a renowned clinician, medical scientist and health economist and this community is very fortunate to have you.

Even though I grew up here, it has only recently become clear to me how lucky Shreveport-Bossier is to have a health science center like LSU Health Shreveport. I believe it is only one of 155 medical schools in the nation accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

I read that, “Two out of every three physicians in Louisiana are LSU alumni. For every new doctor who joins the workforce in Louisiana, there is an additional $2 million in economic impact on the state.”

My first question is can you talk to me about the “virtuous circle”?

6:05 2. Clarify a little bit, if you could, your position in the entire system and how you work with the Ochsner piece and how it is configured and set up?

8:03 3. What are some of the current research strengths at LSU Health Shreveport?

10:15 4. Can you talk about some of your current priorities and initiatives?

16:49 5. Can you talk about some of the things that will take place in the new Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats due to open later this year?

19:35 6. You were born in New York City and grew up in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.

New people moving to a community are invaluable for so many reasons. Chief among those, in my opinion, is the fresh set of eyes they bring. It is hard to define oneself or even one’s community, you are too close to the subject. But the newly arrived, because they are viewing things from the outside, can often see more clearly.

So with all of that, what do you see when you look at Shreveport-Bossier? Or in other words, how do you describe this community to your friends and family who have never been here before?

0:25 1. In May of 2022, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport started a new program for teens and families affected by gun violence. The program is called PROTECT, which stands for Providing Resources and Outreach Tools for Every Child and Teen.

Mike, you serve as Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Pediatric Trauma Coordinator and once said,

“If you look at all of our patients who are pediatric patients who come in with traumatic injuries, 26% of them are due to firearm injuries. The national average is 8%. So, we are more than 3x the national trauma center’s average in terms of the proportion of our pediatric patients to come in with gun-related injuries.”

Let’s start here today. We will get to the details of how the PROTECT program works but first tell me about the genesis of PROTECT. How did the idea first come about to start the program?

2:17 2. I read that you had assistance from a mentoring facility in St. Louis. And that they’ve reduced their-re-injury rate from 40% down to almost 4% with their program and helped untold numbers of families.

How did you work with this facility in St. Louis and how did you first become aware of their program and work in this area?

3:38 3. For the lay person out there who perhaps has never met a young person impacted by gun violence, paint a picture for me of what life looks like for some of these patients you come into contact with through PROTECT.

4:51 4. I’ve read where you have said that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue and that PROTECT is taking a public health approach.

The program’s goal is to heal youth impacted by gun violence by providing resources like mental health services, shelter assistance and mentoring.

Walk me through some of the services provided by PROTECT and take me through what a potential case may look like and how you would work with a patient.

12:02 5. I came across another quote from you where you said:

“We don’t have housing for them, but if the child or teenager decides, ‘When I get out of school every day, I don’t want to go hang out in these same places,’ where’s a safe place for them to go? So now we’re partnering with SPAR to get a route in the community to do things like that.”

I know we are in need of more mentors and more after-school programs for our community. Do you see signs that we’re making progress in these areas?

13:17 6. I know you are providing wraparound services for these gunshot victims through PROTECT. Can you talk about some of your community partners as well as the areas where you could still use partners and support?

0:28 1. You are such an important mental health professional in this community, involved in so many aspects of helping our residents. Today I want to cover some of the different services you provide at Clint Davis Counseling. But before we jump too far in, I want to quickly share something with you and get your thoughts or reaction.

I have had a good bit of counseling throughout my life and believe that one of the key steps in therapy is just the process of sharing thoughts and feelings and getting them out on the table to be discussed. I feel like we’re hopefully doing some of that for our community with this podcast.

Do you believe that providing a space to air out thoughts and feelings is an important part of the counseling process?

3:37 2. One of our previous guests and friends of yours, Cassie Hammett, once said this in speaking about you,

“Clint helps people truly become who they were created to be, coaching people to have a sound mind and process through things from the past that may be affecting them now.”

Talk to me about the quote above and some of your particular approach and process.

8:46 3. I was at dinner with my parents and I told them I was having you on as a guest today. My dad said can you ask him a question for me. \

For someone who doesn't have a network of psychologists or counselors and feels like they need some help, what sort of recommendation do you have for the general public in terms of taking the first step in receiving some assistance?

15:54 4. On the Clint Davis Counseling & Integrative Wellness website, there is a list of the different services you provide. They are:

• Trauma Therapy/EMDR

• Marriages And Families

• Drug, Alcohol, And Sex Addiction

• Play Therapy

• Eating Disorders

• Creation Therapy

• Business Coaching And Counseling

• Groups And Educational Seminars

• Adoption And Foster Care Support

• Massage Therapy

• Anxiety and Depression

• Grief Counseling

• Temperament Analysis

• Nutritional Counseling

• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Would you mind maybe choosing three of the abovementioned services and providing a little more information about the work you do in those areas?

25:35 5. Maybe three or four weeks ago, we had Carolyn Hammond in here who is the new CEO of VOA. She said something that stuck with me.

We're now trying in schools with ACEs to teach teachers instead of asking a kid, "Why are you doing that?" to "What happened to you?"

How does ACEs factor in to your work?

31:45 6. I knew you were involved in a number of different organizations in town, that you regularly give talks and seminars and of course, that you provide counseling services. What I didn’t know before I began my research to prepare for today is that you also oversee a podcast entitled “Asking Why”.

You have done an impressive 90+ episodes to date. The description about you and the podcast says,

“Asking Why is a podcast hosted by Clint Davis, an army veteran, ordained minister and licensed psychotherapist. Clint has a masters in marriage and family therapy and is trained in trauma, and sex addiction. He is also the Director of Recovery for The Hub: Urban Ministry which helps rescue men, women, and children out of human trafficking and poverty. Clint owns his own Counseling and Integrative Wellness Center, with 3 locations, with over 25 professionals from a wide range of modalities.”

Tell me about the podcast, how it started, how often you record it and anything else you would like to mention about this other important aspect of your work. 38:58 7. How does one know I've gotten enough therapy?

42:18 8. In general, should a male seek a male counselor and a female seek a female counselor?

50:05 9. As you look around, talk about some of the things you see that concern you the most about the state of our community?

0:28 1. Laura, you are the Program Director at The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, a local non-profit organization helping families in Northwest Louisiana travel the bumpy road of Alzheimer’s and dementia. You are filling a critical need in our community.

Let’s start here today. For the lay people like me, can you explain the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

1:16 2. At The Bridge, you provide resources, education and support services for our residents living with dementia. Can you talk about some of the different programs and services you provide at The Bridge?

3:07 3. At the Bridge, you prioritize and serve our caregivers. I read a statistic that about 40% to 50% of caregivers end up passing away before the person they’re caring for, due to not prioritizing their own health and wellbeing.

Can you talk about some of the different ways you support our caregivers?

5:55 4. Currently in Louisiana, there are 92,000 people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that number will increase by 20% in the next two years.

Why are more and more people being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? What are some of the main contributors?

7:56 5. Are there things people can do potentially to help prevent getting dementia or Alzheimer’s?

9:08 6. As we get older, we naturally become more forgetful and have a more difficult time recalling information. As our loved ones watch our behavior or as we monitor ourselves, how are some ways to tell the difference between the natural course of aging and early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s?

0:31 1. Sister Sharon, you have been a longtime advocate for accessible healthcare for children in Shreveport-Bossier. You once said, “A healthy community thrives.”

Today I want to talk about some of your impactful work and touch on the inspiring life of service you have led.

Let’s start here today. How did you first become aware that providing accessible healthcare to children in Shreveport-Bossier was such an important need in our community?

4:37 2. Your path to becoming a nun is not the most traditional I have ever come across. After graduating from LSUS, you worked in public relations before joining Channel 3 where you ultimately became a news producer.

You once said,

“I think all of us have a call to ministry. Growing up in Shreveport and Bossier, I’ve been given so much, and I’d like to return as much as possible.”

How did you come to make the decision that your life’s work would be giving back to our community?

7:37 3. In 1998, along with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, you founded the Renzi Education and Art Center. Talk to me about the beginning of Renzi, how you got involved in that project and how you knew it would serve such an important need in our community.

9:55 4. You have also spent your career advocating for the elderly and disabled in our community. Your mother was a nurse in Holy Angels’ baby nursery for several years and it was here that, as a child, you were introduced to the needs of disabled children and the life of religious Sisters.

Talk to me about your early memories of Holy Angels and, from your perspective, how we are doing as a community in taking care of our elderly and disabled?

13:10 5. This wasn’t one of my planned questions. But listening to you speak I have to ask you, and it’s a question I’ve asked some previous guests.

I feel like we’ve become, maybe here or a lot of places, we’ve become such a me community rather than a we community. As someone who is so community-minded, what kind of advice or what sort of recommendations would you potentially offer to help us maybe transition from a me community to a we community?

16:21 6. As you look around our community now, what concerns you the most? And what seems more challenging today than at other times in your more than thirty years of serving our community?

19:27 7. Lastly, on the other side of the last question, what seems better today and makes you optimistic about the future of our community?

0:29 1. In February of last year, after more than 12 years of service, you became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Volunteers of America North Louisiana, or VOA as many people know it.

VOA is one of the most important nonprofits in the Shreveport-Bossier community, offering more than 40 different programs for our residents.

At VOA, you serve four distinct populations – children and families, veterans, individuals with disabilities and seniors.

VOA has been described as a church without walls and I can’t imagine our community without the impactful work you do. We could talk for hours and just scratch the surface on all you do at VOA. But what I’d like to do today is at least create some more awareness of how you’re serving our children and families, our veterans, our individuals with disabilities and our seniors.

Let’s start with our veterans. Can you talk about some of the current programming VOA offers to provide better service to our veterans?

5:48 2. Similarly, can you provide some information about the programs VOA offers to serve those in our community with disabilities?

10:49 3. Our aging population, our seniors, also benefit greatly from programming overseen and provided by VOA. Can you talk about some of the ways VOA serves our seniors?

14:28 4. Then, of course, VOA does a tremendous amount of work for our children and families with programs like The Lighthouse and Communities in Schools. Can you speak about a few of these programs?

49:33 5. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?

52:08 6. On the flip side, on a more positive note, what are some of the things you see improving that make you optimistic about our community’s future?

0:29 1. Heather, you are the Director of INAR, the Institute for Nonprofit Administration & Research at LSU Shreveport.

INAR was established in 2001 to conduct research and disseminate knowledge about nonprofit organizations and social research. INAR offers nonprofit education programs, professional development seminars, and quality research and statistical analysis to clients.

My goal today is to make people better understand INAR and the important role it is playing in our community.

Let’s start here. What nonprofit certificates and degrees does LSUS currently offer and how will its offering expand beginning this fall?

4:49 2. You once said, “Plentiful job opportunities exist in the nonprofit sector as 8% of the Louisiana workforce is employed at nonprofit organizations. Those opportunities exist locally as well, with approximately 2,000 nonprofit organizations employing nearly 20,000 workers in the Shreveport-Bossier area.”

Can you talk about how many nonprofit degree programs, similar to what INAR offers, exist locally and in the state?

8:00 3. You also once said, “My mission and passion is to help people run more effective nonprofit organizations.”

One of the ways that INAR achieves the above is by providing consulting services to existing nonprofits and to people wanting to start a nonprofit.

Can you talk about the consulting services offered by INAR?

11:53 4. Many people locally know the name LANO which stands for Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits. I know you partner a great deal with the LANO office out of Baton Rouge.

My first question is, does LANO still have an office locally?

13:32 5. In September of this year, nonprofit professionals from across the state will descend upon LSU Shreveport’s campus for the Statewide Conference For Louisiana’s Nonprofits. This conference is the result of a partnership between INAR and LANO.

Talk to me about what we can expect from the September 20 conference?

17:18 6. Lastly, let’s talk about another aspect of your partnership with LANO. Thanks to a generous grant from the Carolyn W and Charles T Beaird Family Foundation, INAR is currently hosting a capacity building cohort for nonprofit leaders in the Shreveport-Bossier region.

Talk to me if you could about the cohort, how it works and why this is such an important offering to our nonprofit community.

0:33 1. Orlando, you are the Head Soccer Coach for Bossier High School and so much more.

Let’s start here today. What country are you originally from and when did you first arrive in Shreveport-Bossier?

1:01 2. How did you end up at Bossier High, originally as a student?

2:06 3. You once said, “I love Bossier. I went to Bossier. I graduated from Bossier. I bleed green.”

One of the goals of this podcast is to help people develop more pride about the Shreveport-Bossier community by highlighting the positive and important work happening all around us.

Talk to me about your pride for Bossier City and your pride for Bossier High School. Where does that come from and how did you develop such strong feelings for this community and the high school you attended and where you are now the coach?

5:25 4. This season your team at Bossier High reached the finals of the state championship, only the third Bossier Parish soccer team ever to play in a state championship game.

Talk to me about your team this season and the type of players that mostly made up this year’s team.

10:24 5. Each week, the local radio station Kiss Country 93.7 shines a light on one of our local residents and they recently honored you. The letter that got you the award said the following:

“I’ve played sports my entire life and have had some great coaches, but I have never seen a man and his wife do so much for the players. A lot of his high school players are Mexican or Central American immigrants who can barely speak English. When they arrive at his school, many have very little means, even feed themselves. Some don’t even have families with them. All of his players know that they can call, and he will help them at the drop of a hat. Whether it be by feeding them, getting them jobs, getting them clothes, loaning them money from his own pocket to pay bills until they get paid, helping them find housing, or even letting them stay at his house with his family, he’s there. I have personally seen him give his own belt to one of his players who did not one. I have seen him drive to New Orleans to speak at an immigration hearing on behalf of one of his high school players on Friday to then drive all night to be at a travel soccer game for his younger kids in Dallas Saturday morning. And all he asks of his players is to remember that when they get in a position to help someone, they do the same.”

As someone who coaches so many of our young kids on and off the field, what are some of the lessons you hope to instill in the young people who spend time with you?

17:37 6. As you look around our community, what are some of the things that concern you the most?