Foundation Partners on Pioneering Learning Community and a Global Water Institute

second quarter twenty-eleven . baton rouge area foundation Currents

Foundation partners on pioneering learning community and a global water institute

Community indicators | Long-shot arts center | Solar pays | BR future !¢

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contents

14.....Road to carbon capture 18.....Race is irrelevant 22.....Two legacy projects 32.....2011 Barton Award winners 38....New Roads art center 42.....CityStats 2011 highlights 48....Solar pays off

Departments

4...... From the chair 7...... About us 8...... Lead in 14.....On the ground 18.....OnSite 22.....CoverStory 42.....CityStats 2011 38....Legacy #• 48....Monitor 54....Monitor briefs 58.....Coda currents quarter . second twenty-eleven

2 volume five | number two CITYSTATs Indicators for tracking our quality of life $™ #™

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currents . second quarter twenty-eleven transit plan by June. by plan transit a promise they quickly; 17 moving The are members strategy. atransit deliver will that panel citizen ber a17-mem- Holden create to Kip Mayor with teamed Together have and Rouge Baton Chamber Area Rouge Baton the Already, implemented. be will plan over time. transportation of modes other and routes adding then exists, mand de- where only routes bus new with wisely starting system, transit mass of the overhaul an mends it recom- For instance, practices. best and search to an empty building next to the arts center and and center arts the to next building empty an to month. end of the money enough atthe have didn’t when they couple’s the donormous paid mortgage anony- An floor. dance the built of students Fathers days. couple a of within filled be would her requests and email an send would center, Tiffany burgeoning for the something needed money. they ing Whenever someoperat- and funds start-up with them vided donor pro- Agenerous meet. ends make to people building. abandoned an in arts other and theater music, offered that acenter began they and her husband enlisted she response, In classes. for lessons. arranged and towns River False from girls little away. gathered far she too So seemed Rouge Baton to Driving Roads. New in daughter final version is delivered this summer. this delivered is version final when a whole plan the you read to Iencourage and magazine, this within recommendations FuturEBR You some read can parish. for the plan prehensive acom- is FuturEBR residents, Rouge Baton from ramp. exit an offers FuturEBR J From the chair At the Foundation, we are encouraged that this this that encouraged we are Foundation, the At Last Christmas, a benefactor invited Tiffany over Tiffany invited abenefactor Christmas, Last the of kindness the on relied Phelpses the first, At on her dance descended more children More and unexpected. was next came What for her class dance a find couldn’t Phelps Tiffany FuturEBR is common sense mixed with solid re- solid with mixed sense common is FuturEBR input with Associates and Fregonese by Created worst traffic of all mid-sized cities in America. America. in cities mid-sized all of traffic worst the has Rouge Baton that confirmed Institute Texas year, the Transportation this ust • ing their own. their ing mak- are they aplace in other each found have says Tiffany “misfits” the children, for their come together have Roads of New people how the and place ering cluding a career high school that is expected to re- to expected is that school high a career cluding in- facilities, educational property, the On Authority. Redevelopment Rouge Baton East the by developed be will which community, learning the put together Water Institute. the is other The Drive. Avenue Ardenwood and Lobdell between acres on 200 community learning a is One Foundation. of the initiatives leadership to renovate it. renovate to begun who has Tiffany, to keys building’s the handed benefactor the this, Hearing don’tthey classes. have when even arts the practice to who up show dren chil- for the needed was more room as responded, she Plenty, space?” this you with do would “What asked, The Foundation’s civic leadership initiatives staff staff initiatives leadership Foundation’sThe civic civic of two overview an we offer issue, this in Also In this issue, you can read more about the gath- more about the read you can issue, this In • The Texas Transportation Institute confirmed that Baton Rouge has BOARD OF DIRECTORS Matthew G. McKay, Chair the worst traffic of John G. Davies, President & CEO John M. Steitz, Vice Chair all mid-sized cities in Leonard C. Wyatt, Secretary Candace E. Wright, Treasurer America. FuturEBR Alice D. Greer, Past Chair offers an exit ramp. John W. Barton Sr., Chair Emeritus Albert D. Sam II MD, At large Lee Michael Berg duce the dropout rate, will be mixed with housing for people of different incomes, stores and green spaces. Warren O. Birkett Jr. Though the Foundation cobbled together the deal, it S. Dennis Blunt will only get built because of the many partners you Donald H. Daigle will read about in the story. Yolanda J. Dixon The second project is a response to rising seas, G. Lee Griffin which are expected to drown coastal areas and dis- C. Kris Kirkpatrick place communities across the globe. The Water Carl S. Luikart MD Institute began with U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, who came up with the idea of creating a world-class in- C. Brent McCoy stitute staffed with the best minds across many disci- Suzanne L. Turner plines to take on an issue that will bedevil the world for decades, maybe centuries. With Garrett Graves and Kyle Graham in the lead, the Governor’s Office of The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is a community Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has be- foundation that takes advantage of opportunities to improve the quality of life in South Louisiana. We come partners in the exploration of the idea. do so by providing two essential functions. One, the Over the next few months, our job at the Foundation connects philanthropists with capable Foundation is to come up with an approach that puts nonprofits to make sure the needs of our communities the idea into practice. are met. For example, our donors support the Shaw Work on the Water Institute and the learning com- Center for the Arts and buy eyeglasses for needy munity is paid for by members, who support the civic children. Two, the Foundation invests in and manages pivotal projects to improve the region. Our Plan leadership initiatives of the Foundation. Our 2011 Baton Rouge initiative spearheaded the downtown membership drive is under way; please renew your revitalization plan and now is working to revive Old membership today or join the Foundation for the first South Baton Rouge. For more information, contact time. You can do so by calling 225.387.6126 or online Mukul Verma at [email protected]. at BRAF.org under “Become a Member.”

Sincerely, Currents is published four times a year by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, 402 N. Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please contact us at 225.387.6126 or email the Foundation at Matthew G. McKay [email protected]. SEASON 2010-2011

SeMt ve artin performing with the PINE Steep Canyon Rangers LEAF An evening of bluegrass & banjo SECOND BOYS SUNDAY CITY & ANN AUGUST 28 FRI-SAT SAVOY MAY6-7 THURSDAY MAY19 SATURDAY MAY21 ALSO Coming this summer...

ASLEEP JOHN AT THE WAITE WHEEL THURSDAY MONDAY FRIDAY JUNE2 JUNE27 JULY 15 5/18 Haynesville 5/20 All American Orgy 5/22 My Best Friend’s Wedding

Follow us TICKETS: WWW.MANSHIPTHEATRE.ORG OR 225-344-0334 people in the region. We do so in two ways. ways. We two in so do region. the in people for all of life quality We the country. work improve to the across foundations community 700 more than among is Foundation Area Rouge Baton The funds, call Helen Lowery at225.387.6126. Helen Lowery call funds, To for $10,000. more about charitable fund learn charitable atax-deductible start can Philanthropists projects. community and groups nonprofit to grants provide to funds donor-advised start to who choose people generous through is way key One ways. several in funded is How Foundation we work: The parishes. Davis Jefferson and Cameron Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, serves foundation that Charles, Lake in Based Louisiana. of Southwest Foundation Community the supports also Foundation The Mandeville. in ahome base from independently operates that organization asupport Foundation, Community Northshore the through parishes Helena St. and Washington Tammany, Tangipahoa, St. in works Foundation The Louisiana. South across grants provide and We projects weconduct serve: Who much more. and schools experimental through education of public improvement the porting sup- LSU, and downtown between neighborhoods rebuilding are Rouge, Baton downtown vitalized re- we have partners, with Working projects. pivotal $18.3 million. worth of grants thousands we provided year, Last supplies. pay for and teacher cancer prevent to vaccinations provide children, women and abused for havens safe fund for instance, donors, Our met. are neighbors of our the needs sure make to nonprofits First, we connect philanthropists with exceptional exceptional with philanthropists we connect First, Second, the Foundation invests in and manages manages and in invests Foundation the Second, calling Mukul Verma at225.387.6126. Mukul calling ones. existing our in invest or airport anew build to on whether direction and reform care on health guidance as such region, the to benefits social to provide organizations for-profit with contracted has Foundation the Also, community. our support to grants in million $250 issued has Foundation the 1964, Since over 47 years. assets the provided have Foundation of the Donors country. the in foundations community largest top-20 the among it making million, of $640 assets estimated had 2010, Foundation the year-end At size: our What’s Trust. Realty Properties Commercial by managed are assets estate real The Rico. Texas Puerto and Florida, Louisiana, in centers shopping as well as Rouge, Baton in Hotel Center Capitol Hilton the clude in- assets estate real Those Marvin. Wilbur late the by left estate of real comprised is which Foundation, over time. grow and thropists philan- by donated were which assets, on unrestricted The Foundation also is funded through earnings earnings through funded is also Foundation The More information is available at BRAF.org or by at BRAF.org available is More information Marvin Wilbur the is assets Foundation Among About us

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 7 Lead In

tors to second terms of three years apiece on the board. They are Donald H. Daigle, retired from ExxonMobil; G. Lee Griffin, retired from Bank One; C. Kris Kirkpatrick of Long Law Firm; Matthew G. McKay of All Star Automotive; and Leonard C. Wyatt of Whitney Bank. The directors chose McKay as board chair, John M. Steitz of Albemarle Corp. as vice chair, Wyatt as secretary and Candace E. Wright of Postlethwaite and Netterville as treasurer. The Foundation helps philanthropists make grants to nonprofits and conducts civic leadership initiatives, such as reclaiming inner city neighborhoods, guiding education and health care reform and investing in real estate that Jim Bernhard, CEO of the Shaw Group Inc. turns a profit while also providing social returns. Contributions of $140 million from donors in Shaw Group begins fund 2010 included $100 million from BP to assist deepwater workers affected by the federal drilling mora- The Shaw Group Inc., among the largest industrial torium. The Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection contractors in the world, has opened a charitable fund Foundation was created as a supporting nonprofit to at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, with CEO Jim Bernhard jumpstarting the giving by donating nearly Assets $1 million. Bernhard invited colleagues to a fund-raising golf $700M tournament at Country Club of Louisiana to help $600M

seed the fund and personally matched each dollar $500M

raised at the tournament. People from around the $400M world attended the event, which raised more than $300M $800,000. $200M Shaw’s fund is named “Every Kid A King.” The fund will focus on children’s issues, providing grants $100M based on a competition among nonprofit applicants. Initial grants are expected in fall. Total Grants

$60M $55M Foundation assets $50M surpass $600M $45M $40M The Baton Rouge Area Foundation reported its $35M best year in history, with $140 million in donations $30M helping to boost total assets to an estimated $640 mil- $25M lion at year-end 2010. The Foundation granted $18.3 $20M million in 2010, up from $12.7 million the year before. $15M The Foundation reviewed 2010 at its annual meet- $10M ing of members at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center for the Arts in March. 2001 includes a $43 million grant to Lamar-Dixon Expo Foundation. currents quarter . second twenty-eleven Members of the Foundation elected several direc- 8 accept the donation and make hardship grants from the $100 million fund. The GCRPF is in a second round of grants from that fund, taking applications from workers who directly supported deepwater rigs affected by the moratorium.

Gaines Award winner Victor LaValle was awarded the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence at a celebration in January. LaValle won the book award started by donors of the Foundation for his novel, Big Machine. Mr. Gaines presided over the event and Cicely Tyson, who played the lead character in the movie based on Back: Victor LaValle, Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden, his book, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, was Dianne Gaines, Front: Cicely Tyson and Ernest J. Gaines. mistress of ceremonies. Before reading from his winning novel, LaValle about the place you know and, if done well enough, you’ll dis- accepted the $10,000 award with the following play the dignity, the complexity and the humanity of your home. speech: And by doing so, you’ll fill in the map of the world just a lit- “The best writers are, in a sense, mapmakers. They tell sto- tle bit more so others will know who your people were and that ries, but they also set those stories in worlds that are so vivid their lives mattered. I hope, someday, to make my home proud they become real to readers even if they never travel to that place. as Mr. Gaines has made his home proud, so I accept this honor Mr. Gaines has proven himself a master mapmaker through tonight as a suggestion that I’m on my way.” his writing, making the ground of his youth as vivid to me as my own hometown of Queens, New York. I’ve never learned my lessons in a church school in the Transit gets moving Quarter or known the sweet pleasure of chewing fresh sugar cane but I’ve still experienced both, thanks to Mr. Gaines. Baton Rouge is the most congested mid-sized city My home, Queens, isn’t terribly glamorous. While other in America, says the Texas Transportation Institute. parts of New York are known for being cosmopolitan or gang- One reason is a failing mass transit system. A new ster-tough, Queens, if it’s considered at all, is considered the panel named in late March is expected to pro- home of working people: immigrants and American-born who save and sacrifice and expect to do exactly that all their lives. Mass transit I wouldn’t say we’re humble folk; we’re a little too loud for Capital Area Transit System is nearly broke. that. But I’d say we have as much right to a place on the map The bus system has reduced routes, raised rates and lost as anyone. the LSU contract. Mr. Gaines’ writing has meant so much to me for so many riding bus weekly years, for so many reasons. His artistry, his clarity, his gift for storytelling. But he also inspires me to believe you can write 100

With a smartphone and 70 Thousands a free QR reader, watch 60 a video of Victor LaValle readng from his work at the 50 2010 Ernest J. Gaines Award 0 for Literary Excellence 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 baton rougefoundation area . braf.org ceremony. Source: CATS 9 Lead In

vide East Baton Rouge with transit options. Mayor Kip Holden has created a 17-member commission to implement the transit goals of the FuturEBR master plan, which is expected to be completed this summer. The panel will create a mass transit strategy that includes a business plan. “Real met- k ropolitan mass transit is a big, bold u

idea, and we’re confident of the ca- a pabilities of this group to lay out a W ori plan to get there,” says Adam Knapp, L SELCH CEO of the Chamber. City Year member Kori Thomas, left, tutors Shyeshia Rushing, a sixth grader at The group will move quickly, offer- Crestworth Middle School. Thomas is one of several City Year members that ing a plan by June. And that plan will worked with middle school students twice a week. include input from the public, cost esti- bers, alumni and staff. The university also is offer- mates for the mass transit proposed in FuturEBR and ing application fee awards to members, alumni and a means to make mass transit sustainable. staff of City Year, which was co-founded nation- Commission members are David Aguillard, ally by Jennifer Eplett Reilly of Baton Rouge. She is Catholic Charities executive director; J.H. Campbell, a Foundation donor who has supported City Year in Associated Grocers Inc. CEO; Helena Cunningham, Baton Rouge and is a key funder of City Year South Louisiana Association of Affordable Housing Africa. Providers CEO; Dr. Myrtle Dorsey, Baton Rouge Duke, Boston College and some other private uni- Community College chancellor; Bill Holman, Baton versities have similar arrangements with City Year, Rouge General Medical Center president; Cassie which offers young people a chance to serve commu- Felder, Felder and Associates; Rev. Raymond Jetson, nities for a year. In Baton Rouge, City Year members Star Hill Baptist Church pastor; Joseph Lands, transit serve the public school system. user; Kofi Lomotey, Southern University chancellor; Michael Martin, LSU chancellor; Nancy McPherson, AARP state director; Ralph Ney, Embassy Suites Food Bank on clock for grant general manager; Graham Thompson, Whitney Bank The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is on a dead- (retired); Ann Forté Trappey, Forté and Tablada pres- line to raise $1.3 million that would be leveraged into ident/CEO; Leroy Watts, Liberty Bank executive $12.1 million for a 174,800-square-foot warehouse vice president/CFO; Carmen Weisner, Louisiana and distribution hub to feed the area’s hungry. Chapter executive director of National Association Through generous donors, including several of Social Workers; Ronald Williams, 4th District with charitable accounts at the Baton Rouge Area Missionary Baptist Association/Mid City Community Foundation, the Food Bank has raised $8.15 mil- Fellowship; John Carpenter, EBR chief administrative lion for the project, including the donation of a officer; Homer Charles, Together Baton Rouge; Meg 100,000-square-foot facility from a family trust of Mahoney, BRAC senior vice president of product de- Albert Fraenkel III. velopment; and Metro Councilman Mike Walker. The Food Bank must raise $1.3 million by the end of June to tap a $1.1 million challenge grant from the LSU, City Year pact Kresge Foundation of Michigan. With that funding, the nonprofit could proceed to expand and renovate LSU is the first public university in the country to the building. currents quarter . second twenty-eleven provide a graduate scholarship to City Year mem- The Food Bank needs the additional space for its 10 normal daily operations as well as its expanded role in Manship Theatre disaster response with local and state governments. revamp continues Nearly 30% of people in East Baton Rouge couldn’t afford to feed themselves sometime in the last 12 Now that the Manship Theatre’s two smaller ven- months, according to a survey that accompanies the ues have better lighting and sound, it’s time for one Foundation’s CityStats report. (More CityStats on page more step: new entrances as part of a reconfiguration 42.) that will provide chances for more uses. Remson Haley Herpin Architects are drawing final designs for the improvements, which are scheduled to Mandeville plan under way be completed by year-end. Manship’s Hartley-Vey Workshop, the smaller With the City of Mandeville, the Northshore of the two theaters, will have an entrance on Rue Community Foundation has hired Duany Plater- Albritton, the paved alley that connects Third Street Zyberk to create a town center plan for Old to the Shaw Center for the Arts. The Hartley-Vey Mandeville. Studio will have a marquee entrance that opens onto The seed for a gathering place already exists at North Boulevard and the future Town Square. the site. Around a bike-hike trailhead, there is an in- Other improvements include a new bar, new re- timate amphitheater, several offices with residences strooms for the smaller theaters and a glass wall to atop them and plentiful open land. frame the former gallery space on the second floor. In April, DPZ sought community input to create a design; the firm should have a plan ready in summer. DPZ masterminded Baton Rouge’s downtown re- bound strategy and is known for designing Seaside, Fla., the first planned traditional neighborhood development in America. In Mandeville, the plan for a resilient town center will embrace Smart Growth principles that were pioneered by Andres Duany of DPZ and others in the New Urbanism movement. The plan’s goal is to focus the city’s economic energy into a critical mass and provide for the civic needs of identity, community and sense of place as well as provide an identifiable civic and city center; blending housing, offices and shops within walking distance of each other. Grant funding for the plan was secured from the Louisiana Recovery Authority Comprehensive Resiliency Program, with community resiliency—the capability to anticipate risk, limit impact and bounce back in the face of turbulent change—being the basis for funding for the project. Separately, the Northshore Community Foundation has completed a revival plan for the West 30s, a neighborhood next to downtown Covington. Proposed new entrance to the Manship Theatre from The nonprofit began with financial support from Rue Albritton. the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. It operates with an independent board and staff from headquarters in Covington. baton rougefoundation area . braf.org

11 FIVE QUESTIONS:

Emily Patrick City Hall Fellow Emily Patrick is among the first batch of Baton Rouge City Hall Fellows, a program that enlists recent college graduates into government service for a year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia before joining City Hall Fellows, a national program that was begun by Baton Rouge’s Bethany Rubin Henderson. Launched in 2009, City Hall Fellows has programs in San Francisco and Baton Rouge.

Why did you choose City Hall Fellows? As a Virginian living near D.C., I had always equated public service with careers in the federal gov- similar goals. When these groups can get together in ernment. When I read about City Hall Fellows, I was one room and realize some of the ways they can col- inspired by the program’s mission to have recent collaborate, it means better leveraging of everyone’s re- lege graduates understand how municipal government sources and developing more impactful programs. serves its citizens while interacting within the larger I’m also helping our chief service officer, Blythe contexts of state and national government. I liked the Daigle, develop and implement several volunteer ini- balance of work and education that the program af- tiatives that will provide residents with more oppor- forded and the opportunity to meet and interact with tunities to contribute to their community through so many different organizations and people within a service. The two projects that will start over the sum- city. mer will focus on neighborhood revitalization and early childhood education. Tell us about your first day working at City Hall. What are the joys and frustrations of this My first day working in the Mayor’s Office was fellowship? about three weeks into the program. For the first sev- It has been such a privilege to meet so many indi- eral weeks, all six fellows had an in-depth overview of viduals dedicated to Baton Rouge. Sometimes I find the many public and private organizations that serve myself in a meeting, knowing that I don’t fully grasp Baton Rouge. On the first day, I met with my super- the talent and drive that surrounds me. At the same visor Dr. Jim Llorens and got set up with a computer, time, I’ve had to adjust to working on a set schedule phone and desk. Then I spent the rest of the day read- and be cognizant that I represent the Mayor’s Office ing and doing background research on the projects I and my work is more than only a reflection of myself. was assigned. After the fellowship, what’s next for Emily Which projects are you conducting for the city? Patrick? The two major projects are the Mayor’s Healthy If you had asked me this a couple months ago I City Initiative and the Mayor’s Volunteer Service would have said I will be heading back to Virginia. Plan. The Healthy City Initiative’s mission is to iden- Recently, however, I’ve decided that I want to seri- tify and coordinate efforts aimed at healthy eating ously look at opportunities in the New Orleans or and active lifestyles into a unified commitment to bet- Baton Rouge area. I want to work with an organiza- ter health. We facilitate the meeting of many organi- tion comprised of dynamic people who are making a currents quarter . second twenty-eleven zations across Baton Rouge that oftentimes have very difference in the community. • 12 FREE MUSIC concerts • NOON-3PM 3 Sundays in MAY

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Free bike valet provided by Rollicking zydeco accordion Face Painting & Balloon Creations provided by — keeping the tradition alive The Party Artist www.thepartyartist.com 14

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven Lead In Lead T plest form, photocatalysis is described as the oppo- the as described is photocatalysis form, plest sim- In its emissions. traffic up gobbling essentially by quality air improve help it can believes she where surfaces, concrete and asphalt to applied be could technology photocatalytic called process chemical “For connected.” me, it’s all engineering. dustrial in- and management of construction professor sistant as- Hassan, says more sustainably,” build to try would you else or anything or abridge, abuilding ent from gases. greenhouse reducing in difference asignificant make to potential the had roadways America’s believed materials, of industrial use sustainable the in expert an Hassan, Marwa ants? pollut- air reduce to itself road the not recruit Why question: aradical asked and techniques mainstream these beyond thought professor LSU an ago, few years But a cars. gas-powered or natural electric and ings Novel technology could useroads to reduce pollution. Hassan spent the last three years studying how a studying years three last the spent Hassan differ- being as road of the thought never really “I rface solution rface S solar panels, tightly insulated green build- green insulated tightly panels, solar rooftop tactics: of familiar arsenal an cludes in- footprint carbon the reduce to oday’s fight u By Maggie Heyn Richardson |Photo University by Richardson Relations LSU Heyn Eddy Perez, Maggie By UPDATES On the ground tions near the LSU campus to conduct the study. One study. One the conduct to campus LSU the near tions pany CSJ Pureti. Pureti. CSJ pany com- the with conjunction in pavements tocatalytic use of pho- the on study field American first-ever the 2010, December opened she In Foundation. Science National the and Center Research Transportation Louisiana the by funded a project through first, atmosphere. the into disappear to don’t time have pollutants the means particles nanotitanium hits light UV the after happens that reaction chemical The NOx. as known gases greenhouse of harmful family the reduce significantly can that areaction off sets it it, hits sunlight and or concrete asphalt to applied is treatment surface aphotocatalytic When matter. organic of harmful decomposition natural the erate accel- to dioxide, titanium mineral, earth common plants. feed help that compounds organic into dioxide carbon converts sunlight which in of photosynthesis, concept more familiar of the site Hassan and her team established two research sta- research two established her team and Hassan lab the in extensively process the studied Hassan a helps sunlight in photocatalysis, side flip the On baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 15 16

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven learned.” • learned.” we’ve what by encouraged we’re very “but Hassan, environment. the to reaction the of effects side potential determine to is agenda search re- the in step next the She says paved. are roads new as additive an as and roads on existing overlay an as contexts, two in asphalt and concrete both to applied process the examined has years, two in publications pollutants?” extract actually that U.S. the in roads ate we cre- can question: the ask to we wanted case, this In possibilities. many so are “There says. she proach,” thinking tangentially about how to accomplish it. it. abouthow accomplish to tangentially thinking and sustainably, materials on using focusing began Tech, Hassan at Virginia on her doctorate working While U.S. the to emigrated also family immediate her Later, University. Polytechnic atVirginia grees de- graduate and undergraduate She pursued world. modern of the needs the supports settings struction con- and industrial in use how their and materials by Studies. Urban and of Planning Department Orleans’ of New University the and Engineering Environmental and of Civil Department LSU’s tween be- project acollaborative Resiliency, Transportation and for Center Evacuation Research Coast Gulf the of nonattainment. history a with Rouge, Baton like cities, American for nificant sig- be could research The says. she pollutants,” air in reduction significant showed which data preliminary over a12-monthsites period. the study will team The campus. of the heart the in tower clock the near is concrete examining site study Asecond Gates. North LSU the near Street on Aster is phalt, as- featuring strip, road “There is still alot done,” of workbe to says still is “There eight it into made has which research, Hassan’s “It’s really about taking a multidisciplinary ap- amultidisciplinary about taking “It’s really fascinated been long has Hassan of Egypt, A native through funded been has study current Hassan’s the by encouraged early, but very we were “It’s still Hassan. says promising, looks far, results So On the ground sustainably.” else youwould tryto build more building orabridge,anything road as being different from a “I really never thought ofthe extent.” thus reducing the glare to agreat flux over a relatively large area, by distributing the luminous brightness of the lighting source lights reduce“Balloon the or metal halide systems. lighting helium balloons with halogen the cost and effectiveness of With colleagues, she researching is age-related vision impairments.” alcohol,by drugs, fatigue or nighttime drivers are impaired show that percentage ahigher of publication. “Also, statistics says LSU an research in Hassan dark roadway environment,” construction zone from arelatively levels lighting in when entering a adjusting to the extreme changes find considerabledifficulty in options.lighting “Drivers often nighttime construction site the effectiveness of various Dr. Marwa is Hassan researching research: other Her

—Marwa Hassan A LEGACY OF CLASSIC ELEGANCE CONTINUES…

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currents . second quarter twenty-eleven D of horrors. of alitany to doors the opening subhuman, as other each see to groups allows lines racial along groups other ing classify- that He maintains groups. between ferences dif- physical superficial exaggerates one that he says, concept, artificial an is Race false. essentially as of race of race.” idea this by santly, inces- culture, our in “We’reus,” confronted he says. Yet Livingstone Smith bluntly dismisses the notion notion the dismisses bluntly Smith Yet Livingstone Philosopher: Race doesn’t By Sara Bongiorni | Illustration by Chris Ede by Chris |Illustration Bongiorni Sara By white black black matter, but it grips us Not Not “It has an incredibly powerful hold over powerful incredibly an has “It American culture. culture. American cabulary to self-identity in modern modern in self-identity to cabulary nonetheless. ways race shapes everything from vo- from everything shapes race ways analysis, recognizes the countless countless the recognizes analysis, psycho- and biology evolutionary in avid Livingstone Smith, an expert expert an Smith, Livingstone avid or or OnSite

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 19 20

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven Rouge Area Foundation. The 2011 The of Foundation. commu- series Area Rouge Baton the by underwritten and Alumni Rouge Baton Greater Leadership by sponsored dinner & Gravy” 17 ataMarch “Race distinctions of racial dangers the discussed Studies Evolutionary and Science Cognitive said. Smith Livingstone different,” are essences core our that beings, of human types other are there The co-founder of the New England Institute for Institute England New of the co-founder The idea.” bad areally “is he adds, Race, down, deep that, aclaim we’re making think “I discussion. presentation was followed by apanel Smith argue that race matter. doesn’t His attended 120 than to Livingstone hear at United First Methodist Church. More Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Alumni Baton Rouge Area Foundation and spoke at an event underwritten by the Philosopher David Livingtsone Smith OnSite our culture’s focus on racial identity remains firmly firmly remains identity on racial focus culture’s our ebbed, have Yet distinctions such groups. while nic eth- European other from distinct racially considered he notes. over time, changed have deed, circumstances. historical on specific focuses typically slavery as such of atrocities understanding our Instead, manization. A century ago, for instance, Russians and Jews were were Jews and Russians for instance, ago, A century in- and, change can differences of racial Concepts role of race in the process of dehu- process the in ofrole race much deeper, he says. something says—but he insignificant, are those point, vantage ascientific ences—from differ- aboutgenetic isn’t really race he says, Nevertheless, he says. race, to connected always almost is human subhuman.” of akind as them classifying into slide “easily to us allowing by atrocities, mit com- to people ordinary otherwise permits what human—is than less is group or ethnic race another that he says. human, than less group other an- makes adifference such that sion conclu- the to one group lead quickly can other each from distinct mentally funda- within, deep are, groups that The idea Cambodia. in fields killing Pol Pot’s and slavery Holocaust, of the atrocities the permitted has real are he says. fact,” real. is race that idea the into” “buys everybody almost He that notes dehumanization. and genocide to tion connec- its including nature, of human roots biological on the focuses search diversity. and tolerance race, surrounding of issues discussion for the aforum provides dinners nity There has been little study of the of the study little been has There sub- as others viewing Significantly, idea dehumanization—the And differences racial that belief The objective an of it as speak “People Smith’s re- of Livingstone Much the ground. It’s usually mentioned only in passing— in only mentioned It’s usually ground. the on thin shockingly are subject on the writings fact, But in studied. extensively been has it that you think to lead might ings, writ- academic in and journalism ular pop- in both frequently, so mentioned human. than less as of others on when we conceive going is out exactly what tease to try to and perspective, interdisciplinary an from at dehumanization carefully to look book first the It is of atrocity. forms other and slavery war, genocide, in it plays that role the or prey—and predators into astrongman. into aweakling turned have to observers by perceived is machine Schwarzenegger Arnold imaginary an that, Countering appearance. outward his in change the despite black, was Mr. Oreo that respond still would people most experience, his from he says, sumptions, as- aboutracial experiment” a“thought he called what In appearance. physical in white to black from Oreo” “Mr. amake-believe transform would that aboutrace. sumptions of race. idea the move for to beyond apush He calls he says. real, is race assumes that avocabulary by shaped are identity.) aboutracial asked when he is box “other” the checks Smith Livingstone part, his For check. to box race” no “human is there that fact the bemoans descent, of Jamaican who is wife, (His boxes. self-identity racial check to requests by barded” “bom- we are that notes Smith Livingstone place. in creatures subhuman as other beings human pervasive tendency to conceive of Human Than Less The fact that dehumanization is is dehumanization that fact The Livingstone Smith described a fictional machine machine afictional described Smith Livingstone as- of overcoming challenge the noted But he also harmony promote racial to efforts Even good-faith —as vermin, parasites, parasites, vermin, —as is abook about is our the significance that scholars claim, then untangling untangling then claim, scholars that significance the has really dehumanization If on it at all. literature any scarcely is there psychologists, social by articles dozen afew from Apart there. or here, a paragraph a page work do.” to • “We’ve alot got of says. Smith tunately,” Livingstone unfor- of, rid get to hard really that’s and about race, groups. of different being core the in of differences “That’s what we’re talking about when we talk about when we talk we’re what talking “That’s assumptions aboutinternal is race words, other In by this ideaofrace.” culture, incessantly, confronted inour over We’re us. powerful hold “It has an incredibly nisms that sustain it. sustain that nisms mecha- and forces the and manization dehu- analyze anthropology—to and biology, philosophy, tory, psychology, his- of sources—including palette rich a from drawn I’ve overdue. To do this, centuries is that aconversation start jump- shadows, out of the manization grave. it is as perplexing as is glect ne- its and priorities, pressing most our among be ought to dynamics its I wrote this book to bring dehu- bring to book this I wrote — David Livingstone Smith —David Livingstone Smith OnSite

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currents . second quarter twenty-eleven Here, we offeran overview theof two projects. others to create institute an that would respond around to seas the globe. rising are partnering with Mary U.S. Landrieu, Sen. state leaders, universities and many schoola pioneering high expansion and an of the community college. Two, we ablueprintbegan for community a200-acre building that would anchored be by J leadership initiatives department over the past year. past over the department initiatives leadership Foundation’s civic Area Rouge Baton the by together enjoyment. for trails walking and parks and area, the serve will that stores levels, income atmany who earn people for housing include will development The Georgia. across counties in rates dropout reduce to proved has that acurriculum with school ahigh including learn, to places by anchored be to expected is munity com- This development. neighborhood traditional a of iteration evolutionary an develop will Authority neighborhood. of home kind of anew the become could that land Known as Smiley Heights, the project was cobbled cobbled was project the Heights, Smiley as Known Redevelopment Rouge Baton East the acres, 200 On traveled roads, there is an unseen tract of tract unseen an is there roads, traveled well- by surrounded Rouge, Baton of East ter cen- physical the from yards a few hundred ust CoverStory Evolution into of aTND community. alearning Louisiana and coastsLouisiana worldwide. we One, cobbled together land and collaborated on two projects that are expected to remake Baton Rouge, ver the18 past months, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation has Smart by design by Smart from there. there. from grow and building classroom a 60,000-square-foot with begin would college community The Boulevard. on Florida campus landlocked and existing its from ride aquick is which Heights, Smiley to campus its expand to wants College Community Rouge mind. in institutions ing shelved for lack of federal hurricane financing. financing. hurricane of federal for lack shelved was project But the Katrina. Hurricane after lation popu- asurging match to location velopment on the de- neighborhood atraditional develop to attempted assets, estate real our manages which Trust, Realty Properties Commercial and Foundation the because “Through this project, Baton Rouge Community Community Rouge Baton project, this “Through Baton population, student To growing its serve site? on the be will What Smiley Heights was restarted last year with learn- with year last restarted was Heights Smiley it’s familiar, sound Heights” “Smiley words the If Stories by Verma Mukul employers while also teaching the core curriculum. curriculum. core the teaching also while employers of needs the matches school’s The curriculum times. 20 it more than replicated has state the opened—that school the 3% since to half more by than dropped has there rate dropout successful—the so been has Georgia in school high The Georgia. Newnan, in Center Educational Career the after modeled is mission.” of our heart atthe is which community, of our needs changing meet the better to us enable will Dorsey. “This E.B. Myrtle Chancellor BRCC says enrollment,” growing our commodate ac- to continue and area the in services educational 2010. in more than 2015,in one-third Rouge.” of Baton city the for BRCC and opportunity awonderful is “This lege. col- community for the board governing the System, College Technical and Community dent of Louisiana D. Joe May, said presi- future,” abetter create and lives their change them help to resources necessary the provide and community local the in more people impact and reach its widen able to be will College Within Smiley Heights will be a high school that that school ahigh be will Heights Smiley Within the strengthen to us allow will partnership “This 11,000 reach almost to enrollment BRCC predicts Florida Blvd. Florida B R CC Smiley Site Ardenwood N . Bon Carré in high-paying jobs after graduation. after jobs high-paying in work to right or go college choose can students CEC Located in an existing building, the East Baton Baton East the building, existing an in Located Where: institutions. velopment by anchored learning de neighborhood traditional A What: S Community and Baton Authority, Financing Mortgage include Partners develop project. Authority the will T T year. next construction and months coming in should begin Planning When: Drive and College. groundwork to begin y h h stem and Batonstem and e the did e Foundation partners and obdell N E . L Smiley Heights Smiley a R st Batonst 200 open acres off off acres open 200 o uge Public Public uge N . L obdell Boulevard. obdell R o T E uge uge e a R chnical College st Batonst o S c uge Community Community uge S R hools, Louisiana Louisiana hools, m e iley Heights. Heights. iley development N R . A o Cortana Mall uge uge rdenwood E a st st -

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currents . second quarter twenty-eleven Smiley Heights without using their cars, saving them- saving cars, their using without Heights Smiley in live work and could Residents college. munity com- and school high of the awalk within be would homes corner. and Shops the around is erything neighborhoods. surrounding the with and other each work development with of the pieces different sure make would plan The ideas. fer their of- to achance get will community the and Neighbors Heights. forSmiley plan master a create to firm sign school. charter system apublic as Academy Career the ate oper- will for Center Educators Resource Louisiana The million. $2 atnearly appraised is which erty, the prop- to purchase help assistance financial mitted com- has Authority Finance Mortgage Rouge Baton East The 10 by nonprofits. owned is which property, the purchasing toward $1.5 million dedicated have Council Metro the Holden and inception. its since ect proj- for the advocate an been Holden has Kip Mayor initiative.” communitywide of this part be to excited we are and goal, this achieve to steps crucial taking now “We are Dilworth. says years,” for many board our and system school for the agoal been has ready funds. building existing $17 in million with Heights Smiley in campus anew to school that move to pledged has Dilworth John Superintendent job skills. teaches that school charter a public begun just has System School Parish Rouge Heights. Rouge SchoolSystem islocating suchaschoolinSmiley graduates getjobsrightoutofhighschool.The Baton technology, digitalmediaandotherskillsthat let In Newnan, Georgia, aschoolteaches information The goal is to create a neighborhood in which ev- which in aneighborhood create to is goal The a de- hire to wants Authority Redevelopment The Heights. for Smiley partners many are There career and college be to students our “Preparing CoverStory sion into reality.” • reality.” into sion vi- bold this turn to order in leveraged and utilized be to sources funding additional on acquiring focus will Now we step. first the is acquisition Land parish. the of core urban of the revitalization for the and agency for project our seminal the as serve will “This RDA. of the Walter Monsour, CEO development,” said Heights Smiley for the vision Mayor-President’s the the property. on building first the as cility fa- classroom college community the 2012 in with gin be- could construction and year this expected is plan neighborhoods. surrounding the to and Heights, atSmiley learn and live who work, people to services provide will shops The roads. on congested burden the reducing also while of driving trouble the selves “The RDA is pleased to lead the implementation of implementation the lead to pleased is RDA “The master The schedule. ambitious an has RDA The T the planet. planet. the across beaches near build to rushing now—were —as then people because particularly well, as warned were world the around areas coastal But other wetlands. atwo-punch suffer to were both as about at length, ago. tury York New Times the in appeared gases, s eas rising in tandem with the loss of spongy coastal coastal of spongy loss the with tandem in rising eas

In the story, Louisiana and Bangladesh are written written are Bangladesh and story,Louisiana the In

homes or shopping centers” shopping or homes

many of the nation’s dwindling coastal marshes are already hemmed in by by in hemmed already are marshes coastal dwindling nation’s the of many

rate at which wetlands can reform naturally, experts say, and in any case case any in and say, experts naturally, reform can wetlands which at rate

much fish and bird life. The future rate of sea level rise will far outpace the the outpace far will rise level sea of rate future The life. bird and fish much

to destroy huge coastal wetlands, which provide crucial underpinnings for for underpinnings crucial provide which wetlands, coastal huge destroy to

Rising waters, changing flood patterns and saltwater intrusion are likely likely are intrusion saltwater and patterns flood changing waters, Rising

or be flooded, creating health hazards. health creating flooded, be or

farther up rivers. Some abandoned toxic waste sites may turn into swamps swamps into turn may sites waste toxic abandoned Some rivers. up farther

drinking water for some coastal communities, and saline water will reach reach will water saline and communities, coastal some for water drinking

hurricanes or severe storms. Salt water will intrude on aquifers that provide provide that aquifers on intrude will water Salt storms. severe or hurricanes

coastal flooding due to storm surges, the devastating high tides driven in by by in driven tides high devastating the surges, storm to due flooding coastal

shoreline, “In addition to eroding the (Louisiana) (Louisiana) the eroding to addition “In across scientificdisciplines to letpeople co-exist had blamed on an escalation in greenhouse greenhouse in escalation on an blamed had scientists which seas, about rising passage not new. is The for Louisiana he warning The Water Institute would provide knowledge

Smart Water

a rise in sea level can boost the frequency and extent of of extent and frequency the boost can level sea in rise a a quarter cen- aquarter

with rising seas. with rising

— than two dozen researchers, predicted a rise of two- arise predicted researchers, dozen two than more by report IPCC on the update an Diagnosis, Copenhagen the 2009, But in scenarios. different six on depending century, end of the 2feet the by and 7inches of between rise level sea predicted Change sheets. ice melting and oceans expanding warming, by caused seas of higher mates esti- earlier one-up to emerges year, evidence new Each cautious. too were rise of sea level of the dictions pre- scientific out that It turns changed. has fact tant

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate on Climate Panel 2007, Intergovernmental In the - one impor 1986, in published was story the Since

—New York Times York —New CoverStory

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 25 26

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven ence and innovative engineering, we can discover discover we can engineering, innovative and ence sci- sound together bringing “By says. Landrieu ties,” communi- coastal our protect and coasts our restore to ideas new foster help will exploring is Foundation Waterthe Institute. create would that of action aplan form to Foundation Area Rouge Baton the enlisted she goal, Toward this it. with live to water, but the learn not to have battle processes. economic and legal and interests, and agendas policy planning, spatial incorporates organization the work, globe. the around businesses and ernments gov- to knowledge its providing by activity economic producing while basins, river and zones coastal deltas, in sustainably and safely live people It helps surface. sub- the and of water, soil areas in scientists smartest the with staffed entity independent an was Deltares that learned experts coastal and scientists leaders, for Louisiana. same the do to idea an had Landrieu Mary Sen. U.S. Sea, North the by merged sub- being from Netherlands the guided had group, away. washes land the and rises water the on how quickly depending earlier decades maybe century, end of the the by or drown waterlogged be to expected are areas surrounding its and Orleans New Even beloved of disappearing. danger in are 2007.” in Change on Climate Panel Intergovernmental Nations United the by projected levels than higher significantly be to likely is level sea continue, trends present “If Irvine. of California, University the and Calif., Pasadena, Laboratory, NASA’s Jet Propulsion of jointly Rignot, Eric said happening,” already is sheets ice the by contribution increased this is ing surpris- is “What Antarctica. and Greenland in sheets of ice melting the from just estimate IPCC the to mid-century by rise level of sea inches 5.9 added century. end of the the feet—by six more than meters—or “The concept that the Baton Rouge Area Area Rouge Baton the that concept “The we that believes Landrieu Dutch, the like Just its In technology. the aboutmore than is Deltares civic Landrieu, Netherlands, the to trips three On research apublic-private athow Deltares, Looking do? to what So of Louisiana cities coastal meter rise, Under a two researchers year, NASA of this March in And CoverStory year. • this delivered be to is plan The institute. formodel the operating and agoverning up draw to Authority, Restoration and Protection Coastal Louisiana’s in ers lead- key other and Graves Garrett particularly gion, re- the across from stakehold-ers brought together has Foundation The general.” in of society sup-port the have that solutions technological high-grade ing us- environment, living of the shaping sustainable the is goal way. under “Our was plan master Institute aWater that members told Davies John CEO March, jobs.” create will that growth for economic opportunities expand and adelta, in ing liv- weface challenges the overcome to solutions new experts to write a strategy this year. to writethis astrategy experts policy and input from scientists gathering over century. next the seas and oceans rising with for co-existing source of knowledge would aglobal that be formodel astand-aloneWater Institute governing and operating an creating Batonthe Who: people. of tens of millions and assets in dollars of billions of hundreds of displacement the world, the around causing areas coastal of vast disappearance the cause Why: seas torespond rising would that institute Aresearch What: At the Foundation’s annual meeting of members in in of members meeting Foundation’s the At annual S U Water Institute c . S ientists believe rising seas will will seas believe rising ientists . S R e o n. Mary Landrieu tasked tasked Landrieu Mary n. uge Area Foundation Area uge with T h e Foundation is CoverStory

“By bringing together sound science and innovative engineering, we can discover new 1 meter rise solutions to overcome the challenges we face living in a delta, and expand opportunities for economic growth that will create jobs.” — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu 2 meter rise

University of Kansas Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets

2010-2011 SEASON

ELIANE ELIAS

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011 7 & 9pm Pianist, singer and songwriter Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots and her sensuous voice with her impressive instrumental jazz, classical and composition skills. TICKETS: MANSHIP THEATRE 225-344-0334 OR MANSHIPTHEATRE.ORG 28

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven are a few of the plan’s highlights. plan’s afew of the highlights. are meetings and on-line surveys, which were incorporated into the draft document, released in February. February. in released document, draft the into incorporated were which surveys, on-line and meetings community FuturEBR in thoughts their shared residents Rouge of Baton Thousands Parish. Rouge Baton East in challenges planning to techniques tested broad, suggesting while parish, the throughout development Road and Nicholson Drive. This means refashioning refashioning means This Drive. Nicholson and Road Highway, Highland Scenic Road, Plank Boulevard, Florida Street, for Government principles streets” jor roads. ma- on more traffic even reducing riders, bike and ers for walk- passage safe offering also while trips, shorter routes for traffic alternative create to network road the “healing” recommend planners The roads. nected uncon- and dead-ends many too are there them; to funneled is traffic because overcrowded are oughfares thor- main believe FuturEBR’s planners cities. sized mid- among U.S. traffic worst the have to Institute Gridlock Goodbye process. FuturEBR planning who FregoneseAssociates, the led and recentfrom Ore.-based Portland, to the city is if thrive, head-on compete, planners and prosper said addressed apopulationand shift to adjacentarebe areas thatsuburban concerns must a Traffic, lack of connectivity, issues. planning declining neighborhoodsolder Baton with Rouge sizeable cities, American wrestling Like is many mid-size The planners also suggest integrating “complete integrating suggest also planners The Texas the by Transportation rated is Rouge Baton To grow households, EBR master plan recommends This way improving mobility, building in corridors. out ¶ By Maggie Heyn Richardson The comprehensive land use plan’s purpose is to guide growth and and growth guide to is plan’s use purpose land comprehensive The District;” and 6. Broadmoor Shopping Center and and Center Shopping Broadmoor 6. and District;” Medical “South named newly the 5. Airport; Metro Rouge Baton the and City Zion Scotlandville, University, 4. Southern Rouge; Baton Old South and Nicholson/Northgate LSU, 3. 2. Downtown; City; 1. Mid planning:” for “small-area ripe tricts Six on in Zone paths. biking and walking for more calls athome, FuturEBR so cars leave their to more opportunities want parishwide residents lieve be- also The planners traffic. vehicle accommodating still while of transportation modes other and for bikes lanes establishing and sidewalks and parking lanes, FuturEBR identifies six neighborhoods or dis- or neighborhoods six identifies FuturEBR ¶ Here Here This way out funneled to mainroads, whichbecome clogged. built after World War IIare notlinked, causingtraffic to be ABO V E — Mid Cityhasanunbroken street grid,buturbanareas Acadian Thruway andWestmoreland Mall. in Government Street canremake thearea around and residences. Inthisphoto, they show how investment including Government Street, to draw more businesses to MidCity. They recommend investment inkey streets, Redevelopment ofdowntown, they say, willspillover excellent opportunitiesfor strengthening thedistrict. of Woman’s HospitalandofWestmoreland Mallas College, Baton Rouge General MedicalCenter, reuse neighborhoods andschools,Baton Rouge Community The plannerscite awell-developed grid,historic for redevelopment asMidCity,” says Fregonese. area inEast Baton Rouge holdsasmuchpotential LEFT—“Outside ofdowntown, perhapsnoother of Louisiana, amajordestination. Stanford, turnrightonPerkins Road andrunto theMall entire CATS system now. The rail linewould continue up have more ridersperday onthesegmentthan downtown andHighland,atransit connection that would is astreetcar rail lineonNicholson Drive between demand already exists. Amongtherecommendations ABO V E — Planners suggest buildingmass transit where

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 29 30

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven businesses blossom.businesses growth and find capital to help 7—Align incentives to spark business implementation. coordination strategy for 6—Create intergovernmental bikespaces, trails. environmental areas, parks, opens 5—Develop astrategy to connect codes to with FuturEBR. align 4—Revise EBR’s development unified redevelopment. 3—Strategic actions for downtown districts. develop community development 2—Conduct small area planning and strategy. 1— Develop anew transportation plan the implement Seven steps to ing and a solid transportation network to ensure easy easy ensure to network transportation asolid and ing hous- workforce facilities, care of health comprised Magnet Medical Parish. Rouge Baton East as expansive as space a in impact an make to way apractical is planning area Moreover, or less. small minutes 20 in amenities to walk can residents ensures which neighborhoods,” “20-minute of creating idea the support planners The functionality. and safety use, increase that elements promotes and district of each identity and character the preserve helps planning Small-area change. diate for imme- best-poised are City Mid and Rouge Baton Gateway, Old South Scotlandville/Southern the that believe planners the particular, In Square. Cortana Medical districts nationwide are neighborhoods neighborhoods are nationwide districts Medical ecology. ecology. Rouge’s more about Baton unique learn can users which in education, of environmental sites as parks of idea the purports also FuturEBR atrisk. lands ing or protect- purchasing include could which parcels, contiguous create to aprogram mend developing recom- They roads. secondary and primary along paths of bike anetwork establish and balance mental environ- restore help to parks the between linkages more be should there argue planners The connected. dis- are they part, But most for the trails. and parks Patchwork Park East Baton Rouge Parish currently features 170 features currently Parish Rouge Baton East Metro Airport. Metro of vicinity the in businesses distribution and ing manufactur- and industries portation-related trans- around aneighborhood creates which District, Airport the is plan the ment in center employ- other The for workers. options housing plentiful provide will and access good sumers con- give will districts these planned, Properly sector. development economic an around nized orga- is adistrict which in FuturEBR in cluded der way.der now un- Orleans, New BioDistrict including districts, medical regional other it with connect help could which line, BR/NOLA proposed the for stop system rail passenger a future include also should District Medical South the Finally, area. the in Roweelsewhere opment Perkins devel- mixed-use successful the replicating gest sug- also planners The visitors. and residents foremployees, livability improve nificantly sig- would streets neighborhood volume traffic lower- using that argue Planners staff. support and physicians patients, ferry to interstate the and arteries much on main too relies currently area The Rouge. Baton in District” Medical “South the to form offices and clinics medical numerous and Campus Bluebonnet General’s Rouge Baton Center, the Research Biomedical Pennington Center, the Medical Regional Lake of the Lady of Our proximity on the italizing cap- suggest FuturEBR’s planners access. public This is one of two “employment centers” in- “employment centers” one of two is This Boulevard. to thestreet nearthemall,whichwould lineamore lushFlorida Cortana Mall.Here, they seemore mass transit withstores built area around Broadmoor Shopping Center, Sherwood Forest and ABO V E — Fregonese andAssociates envisions areworking ofthe with both downtown and Livingston Parish. • Parish. Livingston and downtown both with it connect help could which for transit, rapid ideal it makes placement geographic key district’s this that write also planners The retail. declining face could Mall Cortana which during years, 20 next the in step acrucial be will this say city. They the into gateway attractive an create and borhoods neigh- surrounding the strengthen will Boulevard Forest Sherwood and Highway Airline between Florida along Redevelopment neighborhoods. tial residen- by flanked Boulevard, on Florida uses retail and of commercial now comprised area, Mall Cortana and Center Shopping Broadmoor for the district aplanning creating ommend rec- FuturEBR’s planners potential, during en- city. To its the in capture southward pushed have housing and commerce as decline physical its despite Rouge, Baton in thoroughfare west East Out Orleans. district underconstruction offCanalStreet inNew would connect themedicaldistrict withabiomedical proposed high-speed rail linewithastop at Essen Lane Medical District surrounding Essen andBluebonnet.A within walking distance to medicaloffices, at the other transportation choices, includingmore housing LEFT—Designers envision abusservice integrated with Florida Boulevard remains an important east- important an remains Boulevard Florida

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 31 32

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven board chairs of the Foundation. of the chairs board Association of International Educators and now the now the and Educators of International Association career? your in rewarding most the was moment Which closet. aloan meet through ends make them helped and experiences their widen to other meet each to for them arranged families, host with students eign for- linked has she at IHF, century a quarter more than Over America. in life to accustomed become them meet Grenier, who helps they But then land. a strange Executive Director Foundation, Hospitality International Grenier Virginia V Receiving a national award in 2009 from Nafsa: Nafsa: from 2009 in award anational Receiving in strangers as at LSU arrive students International Foundation donors nominate nonprofitare leaders chosen past by Winners Barton for awards.

Each receivedEach $10,000from Baton the Rouge Foundation Area meeting. at annual our John W. of the year’s Sr. winners Barton Excellence Nonprofit in Management Awards. creates Thomas great “Boo” places to live. Elizabeth Together, addicts. theyare this liberates drug feel Grenier students international makes at home. George Mills irginia fellows 2011 Barton Award winners

Good Good As told VermaAs to |Photos Mueller Mukul by Tim  movie. beauty. nic What is your idea of earthly happiness? earthly of idea your is What acousin. from on adare Harahan near it across swimming a14-year-old as myfather picture banks. on its yet we live and day every Isee not something why? and region well. matched Ihave that together hosts and students see award. Barton What is your favorite place in the Baton Rouge Rouge Baton the in favorite your place is What When my family is well and happy. and well is myfamily When It’s it’s powerful! so River; Mississippi mighty The

Every so often I need to go see it. see go to Ineed often so Every

Other than that, good food and a good agood and food good that, than Other

But really I am rewarded any time I I time any rewarded Iam But really

Nature’s sce

I also try to to try Ialso - and then a gentle rain at night. rain agentle then and Rouge? Baton day in perfect your is What work you would do? what life, in path another to choose you had If really. Who is your favorite author and favorite book? and favorite your author is Who possess? to like most you would gift natural What America. Latin much at home in very feel her. through people the and culture language, the appreciate to why? to livelike and you would what country in America, than Other Temperature of about 80; clear skies in the morning morning the in skies clear Temperature of about80; of research. kind Any , Pride and Prejudice and ,Pride Austen Jane mind. A scientific come Ihave and there lives mydaughter since Italy,

I have always liked Italian food. I also Ialso food. Italian liked always Ihave ; any of her books, of her books, ; any environment campaign and campaign environment unique, and beautiful city our make that storms recent in lost trees of the all replacing and beautification here, up growing when Iwas it was as safe as city the make schools, public our in ucation region? the improve it to howyou would spend billion, $1 you had If head? your of Fire Chariots from theme the than what song—other Marathon; Rouge Baton You are running in slow motion, winning the thousands of people just in the past decade. Mills re Mills decade. past the in just of people thousands helped has program Cenikor but rigorous prehensive com The at living. chance another get year ple each peo 450 more than staff, his and of Mills Because drug-addicted. the liberating to dedicated beds 230 has later,Cenikor office. Ten years outreach a small Vice President Regional Foundation, Cenikor Mills George I would spend it on anything that would improve ed improve would that it on anything spend I would Camelot. When Mills arrived in Baton Rouge, Cenikor had had Cenikor Rouge, Baton in arrived Mills When Virginia GrenierVirginia

make BR a No-Kill city. BR aNo-Kill make

an anti-litter and clean clean and anti-litter an —is playing in - - - -

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 33 34

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven possess? to like most you would gift natural What why? to livelike and you would what country in America, than Other happiness? earthly of idea your is What at home. joy mytime en Ireally so hours some long and alotvolves of travel why? and region Rouge Baton the in favorite your place is What facility. Rouge Baton the at beds 98 for first our license the we received When career? your in rewarding most the was moment Which program. Cenikor the expand to more responsibilities given been has cently Photographic memory. Photographic islands. are all and several are There others. helping you from get feeling The in that schedule ademanding My Ihave house. - - your head? your of Fire Chariots from theme the than what song—other Marathon; Rouge Baton You are running in slow motion, winning the family. with salad warma Rouge? Baton day in perfect your is What Michigan. Park, life? of memory first your is What Church. work you would do? what life, in path another to choose you had If favorite book? and favorite your author is Who improve the region? the improve it to howyou would spend billion, $1 you had If The Allman Brothers band— Brothers Allman The sha chicken then Church, Place Healing Attend Allen in in, we lived that house the and My parents Place Healing like church impact for an Working books. of his All Cussler. Clive I would invest the money in nonprofits, churches and and churches nonprofits, in money the invest I would George Mills No One to Run With Run to One No —is playing in - . treatment services. services. treatment and of prevention lack the from stem all services care health emergency utilized over- and jails overcrowded crime, Homelessness, services— health mental deployment. from return they when for up success them ting helping them adjust and set and adjust them helping job of but weahorrible do world the in soldiers best the them. more in invest to time future; the are children Our improvement. needs region our areas: following on the focus I would environment current our In programs. outcome-driven in utilized be funds the that require and foundations Excellence, Excellence, for Planning Center Thomas “Boo” Elizabeth costs. future reducing to lution so the are education, like they, and process budget the in cut first the always are services these ucation, storms. withstand better areas let to coastal strategies veloped de and plans comprehensive their create to parishes and cities steered has which Excellence, for Planning Center the of leader first the became she Katrina, ter af City. And Mid in revitalization started she that, Before investments. in $1.5 billion more than produced has that developmentstrategy adowntown implement and produce to collaborated which Rouge, Baton Plan championed and led Thomas of cynicism, weight the and odds long Against lifting. Substance abuse and and abuse Substance Veterans services—we train train Veterans services—we in for children services and Children—Education City building is heavy heavy is building City CEO

Like ed Like

- - - izabeth "Boo" E l - - region and why? and region Rouge Baton the in favorite your place is What Architects. Landscape of Society American the by given Medal Olmsted Law career? your in rewarding most the was moment Which (and especially grandchildren)! grandchildren)! (and especially happiness? earthly of idea your is What for me. experience a magical is west the in setting sun the see and River Mississippi husky the across look able to be Watching a sunset on the terrace at Tsunami. terrace on the asunset Watching Frederick won the Ihad and CPEX that told Being Being surrounded by beloved family and friends friends and family beloved by surrounded Being T h omas

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 35 Other than America, in what country would What is your first memory of life? you like to live and why? Jumping up and down in my baby crib, demanding Italy, no explanation needed! to get out!

What natural gift would you most like to What is your perfect day in Baton Rouge? possess? A sunshiny, cool spring day, walking through the The ability to sing like a rock star. flowering azaleas and dogwoods.

Who is your favorite author and favorite book? You are running in slow motion, winning the This is so unfair! I always have a few books stacked Baton Rouge Marathon; what song—other than on my nightstand, and love the “one I’m with!” If I the theme from Chariots of Fire—is playing in have to say, Dostoevsky is one of my favorite authors, your head? with Brothers Karamazov at the top of the list. How can The Impossible Dream you beat Goodnight Moon, though? Currently I am re- reading Rachel Naomi Remen’s Kitchen Table Wisdom. If you had $1 billion, how would you spend it to And the list goes on and on. improve the region? I would build a bus-rapid transit line from the If you had to choose another path in life, what Mississippi River to Hammond, and provide the nec- work would you do? essary connectors that would provide access all along Something that allowed me travel all over the world the way. • and spend most of my time outdoors!

brunch & music under the oaks April 30-May 1 April 17, May 1 at FestForAll Saturday 10am-7pm May 8, May 15 noon-3pm Sunday noon-6pm Lafayette Park Downtown Baton Rouge Debbie Allen's Go to All the Right Moves www.artsbr.org for more information Thursday & Friday, April 28-29 7:30pm on all of our events Saturday, April 30 3:30 & 7:30pm and programs! Saturdays 8am-noon Sunday, May 1 3:30 & 7:30pm May 7, June 4, July 2 Manship Theatre 5th at Main Street D aily adoptions at the YELP House 10:00am-5:30pm TUESday-Friday 10:00am-3:00pm Saturdays 3205 Lanier Drive (off Greenwell Springs Road behind Greco’s Veterinarian Supply)

Che ck yelpbr.com for other available adoption dates and locations For more information, call 225.485.9200

Donate to Yelp Baton Rouge at YelpBR.com 38

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven enough money to mail out notices out notices mail moneyenough to of 2009. September in location new atits open would school the that out send notices to scrambled Phelpses the and lease, for a one-year money with up came of directors board Their hunt. estate real earlier their during missed had they that Street town’s on the West store Main niture fur- and grocery aformer across bled stum- couple the visit, boys’ the after days Five immediately. almost off paid work.” it We make to had again. happen that not let we could and before, left been had they not leave, because we could ment that mo- that in Iknew ‘No,’ out, because blurted expression. angry hurt, aquestion. them ask to years. for several classes arts organized had Phelpses the where church local at the School. High Central Point Coupee black atmostly ers move on. and up pack to them encourage to Brooklyn away as far as from called Friends status. or nonprofit paychecks have didn’t They ing. noth- up turned had start to hoped they school for the lease to ing build- affordable for an of car.Weeks searching the in put to broke gas too time, of the most daughters young two their athome with ple stayed T “We were so broke we only had had we only broke so “We were one that promise—and abig It was “I her answer. hear to surprised She was his and arms crossed athis looked Phelps Tiffany asked. boys one of the too?” us, leaving are ya’ll “So dark the in town across trudged had teens the night, this On classes tap-dance taken had They familiar. were kids The play- football all boys, fourteen-age were outside Standing door. on the knock that was But there Moving boxes were stacked in a corner of the their house. The cou- The house. their of the acorner in stacked were boxes Moving got a knock on their door. on their aknock got Phelps Mike and Tiffany when founders 2009, August by dead to close was Roads New in school arts an of establishing he dream Swan Lake On FalseOn River, center unexpected arts an By Sara Bongiorni |Photo Mueller by Tim Bongiorni Sara By rises from devotionrises Legacy

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 39 40

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven you will beembraced.” of the Centre doesn’t matter, because here It’s aplace where whatever happens outside that the student has apositive experience. centered ona‘product.’ Success here means isnot“This yourtypical arts school that is in place. place. in firmly remain divisions race and class where atown in backgrounds of diverse families and for children point agathering as serves that place a tolerant in principle profile. football-loving ing, fish- who don’tthe hunting, fit for youngsters options few recreational with atown in school arts an as ven ha- much asafe as It is unique. Centre the makes what guitar. and piano drums, with along theater and dance tumbling, voice, instruction. of violin method Milanov famed the founded grandfather whose Milanova, Yova teacher violin MiYeon and Choi instructor cal vo- and pianist Korean-born Coloma, Jose legend tar gui- Orleans New includes of teachers roster Its else. or anywhere Roads New it astandout—in make tors artistic director. artistic unpaid the as who works Phelps, Mike it,”needed said property. church at the spring previous the during more than students—20 360 with later weeks doors its opened Centre The music. and for dance theater, spaces separate into building the divide to walls constructed They materials. donated in $9,000 with studio adance Volunteers built shortfall. Arts. for the Centre of the director ecutive ex- the Phelps, Tiffany ‘D’,” letter the recalls through Its stringent anti-bullying policy is an unbending unbending an is policy anti-bullying stringent Its of part only is teachers of up world-class line But the to writing creative from gamut the run offerings Its Then as now, the caliber of the school’s arts instruc- school’s of the arts now, as caliber Then the they because school this built community “The marketing the filled Word email and of mouth Legacy form into bubbly teens or youngsters stop self-destruc- stop or youngsters bubbly teens into form trans- students when once-shy reinforced is one that and Centre’s operations, of the aspect every shapes that It’s for not aconviction just fun. are arts the that you tell will They faith. their sharing in heavy-handed away. students not do turn Phelpses the fees; class who can’t afford for children gram pro- awork-study is There aclass. not taking are they when on days even there, time their spend to school after go to who don’t place another have children ages encour- and afternoons, on other snacks ter-school af- provides It also buffet. lunchtime its donates which pizzeria, local of the help the with for students dinner ahot it Two provides aweek, them. nights teaching needed. child that what was that if instruction provide to some evenings on school the have—opened will—and They Centre. the to students disruptive most their send to them age encour- to counselors guidance school local meet with actively love. to They easiest the perhaps are that dren painting skills. skills. painting their on honing keen octogenarians high-spirited to students ballet 3-year-old from old, and young and white here: black, welcome are all that is message The uniforms. school private and of public ble distinction visi- the minimize to class during T-shirts black wear Students photographs. colorful and artwork with lined are walls black whose Centre, the throughout They are guided by religious conviction, but are not but are conviction, religious by guided are They mean doesn’t just children nurturing Centre, the At The Phelpses and their staff don’t just embrace chil- don’t embrace just staff their and Phelpses The shelves and walls to taped are signs No-bullying —Monique Fuselier entire family—ages 4 to 42—has taken classes at the atthe classes taken 42—has 4to family—ages entire here,” Torres coming says. started I since myself more feel like “I her mind. speaks week, a twice Centre the to who comes student art and ano Torres, days api- These friends. when out with doing like she felt saywhat to shy too was flow—she the with door.” the who comethrough love strangers to ready who before, are this like met never have people I welcome. is everyone where action, in pot melting of the idea the is money don’t “This matter,” says. she other. each derstand un- to ability residents’ its and about her community optimism her, new She has too. changed has Centre The students. its beyond reaches school’sthe impact says school, atthe classes theater and dance takes week. a days four lessons the provide to Orleans New as away far as from in drive teachers semester. Its each students 300 more than enrolls it consistently days, classes. ballet of semester first for up the turned girls 4-year-old daughter. Twenty-one and for their sons 3- for Rouge les- Baton to drive to avoid to having 2003 in space church the in classes dance organized They day.” every that see themselves. cutting like behaviors tive Monique Fuselier is a Centre board member whose whose member board aCentre is Fuselier Monique go to Torres used she says Juritza Sixteen-year-old color and where for everyone, aplace is “This daughter 10-year-old whose Yolanda Bowman, These 130 children. had program later, the A year school. arts an not out set start to did Phelpses The “We Phelps. Tiffany says lives,” change arts “The the size of the community.” • community.” of the size the given extraordinary and organizations, cultural and arts among jewel It’s amazing an organizations. arts for model anational as serve it will eventually think caliber. premium of instructors draw to ability the and it serves dren chil- alove of the for mission, its apassion success: its to components important most the are says she what strategies. long-term and of development short- and fundraising volunteers, and of staff use effective for growth, on budgeting Centre the advise to Group Satori the hired benefactor cal Alo- sustainability. long-term its ensure to Phelpses the with working Group,York-based is Satori year. of this fall the in for completion targeted vations, kids. well, be, to school after gather can kids where able spaces comfort- and rooms practice soundproof out,” with hang- a “musical calls Phelps Tiffany what provide will that door next building bakery aformer into sion expan- for a$200,000 poised is school the space, embraced.” be you here will doesn’t because matter, Centre of the outside happens whatever where a place It’s experience. apositive has student the that means here “Success says. ”Fuselier on a‘product,’ centered is that school arts not typical your is “This school. “That’s all there and then some,” Rauch says. “We some,”says. then Rauch and there all “That’s conquered has already Centre the that adds Rauch New of the president Rauch, Kathy Meanwhile, reno- money for the raise to working is Centre The own its into moving after years two than Less

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 41 42

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven B Louisiana ArtandScience Museum, theU.S.S. Thousands been flat since 2005. But thenumbervisitingcultural facilities has C q aton 400 600 300 500 200 700 ultural 100 uality 0 10% 2005 A No R tten ouge Z t o b ...AN cultu

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tats Survey pat ta x h s . 2009 OUNDATION CITY Indicators Indicators for tracking our quality of life b v N majority inoursurvey say the W N shift to neighborhoodschools. alance e ei eighborhoo ith theis r ghb East in thisreport to deliver solutionsthat make leadership initiatives. making aboutgrants andto choosecivic use theindicators to assist indecision The Foundation anditsfunddonors The margin oferror isplusorminus4.8%. representative oftheparishpopulation. The survey sampleis447 residents conducted by Policy theLSUPublic research. The survey portion was Foundation contracts withthe For thereports, the copy by [email protected]. Facebook.com/ join ourconversation to improve E report. community. This isasampleofthebigger provides aview ofwhere we are goingasa East public data andconducting asurvey of quality oflife eachyear by gathering B gr R R sus esear ouge Ar aton oups andpolicymakers usetheindicators o

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aton W EBR system should t fullreport and e hopeothercivic Y er place to live. ? S Neighborhood R SOURCE: CityStats Survey TATS D ouge Ar on’t know/Not Sure schools 57% B aton 8% BR ea at s af po by by D legali Percent—YES Percent—YES recognized by law asvalid? constitutional rightto getmarriedandhave theirmarriage o you think r a e 50 50 v 25 25 75 75 0 0 ican d Percent g erty 30 20 25 10 ucation 15 e 0 5

(E SC > 82 53 54 55 56 65+ 55-64 45-54 35-44 25-34 18-24 z H H - BR I ame e OOL GH 0520 0720 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

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baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 43 GOVERNMENT & CIVIC PARTICIPATION

v oTER influence over elected officials

infrastructure 40

trains 20 Percent

The state has said no to high-speed rail, 10 but there is widespread support for the idea. 0 None Little Moder Hateigh Don’t know 77% said they 2010 would ride the 50 40

train. 30

20 Percent

Ridership for nola/br rail line 10

Don’t know Almost Daily 0 2% 5% None Little Moder Hateigh Don’t know Few times a week 2009 5% Democracy appears to be broken. Forty-nine Never percent of residents told our pollster in 2010 they have little 21% or no influence over elected officials, up from 45% in 2009. Few times a month 20% SOURCE: CityStats Survey pace of progress (percent) Few times a annually 48% 2009 2010

Too slow 2010 56 61 SOURCE: CityStats Survey

Just right 30 35

A utOMOBILES

In the CityStats survey, highway carpool lanes Too fast during rush hour are strongly supported. 7 2

interstate carpool lane (percent)

2010 Don’t know 7 2 Yes No Don’t know 82 14 4

SOURCE: CityStats Survey More Baton Rouge residents told CityStats pollsters that the pace of progess in the parish is too slow.

SOURCE: CityStats Survey ECONOMY

Median Family Income The African-American/White Income gap remained wide, with whites earning $86,418 in 2009 while blacks earned $37,292. environment BLACK/WHITE INCOME GAP

Pollution Is litter a problem? 60 (5 = huge problem) The cigarette butts and plastic bags littering EBR 50 streets are bothering people. In our survey, residents 40 again pegged litter as Nearly half of 3.5 30

a problem. Thousand those polled said litter was a “serious” or “very serious” 20 problem. 2009 & 2010 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

SOURCE: Census Bureau health

se xuALLY transmitted diseases

3,000 2,850 Net migration

2,500 20,000

2,000 15,000

1,500 10,000

1,000 5,000 923 250 2004 2005 2007 2008 0 40 0 2006 2009 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Syphilis Hiv Gonorrhea Chlamydia -5,000 Baton Rouge continues to have among the Excluding a post-Katrina spike, people have highest HIV rates in the country. Chlamydia rates been exiting East Baton Rouge for most of the have been rising. But the number of people contracting decade. Statisticians call it Net Migration—the difference syphilis and gonorrhea are in decline. between people entering and leaving an area. A positive SOURCE: La. Office of Public Health migration number signals that outsiders find an area desirable, while a negative number indicates people are fleeing. Death Rates CANCER & HEART DISEASE Good news in 2009—net migration was up 6,273. But the reason for the rise and whether it’s a trend won’t be known

2.0 for a few years. SOURCE: Census Bureau 1.75

1.50

1.25

1.0 Per 1,000 people 1,000 Per

0 440,171 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 EBR population, making the parish CANCER HEART DISEASE larger than all others

SOURCE: La. Department Health and Hospitals SOURCE: Census Bureau 2011—Lilly Manson at Pinaklicious in the Manship Theatre within the $55 million Shaw Center for the Arts, financed in part by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. What is ten years in the life of a city? Time enough to work a few wonders.

Moments of joy here were created by Foundation members, who collaborate with us on civic leadership projects. Membership starts at $100. Join us.

225.387.6126 | braf.org

2002—Main Street Market opens in 2003—With $18.6 million grant, Downtown Baton Rouge. neighborhood reclamation begins. 48

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven <

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 49 50

currents . second quarter twenty-eleven 2016. by space from power ofsolar delivery begin to able being anticipates and California with agreement power purchase a has Solaren, firms, of those One Technologies. Energy Managed and Energy Space Group, Island Space Solaren, a reality: solar space make to capital seeking companies commercial American four currently are There them.” reach to ofmiles hundreds landlines of running cost the by poverty in kept Asia and of Africa hinterlands the in villages no more And prices. up driving and resources hogging nations No more wars. energy No more waste. nuclear more “No Committee. Steering Development Space of the head Bloom, Howard says atmosphere,” the in carbon No more spills. oil no Louisiana more means power solar “Space surface. beach-ball-like its over all studded panels solar by harvested energy transmitting began and launched was Telstar, satellite, commercial first the when 1962. That’s since earth it to sending and space in power solar harvesting been has America that contends astronaut famous The space.” from energy solar for re-evaluating opportunity agreat “was Aldrin, says catastrophe,” oil of the timing “The of Currents issue this in featured trend homeowner the to comparison In power.” solar “space as simply community space the in known space, in harvested energy solar year.It was last spill” oil Louisiana the to answer “an with forward came particular, in Aldrin, NASA. and Foundation Space National the as well as moon, on the walk fewmen to of the two Mitchell, Edgar and Aldrin Buzz ranks its among counts that tank think anonprofit Committee, Steering Development Space the by opportunity an as seen was year last explosion rig Horizon Deepwater The DOWN NOT UP,DRILLING , it’s almost, well, astronomical. astronomical. well, , it’s almost, over at ULL has given birth to the BeauSoleil solar solar BeauSoleil the to birth given has over at ULL ateam Lafayette, In someareas. in panels solar ing now gain- is Carre Vieux the and eventually, tionists, preserva- overcame Conservationists roofs. Quarter French on sacred installed be to panels solar lowing al- of the merits debated officials local as Orleans side. for solar its attention most the ceived but it re- heaters, pool and water including systems, energy solar and for wind technically is credit The senator. astate as serving 2007, in while program credit tax for the backbone administrative the lished when he estab- industry” energy solar Louisiana the of “father the became of Abbeville Gautreaux Nick program. solar Louisiana’s mirror to trying now are states other though, around, time This lists. proverbial of the bottom on the is Louisiana often too All States.” United the in industry energy clean the of forefront very “at the for being credit proper State Bayou the give rarely people says suggests, name its forwhat advocates that Tech anonprofit Network, increase. prices electricity as ity regular- greater with pocketed are savings since time over appreciate actually can and value a marketable are panels solar that found also have studies Several counterparts. classic of 17%ues their more than for val- and faster 20% sold setups solar homes with Energy, of Department the U.S. backs that outfit science public the Laboratory, Energy Renewable National the to factor. According home equity the consideration: into take to one more valuation there’s bills, power digit single soon-to-be and tem wouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t made fiscal sense.” fiscal made it hadn’t done it have wouldn’t if “I he says. about cost,” “It’s all line. bottom the is matters that thing only the him; to inconsequential are stuff” and sustainable and “green are panels the That Blanco. Kathleen Foster and Mike mer Govs. for- to adviser development economic an as served who once aman and He’s enthusiast an for a living. panels solar sell probably could Knapp to, wanted deal.” of the part was “That sun. afternoon the with shingles the in shadow Pan Peter along cutting hips, on his hands his with says More recently, major waves were made in New New in made were major waves More recently, Motor Vehicle Commissioner that says Shelton Clean- Louisiana of the director Shelton, Stephen Aside from the tax credits, Entergy metering sys- metering Entergy credits, tax the from Aside he If rooftop. on the nimbly movesaround Knapp then the financing piece will have to cometogether.”haveto will piece financing the then way, abig in off take to going ever is this If solar. ing for out financ- there tool There’s consumer not a good car.for a a car,” “Yet he says. there’s financing That’s purchase. ticket abig that’s $37,000, spending you’re “When challenging. most the was project his microinverters. put power, Enphase and out- 130 watt with each panels, International Schüco he purchased and Rouge of Baton Energy Byrd with for we needed.” what visions different very three got weactually means “And that says. dors,” Knapp ven three with negotiations price went through “We hired. be can professionals Independent ally. annu- need you’ll how much power of aware be and legwork the do patience, have ity: san- your keeping transition.) of times in pot fish of acraw- satility ver- underrated 1921 the and heater afaulty gas involving ferent story dif- heater, entirely water but an that’s asolar stalled in- also (Knapp or doors. windows around have may you leaks any up patch aprofessional have Knapp, like and, appliances energy-efficient in Invest panels. more means More power you need. of gear kind what determining before needs energy own on your down cut to home your greener—is making front—and up abit of dough for saving tip One equipment. right the and acontractor selecting was tasks daunting more the among says Knapp system, own his ing approach- When frontier. next the are homeowners everyday average, that state the show to supporters home. concept recognized home, anationally Knapp eventually settled on Enerbank USA, which which USA, on Enerbank settled eventually Knapp of financing the says Knapp else, all But above he went says show, pony and dog Knapp the After for tip, Another solar other and Knapp like Now it’s folks to up - years orless. Adam Knappinspectsthesolarpanels,whichwillprovide areturn infour says. “It helps it all make sense.” • make it all helps “It says. Knapp benefit,” side “It’s anice live. to place greener a Louisiana make But out. it might point would Knapp anyway, sense, fiscal make wouldn’t setup The approve. wouldn’t certainly wife roof—his his from cords extension run all let to us going is Knapp if as it’s And not means. with for those simple excusably in- and class middle of the grasp within is technology ever, the Now more than front. solar on the bullish ers oth- and Pitt Brad and Knapp make materials, raw demand that York of New predicted Management has Capital Axiom months. coming the in way consumer’s the sliding begin should now, prices as than time ter there’s no bet- And possible. bargain best the get and nothing. to next for homeowner the to sold basically is system solar the and investment on his areturn gets contractor the when ends homeowner. lease The the to technology the lease then and credits tax the get systems, for the pay that businesses leasing now solar are there stance, year. tax same the in apply usually can through—you come to credits tax federal and state the allow to time enough and cash as for 12 same months allowed All of these factors, from tax credits to the price of price the to credits tax from factors, of these All now, by try Knapp from nothing you’veIf learned For too. in- need, the answering are Contractors other states, grant grant states, other in that mind manufacturers. for is, that lem, prob now—a right high time all- atan is supply that is though, problem, The year. this point atsome drop significantly will panels for solar alarming rate. alarming atan programs out for solar ning run- are monies Plus, keep in in keep Plus, -

baton rouge area foundation . braf.org 51 SOURCES FOR SOLAR

Louisiana Solar Tax Credit opportunity to reduce their use of non-renewable The Bayou State has a very rich 50% tax incentive fuel sources through its net metering program. For to lure you to the solar side. It’s a refundable tax solar, that means you could actually sell power to credit, but if you have no tax liability, they’ll just Entergy, rather than the other way around. Get send you a fat check. Go to rev.louisiana.gov. info at Entergy-Louisiana.com.

Federal Solar Tax Credit Louisiana Solar Energy Society There’s also an investment tax credit of 30% A statewide nonprofit based in Baton Rouge, available from the federal government that can the Louisiana Solar Energy Society is dedicated be coupled with the state subsidy. Click on over to to promoting and educating people about solar energystar.gov. energy. They are a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society and have been in operation since Entergy’s Net Metering 1999. For more, visit lses.org. Entergy Louisiana provides its customers with the ability to reduce their electric utility bills and the

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Wednesday, August 17 to Friday, August 19 Credit on signage at event name logo logo logo logo Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts Name mentioned in e-mail notices and on Downtown Baton Rouge invitations (mailed and e-mailed). Session sponsorship: opportunity for representative 1 2 3 to introduce session speakers and logo featured session sessions sessions on opening slide a project of Logo included on pre-event print collateral Signage with logo prominently placed in all session theaters and at keynote reception 1/2 full cpex.org Ad in summit program page page Name included in all press releases

Logo included in email marketing campaign to Sponsorship opportunities are available! thousands of recipients For more info, contact Jennifer Stenhouse Opportunity for company representative to introduce major speaker/presenter at the CPEX office by calling 225-267-6300 Name mentioned in all pre-event promotional or email [email protected] radio, television and print appearances Fresh Fest 2011 Special Events Every Saturday • Local Chefs Cooking Seasonal Menus Kids Art & Garden Activities • Summer Music May 28 Butterfly Extravaganza July 2 Star Spangled Saturday June 4 Dairy Day July 9 Just Peachy June 11 Blueberry Bash July 16 Melon Mania June 18 Tomato Me Crazy July 23 Cool as a Cucumber June 25 Corn & Squash-Tastic July 30 Everything Eggplant RED STICK FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays 8-12—8470 Goodwood Blvd. Thursdays 8-12—7248 Perkins Rd. Saturdays 8-12—5th at Main—Downtown BR

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/breada | www.breada.org | [email protected] monitor briefs Future’s so bright… “Imagine your grandfather: If you were to meet him with your rockets and GPS and your iPads and iPods, he’d think of you as a wizard. So when you meet your grandkids or your great-grandkids, they will have nearly perfect bodies. They will be relatively ageless. They will manipulate objects with their minds. That’s what gods do. Gods wish things, and things happen. They will have things like Pegasus, winged life forms that we can only dream about. That’s well within the laws of physics, because we’ve planted the seeds for all these things.” Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist in an interview on Cosmic Log on MSNBC.com about his new book, Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100.

The good Dr. Frankenstein Follow his money A Wake Forest research center where Vinod Khosla is the Warren Buffett of scientists pioneered lab-grown organs has technology and green investing. At a recent shown a printing system that could lead in meeting, the founder of Sun Microsystems some years to more rapid creation of human revealed three of his promising investments. organs. EcoMotors, which has developed an In a demonstration, Dr. Anthony Atala engine with two pistons per cylinder that showed the technology, which printed a produces twice the power, thereby cutting kidney-shaped mold that is the scaffolding gasoline use by half. The engine weighs half for growing cells and the organ. Here’s how as much, adding to savings. The company the technology works: cells and biomaterials wants to enter production by 2013. are inserted in the printer cartridges, a CT scan from a patient guides the printer and Soraa, which is working with green lasers the printer sprays biomaterials that form a to develop cheaper LED lighting. kidney shape. Caitin, which has developed a At the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, cooling system that replaces condensers and scientists and engineers are working on more compressors, reducing air conditioning costs than 30 replacement tissues and organs and by 80%. developing healing cell therapies with a goal

of curing instead of just treating a disease. Khosla only invests in high-risk, global- For instance, the team also is developing a transforming technologies. His failure rate printing method for human skin. is 90%.

It’s not far-fetched. An Atala patient with a lab-built bladder has survived more than 10 years. currents quarter . second twenty-eleven

54 Bead power “Hydrogen is the future— And they gave us it’s always the future,” is the John Candy joke about hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hydrogen is expensive to Don’t laugh at or dismiss Canada. Three of the most livable cities manufacture and store. One firm in the world are located in our northerly neighbor, according to the claims to have a solution to the Economist’s annual rankings. storage obstacle. Vancouver retained its top spot, scoring 98 out of 100 in the rankings Cella Energy of the U.K. has compiled by the magazine’s Intelligence Unit. Toronto (97.2) was developed microbeads that can fourth and Calgary (96.6) was fifth. trap hydrogen and release it as fuel The ranking scores 140 cities on 30 when heated. Because they are 30 factors across five areas: stability, times smaller than a grain of sand, Most livable cities health care, infrastructure, education, the beads flow like fluid and can be Vancouver and culture and environment. “Cities used in gas tanks. Melbourne that score best tend to be mid-sized Vienna Cella says the inexpensive cities in wealthier countries with a Toronto hydrogen storage beads can be relatively low population density. Calgary dispensed at the local petrol This often fosters a broad range of Helsinki pump, eliminating the need for recreational availability without Sydney new hydrogen infrastructure. The leading to high crime levels or Perth firm hasn’t given a date for mass overburdened infrastructure,” says the Adelaide production of its beads. Economist. Auckland

Four of the top 10 cities are in Source: Economist Intelligence Unit Australia. At the bottom is Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Beautiful, too Large and loud, wind turbines are not suited for the city. NL Architects, though, has played with designs that could blend wind power into the urban landscape. The Amsterdam firm’s Power Flowers are sculptural. They resemble trees with turbines spinning vertically on branches. baton rougefoundation area . braf.org

55 monitor briefs

Walk NOLA Now eat this Bill Gates calls him the smartest man in the New Orleans is ready for high gas prices. Because it’s world. Nathan Myrhvold, once Microsoft’s compact and has mass transit, people in the city drive chief technology officer, has dreamed up less than any of the 51 metro areas with more than 1 lasers that zap wings from million people, reports CEOs for Cities. mosquitoes and a device Motorists drove an average of 13.7 miles per day in that extracts energy from New Orleans, followed by New York at 16 miles and a hurricane by circulating Sacramento at 18.4 miles. cold water to the surface. The billionaire who studied CEOs for Cities says places like New Orleans provide astrophysics with Stephen opportunities for people to walk instead of use a car, Hawking and earned a have sidewalks and bike trails that are designed to lure Ph.D. at 21 has become a use and have extensive public transportation systems. writer.

Drawn by his love for the kitchen—he won the Memphis in May barbecue cooking $29 billion contest—Myrhvold has written a set of Amount drivers in 51 largest cookbooks. The set is 2,438 pages, 48 U.S. metro areas would pounds, artfully photographed and costs collectively save in gasoline $625. Modernist Cuisine focuses on the science and other costs by driving just of cooking. Many critics panned it, but chefs 1 mile less per day, says CEOs believe it an incredible feat. David Chang, for Cities. chef/owner of momofuku, said, “It’s the cookbook to end cookbooks.”

Style File Percent of Middle10 Eastern and North A new app lets anyone be a dress designer. African mothers who see one of their Continuum by Mary Huang lets ordinary people children die before their 5th birthday, draw dresses that are converted by software into a 3D a dramatic decline from 85% in 1960, model. The design firm will make the dress or you writes Charles Kenny, senior fellow at can download the free cutting patterns and stitch it the Center for Global Development, yourself. The application won’t be widely available in a Time magazine article offering a unless Huang raises money to improve and market it. promising future for the planet. currents quarter . second twenty-eleven

56 Light shift

LED lights could become so cheap that even people who embrace the warm glow of incandescent bulbs can’t resist them.

Bridgelux, a California startup, announced a breakthrough that drops the cost of manufacturing LED bulbs by 75%. Instead of expensive sapphire, Bridgelux’s process uses silicon to manufacture LEDs. Two or three years are needed to improve the manufacturing process and Bridgelux says the LEDs can be produced at older silicon wafer manufacturing facilities.

“In as little as two to three years, even the most price-sensitive markets—commercial and office lighting, residential applications and retrofit lamps—will seamlessly and rapidly convert to solid state lighting,” says Bill Watkins, Bridgelux CEO.

LED light bulbs can last for 15 or more years and use just 10% of the power of incandescent bulbs.

Salad spinner repurposed The power is out and the laundry is stacked. What, What to do? Try the new Laundry Pod, a kind of salad spinner for dirty clothes. me

The device holds six garments. Add water worry? and soap and agitate with the spinner for The mood ring gets connected. two to three minutes, then drain. Repeat Q Sensor by a Massachusetts company with clean water and brisk spinning for the measures stress, excitement and other rinse cycle. Dry on the line. physiological states through electrical wires that pick The pod is being plugged as environmen- up changes in skin conductance. tally friendly because it uses human energy It’s more than a mood ring. Researchers are using the and less water. But in Louisiana, it could be Q Sensor to study sleep patterns and eating habits. sold as a backup during hurricane season. With information from the Q Sensor, doctors could Cost of the Laundry Pod was not set at press fashion new treatments for mental disorders. time. See TheLaundryPod.com Anyone can buy Q Sensor to measure stress. At the end of the day, data from the device can be loaded into a computer program to analyze and visualize stress, allowing people to understand and manage their anxieties. Trial versions, though, cost $2,000. baton rougefoundation area . braf.org

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currents . second quarter twenty-eleven placement so this can keep going,” he says. he says. going,” keep can this so placement re- my find to hope “I fall. this college he starts repeal. the for calling session upcoming the in islation leg- the sponsoring is Peterson Carter Karen “anti-science.” as viewed if progress not able to be will Louisiana state. for the business” of good not part just is law “this says, Kopplin industry, minded science- attract to efforts Louisiana’s with science.” good taught economy, be to have global “we the in petitive com- be to Louisiana from for students that adding he said, no for jobs creationists,” are “There nomics. on eco- based opposition his he frames beliefs, their to design. intelligent as to referred often atheory ing, be- of ahigher hands atthe world began the that posit materials The of evolution. theory the question that classroom the into als Act. Education Science Louisiana the repeal to campaign Legislature? S Kopplin says he will continue his work until work until his continue he will says Kopplin Rep. La. agrees. one legislator least At and amajor industry as tourism With entitled are people that acknowledges Kopplin While materi- supplemental bring to teachers biology allows act The a mounted has senior School High Magnet Rouge Baton The Kopplin. Zack Zack Kopplin, political wunderkind big move, who would have time to lobby the Louisiana Louisiana lobby the to time have move, whobig would first the planning and applications college dates, ation gradu- with What activities. with jammed is year enior Coda —Ellen Fargason F rank M c M ains The coolest place in town is also (surprisingly) affordable!

Manship Theatre is the perfect spot for parties!

The Gallery, Hartley/Vey Studio and the Hartley/Vey Workshop can accomodate groups of 2 to 200.

Contact Melanie Couvillon 225-389-7222 or [email protected]. Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Baton Rouge, LA Permit 485

 Sustain an arts center that blends the color line  Buy eyeglasses for needy kids who squint  Drop the dropout rate

Money is just paper until you do something with it. Choose your own cause.

Start a charitable fund at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Call Helen Lowery at 225-387-6126.

402 N. Fourth Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | 225.387.6126 | braf.org