Because of his refusal to be anything less than a servant, Bill Stokes drew people to him, especially the college students he gave his heart to as director of Louisiana Tech’s Wesley Foundation from 1957 until his retirement in 1988.  

When he passed away in the spring of 2020 at age 95, he left behind thousands of handshakes and smiles and friends forever loyal to his heart and memory. 

Saturday at the corner of Railroad Avenue and College Street on Tech’s campus, in an unassuming brick building he turned into a second home for so many of us when we were struggling with acne and advanced math and advanced life, a couple hundred of us met, finally, to share memories and to dedicate the Bill Stokes Room at Wesley.  

The delay was due to circumstances but the feeling, being in that building with people who knew and loved Bill, was familiar. 

This was a man who never met a stranger, but a lot of strangers met him, whether they wanted to or not. And then, forever in his world, they would never be strangers again. Not if Bill had anything to do with it. 

And he made it his mission to have everything to do with it. You could not be on campus very long without meeting Bill. He made it his mission to be Jesus’ hands and feet, to reach out to kids trying to find their way, and to give them a home in his heart. 

“A Southern gentleman,” said Vicki McGuire, whose father Doug pioneered Wesley Foundation work in 1937 during his college years, became a minister, and was a best friend to Bill when the 32-year-old young preacher from Mississippi showed up in Ruston to follow his calling of working with students. Vicki can’t remember a time she didn’t know Bill. 

A lot of us felt that way. 

“His outgoing, friendly personality made him irresistible,” she said. “I think that he reached out to everyone describes him as much as anything. When someone reaches out to you, that intentionally, you have to respond. You like people who like you and care about you. That’s how he made you feel. 

“I was amazed that he could come up with everyone’s name and hometown,” she said. “He was a master at that.” 

He was. Because he cared.  

His memory and genuine concern must have been something God gifted him with to increase Bill’s impact on so many of us. We weren’t just students. We were Bill’s students, Bill’s kids, each of us one of his projects. Because of him, lots of lives were changed in what is now the Bill Stokes Room. I witnessed it more than once.  

What Bill did as much as anything was bring people together. Sometimes, that was romantically. (A couple dozen people at Wesley Saturday were introduced to each other by Bill, then married by him.)  But mostly, he got students from all sorts of backgrounds together and, somehow, he got us to believe we needed each other, that we were better and fuller, more ourselves in the moment, together. 

He was a friend and a friend maker, a deeply missed man of truth and goodness, a man who leaves behind not only a room, but also a heart that always had room for us. 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu 

By: Zoe Hebert

Twisted wire toy maker and Louisiana Tradition Bearer Elvin Shields of Natchitoches will be among those inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists at this year’s Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. Shields will be displaying his handmade toys at the festival. The 42nd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 in Prather Coliseum at 220 South Jefferson Street on the NSU campus. Admission is $10 for the entire day, $6 after 5 p.m., and free for children ages 12 and under. The induction will be around 11:15 a.m. on the main stage on the floor of Prather Coliseum.

Shields was born into a family of sharecroppers in December 1949 on Melrose Plantation. Much of his early life revolved around demanding physical labor in the plantation fields. He stated that most children on the plantation started working at around five years old, as soon as they could carry a cotton sack. He had little leisure time, only Saturday afternoons and Sundays after church. In those hours of spare time, Shields was free to entertain himself by hunting, fishing, and making and playing with his toys. Growing up, his family didn’t have the money to buy toys, as was the case with other sharecropper and tenant farmer families. As a result, the children made their own toys out of objects they found or recycled.

“It’s a poor thing, it’s nothing to do with art,” Shields explained. “Kids need to have toys, so they find some old wire, and they twist them up. But it’s something that came from Africa.”

According to Shields, certain tribes in Africa did, and still do, play with wire and make toys. The toymaking tradition was carried along with the slaves as they were taken to the United States and passed down through the generations. He explained that only the kids who lived at the plantations in southern Natchitoches parish learned and practiced twisting wire into toys. He considers the creation of these toys as a way of fulfilling a need rather than as art to be bought and sold.

The shapes the wire toys take are specific to the children making them. Shields stated that he and the other children living on the plantation would twist the everyday sights they had come to recognize, such as tractors, mules, cows, and horses. Some of Shields’ other toys depict sharecroppers plowing the fields, dragging cotton sacks and hunting with dogs. Each of these toys not only provided a means of entertainment for plantation children, but they provide an image of what the children saw and experienced at the time.

“It’s whatever a kid sees, that’s what he twists. He’s twisting his environment,” Shields said.

There has been less interest from young people in learning the tradition of wire twisting to make toys in recent years. Shields attributes the decline in interest in the making of wire toys for fun with the rise in technology and the reduction in space for children to play. He explained that he and the other plantation children would play outside in the sand with their twisted wire toys and marbles.

“We would do our tractors or our mules, and we would go sit out in the sand,” Shields reflected. “There wasn’t no beautiful lawns on the plantation. There was just sand around the house.”

Making toys out of wire was a necessity for the boys living on the plantation. Children needed toys, but without the money to purchase them from shopping catalogues, they had to make their own. The method of wire twisting was shared between the boys of each generation, with the older boys teaching the younger. For some time, Shields did demonstrations with children to teach them how to twist wire, but most kids were distracted by modern entertainment and weren’t interested in learning.

Shields took the toymaking tradition back up again in 2011, after his retirement, when he began volunteering at the Cane River National Historical Park. As a volunteer, he led demonstrations and talked about the history of Black sharecroppers in southern Natchitoches parish. The history and culture of Black plantation workers is often forgotten or ignored in favor of the more commonly seen white history, and through his lectures and toymaking, Shields seeks to keep that history alive and raise awareness of the contributions Black Americans have made in the development of Louisiana and the country as a whole.

“Nobody is telling the story,” Shields said. “That’s why I volunteered there, I lecture to groups from all over the world, to tell the real story. Otherwise, the real story is going to be forgotten about.”

Today, Shields still gives talks on the history of Black sharecroppers at the national park, and he has collaborated with NCPTT to produce YouTube lectures reflecting on his experiences as a child in a sharecropper family. He has also released two books describing his experiences and documenting his knowledge of plantation toys. He is determined to ensure that their history, which has been largely overlooked for decades, is not erased. His perspective on the subject and his understanding of its importance have led to Shields being named a Louisiana Tradition Bearer. This integral piece of Louisiana’s history lives on in the toys Shields makes and the tradition that the craft comes from.

Shields stated he is looking forward to this year’s folk festival and the interactions he will have with festivalgoers. He said, “I like the music, I like the food, and it’s just a great atmosphere. And I like to look at the other folk artists’ stuff. It’s a delight.”

For complete festival details, visit www.nsula.edu/folklife or call (318) 357-4332.

Support for the Festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. 

Congratulations to BOM’s Louisiana Bankers Association’s Leadership School Graduates! BOM’s Kristen Carpenter, LeeAnn Edwards, Kayla Sepulvado, Jennifer Campbell, and Tammy Bernard attended the 2022 Leadership School I, “Growing Our Next Generation of Leaders”. Graduation was held July 13 at the LBA office in Baton Rouge. The program is a 6-month program that included online course work and five instructor-led sessions focused on developing leadership skills and enhancing knowledge in various areas of banking.

AS A PRODUCTION ENGINEER, YOU WILL:

Conceptualize, develop, and initiate process improvements and cost reductions
Use Lean principles to reduce cycle times and reduce waste
Manage problem solving teams from inception to corrective actions. Will often involve leading a team through the process.

Self-initiate improvement and / or corrective actions for safety, quality, cost and productivity concerns using formal six sigma problem solving tools

Develop documentation for operators and maintenance on proper equipment operation and care
Effectively communicate changes to all levels of the organization and at all stages of implementation

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

BS degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering technology degree
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel and Word)
Self-starter able to work independently
If qualified and interested, please apply online at http://www.emerson.com

BENEFITS:

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide you flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

The Sabine Prevention Alliance (SPA) and it’s Community Partners are hosting a community forum for the prevention of substance abuse in Sabine Parish on Saturday, July 23 from 9 am – 3 pm.

Lunch provided!

SPA is a volunteer coalition dedicated to reducing under-age drinking throughout Sabine Parish. Facilitation provided by Drew Brooks, Faith-Partners CEO.

This event will provide an opportunity to:

• Get professional training and information on key factors affecting youth and families
• Meet and interact with others throughout the parish from areas such as: education, healthcare, law enforcement/legal, faith-based organizations, youth serving agencies, 12 step groups, CADA, municipal governments, parents, and families, recovering alcoholics/addicts and more!

• Learn about existing groups, organizations, and resources
• Build relationships and support
• Create our vision to fight addiction where we live, work, play and worship

   All are Welcome, please confirm your attendance!

Location: First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1000 Main St. in Many

Questions?  Contact: James Wagley Coalition Coordinator, SPA

Email:jameswagley.lcsw@gmail.com

By Brad Dison

Lieutenant Frank Wead was one of the best-known “fliers” in the early years of the United States naval aviation service. In 1912, Frank, then sixteen years old, entered the U.S. Naval Academy. Two years later, much of the world was engaged in “the war to end all wars,” World War I. United States President Woodrow Wilson’s policy was for strict and impartial neutrality, and most of the country supported his policy. The American military made preparations for war just in case.

In 1916, Frank graduated from the naval academy as America continued to build up its military strength. In early 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare on all ships including American ships, and on April 6, 1917, the United States was forced into World War I. Frank spent the remainder of the war as an ensign aboard the USS Shawmut from which he aided in the laying of mines in the North Sea. On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered, and the war was over.

Following the war, Frank requested and was accepted into naval aviation flight training at the Naval Aeronautic Station Pensacola in Florida. After flight school, Frank promoted naval aviation through air racing competitions. On September 28, 1923, Frank commanded a team of American Navy pilots who competed in and won the Schneider cup seaplane race near Cowes, England. In June 1924, Frank and copilot John C. Price set an endurance record when they piloted a giant Curtiss CS-2 seaplane for 13 hours 23 minutes 15 seconds and travelled 963.12 miles. In the following month, Frank and his copilot beat their world record in the same plane when they stayed aloft over the Potomac River for 15 hours 19 minutes and covered a distance of 1050 miles. The distance would have been greater had a heavy fog not forced Wead to land the plane with five hours of fuel remaining. In June 1924, Frank and Prince broke four world records in the same day. Newspapers reported on his daring feats in airplanes and Frank became something of a national hero.

On Tuesday night, April 13, 1926, Frank had an accident which broke his neck. Surgeons at the Balboa Park naval hospital in San Diego, California, feared his injury would prove fatal. On Friday, April 16, surgeons operated on Frank in what they called “one of the most delicate ever performed at the medical institution.” For several days, Frank remained in critical condition. His chances of survival, according to his doctors, rose to about fifty percent.

Frank had a habit of beating the odds. Three months after his accident, despite his poor condition, Frank was promoted to lieutenant commander. His health gradually improved over the course of two years, but he remained paralyzed from the waist down. Frank eventually learned how to sit up and stand with the aid of steel braces.

Frank needed a new career. At the suggestion of a friend, Frank tried his hand at writing. Initially, Frank wrote non-fiction books pertaining to aviation. In between books, he wrote short historic fiction articles for magazines, which garnered the attention of Hollywood movie producers. He began creating aviation-themed scripts for movies, three dozen of which were turned into films. In 1938, Frank was nominated for two Academy Awards for Test Pilot starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, and The Citadel starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell. Frank wrote about what he loved but could no longer do, which was flying.

Frank’s accident was not the result of an ill-fated flight in an aircraft, but a flight of a different sort. Frank Wead, the famous aviator who broke numerous world records before he broke his neck, ended his flying career when he tripped down a flight of stairs in his own home.

Sources:

1. Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, April 16, 1926, p.11.
2. The Austin American, April 16, 1926, p.1.
3. The Fresno Morning Republican, April 18, 1926, p.15.
4. The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey), September 7, 1923, p.14.
5. Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii), June 23, 1924, p.15.
6. The Modesto Bee (Modesto, California), July 12, 1924, p.2.
7. Pisano, Dominick. “Hollywood’s Representation of Naval Aviation: Frank W. ‘Spig’ Wead and John Ford’s ‘The Wings of Eagles’ (1957).” National Air and Space Museum. Last modified January 5, 2012. Accessed July 11, 2022. airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/hollywoods-representation-naval-aviation-frank-w-%E2%80%9Cspig%E2%80%9D-wead-and-john-fords.

AS A TEAM LEADER, YOU WILL: 

• Supervise utilizing strong interpersonal skills 
• Use technical knowledge of manufacturing processes, as applies to such supervision 
• Utilize computer skills to facilitate processes and software used 
• Pursue objectives with organizational skills to meet goals 
• Work with personnel at all levels of the organization 

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: 

• Two (2) year Associates Degree, plus one year of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience 
• Excellent communication skills; both oral and written 
• Great computer skills (Excel and Word 

BENEFITS: 

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.  

Shift is 4:30 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.  Overtime requirements are based on customer needs to meet business objectives. 

If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com 

Equal Opportunity Employer 
Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.  

NATCHITOCHES:
Wanda Sue McCain
December 4, 1955 – July 13, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 23 at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Church

Billy Carrol White
March 25, 1950 – July 16, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 20 at 1 pm at New Life Evangelism Center

“Pixie” Cora Lynn Woods/Coldiron
July 3, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 23 at 5 pm at 218 Archie Woods Rd. in Campti

Stella Mae LaCour
April 25, 1939 – July 3, 2022
Service: Thursday, July 21 at 10 am at the sacred final resting place of St. Augustine Catholic Church Mausoleum in Isle Brevelle Louisiana

WINN:
Bobby Ray Mercer
June 10, 1954 – July 15, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 20 at 10:30 am at Jordan Hill Cemetery

RED RIVER:
Dezilee S. Pepper
January 22, 1926 – July 17, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 20 at 10 am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

AS A QUALITY ENGINEER, YOU WILL:

• Investigate quality defects and perform RCA
• Lead and/or contribute to structured problem-solving for corrective and preventive actions
• Analyze no-conformance trends and evaluate the effectiveness of CAPA
• Identify improvement opportunities and drive actions for improvement by analyzing manufacturing processes and conducting process capability analysis
• Lead initiatives to improve non-conformance PPM and cost of quality
• Perform new product and process qualifications
• Direct quality support team members engaged in measuring and testing products and tabulating data concerning product or process quality

REQUIRED EDUCTION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• BS degree in engineering or engineering technology with exposure to quality and lean manufacturing, plus two years of related experience
• Strong interpersonal skills with hourly, engineering and management
• Strong computer skills required
If qualified and interested, please apply online at http://www.emerson.com

BENEFITS:

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide you flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

AS A MANUFACTURING ENGINEER, YOU WILL:

• Evaluate and improve existing equipment and tooling and fixture designs in a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Develop creative solutions to manufacturing process design-related issues
• Solve complex design/tooling issues
• Collaborate with diverse groups of people, to include hourly employees, and upper management
• Relay difficult concepts to multiple business groups

REQUIRED EDUCTION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• BS degree in Engineering (Mechanical preferred) or equivalent experience and previous design experience for Assembly processes
• Proficient in AutoCAD and Inventor
• Familiar with other CAD software packages, to include Solid Works, NX, and Pro-E
• Strong problem-solving experience

If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com

BENEFITS:

We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide you flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

BOM continued our sponsorship recognizing the Sabine Parish School Board’s District Teachers/Principal of the Year. BOM’s Linda Guay and Ashley Parrie attended the ceremony. They had the honor of presenting an iPad donation on behalf of BOM to the District Middle School Teacher of the Year – Many Junior High School’s Edie Gowen. Pictured left to right: Tene Leach, BOM’s Linda Guay, Edie Gowen, and BOM’s Ashley Parrie

Cleveland County, North Carolina doesn’t get a lot of airplay nationwide. You might hear about it in August when they play the 95^th American Legion World Series there at its permanent home, Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, a gorgeous park and setting.

If you’re a member of the medical community, you can even get in free this year, the American Legion’s tribute to you for all your work during the pandemic.

So there’s that. (Oh … Shelby, the county seat and roughly 21,000 strong, also has a Bojangles. The biscuits are killer.)

But other than the mid-August baseball traffic, Cleveland County and Shelby keep a relatively low profile, just being cool and calm and living the good life at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the state’s southern line, there in the western Piedmont.

For a closer perspective, it’s 43 miles west, give or take a soybean field or two, from Charlotte. Just hop on Interstate 85 toward Spartanburg, take a right on Hwy. 74 at Kings Mountain, and pretty soon it’s paydirt.

To me it’s become a kind of home away from home because, for various reasons, it’s been the site of most of our family reunions, the most recent of which was last weekend and which also didn’t get much national attention because people sitting around telling stories no one else would care about and eating fried chicken from Food Lion and watching kids play isn’t big news — unless you’re an Allen or unless, in a weak moment, you married into such a magnificent mess.

I love this little town.

It started in 1990, one year after grandmamma died, so this was the 33^rd annual gathering, although we skipped two years ago when the world shut down because of the you-know-what, which we are all literally paying for now. No telling how many chickens have died, how many eggs have been deviled, how many potatoes have been peeled over the past three-plus decades, each a martyr to the Allen Family Reunion cause.

Sometimes I take a baseball. I don’t ask anyone to sign a baseball unless it’s a Very Special Deal, (a “VSD”). Unless it’s been a Little Leaguer, I’ve never asked a ballplayer to sign a baseball. But I’ve asked my Aunt Virginia and my Aunt Sarah. And Amy, who drew a little heart by hers this year. (Extra points for cousin Amy.) And Dylan, who added a smiley face. And Terry and Matt and Austin and Robin and Judy No. 1, not to be confused with the irreplaceable Judy No. 2 or other Judys that fell by the matrimonial wayside. (I appreciate that the Judys always sign with a Roman numeral I or II. Keepers, that pair.)

I look at the baseball anytime I want during the year, see the names, and remember. It’s a selfish tradition, I know …

We’ve had the reunion, depending on where people were living and who was hosting — been some moving around in 30 years — at New Smyrna Beach, Fl. (looked down the beach and saw the space shuttle launch and felt the sonic boom a minute or so later, a reunion highlight, because nothing much happens at our reunions); at Bowdon, Ga.; at North Myrtle Beach/Cherry Grove, S.C.; even in Swartz, La., which got no points for Things To Do but which did retire the trophy for Hottest Reunion Ever. Seems liked it cooled off to 102 one day.

It’s at Cherry Grove next year around July 10 if you want to come. Love to have you. You might enjoy it since all the old stories we’ve heard time and again will be new to you. And since it’s your first time, we won’t make you peel eggs.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Kenneth Bitzer should contact the Zwolle Police Department at (318) 645-6141 or the Sabine Parish Sheriff Department at (318) 256-9241.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation is currently hiring

Position: Development Officer of Annual Giving.

Position Summary
The Foundation Development Officer (DO) will develop and execute the annual giving program, manage the donor database, and coordinate the donor communication/recognition program to generate recurring revenue broadening and growing the donor base.  

Primary Responsibilities
In conjunction with the Foundation Development Director, the DO will develop and implement an annual plan of work to include goals, metrics, activities, and deadlines related to the following programs:

• Annual Giving Program – New donor acquisition; grateful patient giving; Associate giving
• Donor Database Management – Donor demographic, giving history, and communications; donor communication assignments
• Comprehensive Donor Communication Program – Direct response (mail, email, social media, etc.); Gratitude and Recognition Policy and Process; robust gratitude program

Additional Responsibilities

1. Provide input on and adhere to the annual budget
2. Input on the development of philanthropic materials
3. Develop attractive and meaningful giving opportunities as well as recognition
4. Coordinate with Volunteer Coordinator in effective use of volunteers
5. Provide support for Foundation Special Events as needed
6. Periodic travel for presentations, events, and education

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary responsibilities. 

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s Degree – Preferably in Business, Marketing/PR, or Nonprofits
2. AHP and/or AFP Membership

Preferred Education and Experience

1. CFRE Preferred – NRMCF will assist in acquiring the CFRE
2. 2 Years Professional Fundraising Experience

To apply, please visit:
https://www.nrmchospital.org/job/development-officer-of-annual-giving/

If you have questions or would like to speak to our Recruiter, please contact Larissa Cameron at 318-214-5819 or at larissa.cameron@nrmchospital.org

ACS LIMITED MODIFIEDS

Louisiana residents can access more than 50 free Prime Time programs across the state

 New Orleans— Families across Louisiana will have the opportunity to once again gather in person for story-sharing, family discussion and shared meals as part of Prime Time’s high-quality family literacy and engagement programs this fall.

More than 50 Prime Time Family Reading and Prime Time Preschool Reading programs will take place in 21 parishes across the state, and nearly all will return to in-person programs for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Prime Time programs are about connections – with each other, our families and our communities,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Prime Time, Inc. “When these discussions take place in person those connections are deepened, as are the conversations that take place around the important humanities themes found in the books that are part of Prime Time programs.”

A program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), Prime Time programs involve story-sharing around an award-winning children’s book during a weekly session that takes place for six weeks at libraries, schools, churches, community centers and other local sites. Prime Time Family Reading, for ages 6-10, and Prime Time Preschool Reading, for ages 3-5, encourage families to personally connect with literature and each other and think beyond surface considerations of who, what, when, and where – by using open-ended questioning that spurs and encourages rich discussion across generations. For Preschool Reading, hands-on activities are incorporated to keep younger children engaged.

Prime Time programs are free for families and the partner organizations throughout the state that host them. Families also get to keep the books from the sessions to help build their home libraries. Prime Time’s fall reading programs are sponsored by the Beaird Family Foundation, BHP, Entergy Charitable Foundation, Grayson Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Shell USA and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

In addition to Louisiana sites, Prime Time reading programs are hosted by state humanities councils throughout the United States. This fall, 10 states will host Prime Time reading programs.

“Fall is always an important season in the lives of children and families. Back to school means that the calendar begins again and with it the excitement of possibilities, connection with new and old friends, and exploring new learning challenges,” said Shelly Stocker, LEH vice president of education programs. “This fall, we are deeply grateful to be able to again ensure that family engagement around amazing literature is an easily accessible component of the lives of Louisiana families and beyond.”

You can find a fall Prime Time program near you, along with contact information and dates, by visiting https://primetimefamily.org/prime-time-reading-families/#map.

About Prime Time, Inc.

Prime Time Inc. offers a set of unique, humanities‐focused and outcomes‐based programs designed to engage new and underserved children and families. Prime Time programs are proven to generate long‐term improvements in family engagement and student academic achievement. All Prime Time based programs offer partner sites such as libraries, schools, museums and other community service agencies research‐based initiatives that directly engage children, parents, teachers, educational administrators and the community in high‐quality family‐focused learning experiences. Learn more at www.primetimefamily.org

About Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is a non‐profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all residents of the state. Guided by the vision that everyone can realize their full potential through the humanities, LEH partners with communities, institutions and individuals to provide grant‐supported outreach programs, literacy initiatives for all ages, publications, film and radio documentaries, museum exhibitions, public lectures, library projects, 64 Parishes magazine and other diverse public humanities programming. For more information, visit www.leh.org.

Editor’s note: For additional high resolution images and interviews, please contact LEH Education Marketing Manager Jennifer Boquet at boquet@leh.org or (504) 356-0514.

Deadline for nominations is August 12, 2022

New Orlean— The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is seeking nominations of Louisiana residents interested in supporting educational innovation, explorations of history and meaningful engagement with culture for its statewide Board of Directors.

As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the LEH maintains a singular presence throughout Louisiana as the only private nonprofit dedicated to making an impact in the cultural and education sectors in all 64 Louisiana parishes. Its mission is to partner with communities, institutions and individuals to explore Louisiana’s past, reflect on the present and imagine the future.

The LEH works with federal, state and local governments to improve educational outcomes and preserve the state’s cultural traditions. Founded in 1971, the organization has established a strong reputation with corporations and foundations and is trusted to deliver responsive, sustainable programs for and with Louisianans, such as the now-franchised Prime Time series of programs and 64 Parishesmagazine and online encyclopedia.

Explore the website to learn more about LEH’s work.

The LEH Board is statewide, and members are residents of Louisiana. Members represent the cultural, academic, philanthropic and business communities. Board membership is voluntary, and members typically serve three-year terms with the option to renew twice. Members attend four full board meetings per year, participate with sub-committees to support short- and long-term organizational goal attainment and aid in the cultivation of relationships that support organizational advocacy, fundraising and program/initiative success.

With a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, LEH is particularly interested in recruiting members to represent central and north Louisiana communities and minority groups, as well as those with expertise in a humanities field.

Self-nominations are not permitted. Nominations must be made by submitting the following:

• 1-paragraph nomination statement on the nominee’s appropriateness for the LEH board
• the nominee’s résumé or curriculum vitae (CV)
• an interest statement from the nominee

Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. All nomination documents must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in order to be considered.

• Documents submitted via email should be sent to Miranda Restovic, restovic@leh.org, with the subject line “LEH Board Nomination-(Nominee’s Last Name)”
• Documents submitted via U.S. Mail should be addressed to “LEH Board Nomination Committee” and sent to 938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300, New Orleans, LA 70113

Selections will be made based on alignment of nominee experience, credentials and interests with the LEH’s current 5-year strategic plan and goals. Please email Miranda Restovic, LEH executive director, at restovic@leh.org with questions.

About Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all residents of the state. Guided by the vision that everyone can realize their full potential through the humanities, LEH partners with communities, institutions and individuals to provide grant-supported outreach programs, literacy initiatives for all ages, publications, film and radio documentaries, museum exhibitions, public lectures, library projects, 64 Parishes magazine and other diverse public humanities programming. For more information, visit www.leh.org.