In the picture above, Pat McCallister-LeDuff is standing in the Scotlandville Parkway. In 2022, the Walls Project, in collaboration with BREC and the Scotlandville CDC, erected freestanding temporary murals around the park.
We are at the half-way mark of season one. I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to more than one episode. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please make sure to share it with your friends and give us a review on whatever platform you’re using to listen. That will really help us with season two, which we’re currently in the process of creating. And trust me, it’s going to be a really hot topic (that’s a hint).
We’re continuing the idea of connectivity, which we started to explore in episode 5 with Mark Martin. We discussed car culture and how cities have been built in isolated pockets. The problems this type of infrastructure creates is seen greatly in the areas impacted by poverty.
In this episode we talked to Pat McCallister-LeDuff, who is a community advocate for an area of Baton Rouge known as Scotlandville. The village was founded and named after a cotton planter whose plantation was located near the Mississippi River.
My challenge to all of you is to start looking. Call 211 and find out if there’s something you can do to lend a hand to someone in need. If you’re not in Louisiana, bring this idea up to your local officials. Share this episode with them and tell them that this is working in other communities, so let’s bring it to ours.
The best weapon for fighting inequality, injustice, and all of the problems that come along with it is your voice. Share your thoughts with us on our social media accounts, because we want to hear your voice. I look forward to reading your comments.
CALLS TO ACTION
This entire episode is a call to action. That’s because Pat really focuses on the need to take individual responsibility for taking action in the community. Here are a few of the things she suggests.
Contribute to the new 211 network. This program connects people to heath and human services available in their area. It also connects prospective volunteers with people in need. This is a statewide service.
Bag your trash properly and spread the word about that. Yes, it seems like a small request, but so much of trash-related blight comes from improper trash removal. Put your non-biodegradable trash in bags and put those bags in bins.
The Scotlandville CDC is raising funds to have statues representing Southern University leading from the airport, and for the development of the entrance to Southern University.
MEET THE WALLS
The Walls Project was founded on its public art program, so working with local artists has been a priority since day one. We love finding new, emerging talent such as Byson Boutte.
He was first exposed to the Walls Project through MLK community events. Over time, he began to inquire about being a muralist. He submitted designs and has since completed two major murals for the organization.
The first is located at the Legacy on 14th Street building in South Baton Rouge. The triptych is an incredible look at issues surrounding housing. The second focuses on the future of transportation.
Outside of the Walls Project, Byron is developing a new anime series. In the episode, he mentions an NFT project that will be launched to help fund the series. You can learn more about that on Instagram @noblesavagezanime
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