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CW AUSTIN LEARNING DISABILITIES CONFERENCE

Does your child struggle with ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities? This local conference may just have all of the support you are looking for. The CW Austin Learning Disabilities Conference includes free, virtual sessions from Friday, February 25 to Saturday, March 5 that discuss learning disabilities in youth and what we can do to support children with learning disabilities. The conference honors Christopher Austin, a talented musician, artist, and writer who had dyslexia and died in an accident with a drunk driver when he was 20. Each presentation features professional guidance from specialists dedicated to educating parents, guardians, and teachers about learning disabilities. ■ eventbrite.com

No true Louisianian wants to miss out on Mardi Gras again this year. That’s why Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) recently launched a social media campaign, #SaveMardiGras2022, that encourages Louisianians to get vaccinated and boosted so we can laissez les bons temps rouler. LPB also wrote a Mardi Gras song and dance featured on TikTok and other social media platforms. To participate in the campaign, visit them online, learn the #SaveMardiGras2022 dance, share your awesome moves on social media, and tag LPB in your caption. Don’t forget to hashtag #SaveMardiGras222, #GetVaxxed, and #LPB. ■ lpb.org/savemardigras

Maya Angelou, legendary Black author and poet, has become the first Black woman to be featured on a series of new U.S. quarters. The coins are the first in the United States Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, which will also feature Sally Ride, Anna May Wong, and other important historical women. Angelou was an African American author, poet, and civil rights activist who died in 2014. She is best known for her work “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” which was published in 1969. The quarter was created by Emily Damstra and Craig A. Campbell, and it depicts Angelou with her arms uplifted, in front of a bird in flight and rays of sunlight streaking out from behind her. ■ usmint.gov

LPB ENCOURAGES YOU TO #SAVEMARDIGRAS2022

MAYA ANGELOU FEATURED ON U.S. QUARTERS

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

BROADWAY IN BATON ROUGE RETURNS

After taking a long break for renovations, Broadway in Baton Rouge is back just in time for its 2021-2022 season. Broadway in Baton Rouge partners with Nederlander National markets to bring the best Broadway shows to our community. This year’s shows include Rent, Fiddler on the Roof, Stomp, Waitress, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and they will all be performed at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theater. For the best seats in the house, become a subscriber and enjoy the list of benefits that come with your subscription. Tickets are on sale now. ■ raisingcanesrivercenter.com

HELPLINE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS

Louisiana is now one of four states that offers a new, statewide helpline service for sexual assault survivors. In the United States, most hotlines can only be reached with a phone call. Thanks to the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, this service is text-based and allows survivors to virtually chat with Crisis Support Specialists in the event they cannot call a specialist for help. The Specialists have access to extensive resources to ensure survivors are provided with options. The Helpline provides a coordinated approach to reach survivors and loved ones indirectly affected, who need answers or need someone to connect with. It is anonymous, confidential, and free, and it includes every parish in Louisiana. ■ lafasa.org

Discussing puberty with your child can be tricky, but three pediatricians wrote a fun, colorful, and inclusive book to make it easier. You-ology: A Puberty Guide for Every Body by Trish Hutchinson, MD, FAAP, Kathryn Lowe, MD, FAAP, and gynecologist Melisa Holmes, MD, FACOG is a new book on puberty that normalizes puberty for all genders. So, instead of the outdated puberty education model that separates children by gender to teach them about their bodies, this book encourages children to learn about what others are going through, too. This book is age-appropriate for kids ages 9-13 and features colorful illustrations that keep the tone upbeat and engaging, while short stories feature a cast of diverse characters that add relatability and humor. ■ aap.org

ALL INCLUSIVE PUBERTY GUIDE

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TREATS NEWBORN ORANGUTAN

After the Audubon Zoo’s newborn male orangutan got sick, the Zoo reached out to Children’s Hospital New Orleans and AZA Orangutan Species Survival Plan advisors for help. The infant orangutan was showing signs of weakness, and his nursing response had become inconsistent, but Children’s Hospital has stepped in to help and is taking great care of him. It is possible that he has central hypothyroidism, which is a rare condition that can be treated. Audubon Zoo is thankful for all the support from the infant’s expert care team and from the community. To see updates on the newborn, check out Audubon’s social media accounts. ■ audubonnatureinstitute.org

LASM EXHIBITING OUR LOUISIANA

A fresh installation of works for Our Louisiana, an exhibition of art from Louisianian artists, has recently opened to the public at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. The collection features over four thousand works of art and is organized into categories: 19th Century Art; Modern Art; Contemporary Art; Folk Art; Self-Taught Art; Craft Art; and Baton Rouge Art, and features works by artists including John James Audubon, Will Henry Stevens, Elizabeth Catlett, John Clemmer, Michael Crespo, and Lin Emery. Each artist illustrated everything that makes Louisiana’s landscape, people, and culture unique. The exhibit is located in the Main Gallery on Floor 1 until January 14, 2024. ■ lasm.org

OCHSNER OPENS CENTER IN LIVINGSTON

Seeing a doctor every year for a regular check-up is important, but it is not always accessible for some people. Ochsner Baton Rouge is dedicated to improving access to primary care, especially to underserved areas that may not be able to get to their annual visits to the doctor as easily as other areas. To help, Ochsner opened Ochsner Health Center in Livingston to better serve the parish. This 4,000 square-foot building is located off I-12 in Frost, and it was previously occupied by RKM Primary Care. “Our new Livingston clinic fills a critical area of patient need, and it’s part of our aggressive plan to increase services throughout the region,” says Chuck Daigle, CEO, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “We continue to evaluate all opportunities to expand–from Plaquemine to Hammond, Zachary to Gonzales, and everywhere in between.” ■ ochsner.org/doctors

NEW EXHIBITION TAKES STEPS TOWARD HEALING HISTORY

The theme for Black History Month this year is “Black Health and Wellness,” and Baton Rouge will have an exhibition in honor of Black artists called Healing History. Hosted by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and its Artist Advisory board, Healing History is the first of its series that will feature Black artists annually. The exhibition will be open to the public in the Shell Gallery at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center through Thursday, February 24, 2022, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays in February from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The series includes artist talks, performances, and workshops that can be found online. ■ artsbr.org/shell

WOMAN’S EXPANDS GRACE PROGRAM

Woman’s Hospital has helped more than 170 pregnant women suffering from opioid misuse since launching the Guiding Recovery and Creating Empowerment (GRACE) Program in 2018. GRACE, which previously was only open to pregnant women suffering from opioid misuse, is now expanding to women who need help with alcohol or tobacco addictions during pregnancy. As part of the program, GRACE participants work with

a nurse case manager and social worker who guide them through pregnancy and into the postpartum period. They provide support and connect women to treatment providers and other resources in the community to help address and overcome substance misuse. ■ womans.org/grace

USDA INVESTS IN BR FOOD ECONOMY

The Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA) has won a three-year, $591,579 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, announced that the USDA is investing $37.5 million to support direct producer-to-consumer marketing projects like farmers markets, roadside stands, and agritourism. BREADA’s Executive Director, Darlene Rowland, says, “This funding will significantly increase our capacity to work toward our mission of building a resilient local food system that supports the viability of farms, ranches, and fisheries, fosters community engagement, and encourages healthy eating.” ■ breada.org