The Drum Newspaper

07/21/2025

Church holds community meeting to stand for Amite community schools, July 24 http://drumbeatsla.com/school-july-24 Grant Chapel AME Church holds community meeting to stand for Amite community schools and students on July 24.

07/19/2025

3rd Annual Scotlandville-Banks Back to School Bash set for July 26 http://drumbeatsla.com/july26 The 3rd Annual Scotlandville-Banks Back to School Bash and Community Health Fair will take place Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ExxonMobil YWCA, located at 7717 Howell Place in Baton Rouge.

Hosted by the Clean Green Neighborhood Alliance, the event brings together families, students, and community organizations to help prepare local youth for the upcoming school year. Attendees can expect school supply giveaways, health and wellness resources, and access to educational and community support services.

Volunteers are needed to help with event setup, activities, and resource distribution. Organizers are also requesting donations of essential school items such as backpacks, notebooks, pens, and pencils to ensure every student is equipped to succeed.

“We want to provide not just supplies, but also a sense of support and encouragement as students return to school,” said Thomasina Joseph, executive director of Clean Green Neighborhood Alliance. “This is a true community effort.”

Resource vendors offering services related to health, wellness, and education are invited to participate and share valuable tools and information with families.

To volunteer or donate, contact [email protected] or complete the volunteer form at https://forms.gle/hmE8YuqeEse9456F6.

07/18/2025

Joseph Bouie Jr. appointed chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans http://drumbeatsla.com/joseph-bouie-jr-suno During the July 18 monthly meeting, the Southern University System Board of Supervisors announced the appointment of Joseph Bouie Jr. as the new chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO). Bouie currently serves as Louisiana State Senator for District 3 in New Orleans and brings decades of experience as a higher education leader, public servant, and community advocate. His appointment as chancellor of SUNO is effective August 1.

Southern University System President Dennis J. Shields expressed enthusiasm for Bouie’s appointment while extending appreciation to outgoing Chancellor James H. Ammons Jr. for his transformative leadership. Ammons has served as the chancellor of SUNO since January 2021. He will be a tenured professor at the University after his term ends on July 31.

“Dr. Ammons has led SUNO with great distinction and care, positioning the University for growth and long-term sustainability,” Shields said. "During his tenure, SUNO launched innovative new academic programs in nursing, cybersecurity, data science, and other high-demand fields. He oversaw the return of the SUNO Knights athletic program and the establishment of the SUNO Museum of Art, and the re-establishment of the Evening and Weekend College that expanded access for working adults. We are grateful for his vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication.”

During the meeting, Board Chairman Tony Clayton echoed Shields' sentiments, applauding the smooth transfer of leadership.
“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, we all thank you for keeping SUNO afloat and navigating the ship during tough times,” Clayton said to Ammons, who received a standing ovation.

Bouie’s return to SUNO marks a full-circle moment in a distinguished career that began at the University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He later completed a master of social work from Tulane University and a Ph.D. in administration and planning from Clark Atlanta University. A retired professor of social work and former chancellor of SUNO, Bouie has dedicated more than 40 years to higher education and community service, with expertise in administration, substance abuse research, and community organization.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Bouie back to SUNO as its next chancellor,” Shields said. “He is a proven leader whose academic, administrative, and legislative experience make him uniquely qualified to guide SUNO into the next chapter. His deep roots in the SUNO community and lifelong commitment to public service will be invaluable as we continue to build on the university’s momentum.”

Bouie brings to the role a unique blend of academic, administrative, and legislative experience. As a State Senator and former State Representative for District 97, he has been a strong advocate for equitable education funding, social justice, and health equity. He is also a former chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and has served on numerous state and national boards.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your vote of confidence and this opportunity afforded me,” Bouie said to the Board and President Shields. “I look forward to continuing to work with you, Chancellor Ammons, to advance SUNO.”

“SUNO raised me — actually, it saved my life,” he continued. “The legacy of this institution is critical to not only this region but to the nation. I am grateful to have this opportunity to work with the SUNO family.”

A native of New Orleans and lifelong public servant, Bouie is guided by a philosophy rooted in purpose and faith. His leadership is expected to further strengthen SUNO’s role as a critical institution for academic excellence and community empowerment in the region.

07/16/2025

Grant Chapel AME Church to unveil historical marker in Amite http://drumbeatsla.com/grant Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will unveil a Louisiana state historical marker on Saturday, July 19, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a public reception. The marker commemorates the church’s 139-year legacy as a pillar of the Amite community.

Founded in 1886, Grant Chapel has served as a place of worship, safety, and leadership for generations of Black American residents in Tangipahoa Parish.

“The church has served as a pillar in the City of Amite community,” said the Rev. Herman O. Kelly Jr., pastor of Grant Chapel. “I want to point out the importance of this history to young people. Grant has served as a safe haven and a place of worship. Some of the members are leading citizens in the Amite community. As pastor of the church, I wanted to continue to build on that foundation. The historical marker means that we are a congregation that believe in our heritage.”

The effort to install the marker began after Rev. Kelly attended the unveiling of a similar marker at the burial site of the Rev. Arthur Tasker in Ponchatoula. Tasker, a formerly enslaved man who became mayor of Ponchatoula, was honored with a marker ceremony spearheaded by Antoinette Harrell, founder of the Untold History Foundation, LLC, Councilwoman Rosalind Batiste and former Mayor Robert “Bob” Zabbia, with support from local historian Jim Perrin, and The Drum newspaper founder Eddie Ponds.

Following that event, Kelly spoke with Harrell about recognizing Grant Chapel’s history. Harrell, a well-known local historian and preservationist, agreed to help guide the church through the application process. She assisted the congregation in establishing a committee to gather the required documentation.

Harrell requested church history materials, photographs, and church programs to help craft the marker’s wording. Contributions from Vera Wheeler and Grace Belvin Walker Perry, including anniversary booklets and historical photographs, were vital to completing the application by the May 17 deadline set by the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

“Working tirelessly to meet the May 17 deadline,” Harrell said, “the church community pulled together to make this happen. Grant Chapel’s story deserves to be told and preserved.”

Grant Chapel’s long history includes a congregation made up of prominent local leaders, including educators, civil rights activists, businesspeople, and public servants. Among them was the late Dr. Percy Walker, the first Black American veterinarian in the region and a reporter for The Louisiana Weekly during the 1950s and 1960s.

Kelly said he hopes this initiative encourages others to act.

“I hope to inspire other church leaders and congregations to follow my lead—especially during a time where history is being erased,” he said.

The public is invited to attend the unveiling ceremony and reception at Grant Chapel AME Church, 317 W. Oak Street, in Amite, on July 19.

07/14/2025

Meet the Baton Rouge couple buying the block with faith, integrity

In the heat of a Baton Rouge afternoon, a group of boys—third, maybe fourth graders—gravitate toward the front windows of The Master’s Touch, a men’s clothing store. Inside, suits hang in perfect rows: bold plaids, sharp pinstripes, deep navies and maroons under spotlit beams. Pocket squares in regal folds, monk strap shoes in polished repose. The boys take it all in: the way the light catches cufflinks; the way Mr. William Bates, the owner, wears style like it’s stitched into his skin; his car; and his beautiful wife, Mrs. Maria. The boys return throughout the month to see what’s happening in the store.

For the Bateses, their business is a kind of ministry.

William is an executive pastor at Living Faith Christian Center and a businessman. Maria is a nurse and an uncompromising believer in Divine instruction. Together, they are the founders of The Master’s Touch, a thriving haberdashery, and its sister real estate enterprise, Bates Real Estate Inc.

Their journey began with a single suit—and a $499 dilemma—that unlocked the beginning of their faith-filled mission to follow God’s instructions. Read more at http://drumbeatsla.com/the-bates

07/11/2025

07/09/2025

Tia Mills joins the union’s top leadership as a ‘bold voice’ http://drumbeatsla.com/mills-nea A dedicated Louisiana educator has been elected to the executive committee of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union. Tia T. Mills, Ed.D., was chosen by thousands of fellow educators at the NEA’s Representative Assembly.

Mills—a special education teacher from Baton Rouge and the current president of the Louisiana Association of Educators—brings nearly two decades of experience, a bold commitment to social justice, and a proven history of mobilizing public support for public schools. She will now contribute her invaluable expertise and inexhaustible energy to NEA’s mission to ensure every student has access to a quality public education, regardless of their ZIP codes. Her leadership comes at a time when communities nationwide are gathering to confront rising challenges and unprecedented opportunities for our public schools.

“Dr. Tia Mills has been an inspirational leader in Louisiana, and I am confident she will bring that same commitment to NEA’s national efforts advocating for equity and racial and social justice in public education,” said NEA President Becky Pringle.“She leads with passion and purpose and understands what it means to build power from the ground up. Tia’s voice will be an extraordinary asset to the Executive Committee as we continue to work for the public schools all our students deserve and the respect all educators have earned.”

Mills has earned numerous accolades, including the NAACP’s Benjamin Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, the NEA Foundation’s Horace Mann Award, and recognition as one of Southern University’s 40 Under 40. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom, serving on the board of Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Civil Rights for Louisiana, and the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. Mills’ courageous advocacy will be a driving force as NEA continues its pursuit of equity, excellence, and a flourishing democracy in classrooms and on campuses nationwide.

Nearly 7,000 educators are in Portland, Oregon, for the 168th Annual Meeting and 104th RA, the organization’s top decision-making body, which sets Association policy for the coming year. Delegates will complete an agenda, which includes adopting a budget, a legislative agenda for the next year, electing executive committee members, and addressing new business items.