Pictured: Representatives from Entergy, BRAC, EBRPSS, Big Buddy, BRCC, the Office of the Mayor-President, and Employ BR

We are proud to highlight a moment of collaboration and investment in the future of our youth! Representatives from Entergy presented a generous donation to the Big Buddy Program in support of the Mayor’s Youth Workforce Experience, a powerful partnership between Employ BR, BRCC, EBRPSS, BRAC, Big Buddy, and the Office of the Mayor-President.

This partnership provides local high school scholars with an opportunity to gain valuable exposure to professional work environments, build transferable employability skills, and earn industry-based credentials. Participants who meet the required on-the-job training and classroom instruction hours, as outlined by the Louisiana Department of Education, will also earn one Carnegie unit on their high school transcripts.

Together, we are creating pathways for youth to thrive academically, professionally, and personally—all while investing in Baton Rouge’s future workforce.

We are incredibly proud of our Liberty robotics teams who represented us at this year’s VEX Robotics Nationals!

Although our teams did not advance to the semifinals, they displayed outstanding skill, creativity, and collaboration in every round. Their performance was a true testament to months of hard work, late nights, and problem-solving determination. Earning a spot at Nationals is no small feat—and our five teams rose to the occasion with resilience, innovation, and team spirit that made all of Liberty proud.

Join us in giving a huge round of applause to these remarkable students for their dedication and for setting a new standard of excellence in robotics!

Exciting things are happening in Broadmoor High School’s welding program! The new welding machines are fully assembled, and the virtual reality (VR) equipment is now set up in the classroom, offering students an enhanced, hands-on learning experience. While there’s still more to come—including summer installations of extractors and additional machines—the momentum is strong. The upcoming school year promises even greater opportunities for students, with plans to offer significantly more Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs). The future of welding at Broadmoor is bright! 

As an eligibility requirement, all program participants must register for the ACT exam scheduled for July 12 by June 6.  

Both institutes are offered at no cost to participants and are presented through partnerships with Southern University, Capital Area United Way, and Huey & Angelina Wilson Foundation.  

Data & Impact  

Since 1992, UREC has provided after-school and summer youth development activities to more than 5,000 youth in East Baton Rouge Parish. A recent study of UREC’s youth program alumni revealed a favorable impact on ACT scoring, career exploration, college or technical program enrollment, and employment.  

• Approximately 100% attended or are currently enrolled in college or technical training 

• With an average ACT score of 23, program alumni outperformed peers at the state and national levels on the ACT post-program completion.

• 64% are employed full-time or part-time while enrolled in college or a graduate program 

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For more information or to register, visit www.urecbr.com. Or contact UREC at (225) 356-8871 or info@urecbr.com.  RE

LEARN MORE

ABOUT UREC: Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation (UREC), founded in 1992, is a nonprofit, community development organization in Baton Rouge that transforms communities by investing in people and restoring neighborhoods. UREC fulfills its mission by sponsoring projects in three core areas: Affordable Housing, Human Development, and Community Engagement. The UREC Academy offers after-school and summer institutes for high school students through the Pre-Law, ACT Prep, Certified Nursing Assistant, Entrepreneurship, and Technology institutes.

JROTC Cadet Challenge 2025 RECAP 

Thank you to everyone who supported the successful execution of Cadet Challenge 2025 last week! Your dedication helped ensure that the training met the Commander’s intent (DAI) in a safe and efficient manner. Cadets from all participating schools demonstrated outstanding effort and competitive spirit throughout the entire event. It was inspiring to witness such high levels of motivation, discipline, and teamwork from our future leaders. Great job to all involved! 

TARA High will be hosting the Arrive Alive in '25 Safe Driving Campaign Kickoff & Press Conference on Monday, April 28th. This is a district-wide event, held in partnership with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, aimed at promoting safe driving awareness among students across East Baton Rouge Parish during prom and graduation season and as we approach the summer months.

As part of this initiative, EBR students are invited to participate in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video Contest, where they can create impactful, peer-driven messages that promote safe decision-making behind the wheel—such as seat belt safety, avoiding distracted driving, and saying no to driving under the influence.

Help us applaud the Color Guard Teams and coaches for the great work they are doing in training and re-building their Drill Teams in the District.  The 1st , 2nd, and 3rd Place winners of the District Color Guard competition hosted at Tara High School this past weekend is highlighted below . All of the teams performed with excellence; however, the top 3 teams were superior in all areas of their performance.  Included are a few pictures of the top 3 winners of the competition.

COLOR GUARD COMPETITON WINNERS

• 1st Place Winner - Istrouma High School - Overall Score 1505 points

• 2nd Place Winner - Belaire Magnet High School - Overall Score 1448 points 

• 3rd Place Winner - Tara High School -  1448 points

Congratulations to the cadets who participated in the Leadership Education & Training (LET 1) Cadet of the Year Board for SY2025 at Istrouma High School.  The top JROTC (1st Yr) cadets represented their school in the Freshmen Cadet of the Year Board and all of the students performed in an exceptional manner.  The top 3 top winners are: 1st Place winner Cadet Private First Class Lim Woods from Liberty MHS; 2nd Place winner Cadet Private First-Class Zechariah Thomas from Glen Oaks HS and 3rd Place winner Cadet Corporal Isabella McMorris from Northeast HS.  The top 5 overall competition scores were razor thin (see scoring matrix).  All of the cadets from each school were well prepared.   Outstanding Job Cadets!  Please congratulate these students when you see them around your campus.

We would like to thank our CTEC and WFD staff, the industry partners that attended this event, and the colleges represented that helped make the 2025 Careers in Industry Day event a success! We appreciate your partnership and look forward to continued collaboration in preparing our students for success. 

Thank you for making a difference!

From Mr. Blaine Grimes, "On behalf of the Louisiana Jump$tart Coalition, thank you so much for your outstanding volunteer spirit on Tuesday with the DEMCO YCAP financial literacy “Real Life” symposium. What an amazing group of kids and did we all not have a great time? Simply put, we could not have done it without you. Ms. Blanson, please extend our sincere appreciation to Ms. Callagain and Ms. Dunn.  

On March 8, 2025, EBRPSS student interns participated in a professional development session on workplace etiquette and ethics at the PDC, facilitated by Orange Strategy. This session focused on teamwork, exploring the key differences between leaders and managers, and understanding the unique characteristics of Gen Z in the workplace. Interns engaged in interactive discussions and activities designed to enhance their professionalism, collaboration, and leadership skills. This training provided valuable insights to help them navigate workplace dynamics and contribute effectively to their future careers. 

Ochsner Workforce Develop department presented to medical students from area EBR high schools on various topics related to multiple facets of medical careers. 

Congratulations to Baton Rouge Magnet High School's DECA Students for their performance at the DECA State Conference. 

• Fourteen - 1st place, Nine - 2nd place, Twelve - 3rd place winners

• Caden Tran - Murphy USA Scholarship Recipient

• Yen Hao Lai and Joanna Fang - 2025 - 2026 Louisiana State Officers 

• Marcia Lee, Daveta Parker, Kari Hicks, and Gaston Daigle - Outstanding Chapter Advisors

• Baton Rouge High School - Outstanding Chapter

• Baton Rouge High School - 2nd Largest DECA Chapter in the state

• Baton Rouge High - School Based Enterprise received Gold Level Status

Congratulations to the cadets who participated in the Leadership Education & Training (LET 2) Board on February 13, 2025, at Scotlandville Magnet High School.  What a superior performance by the top cadets from each school's JROTC programs. Thanks to the Senior Army Instructors (SAI) and Army Instructors (AI) for your outstanding work in preparing the cadets for the competition.  The top 3 top winners are: 1st Place winner Cadet Staff Sergeant Jaylah Mark from Liberty MHS; 2nd Place winner Cadet Staff Sergeant Gisele Lattibeaudiere from Tara HS and 3rd Place winner Cadet Staff Sergeant Omari Hawkins from Woodlawn HS.  The top six overall competition scores were razor-thin.  All of the cadets from each school were well prepared.  "Great Job Cadets" Please congratulate these students when you see them around your campus. 

LTC Morrison & CSM Wheeler:  On 11 February, CSM(R) James Wheeler hosted the first “Tara Talk Tuesday” for the Boys to Men mentorship club. This club was established by CSM(R) Wheeler to provide an outlet for young men to discuss issues they face as well as to provide a venue for mentorship. The club meets twice a month and on the first Tuesday of the month, they dress in business attire and have lunch as a group.