Power to the People and Their Kids

Louisiana faces so many challenges. One in five residents lives
below the federal poverty level and nearly half the population is
considered  working poor. Our health outcomes are among the
worst in the nation and so are our schools. How do we change
policies to help everybody in the state? And what will it take to
turn our schools around? 


Ashley Shelton has answers to these questions. Ashley is founder,
president and CEO of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice,
a statewide 501(c)3 organization in Louisiana that uses a
broad-based strategy of community organizing, issue advocacy, and
civic action to give underserved populations a voice in the halls
of power. They specialize in in focusing on workers' rights,
community health and criminal justice reform. 


Ashley has led several  nonprofit advocacy organizations
over the years, where she has made a significant impact on policy
at the state and local level. She also served as executive vice
president at the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, which
was created to help improve the quality of life for all
Louisianans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


Prior to that, Ashley served as Director of Grant-making at the
Baton Rouge Area Foundation, one of the most impactful
organizations in this region. 


Chris Meyer is CEO of New Schools for Baton Rouge, an
organization that was created by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation
in 2010 to help attract and grow the most successful
non-profit-run public charter schools to Baton Rouge.


In the years since, New Schools has helped attract two-dozen
high-performing charter schools that are on track to serving half
of public school students in Baton Rouge. Under Chris’
leadership, the organization has raised and deployed more than
$70m in its first two Excellence Funds, and spurred more than
$150 million in new school facility investments.


Chris began his educational career at Teach for America, where he
taught social studies at a public school in New Orleans. After
Hurricane Katrina, Chris led over 200 students who had evacuated
to a rural parish to achieve significant academic gains. More
recently, he served as deputy superintendent of the Louisiana
Recovery School District and, prior to that, as Director of
Policy in the Louisiana Department of Education. 


Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs
on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Erik Otts
at our website.


Here's more conversation about mentorship and education in Baton
Rouge.


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