Creating Community

In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached alarming levels
of spread - more than our health care system was able to handle -
so public health officials ordered state and local governments to
shut things down. Aand our lives were forever changed.


It's strange now to think back on those weeks; how we adapted and
coped, and what we learned about ourselves, our businesses and
institutions and our communities. It was difficult and stressful,
tragic for many, exciting for others, and creative entrepreneur’s
took advantage of the opportunity to rethink the way we do things
and find new ways of bringing people together and creating
community


Jenn Ocken, a Baton Rouge photographer, business consultant,
podcast host and writer, made a name for herself in a big way
during the pandemic with her Front Porch Photos—portraits she
took of families and couples and people with their pets on their
front porches at a time when we were all living on our porches
and in our yards.


The Front Porch Photos, shared widely on social media, helped
unite the community and reminded us that we were all sharing the
moment together.


Outside of photography, Jenn’s career has been thriving with
workshops and consulting that helps clients live a more
empowered, fulfilled, harmonious life. Her latest tool is called
ThrivFOCUS- - an innovative journal that integrates goal setting,
self reflection and organization. 


Sherin Dawud co-founded and co-owns the Nura Company, a local
firm that specializes in consulting, marketing and event-planning
with a focus on helping nonprofits and mission-driven clients in
healthcare, education, advocacy and entertainment that want to
make the community a better place to live, work and play. 


Sherin co-founded and co-owns the firm with Raina Vallot. Like
Jenn, Raina and Sherin were inspired by the events of the
pandemic to create the firm. Companies were looking for new ways
to connect with people. They saw it as an opportunity to
reimagine impact through marketing.  In the years since,
they have worked with such clients as the Baton Rouge Youth Voice
Initiative, the Baton Rouge Alliance for students, the National
Fried Chicken Festival, which is held in New Orleans each fall,
and Peace Over Everything.


Sherin originally teamed up with Raina to co-found Power Pump
Girls in 2017, a social impact club whose mission is to empower
women to connect and serve.


Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs On the
Boulevard. You can find photos from this show at
itsbatonrouge.la.


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