Together Baton Rouge Preaches 'Joy of the Gospel'
In collaboration with the Baton Rouge Catholic Diocese, Jesuit Social Research Institute and Catholic Charities, Together Baton Rouge kicked off a 4-part series on the 'Joy of the Gospel' by Pope Francis. With over 70 participants in attendance, representing 25 different parishes, Fr. Fred Kammer (Executive Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute) taught the first section on the "Joy of the Good News." This is part of a larger strategy to broaden the institutional base of the organization.
Leaders Confront PayDay Lending in Baton Rouge
With Louisiana residents paying more than $196 million in fees and interest to payday lenders in 2011, and such loans factoring into 20% of bankruptcy filings in Baton Rouge, leaders of Together Baton Rouge are beginning to educate and organize parishioners and residents about the dangers of payday lending and action they can take to protect themselves. Their most recent gathering, at Elm Grove Baptist Church, was standing-room only, as participants heard a presentation on the issue and shared their experiences with each other.
Residents: Time to Act on Loans, The Advocate
Read moreTogether Baton Rouge Launches Community Scripture Studies
"Together Baton Rouge volunteers have worked to clean up the Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery, to launch with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank...and to advocate for reliable funding and better administration for the Capital Area Transit System.
With this new community Bible study program, the purposes are to 'develop relationships across the lines that divide us' and embrace 'the call of Scripture to act in the world today,' Wesley said."
Read more'Together Baton Rouge' Leaders Educate on Incarceration
"Too many people in Louisiana are in jail, a Baton Rouge group of faith and community leaders said at a meeting on Friday. But while discussing how to reduce the state's high incarceration rate, some questioned whether new legislation proposed this year is the right path.
The group Together Baton Rouge tackled the topic of incarceration at a meeting Friday, hearing about proposed legislation that aims to keep juveniles out of jail and get drug offenders treatment without forcing them to serve lengthy prison terms.
Read moreTBR to Tackle Food Deserts With Mayor
"Mayor-President Kip Holden and the group Together Baton Rouge said Thursday that they have teamed up to try to find a solution to the problem of "food deserts" in East Baton Rouge Parish, which are areas defined by poverty and poor access to supermarkets and large grocery stores...."
Read moreTogether Baton Rouge Gets Tough With Transit System
"Citizens at a public forum hosted by... Together Baton Rouge gave officials at the Capital Area Transit System an overall grade of C- Monday night, hammering them for their communication process and awkwardly managed website..."
Baton Rouge Coalition Gives CATS Officials C- on Transit Reform Report Card, Times Piacyune
Read moreTBR Creates New Political Culture: Takes Action on Food Desert
"The biggest local election forum of this political season was nothing like the candidates are used to. Together Baton Rouge hosted 30 of the 32 candidates for East Baton Rouge Mayor-president and Metro Council Monday night, with approximately 500 people in attendance at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church.
But they did not show up in order to listen to the candidates. 'What we're pushing for,' said Dr. Jeanne George, a Together Baton Rouge committee co-chair, 'is to get them to listen to the citizens.'"
Read moreTogether Baton Rouge Grades Expanded Transportation System
"The Capital Area Transit System received an 'A' on its first public accountability report card for meeting expectations tied to the passage of the 10.6-mill property tax in April.
Read moreLeaders Fight for Access to Healthy Food in Baton Rouge
"Scotlandville has no shortage of convenience stores, but a true grocery store is hard to come by for this community of about 18,000 residents, according to Census data. And about 89 percent of these people live a mile or more from a true supermarket, said Edgar Cage, a member of St. Michael's and Together Baton Rouge, which has taken on the task of leading initiatives to make healthy foods more accessible to neighborhoods plagued by "food deserts" — whole communities where a grocery store is absent. "Scotlandville is the largest food desert in Baton Rouge," Cage said."
Read moreTogether Baton Rouge Explains ‘Why Transit Reform Succeeded in Baton Rouge’
"On Saturday, April 21st, 2012, the citizens of Baton Rouge and Baker passed a historic election to create a dedicated revenue source for public transit....This was a truly historic feat -- one that many thought could not be accomplished and that succeeded despite great odds. So we want to take a moment to reflect on how this effort succeeded where so many others have failed.
Read more