AROUND THE PARISH

SU students, Mayor’s Love Your Block Program to spruce up Scotlandville

Southern University students will team up with Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden’s Love Your Block Program on Saturday, August 18, to tidy up Scotlandville High School, Ryan Elementary School, and the Banks Community in Scotlandville.

The volunteers are slated to meet at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Southern University Student Union. The students will then move to the assigned volunteer locations between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and the projects are scheduled to conclude between 11:30 a.m. and noon. All logistical support will be provided by the Jag University Ambassadors, an organization of sophomore, junior and senior student leaders.

In addition to the Southern University volunteers, East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, ARAMARK, Community Against Drugs and Violence, Inc. (CADAV, Inc.) and the Scotlandville Community Development Corporation are also partnering in this endeavor.

This community service event is an official activity of the Southern University Welcome Week to promote civic engagement to new and current students.

The students will complete the following projects:

Scotlandville High School

ARAMARK and school administrators have developed a contingency plan and will be on site to lead the volunteer efforts. Students will:
• Pressure wash the exterior buildings
• Clean windows
• Scrape gum off of the side walks
• Trash removal
• Clean walls, doors, lockers, desks, etc.
• Sweep Hallways

Ryan Elementary

School administrators have developed a plan and will be on site to lead the volunteer efforts. Students will:
• Assist with cleaning the school supply closet
• Work in the library to barcode books, shelve books, etc.

Banks Community

The Scotlandville Community Development Corporation and the Community Against Drugs and Violence, Inc. have a developed a plan and will be on site to lead the volunteer efforts.
Students will:
• Cut grass on vacant lots
• Trash removal
• Assist with other beautification efforts on Pembroke and Goudchaux Streets

The history of this project dates back to May 2012, when the Jag University Ambassadors from Southern University participated in a Love Your Block cleanup effort with the Scotlandville CDC and CADAV, Inc. to clean a vacant lot on Goudchaux Street. More than 50 student volunteers participated and asked to do more directly in the community surrounding Southern University.

As Southern University students and administrators began planning activities for Welcome Week, they expressed a desire to partner with the Mayor’s Love Your Block initiative to have a greater impact on the Scotlandville Community.

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