Insights, Stories, and Action
Stay connected with our work and get key information about the Greater New Orleans community.
Member Highlight: Todd Battiste on Centering Youth Voice and Building Collective Power
As Senior Vice President for Education & Youth Initiatives at United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA), Todd leads with a deep belief in collective action, sustained partnership, and staying close to the community. In this conversation, he shares why collaboration matters, how GNOFN is helping funders work collaboratively with the community, and how UWSELA supports local youth and families.
Honoring Community Champions in the Greater New Orleans Region
Heroes walk among us every day. They mentor youth, fight for justice, care for neighbors, build coalitions, and hold communities together, often with few resources and little recognition. GNOFN’s Restoration and Rejuvenation Initiative (R2I) was created to change that.
Member Highlight: Emilia Aguinaga on Building Community through Philanthropy
Meet GNOFN Member Emilia Aguinaga, who serves as a Climate Justice program officer at the Foundation for Louisiana.
Education Spotlight: The End of Desegregation in Louisiana
On May 2, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to end Louisiana’s last remaining federal school desegregation order.
While this action may represent the formal close of a chapter in the state’s legal history, it does not mark the achievement of educational equity. In fact, it underscores the urgency of continuing and expanding the work to ensure every child in Louisiana has access to a high-quality, just, and inclusive public education.
Louisiana’s March 2025 Elections: A Testament to Long-Term Investment in Democracy
On March 29, 2025, elections in Louisiana marked a significant moment for the state's democratic process.
Voters statewide considered and rejected four constitutional amendments addressing key legal and tax reforms. These elections demonstrated the impact of sustained community organizing and investment in democratic participation. Flozell Daniels Jr., Board Co-Chair of GNOFN and CEO of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, emphasized the importance of long-term efforts in building democratic power in the following statement.