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

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 Louisiana' Leaders Keep Pressure on Gov. Jindal

Our Views: Poor need coverage, The Advocate (4/29)
Read moreTogether Louisiana Battles for Medicaid Expansion

The theme of Tuesday's rally -- led by Together Louisiana, a recently formed coalition of religious and civic groups, and the American Association for Retired People -- was that if Jindal doesn't like the Medicaid program, he should insist on certain conditions while accepting the expansion...."
Read more'Together Louisiana' Launches With Two Year Campaign of Civic Academies

Together Louisiana Kicks Off, The Advocate
Read moreNOVA Transforms Bad Jobs Into Better Jobs in Louisiana
When approached by a call center seeking to train workers for high turnover jobs paying $8 / hour, NOVA challenged the employer to invest in worker development for higher paying work. The call center responded and now NOVA trainees start at $10 / hour and move to $12.50 / hour within three months, including benefits; call center attrition has dropped. NOVA is becoming a new kind of hiring hall, offering training for dignified work that pays fair wages and offers benefits.
TBR 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 moreNorthern Louisiana Interfaith Leverages $208K for NOVA

DRA Funding Benefits NOVA, The News Star
Together Baton Rouge Targets Graveyards

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Together Baton Rouge Gets Tough With Transit System

Baton Rouge Coalition Gives CATS Officials C- on Transit Reform Report Card, Times Piacyune
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