Coalition Partner Update # 5
Building Partnership & Coalition
SafeBR continues to grow! We are asking you to forward this update to 5 individuals or organizations and encourage them to join the movement to create the safest city in Louisiana. Every Baton Rouge citizen committed to this vision can join online at safebr.org/join.
Fundraising & Support
SafeBR is resourcing a 3-year funding strategy to leverage $65M toward the 3 Pillars of focus (~$50M in public funding and $15M in private investment). To date, we have identified over $7.5M for SafeBR and urge supporters to visit safebr.org/support to contribute.
SafeBR Community Safety Partner Meeting - Wednesday, May 10th at 4:00 PM:
The first in-person SafeBR Partner meeting is officially scheduled for Wednesday, May 10th at 4:00 PM at The Executive Center (250 S. Foster Drive; Baton Rouge, LA 70806).
Please RSVP at the link below:
5.10.23 SafeBR Community Safety Meeting RSVP
SafeBR, local law enforcement leadership, and other leaders doing impactful work in this space will share real-time updates. Additionally, SafeBR will demonstrate ways for Partners to further engage; begin to understand and support initiatives; understand and discuss alignment on crucial data; to name a few. While SafeBR is not responsible for public safety, we believe through your partnership, we will drive a focused investment of time and resources into making our community safer.
Core Pillar Updates
SafeBR will spark immediate action while building long-term solutions to support community safety, focusing on solutions that drive the three pillars of SafeBR:
Pillar 1.
New resources for law enforcement to enhance new and existing strategies proven effective in stopping violent crime as well as individual assistance for first responders injured in the line of duty.
Pillar 2.
Community investment in evidence-based strategies to disrupt the cycle of crime and violence.
Pillar 3.
Accountability and transparency for the entire system of justice and our collective investments
The Inspiration Center Officially Breaks Ground at Howell Park (Pillar 2)
SafeBR is proud to support the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation and a coalition of partners in formally announcing The Inspiration Center at Howell Community Park. This state-of-the-art recreation center, the first of its kind in the state, will be over 35,000 square feet and will be set on the 114-acre site along with BREC swimming facilities currently under construction.
The Inspiration Center is modeled after similar innovative facilities located in Atlanta Georgia, St. Cloud Minnesota, and Racine Wisconsin, and will use technology, health and wellness, education, athletics, and mentorship to engage young people and their families while also providing young and family services to households in inner city Baton Rouge.
“The Inspiration Center will provide a one-stop shop for wrap around family services, compile data to help partnering agencies better serve residents, create a better relationship with law enforcement and instill community pride through events.”
- Corey Wilson (BREC Superintendent)
Additionally, The Inspiration Center will provide the community with a football field, basketball gymnasium, game rooms, video game arena, recording studio bays, reading labs, meeting spaces, space for local and state service providers, a cafeteria, and law enforcement officer rooms.
“Racine Wisconsin experienced a 70-percent reduction in violent crime in the area surrounding their first center and all of the cities researched and mentioned above show reduced calls for service by law enforcement, lower recidivism rates, improved police/community relations, better access to services for youth, family education and employment service providers and more data about the impact of programs on the service area,”
-Clay Young (Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation.
The center has, and will be, funded through private philanthropy and a $5 million contribution from the state capital outlay budget. The Center will be operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana and staffed by members of law enforcement, the Department of Children and Family Services and offer BREC programming.
Upon opening the Inspiration Center, the law enforcement officer room will be known as the Lt. Glen Dale Hutto Jr. LEO Complex. This week marks the third anniversary of Lt. Hutto’s murder. The pre-teen computer lab will be known as the Devin Page Jr. Computer Lab. And the teen lab will be named the Allie Rice Learning Center.
SafeBR is proud to help support the completion of The Inspiration Center as a part of the Community Investment Pillar and focus moving forward. We recognize The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation; the state of Louisiana and Governor John Bel Edwards; EBR City-Parish Government and Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome; EBR Parish School System; BREC; Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana; ExxonMobil; AT&T; DentaQuest; and many others for their commitment to date.
More information on the Inspiration Center will be available soon: Home | Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation (brcollab.com).
Related Inspiration Center article:
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/inspiration-center-recreational-facility-breaks-ground/article_3482d6ba-e380-11ed-