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

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"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."

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"With a call for a "pragmatic" approach to the expansion of Medicaid healthcare for the poor, the leaders of the Together Louisiana alliance of congregations has challenged Governor Bobby Jindal and lawmakers to work with the federal government on expanding health coverage for the poor. "We don't need an ideological discussion about Obamacare," the Rev. Melvin Rushing of Baton Rouge told a State Capitol rally. "We need our state's technocrats to sit down with the national Medicaid technocrats and work through this issue as the practical, pragmatic matter it is."

Our Views: Poor need coverage, The Advocate (4/29)

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"A new analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office said accepting the Medicaid expansion envisioned by the federal health care law -- but so far refused by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration -- would save Louisiana between $532 million and $544 million over the next five years.....

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...."

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Statewide coalition of organizations is called "largest citizens' coalition in the history of the State." Includes projects in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Providence, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport and Tallulah, LA.

Together Louisiana Kicks Off, The Advocate

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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.

"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...."

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The Delta Regional Authority awarded workforce development project NOVA $208 thousand to expand training opportunities further into the Delta region. But before doing so, the proposal had to win the approval of Republican Congressman Rodney Alexander and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Northern Louisiana Interfaith successful urged both officials to sign off, which will allow NOVA to pull more people out of working poverty.

DRA Funding Benefits NOVA, The News Star

"Volunteers from Together Baton Rouge and St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church spent Saturday morning giving Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery on Greenwell Springs Road a thorough cleaning....Edgar Cage, a Together Baton Rouge leader and cleanup organizer, said the organization wanted to spruce up Gilbert Memorial before ... a nonprofit community service organization ... takes over as the cemetery's "receiver," or caretaker. "

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"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

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