The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children

We welcome Heather Cope as our new chief of staff. With nearly two decades of experience in both non-profit and government roles, Cope will be key in guiding LPIC’s strategic vision, organizational planning, and internal communications. Her leadership will be critical in enhancing LPIC's mission and optimizing its leadership structures. Read more about her experience here: https://ow.ly/k94s50ToabV

#FlashbackFriday: Last month, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana hosted an appreciation dinner celebrating the collaborative efforts of local organizations in New Orleans’ nomination as a finalist for the National Civic League's 2024 All-American Cities Competition. Key contributors include the United Way’s New Orleans Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Agenda for Children, City of New Orleans, For Providers By Providers Louisiana, New Orleans Children & Youth Planning Board, New Orleans Youth Alliance, were recognized for their work in using inclusive civic engagement to address critical issues and strengthen connections between residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders.

Dr. Candace Weber, our partnerships director, joined WRKF's Adam Vos to discuss the $1.3 million in grant funding for projects that address compensation for early childhood educators in the state. Seven grantees across the state will look at ways to increase wages and benefits for the workforce that provides early education for the state’s youngest children. To learn more about the grants, tune in here: https://lnkd.in/gdQzdqDE

Our thoughts are with all of those in the path of Storm Francine as it makes its way across the Gulf. We implore everyone to heed warnings and directions from state and local government. 📌 For evacuation information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gVtUkiW or call #211. 📌 For road closure information, please visit www.511LA.org or call #511. 📌 For shelter information, please contact your Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Contacts for each parish can be found at https://lnkd.in/eRDEeYd. ALL EMERGENCIES AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO #911.

Our Executive Director, Dr. Libbie Sonnier, is one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit for 2024 in Women We Admire! We're so honored to have our Executive Director recognized! Check out the article: https://ow.ly/9mzY50TiWg3!

#FlashbackFriday: We'd like to welcome our newest board members Sharonda Williams and Jennifer Eplett Reilly. Williams is general counsel and director of government affairs at Loyola University New Orleans and a special counsel with Fishman Haygood. Reilly is the founding chair of New Schools for Baton Rouge. She has been engaged in civic leadership as co-founder of City Year Inc. and founding executive director and president of Echoing Green Foundation.

We are excited to announce our new Early Childhood Education Fund Dashboard! Updated monthly, this dashboard shows the current fund balance and revenue sources, as well as which parishes currently qualify to receive matching funds. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Fund is a state incentive fund offering a dollar-for-dollar match to local entities that create access to quality-rated child care for children from birth to age 3. For more information, visit our website: https://ow.ly/7Ibh50Tb5qh!

Congratulations to Candace Weber, Ph.D., our Partnerships Director, for being recognized as a 2024 Women of the Year honoree! 🌟

Happy Labor Day! Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of everyone who makes our economy thrive.

#FlashbackFriday: In 2022, we had our first-ever Supporters Breakfast in New Orleans! At this breakfast, we honored supporters from the Greater New Orleans region and soft-launched the Geaux Far Louisiana initiative. 🌟