On the Road to CHANGE
News:
Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Celebrates 5 Years of Improving Public Education For All
BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Alliance for Students celebrates its 5th anniversary this month. Founded on the core belief that “An excellent education is every child’s birthright,” the Alliance works hard to make that a reality for all students in East Baton Rouge Parish. The organization’s diverse initiatives all seek to improve outcomes for Baton Rouge students by empowering families, engaging communities, and elevating leaders.
Since its inception in 2021, the Alliance has:
● Gifted over $550,000 in Community Building Grants to direct service non-profits
● Graduated over 100 community advocates through its CHANGEMAKERS program
● Engaged with over 600 middle and high school students about what they want to see improved in education
● Supported student-centered policies to improve the resources our students need
“Five years ago, we knew that better was possible for Baton Rouge students, and we set out to work in partnership with the community to help advocate for a set of public schools that prepare the next generation for lives of possibility and purpose. I’m proud to celebrate the Alliance’s birthday and all we have accomplished together.” Adonica Pelichet Duggan, Founding CEO, Baton Rouge Alliance for Students.
We are committed to continuing to do what is needed to ensure that every child in our community has access to a high-quality education. We look forward to what the future holds, not only for our organization but for the children of this city.
Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Announces 2025-26 CHANGEMAKERS
The Baton Rouge Alliance for Students today announced the selection of 28 participants for its new class of CHANGEMAKERS, a program dedicated to educating community members to address the diverse obstacles surrounding education improvement within the Baton Rouge community.
The 10-month program will provide this seventh cohort of CHANGEMAKERS with an understanding of the education ecosystem through monthly discussions, city visits, school tours, and other community activities. The cohort’s work will heighten awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing the public education system in the city’s K-12 education landscape.
The following participants have been selected for the 2025-26 CHANGEMAKERS class:
- Jude August
- Daniel Bosch
- Hunter Brown
- Tani Budde
- Hannah Cobb
- Katelyn Cockerham
- Jamie Courtright
- Kendle Davis
- Mary Beth Derrickson
- Jamila Dupree
- Darlene Fields
- Hannah Fontenot
- Megan Garretson
- Tristan George
- Arquavious Gordon
- Donna Johnson
- Carlton Jones
- Morgan Lamandre
- Jorge Lavastida
- Tale Lockett
- Jian Masacco-Richard
- Isaiah Mayfield
- Brandy McIntire
- Pashion Norman
- Candace Oliver
- Ann Tillage
- Courtney Turner
- David Whidden
The CHANGEMAKERS program reflects the Alliance’s mission to engage leaders in the community about the education system and create a pathway toward every child in Baton Rouge receiving their birthright of an excellent education. The Alliance remains dedicated to unlocking every child’s potential and enhancing Baton Rouge’s education system by empowering families, uplifting the community, and engaging leaders.
For more information about the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students or the CHANGEMAKERS program, please visit BRAlliance.org.
Faces of the Alliance: Community of Impact
The strength of any community lies in its people—the stories, the diverse perspectives, and our shared triumphs. Faces of the Alliance from the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students, is a new initiative dedicated to shining a light on the individuals and organizations who make up what we call our Alliance family. Through personal narratives and video interviews, highlighting their contributions and experiences, we aim to celebrate the passion and resilience of those working toward a common goal – unlocking each child’s potential through education.
Why Faces of the Alliance? Because every person has a story, and every story has the power to inspire change. Whether it’s a parent advocating for their child, an elected official or CHANGEMAKER guiding the way forward, or a local volunteer doing the hard work on the ground with students and families, these stories deserve to be told. Our goal is to amplify the voices who make the Alliance what it is; they are essential to the progress we strive for in our city.
Each feature will offer a glimpse into the motivations, challenges, and successes of the people who define our movement. We hope these stories will not only inform and uplift but also encourage others to get involved and make an impact.
This is just the beginning. Join us as we introduce you to the Faces of the Alliance—because change starts with people, and people are at the heart of everything we do.
Stay tuned for our first profile as we celebrate the role we all play in ensuring every child in our community is well-educated.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”- Mother Teresa