Mayor Broome Announces Neighborhood Conference for East Baton Rouge Parish Communities. See When, Where

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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — City officials and community leaders have set a goal to unite hundreds of neighborhood leaders and residents for the 2024 Connecting East Baton Rouge Neighborhood Convention this September.

“Our goals for the 2024 Neighborhood Congress are to provide participants with tools and information to effectively address the quality of life in their communities,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.

According to Angela D. White, president of the Southern Heights Property Owners Association, there are quality issues that some residents are facing.

“Stormwater runoff, that’s definitely a big issue. Property depreciation, dealing with deterioration. We have issues with litter,” White said.

But now, with the neighborhood meeting, all this will change.

“This convention will help us understand some of the challenges. Some of the solutions, some of the ways we can solve things collectively. And then I expect there will be new things we’ll learn,” White said.

Murelle Harrison, director of the Gardere Initiative, said that initiatives are aimed at helping neighborhoods. She said that the Gardere Initiative is proof that initiatives can make a difference in the area.

“At one point we had seven homicides in our 3.39 square mile area, which is now over 13,000 people. The churches, the Crime Prevention District, and the BREC, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, came together and we made a difference. By 2023, we’ll have zero homicides,” Harrison said.

Broome said the convention has been in the works for several months. Now that registration is open, community leaders are encouraging people to attend, especially youth.

“We need a new generation and a new citizen to take responsibility for maintaining your neighborhood,” White said.

The event will take place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, September 14th at Raising Cane’s River Center. Click here to register and get more information.