By Kyle Roberts
As Ruston wrapped up its third annual Juneteenth celebration this past weekend, the driving force behind the event is staying vigilant in the mission to see racial reconciliation and address poverty right here in Lincoln Parish.
Real Change in Ruston is comprised of multiple community members in Ruston, ranging from pastors to financial stewards to public servants.
Formed as a response to the death of George Floyd in 2020, the group aims to keeping the conversation on race moving forward in a healthy and safe direction for residents all over the city of Ruston.
“It’s been a great experience working with the Real Change in Ruston committee,” Zion Traveler pastor Maurice White said. “I appreciate the vision of the mayor, just to bring our community together. You have private, public sector and nonprofit working together.”
The group has met on a weekly basis in the past, and for Ruston mayor Ronny Walker, the success of the group has been seen in the increased inclusivity of community events.
“I definitely see a lot of change, if you will, in the way that things are being handled,” Walker said. “It’s the way people are involved, and especially, people focused on being inclusive in (community) events like this.”
One particular program, Faith & Finances, is a financial literacy program that aims to get people on track to financial stability and home ownership in a partnership with Zion Traveler’s Community Development Corporation. Similarly, Crossmark has implemented the Minority Contracting program to give opportunities to minority contractors to get the training needed for licensure. There is also a housing project with a partnership with the Ruston Housing Authority that will begin work soon, as well, to allow pathways for renters to become homeowners.
Programs like this have been funded by a federal grant through Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy’s office in more than half a million dollars.
“Just through Faith & Finances alone, we have realized monumental success,” committee member Sarah Warren said, who is also the director of marketing for Argent Financial. “Our 49 graduates have shared stories following their graduation of paying off debt, increasing their savings and even buying homes. Those are amazing outcomes in just three years of effort.
“The program is open to all ages, races and genders. In fact, I think the program is better when the participants come from varied backgrounds. As we compare our hopes and failures, we begin to learn that we’re all a lot more alike than we are different. But even where we are different, we begin to see the causation and logic surrounding other’s choices and situations. That exposure alone—to other people’s stories—makes the program incredibly powerful.”
Following the celebration this weekend, the group is committed to continue meeting to foster and nurture the programming and partnerships that have been started.
And the hope will be to make new partnerships into the future.
“I think people coming together one of the goals of Real Change in Ruston is to handle poverty; it’s a big thing in our community,” Rev. White added. “When you have dealt with poverty, there are so many other things that you can deal with in our community. We have some great programs coming through the generosity of Sen. Cassidy.”
Real Change in Ruston group members:
Alderwoman Angela Mayfield
Mayor Ronny Walker
Rev. George Lee, IV
Rev. Chris Hanchey
Rev. Maurice White
James Austin
Jessica Hughes
Marisol O’Neal
Amy Stegall
Jessica Slaughter
DeVonia Love-Vau
