Love Our Schools hosted its annual CAFÉ Launch on Aug. 1, inviting members of the public and businesses to participate in CAFÉs (Community and Family Engagement) in 24 Lafayette Parish public schools during the upcoming school year. Love Our Schools is entering its third year of engagement with community businesses, individuals, churches and nonprofit organizations to build villages around schools in the Lafayette Parish School System. Their goal is to provide the principals and students with a team of community stakeholders for assistance and guidance throughout the year, creating a stronger community and stronger schools. 

The Acadiana Center for the Arts awarded eight high school and college students with funds across two programs to kickstart their creative journeys in July. In its inaugural round, the Courtney Granger Memorial Award, presented three aspiring musicians, aged between 12-18, with funds for opportunities to continue building on their already strong foundations in traditional music. Neva Garber will be attending Louisiana Folk Roots to advance her accordion skills, while siblings, Brody and Zoey LaMaire, will be taking private lessons to advance skills in guitar, singing, harmonica and accordion.

The Jean Breaux Award provides financial support to practicing young artists who are interested in enhancing their skills in performing arts, visual arts, dance, folklife, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, through participation in advanced study beyond what is available in their present school curriculum. Anthony Voiers was accepted into the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory for Summer 2023; Lauren Fuselier will receive private dance lessons to advance her competitive dance career; highschooler Tristan East will be receiving weekly lessons with a graduate student of Dr. Wesley Bradford, chair of composition at UL Lafayette; Beth Harris will be receiving private instruction in Cajun and Creole musical genres; and, Kelby McClinton will be attending the American Dance Festival, a summer dance intensive.

Vermilionville announced in August that Madeline DeHart was the recipient of the 2023 Acadian Cultural Preservation Award. DeHart serves as the Vermilion Parish Public Schools Supervisor of Fine Arts and World Languages. The prestigious award was established in 1999 honoring the contributions of individuals who actively promote the preservation and advancement of the Acadian and Cajun Culture through language and language studies, food, art, music, dance education and traditions. DeHart was chosen because of her mission: to preserve and promote Acadian culture into the future through public and parochial K-12 students. She was instrumental in bringing a French Immersion Program to Vermilion Parish schools, which has grown in the past five years. 

In August, the Lafayette Parish School System announced a historic achievement in the field of education where they now rank among the top 10 in the state for students scoring above mastery. According to LEAP 2025 statewide assessments, LPSS ranks in the top 10 in the state with 41% of students scoring Mastery or above. Lafayette Parish has surpassed its pre-COVID level from 38% to 41%. In the last two years, LPSS has had a cumulative growth of 3% in Mastery or above. This marks the first time in the LPSS history that they have achieved such a prestigious milestone. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of all stakeholders. 

JUST IN 

The Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce congratulated Martha Mello, who is joining an esteemed group of local artists, as the creator of the official 2023 World Championship Gumbo Cook Off poster design. More than 20 submissions were received this year, and the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce is deeply humbled by the amount of effort and creativity that went into each design. The chamber unveiled this year’s poster in July during a ceremony at the Gazebo in Bouligny Plaza. The official poster will be available for purchase at the event and will be available for purchase in the chamber office. Join Mello and thousands of other gumbo fans Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday Oct. 15th for the 33rd Annual World Championship Gumbo Cook Off in Bouligny Plaza, Downtown New Iberia.

In July, Moncus Park announced its partnership with For the Birds of Acadiana, an LDWF/USFWS Permitted Avian Rehabilitation Facility. Through this partnership, a diverse range of beautiful birds have taken flight once again including wood ducks, white egrets, black-bellied whistlers, green herons, purple gallinules, red-bellied woodpeckers and more. Thanks to the wonderful habitats at Moncus Park including the scenic Lake Reaux wetland pond, the wooded trails, Cajun Prairie and expansive lawns these birds can restart their journey in the wild. 

Louisiana Folk Roots are recruiting student interns for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. These positions are available to college students in the Acadiana area that have an interest in Louisiana heritage and culture.  The positions are available for students of various majors, although skills in communications, marketing, education leadership, or music business are preferred. Contact college internship advisors for details, or email info@lafolkroots.org.

In July, Acadian Ambulance completed an update of its exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana. Acadian has been a longtime supporter of the museum, and has had an ambulance on display since 1996. The exhibit’s key updated features include: exterior ambulance graphics to match the current ambulance style; digital screens with graphics that picture and describe the supplies found in an ambulance; uniform shirts for children to dress like a medic; and medic cutouts for photo opportunities. Acadian Ambulance and Children’s Museum leadership gathered in Downtown Lafayette to celebrate the unveiling of the exhibit with a ribbon cutting, joined by some of Chairman & CEO Richard Zuschlag’s own grandchildren, as well as children of Acadian employees.

The Iberia African American Historical Society (IAAHS) unveiled the Queen Mother Moore Marker and the formal opening of the Iberia African American Historical Society Center for Research and Learning in August. Last year, the organization was awarded a Rebirth Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities to host the Queen Mother Moore Legacy Symposium and Celebration to honor Audley Moore, known as Queen Mother Moore, on July 27, which was her 124th birthday. Now, they are continuing the celebration with the marker reveal and the opening of the IAAHS Center For Research and Learning. The unveiling of the historic marker was held at Da Berry Fresh Market in New Iberia followed by the grand opening of the center housed at the Shadows Visitors Center.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

In July, Broussard, LeBlanc & Associates announced that Brett Jason Broussard had qualified for the company’s Circle of Success annual recognition program. Broussard serves as a private wealth advisor for Broussard, LeBlanc & Associates, which is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. To earn this achievement, Broussard established himself as one of the company’s top advisors. Only a select number of high- performing advisors earn this distinction. He has 25 years of experience with Ameriprise Financial. As a private wealth advisory practice, Broussard, LeBlanc & Associates provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and provided in one-on-one relationships with their clients. 

In July, Bayou Vermilion District announced Stephen Broussard would be the new executive director. The district is tasked with improving the Vermilion River within Lafayette Parish and operating Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park. Broussard has previously been working as Business Relations Strategist for Acadiana Workforce Solutions for the past four years. He has garnered many years of economic development and management experience through his position as business manager for Waitr, as well as director of the Cameron Port, Southwest Louisiana Director for Louisiana Economic Development, and president of Mermentau Harbor & Terminal District. He began his career running his family’s transportation business for 26 years. In addition, Broussard was the Mayor of Estherwood for 12 years.