The Acadiana Advocate's Ken Stickney joined Discover Lafayette to share his life story as a career journalist. He is a man with a compassionate heart who truly loves what he does for a living.

Ken is a native New Englander who grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts, just north of Boston. He moved to the Deep South more than 40 years ago to complete his education – and stayed. It was on a whim that he joined his brother to visit New Orleans one holiday on a fun road trip, and he became enthralled with our region. He ended up studying philosophy at a Jesuit university, Spring Hill College, in Alabama. He's always found the South a fascinating place, particularly Louisiana.

He has since spent 42 years in the newspaper business, almost all of it in the Deep South or in Gulf Coast states, and has held almost every newsroom position from reporter to editor. He has worked for Louisiana newspapers in Monroe, Lake Charles, and Lafayette since 1999. Once he moved to Louisiana, he took a course in Louisiana history so that he could understand our state and its rich legacy.

Ken's focus has always been on how the news he's reporting affects the people involved and their neighborhoods, as well as who they were. Issues such as zoning can profoundly impact people's quality of life and the value of their homes, and his reporting has reflected those realities. He recalled when the legendary Alabama coach, Bear Bryant, died in 1982 and he was asked to cover the burial; a highlight of that sad event was seeing Joe Namath at the burial ceremony.

During his career, he has chronicled events in communities from McComb, Mississippi to Tuscaloosa (twice), from Atlanta to Port Arthur, Texas. He has handled news beats from public safety to higher education, business to religion. In a staffing pinch, he spent two weeks handling the recipes for a mid-South daily newspaper’s society pages. He has written about murders and rescues, birth announcements, and obituaries.

He spoke of how over his years of reporting the South has evolved from being a unique region, with its own mannerisms, customs, and politics, into a homogenous area more akin to the rest of the country.

In 2009, Ken Stickney was awarded the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ top national award for editorial writing, and he has won or shared national, regional and state news writing awards, as well as editorial and column writing awards across the South. He has worked for Louisiana newspapers in Monroe, Lake Charles, and Lafayette since 1999 and is currently with the Acadiana Advocate.

A longtime “non-traditional” student, Stickney holds an associate’s in liberal arts from North Shore Community College in Massachusetts; a bachelor’s in philosophy from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama; a master’s in communication from The University of Alabama, where he was a Graduate Council Fellow; and a master’s in history from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He has been an adjunct college instructor in communications and history.

Ken has written a thesis on World War II correspondent John Henry, the father of one of his close friends who was a sportswriter for the Hearst News service. Henry covered the Departments of the Army and Navy from five continents during WWII, a fete probably not matched by any other journalist. Among other places, Henry was stationed at Casablanca along with Walter Cronkite; his papers are now at the WWII Museum in New Orleans. Mr. Henry's life inspired Ken.

With the funding awarded by a grant, Ken had the opportunity to tour Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1984 to interview Japanese civilians about the aftermath of the bombing, an experience of a lifetime.

Ceci O'Keefe Neustrom never pictured herself as an artist. Growing up as an older daughter in a family of 13 children in Mississippi, Ceci was a nurturer who took care of things...she cooked, sewed, and cleaned. "Art was never a part of my life." We taped this episode at the offices of BBR Creative with owner, Cherie Hebert, who has supported Ceci's art.

She attended and graduated from USL, and married football star Michael Neustrom, who eventually served as Lafayette Parish Sheriff for 16 years. They have made a good team and the proud parents of six children.

A native of Mississippi, Ceci studied to become an educator, and then found her career evolving into being a landman, or as she became known, a "landmam."

For decades, she researched the ownership of land and mineral rights of families in South Louisiana and became immersed in the interconnectedness of the Acadian families in our region. Her work in the local courthouses inspired her to learn more about the families who had settled here after the 1755 expulsion of Acadians who had become owners of vast expanses of land in our region. She'd sit at their kitchen tables or on their farms and get to know their stories as she figured out who owned mineral rights to the properties their families had settled on generations before.

Then, at the age of 55, her husband Mike gave her the gift of art lessons with Pat Soper, an acclaimed local art teacher and painter. Ceci had no inkling that she herself had artistic talent and had only doodled before she took up classes. She was angry with Mike for putting her in a position to fail. But, she didn't fail, and she soared once she tapped into her dormant ability to paint. She ended up as a resident artist at the renowned Art Studio League in New York City. Ceci found that she loved the experience of creating, of "joining in the experience of creation with our maker. It felt to me like a miracle that I could do this. I didn't believe that I could do this."

Chief Judge James McKay of the 4th Circuit convinced Ceci Neustrom to paint his portrait. This work set her on the path to loving the art of portraiture, of capturing the essence of the human form. "I discovered figure painting. It's what spoke to my heart." Judge McKay played football at USL with Ceci's husband, Mike Neustrom, in the 1970's.

Ceci has grown as an artist and has since created breathtakingly beautiful oil portraits of locals, as well of present-day descendants of Acadian settlers who arrived in south Louisiana in the mid-1700s. She has named this the "Acadian Heritage Series."

To date, her work showcases the Babineaux, Breaux, Broussard, Comeaux, Guidry, Hebert, LeBlanc and Prejean families.

While many of us are familiar with events surrounding the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755, paintings depicting that era always seem to include large groups of people, not individuals affected by the tragedy.

Ceci’s oil portraits draw you in and make things real. You can feel the strength and the grit, of the Acadians who survived and thrived. It’s hard to explain the energy that surrounds these paintings that honor our region’s Acadian lineage.

Ceci was helped greatly by local experts in the Acadian culture. Cheryl Perret helped Ceci get started in identifying Acadian families who might participate in her series. Special thanks go to Mary and Warren Perrin of the Acadian Museum for their his...

Rafael Garcia, proprietor of Café Habana City, Lafayette’s first Cuban restaurant, joins Discover Lafayette to share his story of gaining political asylum in the U. S.

Rafael relocated to Lafayette with several family members on March 31, 1998, and as he remembers, "we landed at 11:45 a.m. after taking four flights to travel from Havana to the Lafayette airport." The Diocese of Lafayette's Office of Migration and Refugee Services was instrumental in helping them get their feet on the ground. With six months of food stamps and one month's rent paid to stay at University Place Apartments with other Cuban immigrants who were mainly asylum seekers from Guantanomo Bay, Rafael set out to get work and learn how to live as a permanent resident of the U. S.

Rafael worked for four years for a company dealing with injection molding plastics before opening Cafe Habana City in 2002. In 2007, the restaurant moved to its current location at 911 Bertrand Drive in Lafayette. Diners experience homestyle Cuban cuisine which is lovingly prepared by "mothers and grandmothers of his family." With thirty different menu options prepared with rich seasonings such as garlic, cumin, bell peppers, oregano, onions, and bay leaf, a signature beef dish to enjoy is Ropa Vieja which translates to "old clothes."

In 2019, Cafe Habana City was named one of the top 20 Best Cuban Restaurants in America by Top 7 Travel for its authentic Cuban cuisine. 

A native of Havana, Cuba, Rafael became a political dissident after his mandatory three years serving in the military from the ages of 17 to 20 years old. (Although it is a violation of U. N. protocol to have children under the age of 18 serve in the military, Cuba's policy is to pick up teenagers in the summer for conscription after graduation from high school). Rafael noted that he was fortunate to have escaped battle conflict. In 1991, Cuba got out of the Angola War where they had supported the Communist People's Movement; over 10,000 Cuban soldiers were either dead, wounded, or missing. "The Angola War was not our war. Many Cubans lost their lives there."

A bitter opponent of the Castro regime, Rafael spoke of being born in 1971 in the middle of Cuban communism. He was a voice of Radio Marti, an American state-run radio station in Miami that transmits news in Spanish and is an illegal source of news in Cuba as it doesn't toe the communist party line. He was jailed many times for speaking up against the government and at one point, was expected to serve 35 years in prison. While Rafael's arrests were related to peaceful protest, violent protesters are either shot to death or jailed for life.

A sad byproduct of Cuba's communism is that it divides families and friends who pay the price if you are a dissident. Rafael had studied Industrial Design for one year after his military service but was kicked out of school due to his continued protests against the government. "Educated people can't associate with dissidents as the government will confiscate everything. The rest of the people make a living by selling Black Market items. You have your money confiscated if you show off. Stay humble, save money, and don't paint your house or buy a car. This is what socialism does to people. This type of Mafia government takes everything."

His daughter was born in 1996 and Rafael feared for her life if he did not get out of Cuba as he would undoubtedly be incarcerated for decades for his actions. He views himself as fortunate to have been able to get out before this occurred. With the help of U. S. Immigration, Rafael and several family members were granted permanent residency in the U. S., a status which is good for 10 years and allows immigrants to work legally,

Ron C. Henderson and Ron Camarota of the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s Office of Consumer Advocacy join Discover Lafayette to speak on the ins and outs of home insurance policies, figuring out how to get adequate coverage, and what your rights are as a consumer, especially after a storm. With hurricane system here, this is an important topic.

Knowing what your home insurance policy covers is critical to understanding your rights after a storm or catastrophic damage occurs. The Louisiana Department of Insurance is on a mission to educate consumers before they experience the heartbreak of being inadequately insured in the wake of a disaster.

In Louisiana, flood damage is a common occurrence as 57 of our 64 parishes experience flooding. However, since 1964 in the U. S., flood damage coverage has been excluded from standard homeowner's insurance policies; it must be purchased separately under a policy underwritten by FEMA. This is the only insurance resort available to homeowners under Congress's National Flood Insurance Program. Many a homeowner policyholder has been devastated to learn they have no insurance coverage after a flood.

Flood insurance covers water damage "from the ground up." That is, it kicks in when a storm causes water to enter your home from the ground level. Traditional homeowners/commercial policies will cover damage from "top-down" water damage that occurs.

Your deductible can drastically affect the cost of your premium. Ron Henderson gave an example of his father who had maintained a $50 deductible for decades and wondered why his rates were so high. Once he determined he could afford a $10,000 deductible, his premiums were reduced accordingly.

The Louisiana Department has an online rate-shopping tool to help you compare insurance rates among companies to get the best rate for your individual needs. Visit https://www.ldi.la.gov/online-services/shop-your-rates/homeowners-comparison-guide.

When speaking with insurance agents, be prepared to ask the right questions. Always ask for alternatives to what is quoted. "Can I get a better option? Can I get a static fee deductible or do I have to go with a percentage of the hurricane damage? What is excluded from coverage? What is the Additional Living Expense allowance under the policy in the event I am displaced? Is this covering Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost of damaged property? Is mold covered?"

A storm deductible typically ranges anywhere from 2%-5% of a home’s total insured value - so if a home is insured for $200,000 and has a 5% deductible, the first $10,000 in repairs must be paid out of pocket by the policyholder. If you can negotiate a lower deductible for these occurrences, it may well be worth it.

Both guests stressed the importance of reading your insurance policy. Familiarize yourself with the sections and what each cover. Insurance policy language is effective for one year at a time and changes are reflected in each one-year renewal period, perhaps causing you to experience changes in contractual terms that you may not desire. Most consumers never take the time to read their policy and are shocked when confronted with a damage claim that is not reimbursable or not reimbursed at the level needed to get back on their feet. It is critical to be proactive in understanding what your policy covers and take steps to add coverage if it is not initially offered. You can always purchase an endorsement or rider to expand existing coverage on things such as antique furniture, jewelry and other valuables. Keep up with the value of your home as it may be prudent to raise your coverage as real estate prices inflate.

Ron Henderson says "You get what you pay for." Not meaning that the insurance company doesn't want...

Lo Graham, a Lafayette native making her mark in the film and television industry, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss her starring role in Unhuman, a Blumhouse Productions horror movie, premiering digitally on June 3, 2022. You can rent the movie anywhere you get your streaming services.

Unhuman follows a group of high school students whose school bus crashes on a field trip. The press release states, "Relationships are tested once they realize they are being stalked by an attacker who intends to drive them out and straight into a horrifying fight to survive."

The movie was filmed in New Orleans in the heat of the summer last year. While most of the actors were from LA, the majority of the crew supporting the movie were talented professionals from the New Orleans area.

As part of an ensemble cast of young actors, Lo comes face to face with evil in this roller-coaster romp. Lo says "It's like the Breakfast Club meets the Walking Dead," with the typical stereotypes found in horror movies, and she plays the mean, popular girl. "Lots of comedy and action. It was so much fun making this teen movie with a twist of horror that Blumhouse does best."

While Lo has found a niche as a “scream queen” character since her earliest role in Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, she embraces her love of acting and is ready to branch out into a wider variety of roles.

Lo Graham has also made her mark on television with roles in CBS's NCIS: New Orleans, Fox's Scream Queens, a recurring role on Fox's primetime series Filthy Rich, and in the Columbia Pictures film, This Is The End. She has worked with stars such as Kim Cattrall, Juliette Lewis, and Seth Rogan.

Lo Graham with Juliette Lewis(left) and Kim Cattrall (right) of the Fox Series Filthy Rich.

Lo is a graduate of Lafayette's Ascension Episcopal School and LSU's Manship School of Mass Communications in Broadcast Journalism. She first began modeling and pursuing acting roles through Images Model & Talent Agency as a young teen and fell in love with it. She recounted that her first speaking roles came about in Sci-Fi movies while filming in Lafayette with Ken Badish's Active Entertainment who helped her get her start in the industry.

Louisiana is a great draw for filmmakers. Lo has been fortunate to be able to balance her work between Los Angeles and Louisiana. Louisiana lures many productions due to our generous film industry tax credits. "People love to film horror sci-fi in Louisiana because of the landscape here. In New Orleans and surrounding areas, we have so many spooky, historical elements." As an example, right before we filmed this interview, Curmudgeon Films, led by Griff Furst, filmed a Morgan Freeman movie entitled 57 Seconds here in Lafayette.

Acting coaches have taught Lo to get in tune with the "child-like" version of herself with an active imagination. This is a critical skill in today's modern film industry which operates virtually until filming begins. "Whenever I'm acting, I've learned to put myself aside and play. Be that character and think like that character. Especially in auditions. Today, auditions are all self-taped and happen at your house. People used to go into an office to audition for a casting director. Now people tape themselves with a reader off-camera giving you their lines; you record yourself and send it off."

While she was auditioning for Unhuman, Lo said she had to imagine the plot of the whole movie as she was initially taping her audition so that she could get in character to scream realistically. While the initial phase of earning parts has changed,

Cherie Hebert, CEO and sole proprietor of BBR Creative, a creative marketing agency, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss her journey in building a robust, woman-owned business.

It’s been 25 years since BBR was originally created by three young women who happened to be blond (Cathi Pavy), brunette (Cherie), and redhead (Sara Ashy), hence the name BBR Creative. Cherie's mission for BBR Creative is to be remembered as a business that cares about the people who make their work happen, the businesses they serve, and the community.

A graduate of USL in Fine Arts, focusing on graphic design, Cherie worked at several advertising agencies before partnering with Pavy and Ashy to start BBR Creative. In the early days, the business was basically a creative design shop that developed promotional items for small businesses. Cherie was the 'account person' and worked to build their clientele. "Everyone should have a decent database and list of people to communicate with, those who continually buy from you. That is the cheapest thing you can do to grow your business, no matter what business you are in."

As time went by, the firm branched out to representing larger entities. Today, Cherie says "the thing we do best is "supporting organizations that already have marketing teams in place but need help in augmenting their teams or handling special projects." Five main areas of client focus for BBR Creative have been education, healthcare, food and beverage, home services, and financial services. She proudly noted that Home Bank was a client for eight years and they have banked with Home Bank for 20 years. "It is important to have a good banker!"

"I always knew I wanted to own my own business. There is a lot of freedom associated with that as well as challenges, so that's why I wanted to take the risk. The most fabulous thing about being young is that you are naive and take on things you wouldn't have if you were older and understood what it takes to get there. But back then, I wasn't!

Since 1997, BBR has served well over 650 brands. "The very essence of what a marketing company does is to help other businesses grow. BBR helps other businesses grow and that is the only reason we exist."

Cherie Hebert of BBR Creative has learned over the years that small businesses are typically undercapitalized when it comes to marketing their services. "They don't budget or raise the funds necessary to fund the marketing needed to acquire clients. If you are a car wash at a busy intersection, that may be okay, but there are so many other businesses that don't have that luxury and they have to work to strategically to attract clients. So many people go into business every day, and they don't know that it takes money to build a client base. There is no one cookie-cutter approach, you can't use the same recipe for every type of business."

In celebration of its 25th year in business, BBR Creative has chosen 25 activities of appreciation for clients, people, and the community it calls 25 Do Good Days. In 2022, BBR has already undertaken projects to honor employees of Oschner Lafayette General, presented Ceci Neustrom's Acadian Heritage Series of artwork during Festival Acadiens, and sponsored a full-day conference put on by American Advertising Federation-Baton Rouge for students who want to know more about the advertising business. Currently (May 30 to June 23, 2022 ), BBR is partnering with Rouses and SuperOne to collect shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, and hand sanitizer for homeless individuals. For more information on the 25 do-good-days, visit https://bbrturns25.com/.

When hiring, Cherie looks for 'creative thinkers, and she thinks a liberal arts education is desirable bec...

Francis X. and Cathi Pavy joined Discover Lafayette to talk about Pavy Art + Design, their contemporary line of Acadian-inspired textiles derived from the iconic artwork of Francis X. Pavy.

Pavy Art + Design's offerings are inspired by Francis X Pavy’s visual vocabulary and iconic imagery­—aka Pavicons. Textiles and wallpaper are derived from his original artwork and he designs and hand paints every pattern and colorway in their collection. "It is important to me that the artwork has a narrative behind it, to have depth, meaning, and experience behind it," says Francis Pavy.

While Pavy Art + Design is primarily focused on business-to-business sales, individuals can also buy direct. Cathy says, "Our goal is to get into showrooms to the trade across the country" so that everyone can get to know what is special about Acadiana.

The business was conceptualized in 2019; the Pavys had "always talked about extracting elements of Francis' paintings and creating textiles." The process of converting art into a textile design is a business that has allowed the couple to honor their mutual South Louisiana heritage, which they both cherish. Francis spoke of the prevalence of native grasses such as Tunica, Cane, Marsh, and Briar and how his patterns each embody a story about South Louisiana.

Pavy Art + Design offers delightfully colorful designs for any home decor based upon the work of Francis X. Pavy.

Francis has been creating art for forty years in his studio in Downtown Lafayette. He was originally inspired as a child by a Saturday morning syndicated show called "Drawing with Jon Gnagg," and his parents signed him and his sister, Camille, up for art classes with the acclaimed Elemore Morgan who was teaching at that time at Girard Park. Francis kids that he hounded his parents for a drawing kit and he still has a piece of it.

He also learned photography while still a young boy when his dad documented their lives through his photos. Francis had a darkroom in the attic and learned to develop the film. He still "takes photographs in his head" when he is inspired to paint.

"Sometimes I'll see something in my head and the image haunts me. Or, someone will explain something to me and I'll visualize it in my head and the image keeps coming back again and again. I think of it as taking photographs in my head."

Francis is an internationally acclaimed painter and mixed-media artist known for his vivid works capturing the folklore of South Louisiana. Both Francis and Cathi stressed the importance of their formative years, being raised in families that played music and loved to dance to Cajun music. The discovery and reinvention of Cajun Culture is a new experience for every generation according to Francis. "The younger kids playing music interpret it in their own way, which is no different than the 80s when Beausoleil came out. I think our culture is reinvented every so many years. Even before us, it was Dewey Balfa and Iry LeJeune who changed Cajun culture after the war and the Newport Folk Festival. We have a dynamic culture that is always changing."

In 1990, Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed Francis the “Picasso of Zydeco.” Collectors of his art include The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Morris Museum of Art, Ron Howard, Paul Simon, and Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia, among others. His work is featured on the TomTom Club album cover of the Talking Heads. Lorne Michaels of SNL fame discovered Francis' work while traveling to Louisiana a couple of times and he has the artist's work front and center in his office in NYC and his home in Montauk on Long Island.

While Francis is an internationally known painter,

The W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center, an extension of the high schools in the Lafayette Parish School System, offers students career and technical education in automotive, cosmetology, culinary, medical, industrial technology, and welding programs. Principal Holly Boffy joined Discover Lafayette to share the school's mission and new programming being offered in the upcoming 2022-23 school year.

Students must be enrolled in the Lafayette Parish School System to participate and they attend the Career Center for three hours per day taking technical and career classes. No one graduates from the Career Center, they only attend part of their school day and graduate from their home base school. There is no tuition for the programs, but some minor fees may be involved depending upon the curriculum. Public school buses transport the students to and from their home base school.

Program fields include Auto tech, Auto paint and body, Remote Vehicle Tech, Cosmetology, Culinary, Digital Media, Manufacturing Tech (Computer-aided design and Metal Cutting) Medical (nursing and medical assistant, EMT), Robotics and Welding.

The Career Center is implementing an HVAC program in the Fall of 2022 along with electrical programs. There is still space for students in the new programs, as well as in machinery and the paint and body program; families are encouraged to visit https://www.lpssonline.com/schools/careercenter for more information. In a typical year, the application process opens up in January.

The training received while in high school enables students to enter the workforce full-time upon graduation or continue on to community college, a four-year university, or apprenticeship programs. The Career Center partners with South Louisiana Community College and students can earn dual enrollment credits with the tuition being covered by LPSS.

These early career experiences are invaluable as students learn whether or not their career choice is the correct fit for their interests while they are still young. "It empowers the students," says Principal Boffy. She cited one example of a teacher who had originally earned credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant. While that career path turned out not to be for her, she was able to work as a CNA while putting herself through a traditional four-year college, using her trade and not incurring debt.

"It's important to mentor your children, to have conversations about what makes them happy. What gifts do they have that they can use to contribute to others in their career? I believe the Career Center is one of the best-kept secrets in Lafayette Parish," says Principal Holly Boffy.

Students have to have decent grades to enroll in the Career Center as they must also earn their other core credits such as History, English, etc. to graduate.

The Career Center is committed to the region's 55 by 25 Initiative, with a goal of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadiana with postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other high-value credentials to 55 percent by 2025.

One program that reaches out to serve the community is the Culinary program which utilizes the Culinary Cafe on-site at the Career Center. With adequate space to hold luncheons or banquets, the space is open for rentals to the public. You provide your budget to the students who will then prepare a meal from scratch and serve your guests at the tables provided.

Shown are students at the Culinary Cafe at W. D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center. To be certified, students must complete 400 hours working the industry and pass 3 different tests to earn the Pro-Start National Certificate of Achievement,

BJ Smith, and his mom, Kim Lanclos-Smith, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss how their world was forever changed when BJ suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of an ATV accident at the age of 15.

BJ is now an artist, and has found joy painting with acrylics for the past five years. He has taken his trauma and converted it into the beauty and sanctity of life through his art. He loves to share his art. His mom, Kim, has become an advocate for the many challenges and financial needs that a family faces when caring for a loved one with a traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI.

BJ was an adventurous teen with dreams of playing professional football who was stopped in his tracks by a tragic ATV accident on August 8, 2005. A young teen staying in Houston with relatives one summer to improve his football skills, BJ was on a racing four-wheeler going 60 mph when a dog ran out in front of him and he swerved to miss it. He was thrown 25 feet with no helmet on, breaking bones, and suffering internal injuries and road burns from the tumble.

BJ's brain injuries were so horrific that he was DOA upon arrival at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. He stayed in the ICU with a 10% chance of survival, in a coma for three weeks, as his head had taken the brunt force of the accident. His surgeon has stated that he has no idea how BJ survived. His recovery has been miraculous and he was never even expected to be able to walk, yet he survived whole. However, BJ lost his ability to be self-sufficient, plan for the future, or focus on goals in life.

"A brain injury is a lot like a hurricane. It devastates everything it touches. After so many years, I'm learning to find my center. The harder the storm is, it's the best place to be. We've been given life to experience. At this point in my spiritual journey, I embrace it in my solid form, each and every day. There is so much more on the spectrum of life than we can perceive."

His mom, Kim Lanclos-Smith, has dedicated her life to taking care of BJ and is his main caretaker, with the help of aides financially provided for in the last ten years under the New Opportunities Waiver ("NOW") program administered by the State of Louisiana's Department of Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. People with BJ's condition must have suffered this disability before the age of 21 to qualify for the waiver. Each year, BJ and Kim must reapply for the NOW waiver to continue to receive much-needed assistance to ensure that BJ is adequately cared for. For Acadiana residents who need more information, visit the Acadiana Area Human Services District.

As BJ has progressed in his recovery, his love of art has developed and increased. He loves painting in free form, sometimes flinging acrylic paint all over the room. Even though he has lost 60% of his vision and is legally blind, he experiences color as he feels it in his heart. He says that is "where he lives."

"If you open your eyes, color is everywhere. Embrace that feeling of the color we've been given. The energy of color is amazing, the spectrum to be on. You are color, your eyes are color, we are color," says BJ Smith.

BJ had a near-death experience and with that came a spiritual awakening. "Heaven was full of love." He gives advice to people such as "Don't ever talk down to anyone." He is not scared to die as he knows that "God owns me."

Every nine seconds someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, which is about 3 million people per year. It often goes undiagnosed and it is very difficult to get paid care for victims of TBI. Kim shared that 25 to 80% of the prison population has pre-crime TBI, with over 60% reporting head injuries.

Heather Blanchard, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Louisiana ("CASA") joins Discover Lafayette to discuss their mission to help children and families when there has been abuse or neglect.

Heather is a passionate spokesperson for CASA, having first served the organization in her first job after college, then served on its board for six years, and returning to lead as Executive Director. CASA of South Louisiana is now partnered with the United Way of Acadiana and housed in its office to more effectively leverage its resources.

"CASA volunteers are the eyes and ears for the judge. They work with the families, the teachers, and the counselors. Ultimately they write a report to the judge on what is happening in the child's life and recommend where they should be permanently placed."

CASA works to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect. Through its volunteers, CASA advocates for safe, permanent, and nurturing homes for children who through no fault of their own have been removed from their homes and must rely upon the court to decide their future.

CASA of South Louisiana works within the 15th Judicial District Court which encompasses Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion Parishes. The Louisiana Children's Code lays out the responsibilities of CASA and its trained volunteers who provide independent, third-party, objective assessments of what they see. Funding is provided by the Louisiana Supreme Court CASA Assistance Program, Victims of Crime Act Funding, the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund, and grants.

Volunteers go through thirty hours of training, serve without compensation, and are appointed by the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction.  The judge of the court will verify the volunteer's qualifications, training, and ability to serve as a CASA volunteer, including the ability to represent and advocate for the best interest of the children assigned to him.  No volunteer is assigned until a comprehensive criminal background check has been conducted. When asked who the 'best' volunteers are, Heather jokingly said, "Our best volunteers are retired teachers. They've seen and worked with all different walks of life so they are very understanding."

A CASA Volunteer spends time with their assigned child or sibling group getting to know the child while also gathering information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, caregivers, and others involved in the child’s life. Approximately every six months, a report is prepared for the judge (with help from an assigned Supervisor) sharing recommendations for the child’s care. Learn more about volunteering with CASA of SoLA at casaofsola.org.

Heather stressed that nine times out of ten, a child is better off with their family of origin. When they enter the foster care system, the first goal is always reunification with their family. Children aren't normally removed from their families unless there is harm involved, as removing a child from their home is very traumatic. In some cases, CASA volunteers assist in the family home to monitor circumstances and provide resources. Heather gave one example of a mom who had her children taken away because at meal time she would throw potato chips on the floor. "She didn't know better. That is how she was raised. She needed training and support. She loved her children but didn't know better."

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services ("DFCS") which oversees foster care services has lots of turnover and is short-staffed. CASA provides much-needed resources to help families meet the requirements to get their lives back on track. A study showed that only about 23% of families had the necessary resources to meet the requirements placed upon them by the court to be abl...