SU Land-Grant Campus staff bridges the gap between parents, students and teachers

Dr. Tiffany W. Franklin served as the guest speaker for Lee High School's Parent Meeting on Sept. 27. 

Baton Rouge, La. – Southern University Land-Grant Campus Project Coordinator, Dr. Tiffany W. Franklin, served as the guest speaker for Lee High School’s Parent Meeting on September 27.

Dr. Franklin was invited to the meeting by the school’s counselor, Ms. Keana Mason.

The audience included the school’s freshmen and sophomore students and their parents. Franklin’s presentation was titled, “Bridging the Gap between Parents, Students, and Teachers: A New Age Learning Curve.”  Her focus for the presentation was to introduce parents, students and teachers to information that would create an open dialogue for effective communication between all involved and encouraged parents to not be afraid to address real-life or complicated issues or situations when involving their children at school.

The New Age Learning Curve specifically encouraged parents to be vigilant in their child’s lives by utilizing new technological advances to stay connected with their children, which was different from their childhoods.  Franklin noted, “When we were growing up, many of the new ways for parents to keep up with their child’s progress, were not around at that time.  So, we have to effectively utilize our resources to keep our hands on our kids.” 

During the presentation, Dr. Franklin provided both the parents and students with tips to assist them with a better educational experience.  These tips encouraged parents to get informed and/or educated about what’s happening at their child’s school; be responsive to teacher’s concerns about their child’s academics, behavior, etc.; and ask questions and get clarification when needed. 

SU Land-Grant Campus Parent Educator, Milissia John-Baptiste, also attended the presentation and suggested that parents develop a list of questions prior to attending any conferences or meetings at the school. This provides parents with time to think about the situation and process the reason for the gathering.

Franklin and Batiste also set-up a table display where they shared information about the campus’ Recruitment Extravaganza, the Cooperative Extension program and the SU College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences with participants and school counselors. 

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SU Land-Grant Campus to host free Personal Health History Workshop

Event flyer and registration form

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus’ Family and Human Development Unit will host a ‘Personal Health History’ Workshop on October 31, 2017 at the SU Ag Center, 181 B.A. Little Drive, from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

The free workshop will show individuals how to create a personal health history journal that can be used to keep track of not only their health history, but also the health history of their family’s including illnesses, medications, treatments and any past medical procedures. This information is often asked for by medical professionals when being admitted to the emergency room or seeing a doctor for the first time.

Topics covered during the workshop will include:

•           Knowing Your Family Medical History

•           How To Get The Most From Your Doctor’s Visit

•           What’s A Power of Attorney

•           What’s A Living Will 

•           Eating Healthy At Every Age

•           Harmful Effects of Tobacco

•           USDA Rural Housing Repair Program 

The event is free, but pre-registration is required.

To request a registration form or to pre-register, email milissia_jbaptiste@suagcenter.com, delores_johnson@suagcenter.com or call 225-771-2583, 225-771-3704.

The deadline to pre-register is October 18, 2017.

The Southern University Ag Center and the Southern University College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences together are called the Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus.

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SU Land-Grant Campus holds Successful St. Landry Parish Community Focus Group at SARDI

Dr. O.E. Ben Lukongo speaks to St. Landry Parish residents during a Sept. 19 focus group meeting at SARDI in Opelousas, La. The event was held to find ways to support economic development within the parish.

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Land-Grant Campus (SULGC) hosted a community focus group at the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (SARDI) office in Opelousas, La. on September 19, 2017.

The event was held to uncover a range of ideas, insights, and solutions to support economic development in St. Landry Parish. This new community engagement project was developed to improve the quality of life for parish residents and strengthen the relationship of the Land-Grant Campus with stakeholders within the community.

Stakeholders within the parish participated in the focus group to share ideas, stories, experiences, and input; while discussing and co-creating the future vision for the community. Participants began by collectively answering questions on a focus group questionnaire titled, “Integrating Methods of Economic Development Analyses for Economically Distressed Communities in Louisiana.” After completing the questionnaire, the participants were then separated into four smaller groups and collaborated with university representatives to discuss ways to improve the community, identify issues, and discuss alternative solutions, plans, resources and assets needed to better the community.

The focus group was comprised of elected officials, clergy, teachers (current and retired), medical professionals, youth, and others who serve the community in various capacities. SARDI’s office serves as the headquarters for this new framework of University-Community Engagement.

The planning of the focus group discussion was arranged by Dr. O.E. Ben Lukongo, Project Director; Dr. Tiffany Wilkerson-Franklin, Co-Project Director; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith, Co-Project Director; Antonio Harris, Director of SARDI and SARDI’s staff.

The SULGC research team will go back to present the results of the focus group discussions to the St. Landry Parish economic development stakeholders.

For additional information on how you can assist in the implementation and execution of future focus groups, please contact Drs. Lukongo, Wilkerson-Franklin or Nelson-Smith at 225-771-2242.

The Southern University Ag Center and the Southern University College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences together are called the Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus.

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SU Land-Grant Campus holds Successful Recruitment Extravaganza

Photos from the 2017 Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus Recruitment Extravaganza held on September 30, 2017 at the SU Ag Center.

Baton Rouge, La. – More than 200 high school students, parents and chaperones - representing over 30 high schools from through the state - attended the Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus’ first Recruitment Extravaganza.

The event was held at the SU Ag Center on Saturday, Sept. 30 from noon to 5 p.m.

During the extravaganza, high school students were able to visit booths and discuss the career opportunities available in the fields of agricultural sciences, family and consumer sciences and urban forestry and natural resources with professors and college students majoring in agriculture.

The Recruitment Extravaganza also featured livestock, biofuel production, and drone demonstrations.

More than $20,000 of financial assistance, in the form of book stipends or research and extension assistantships, was pledged to select, qualifying students who committed to enrolling at Southern University in the Fall of 2018 and selecting a program of study in either agricultural sciences, family and consumer sciences, or urban forestry and natural resources.

Participants were also treated to a tailgate where they were greeted by Southern University System President – Chancellor Dr. Ray Belton. Everyone who participated in the extravaganza also attended the Southern University Jaguars vs. the Fort Valley State University Wildcats football game in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus will continue to hold additional recruitment activities to expose more elementary, middle and high school students to the career opportunities available in the field of Agriculture.

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SU Land-Grant Campus staff holds lecture at Angola Prison

SU Land-Grant Campus employees Mila Berhane and Stephanie Elwood pose with Delane Ross outside the Angola State Penitentiary.  Ross invited Berhane and Elwood to speak to his agricultural sciences students.

Baton Rouge, La. – Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus Senior Research Associate, Mila Berhane and Extension Associate, Stephanie Elwood, held a lecture at Angola State Penitentiary on Sept. 20.

                                            

The two were invited to speak to nearly 40 agricultural sciences students by Delane Ross with the Baton Rouge Community College’s Louisiana Federal Prison Program.

During the presentation, Elwood spoke about her experience working with incarcerated youth while Berhane spoke about non-traditional uses of traditional crops.

After the lecture, Berhane and Elwood were provided with a tour of the facilities trade school.

The SU Land-Grant Campus will continue to partner with other educational institutions and agencies in an effort to provide opportunities to the incarcerated community.

SU Land-Grant Campus partners with Missy Radio Organization to co-host 11th Annual Pink Party with a Purpose… “Pink After 5!”

Breast Cancer Aware Event

Baton Rouge, La. – The Southern University Agricultural Land-Grant Campus, consisting of the Southern University Ag Center and the Southern University College of Agriculture, has partnered with the Missy Radio Organization, Southern University Alumni Federation, Southern University Student Organizations and the Outstanding Mature Girlz Organization to host the 11^th Annual Pink Party with a Purpose…“Pink After 5!”

The breast cancer awareness event will be held on October 19, 2017, on Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus. Onsite registration will be held from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the SU Ag Center. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to Pink Party Recipient, Marcia Myles, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

The Pink Bike Ride will begin at the Southern University Ag Campus, ending at the Southern University Alumni Federation House with live music, healthy eating, and fun. Tickets range from $0 - $25.

The entire family will have an opportunity to join a cause that raises awareness to millions around the U.S. during the month of October.  Pink Bike Riders can pre-register, get tickets, or make a donation at https://goo.gl/Bc2Xaw.

The Pink Party with a Purpose began in 2006, when local radio personalities Missy and Sashika joined forces to raise awareness to young women about breast cancer after Missy’s hairstylist, Jacinta Freeman, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 28. Freeman had to abruptly stop working to undergo a mastectomy and chemotherapy, which caused her to lose a portion of her primary source of income.

As a result both Missy and Sashika put on their creative wigs and gave birth to, “The Pink Party with a Purpose.”  For the past ten years, ten ladies have received an outpouring of love from the community during their time of need.

The Missy Radio Organization is a ten year champion in bringing awareness to breast cancer in young women. The organization consist of a network of individuals and other organizations dedicated to facilitating communications and education to improve communities in Louisiana. The organization aims to facilitate community expression; provide access to interactive media for the purpose of sharing news, music, culture, and information; and the production of unique and diverse programming that challenges the cultural and intellectual assumption of its core audience with a respect for all peoples and a concern for those under-represented by other media.

For additional information, contact SU Ag Center Assistant Area Agent Nicolette Gordon at 225-222-4136.