 |
|
|
History of YouWho
YouWho Coalition 2004 Executive Committee Roster
Staff Biographies
YouWho, Inc. Board Members
Organizational Memberships
YouWho Annual Report
HISTORY OF YOUWHO
The YouWho Coalition is a statewide initiative designed to unite community-based efforts to improve outcomes for children and families. Its inception was grounded in the recognition of the heightened need to consolidate efforts to improve child well being in Louisiana. It's motto is: "If not now, when? If not You, Who?" The coalition works to create common ground on which diverse, child-concerned organizations can stand united and effect positive change for children.
The Coalition created the Covenant with Louisiana's Children modeled after a similar program in North Carolina. Coalition members sign on to the Covenant and pledge to work toward its principles. The Covenant covers five primary issues that directly relate to working groups. These work groups are charged with identifying priority issues. Once approved by the full coalition, the work group priorities comprise the year's public policy agenda. In addition to adhering to the "promises" of the Covenant, member organizations are asked to participate in a work group, allow their name to be used on the Coalition's documents and actively advance the group's policy agenda and public outreach.
An Executive Committee composed of elected officers, a Chair and the Chairs of each of the work groups governs the Coalition (see 2004 Executive Committee). An elected member chairs each working group. These work groups meet throughout the year but are especially active prior to legislative sessions. In January 2004 the YouWho Coalition met to discuss potential budget cuts and the importance of holding the line on Early Childhood Education and Juvenile Justice Reform. The Coalition has grown in the past few months from 75 to 120 members many of these organizations representing thousands of members. The Coalition also includes community activists, concerned parents, and young people.
The YouWho Coalition is housed under its parent organization, YouWho, Inc. which began just prior to the 2000 legislative session. It is the brainchild of Baton Rouge Pediatrician, Stewart Gordon, along with several children's advocacy groups. YouWho, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c) 3 based in Baton Rouge and provides educational services, child advocacy services and speaking engagements. It is not involved in direct services to children.
YouWho Coalition 2004 Executive Committee Roster
Chairman
Dr. Stewart Gordon
Child of Pediatrics, LSUHSC/EKLMC
5825 Airline Hwy, LSU Unit
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
225-358-1063
youwhoinc@cox.net
Vice President
Ms. Sandra Adams
LA Maternal Child Health Coalition
1772 Wooddale Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-925-7239
scadams1@aol.com
Secretary
Ms. Marketa Garner Gautreau
President and CEO
Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana
733 East Airport Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-925-9520
mgautreau@pcal.org
Treasurer
Rev. James Scott
233 Mayo Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
337-501-0387
jfsjr007@aol.com
Health and Safety Co-Chair
Ms. Sue Catchings
LA Assembly on SBHC
8650 Cedar Grove Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70812
225-355-7022
sue.catchings@hccs.brcoxmail.com
Health and Safety Co-Chair
Adena Houghton
Injury Prevention Coordinator
Office of Public Health
1772 Wooddale Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-925-3840
ahoughto@dhh.state.la.us
Juvenile Justice Co-Chair
Hon. Nancy Amato Konrad
Juvenile and Family Court Judge
Jefferson Parish Family Court
PO Box 1900
Harvey, LA 70059
504-367-3500
secc@jpjc.org
Juvenile Justice Co-Chair
Ms. Rubye Noble
Juvenile and Family Court Judges
P.O. Box 8857
Metairie, LA 70011-8857
504-835-5427
rubyenoble@cox.net |
Child Abuse and Neglect Co-Chair
Ms. Thea Lobell
Executive Director
NASW LA
700 North 10th Street, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-346-1234
exec@naswla.org
Child Abuse and Neglect Co-Chair
Mr. Julio Galan
Executive Director
Family and Youth Counseling Agency
220 Louie Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-436-9533
julio@fyca.org
Poverty Co-Chair
Ms. Alyce Lappin
LSU OSSRD
311 Huey P. Long Fieldhouse
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3939
225-578-9314
alappi1@lsu.edu
Poverty Co-Chair
Ms. Luceia LeDoux
Baptist Community Ministries
1450 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-593-2323
lledoux@bcm.org
Early Childhood Co-Chair
Ms. Julia Thornton
Steps to Success
7920 Wrenwood Blvd, Suite E
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225-216-3100
julia@stepstosuccess.org
Early Childhood Co-chair
Geoff Nagle, MSW, PhD
Director
Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, TB-52
1440 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70112-2715
504-988-8241
gnagle@tulane.edu
Education Co-chair
Emily Smith
Early Years Consulting
P.O. Box 518
New Roads, LA 70760
225-638-8909
earlyyearsconsulting@hotmail.com
Staff Contact
Michelle Smith
YouWho Inc.
2561 CitiPlace Court, Suite 750-165
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-295-1040
msmith72@bellsouth.net
|
Staff Biographies
Nancy Jo Craig, Program Director
Nancy Jo Craig received her BA in Biology from the University of Colorado, a MS from the University of North Carolina, and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. In 1984 Nancy Jo established the Natural Heritage Program in the state of Louisiana. She successfully lobbied for legislation that shepherded the Heritage Program into its ultimate home within state government. Subsequently, she established and directed the Nature Conservancy's state program for ten years during which time she helped set aside nearly a quarter of a million acres of habitat, working closely with Congress establish six new National Wildlife Refuges in the state, twelve nature preserves, and secured over $50 million in public and private funds for habitat protection. In 1989 she received the Governor's Conservationist of the Year Award for the state of Louisiana. In 1991 she received the National Chevron Conservationist of the Year Award in the professional category as well as the international United Nations Environmental Program Achiever Award. She served on the 1992-93 Clinton Transition Team for Natural Resources. From 1996 until 2000 she served as Vice President of the Nature Conservancy. She was President and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana in 2001. In 2002 she was appointed by the Governor to the Commission on the Coast. She now works with non-profits in organizational management and planning. She is the Program Director for the new statewide children's coalition, YouWho, Inc. She sits on numerous local Boards including the Burden Foundation, Hilltop, CAAWS, BREADA, and LSU Sea Grant. As founder of the Mystic Krewe of Mutts, one of her latest projects was the "Mardi Paws Parade" which recently raised thousands of dollars for animal welfare in her community. She is a published poet and her passion is politics.
Michelle Smith, Public Policy Director
Michelle got the political bug while canvassing for a local citizen action organization in Baton Rouge. This experience taught her about the power of the individual in the political process and gave her a deep appreciation for the impact of grassroots efforts to move issues.
Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1996. She then focused her organizing efforts towards improving the lives of Louisiana children and families who were victims of abuse. Michelle initiated the start up of a private non-profit Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) to coordinate the efforts of community organizations, state agencies, and law enforcement officials to holistically serve the best interests of abused children in Louisiana. Michelle's tactical and management expertise was key to the development and expansion of the CAC throughout the 21st Judicial District.
With the successful CAC up and running in Louisiana, Michelle set her sights on Washington, DC, where she gained a Master of Arts degree in Political Management from The George Washington University. In 1998, she joined the staff of Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) as a Legislative Correspondent where she handled children's issues, health care, agriculture, and transportation issues. In 2000, Michelle joined the staff of Legislative Demographic Services in Arlington, Virginia, as a Senior Account Executive managing grassroots outreach for Fortune 50 corporations, responsible for the concept, design and implementation of grassroots mobilizations on critical issues. During this time, Michelle was also a Professor at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, teaching "Grassroots Politics."
In October of 2002, Michelle decided it was time to move back to Louisiana and begin working for the best interests of children in her home state. She continues to work with state associations having a focus on improving the lives of Louisiana's children.
YouWho, Inc. Board Members
A. Val Browning, R.N., M.P.A.
Clarice H. Gordon
Stewart T. Gordon, M.D.
Alyson P. McCain, Ph.D.
Trey McCowan
Lane Grigsby
Robert Penniman
Malcolm Myer
Donna Vanchiere
Organizational Memberships
BeauCARE
Cajun Constructors
Capitol Area Human Services District
CASA Jefferson
Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana
City Court of Houma
Council for a Better Louisiana
Delgado Community College
Family Road of GBR
Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
Junior League of Baton Rouge
Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana
LA Maternal Child Health Coalition
Louisiana Assembly on SBHC
Louisiana American Academy of Pediatrics
Louisiana Association of Non-Profit Organizations
Louisiana CASA Association
Louisiana Children's Trust Fund
Louisiana Early Childhood Association
Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault
Louisiana Maternal Child Health Coalition
Louisiana School Based Health Centers
National Association of Social Workers
North Baton Rouge Learning Center
Pearl Acres Pediatrics
Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana
Refined by Fire Ministries
Safety Council
Service Connection
The Extra Mile
The Extra Mile, Region IV
UML Social Work
VOA Partnerships in Child Care
|
|
|
