LOUISIANA, A DREAM STATE. ☀️

It’s been another jam-packed LYS day, we have a lot to report- so let's get right to it!

Spotlight Involvement session: Parliamentary Procedure (PP) 📕. Led by Mann Boughton, PP gives the delegates a chance to see firsthand how to run a proper meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order. This is the same order and terms used all over the country and even in the U.S. Senate! We hope students take what they learned in this session back to their schools and extracurricular activities. Of course, at LYS we emphasize how to run meetings efficiently, but in a fun-filled way!
This week we mentor our delegation to become not only Louisiana's future but to lead the future of Louisiana. In this session we reflect solely on our great state of Louisiana. “Dream State” is a presentation that truly captures the essence of Louisiana, from its people to its scenery, to its truly diverse and unique cultures and traditions!
Our Dream State Panel 📣 of speakers (see below for more information) laid the groundwork for our groups to work on the 2023 Dream State Challenge 🤔. For Dream State Challenge, The delegates worked together in their home groups to develop a proposal that addresses the key challenges and gaps that Louisiana is experiencing around STEM opportunities. They used the information from the panelists, the design process, and their own experiences to create solutions that will make Louisiana a “Dream State.”
Today you get a double play, this afternoon we participated in another involvement session.
Speaking of dreams - the 2nd Spotlight involvement session of the day is Dreams to Reality 💭 led by staffer Benjamin Schwing. A delegate favorite, LYS’s Dreams to Reality involvement session allows participants to set goals and provides them the tools to verbalize their goals, dreams, and aspirations – past, present, and future. At the end of the session, each delegate writes an “I Will…” card that states what he or she “will” do by a date of their decision.
Tonight we are in the middle of the next step and most fun-filled, energetic part of the political party process- Can I get a Caucus?! We can’t wait to see what each party has in store! There will be skits 🎭, speeches🎤, candy, campaigning🍭 and, of course, lots of cheering🎉!! And once all is said and done, the elected Tory party candidates and the Whig party candidates go head-to-head tomorrow in the LYS General Election (🐔 v. 🐷). Shoutout to Political Party Assistants Kelsey Sanders (Tory) and Jayda Morris (Whig)!

For the WHIG Party 🐷

Chairperson - Greyson Schwartz

Secretary/Treasurer - Carolina Khatib

Vice President - Riley Baptiste

President - Armani Dixon

For the Tory Party 🐔

Chairperson - Joseph Culotta

Secretary/Treasurer - O’necia Walker

Vice President - Alaycia Judie

President - Jack Romero

DISSECTING WEDNESDAY 🐸🥼 & LOUISIANA DREAM STATE

“We have some true leaders impactful people in this state.”

— Rob Wise

Rob Wise - panel moderator

Owner & CEO of ITinspired

Rob Wise finds fulfillment by impacting and inspiring those around him using the “platinum rule”. Rob incorporates this philosophy in his work as CEO and co-owner of ITinspired, which has been recognized as a best place to work for two straight years and a LSU Top 100 Tiger Led business. He is also a mentor with the American Academy of Entrepreneurs and Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge and serves on a number of non-profit boards such as the Junior League of Baton Rouge, and the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators.

Rob is a graduate of Louisiana State University as well as a former LSU Cheerleader and Mike the Tiger mascot. He and his wife Michelle, have two kids and are proud to call Baton Rouge home.

“No Man Is An Island will travel with you beyond these four walls, you all hold the key, as the young people of our state, you are the best of our state and our future. Here at LYS you are being equipped with the tools to fix these problems.”

— Dustin Cravins

Dustin CRAVINS

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, La Louisianne Consulting

LYS Board Member, Hall of Fame and Former Staff Member

Dustin Cravins, born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, has dedicated his life to improving communities. He graduated from Teurlings Catholic High in 1999 and earned a B.A. in Political Science from LSU. Currently, he serves as Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of La Louisianne Consulting, specializing in governmental affairs, business development, and political consulting. Dustin is also the owner/operator of Cravin’ Boudin, a renowned Louisiana-inspired food truck and catering company. Additionally, he organizes the Zydeco Extravaganza, the world's largest one-day indoor zydeco festival in its 35th year.

Beyond his professional life, Dustin devotes his energy to helping others and promoting Louisiana and Creole Culture. He co-hosts a weekly radio show on Z105.9 with his father and uncle, providing cultural and social information to the community. Dustin serves as the President of the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Board, securing over $5 million in funding to restore the endangered historic African American landmark, Holy Rosary Institute. He actively participates on various boards, including the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, Opelousas Lighthouse Mission, African American Heritage Foundation, and St. Landry Sexual Assault Center.

Dustin is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and St. Anne's Catholic Church. He has produced and written on albums for Zydeco legends such as Keith Frank and Terrance Simien, earning recognition in publications like Rolling Stone as an expert on Louisiana cultural matters. Recently, he was featured on Disney Plus and Nat Geo's series "World of Flavor with Moe Cason." In his leisure time, Dustin enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with his wife of fifteen years, their 12-year-old daughter Rhyan Danielle, and six-year-old son Justice Emmanuel.

“Leaders listen and are good followers. They are not the loudest person in the room. It’s a team process.”

— Emi Gilbert Henry

EMILIA “EMI” GILBERT HENRY

Senior Vice President of Investor Development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC)

Emilia “Emi” Gilbert Henry currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Investor Development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC). In this role, Emi is responsible for raising funds to support BRAC’s five-year strategic plans which accelerate economic opportunity in the Baton Rouge area, for everyone.

Prior to joining BRAC, Emi worked for the LSU Foundation as the Senior Director of Development for the College of Science. Her career has also included positions at LSU managing large scale programs and events, training, and IT support.

When not with her family and friends, you can find Emi running the lakes, traveling, trying to relax, or serving as a volunteer in a number of organizations in the community. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and serves on the board of a number of other organizations including Knock Knock Children’s Museum, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Neighbors Federal Credit Union, The Links, Inc. and Christus Health.

Originally from Berkeley, California, Emi came to Baton Rouge from Rockford, Illinois to attend LSU and earned a degree in public relations from the Manship School of Mass Communication. She is married to Jake Henry III, and is mom/stepmom to two year old Jake Henry IV and 15 year old Hillary.

“Louisiana’s greatest strength are our people. We are passionate. We have creative people, people who love people and Louisiana. ”

— Chloe Wiley

CHLOE WILEY

Foundation Initiatives Manager, The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation

Chloe Wiley serves as the Initiatives Manager for The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation where she manages a $40 million endowment and grantmaking programs to improve the wellness and wellbeing of children and communities across Louisiana.

Wiley is the founder and was the school director of Baton Rouge Bridge Academy, where she was responsible for executing all aspects development, launch, and operation of a start-up 501(c)(3) charter school committed to providing high quality education for underserved students in North Baton Rouge. Under her leadership, 100 percent of the school’s students met year-long growth goals and outperformed 90 percent of peers nationwide in reading and math.

Wiley is originally from Effie, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University. She has been recognized as one of Baton Rouge’s top Forty under 40 and participated in various community programs including Leadership Baton Rouge and Philanthropy Southeast’s Hull Fellows program. Wiley also serves on several boards related to her commitments to education and health including the Louisiana Resource Center for Educations and the Thrive Foundation and teaches as an adjunct professor at LSU.