Many of Baton Rouge’s leading organizations have had to significantly adjust their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times of disruption and uncertainty, your organizational leaders have found adaptive and innovative ways to serve you through…
The Urban Update (December 2020)
Many of Baton Rouge’s leading organizations have had to significantly adjust their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times of disruption and uncertainty, your organizational leaders have found adaptive and innovative ways to serve you through…
The Urban Update (June 2020)
Many of Baton Rouge’s leading organizations have had to significantly adjust theiroperations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times of disruption anduncertainty, your organizational leaders have found adaptive and innovative ways toserve you through coordinating efforts. Read on to find out how BREC, EBRCOA, BuildBaton Rouge and others have responded to our city’s latest …
The State of Black Boys and Men of Louisiana Report (2010)
This report substantiates and quantifies the extensive and shocking social status of too many of Louisiana‟s Black boys and men in the 21st century. What a full examination has shown is an overwhelming disparity and alarming rates in violence, homicide, incarceration, unemployment, and education level of many Black families… Read More
The Urban Update (April 2020)
Many of the city’s leading organizations have had to significantly adjust theiroperations due to COVID19. While many continue to work to find new andinnovative ways to serve you, the response won’t be “a straight line”. Read on tofind out how BREC, CATS, EBR Housing Authority and others have responded toour city’s latest crisis.
The Search for the Next Superintendent: An Open Letter
Of the 23 applicants for the Superintendent position that is currently open in East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS), a number of them are highly qualified with decades of experience in education. A Texas consulting firm recommended 14 of them to continue in the hunt. At last week’s meeting, the School Board selected 5 …
The Last 100 Hours
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A working committee of the grassroots organization Urban Congress on African American Males in Baton Rouge volunteered to provide an independent review of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DoC) pilot 100-hr Pre-Release Program (a reentry preparation curriculum) by conducting a two-phase interview process with representatives of both inmate and staff …
A Community Response to Disrupting Violence
There has been much discussion in recent weeks around the subject of violence in the Baton Rouge community. Elected officials, law enforcement leaders, clergy, community activists, and community members from all walks of life have offered their thoughts on this important matter. Many have passionately called for action to address the seemingly non-stop cycle of …
Fishing For Clarity: What Is The Real Narrative Around Black Fatherhood?
By Donney Rose On Saturday, June 8th a collective of Baton Rouge organizations hosted Reel Dads, a fishing event held at Howell Park designed primarily to connect Black boys with their fathers/community father figures for an afternoon of fishing and bonding. The park was full of young Black boys joyously participating in simulated and real …
Urban Congress Barbershop Talks
Each month the Urban Congress of African American Males gathers men from around Baton Rouge in five different barbershop locations for ONE Purpose! We are encouraging Black men in the area to join us for the monthly Barbershop Talks to help plan what transformation looks like for Black men and boys in Baton Rouge. Each …
Silencing Ourselves: A Reflection of Black Male Suicides in Baton Rouge
by Donney Rose On his 2018 album Book of Ryan, hip hop artist Royce da 5’9 raps about the importance of checking up on your ‘strong friend’ on a song aptly titled “Strong Friend”. In the song’s intro Royce gives listeners a sound piece of advice when he begins with the lines “reflections of your …
My Brother, You Matter
A recent study from the East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office showed a dramatic increase in Black male suicides within the past seven years. On Tuesday, March 25th a host of community leaders and organizations will host My Brother, You Matter, a gathering designed to shed light on this crisis and to offer resources and solutions. …
SAVE THE DATE | GENERAL CONVENING
The Urban Congress on African American Male is hosting its annual General Convening on Saturday, April 13 at the McKinley Alumni Center. The theme of this year’s convening, #TheVillageRenewed, speaks to the power of the collective on one accord to make change happen. Registration available at theurbancongress.com
National Mentoring Month and The Value of Mentoring Every Day
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”20px|||” next_background_color=”#4368a7″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_top_1=”0px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”3.19.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” text_font_size=”16px”] by Donney RoseJanuary 23, 2019 January is National Mentoring Month and a network of some of Baton Rouge’s most impact driven agencies are committed to ensuring that the youth of Baton Rouge see a drastic increase in …
“Talkin’ Shop”: MetroMorphosis Barbershop Talk Series
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”20px|||” next_background_color=”#4368a7″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_top_1=”0px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”3.19.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” text_font_size=”16px”] For decades the Black barbershop has been regarded as a sanctuary of sorts for African American men to discuss everything from sports to politics to relationship advice. A few months back the team at MetroMorphosis began a …
The Recap: Baton Rouge Watches as Election Results Roll In
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”20px|||” next_background_color=”#4368a7″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.100″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_top_1=”0px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”3.19.3″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” text_font_size=”16px”] As millions around the nation watched the results of the historic 2018 midterms election season, a quaint gathering of city and state politicians, community advocates and young urban business professionals convened at the bar and lounge of …