Baton Rouge Overcomes Racial Unrest and Historic Flooding by Rebuilding Communities

BATON ROUGE, La., June 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While other parts of the country address damage and racial trauma caused by rioting, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is in the process of rebuilding after a period of similar civil unrest according to East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA).  Alton Sterling, an African American, was killed by a white police officer in the Ardendale area during an arrest in 2016 which set off a string of protests followed by the ambush killing of three police officers by a lone gunman.  Area-wide flooding later that summer was the final blow.

But the storm began a period of healing as residents of all colors worked to rescue trapped and homeless citizens--and the process of rebuilding began. 

Four years later, the Ardendale area is in the beginning phases of a $335 transformation fueled by public and private partnerships and a $30 million grant from HUD. The revitalization process will demolish existing public housing buildings and create a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use community that will address shortcomings in housing, education and economic opportunity.

Within the past four years, Baton Rouge has seen a new mayor, police chief and CEO of the parish's housing authority come into office and these African American leaders have worked together to chart a course that has local residents optimistic.

J. Wesley Daniels, Jr., the CEO of the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, has led the way, marshalling the forces of business, governmental and non-profit communities to put together a blueprint for healing that could be emulated by other cities around the country.

"Baton Rouge was hurting in 2016," Daniels explained. "The flood taught us that we had to work collectively to fix what was broken. We knew we couldn't continue to do things the same way we had for the past 50 years, so we set our sights high."

Daniels credits his degree from prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta for opening doors for him to practice the craft of community transformation and revitalization from both the public and private perspectives.   Atlanta is considered the cradle of civil rights and Daniels used the success and influence of Atlanta native sons and civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr. (a Morehouse graduate), Andrew Young, John Lewis and Joseph Lowery to shape his vision of how to develop a community he calls "the great equalizer".

"Baton Rouge is a perfect case study on resilience and can provide a blueprint for rebuilding relationships and communities," Daniels said. "We're hoping our city can serve as a source of inspiration to other cities reeling from generational disinvestment.

"The opportunity is there to pivot from the sense of hopelessness expressed by protesters and strategically chart the next steps for healing and rebuilding….that is resiliency.  The collaborative partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders are there. It takes cooperation at all levels to make it happen."

Baton Rouge Choice Neighborhood Website:
www.BRChoice.com

For More Information:
Otey White 225-907-6839, [email protected]
J. Wesley Daniels, Jr., 225-270-6631

SOURCE East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA)

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