November 2018 - In This Issue:
WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
Since its creation in 1994, The Rapides Foundation has sought to improve the health status of Central Louisiana by developing initiatives and strategies intended to impact our community for decades to come.  We invite you to learn more about our work by visiting our website.

The Rapides Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas:

Healthy People, to improve access to healthcare and promote healthy behaviors.

Education, to increase the level of educational attainment and achievement as the primary path to improved economic, social and health status.

Healthy Communities, to improve economic opportunity and family income, and enhance civic and community opportunities for more effective leaders and organizations.

Contact Us

The Rapides Foundation
1101 Fourth Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
318-443-3394 or 800-994-3394

Visit our website:

THE RAPIDES FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES YOU TO "HAVE A HEALTHY HOLIDAY"
Let rapidesfoundation.org be your healthy holiday resource
The Rapides Foundation is encouraging everyone to "Have a Healthy Holiday" with healthier holiday recipes and preparation videos, simple exercise videos, and tips to keep you on track with your health goals during the busy holiday season. 

The Foundation is featuring several new recipes on its website and social media platforms along with additional recipes from previous holiday campaigns. As an added bonus, preparation videos for each recipe are available to watch on the Foundation's website and YouTube channel. 

CENLA EXECBUILDERS PROGRAM GRADUATES CLASS OF 2018
Six new graduates join alumni peer leadership network
Six Central Louisiana nonprofit leaders graduated September 28 from Cenla Execbuilders, a leadership development program for nonprofit executive directors. The program is presented by Community Development Works, a program of The Rapides Foundation. 

The graduates now join a group of 44 Cenla Execbuilders alumni who participate in the program's peer leadership network. Cenla Execbuilders is a free program, and is open to new or experienced executive directors in Central Louisiana who want to become more effective in their role as leaders of nonprofit organizations. 


YOUTH ADVOCATES GATHER FOR ANNUAL SUMMIT ON HEALTHY BEHAVIORS
Cenla students and teachers learn how to become advocates for healthy choices and policy change
More than 650 junior high and senior high school students and teachers from seven Central Louisiana parishes came together September 19 for The Rapides Foundation's eighth annual Youth Summit on Healthy Behaviors. 

The summit is a one-day event for participants to learn how to become advocates for healthy choices and policy change in their schools and communities. 

Summit participants learned about an advocacy project that can be implemented throughout the school year and attended breakout sessions focused on the issues of tobacco prevention, substance and alcohol abuse prevention, and healthy eating and active living. 


GRADUATION HELD FOR 2018 CENLA BOARDBUILDERS PROGRAM
Two tracks available for those interested in serving on nonprofit boards
Eleven Central Louisiana leaders graduated October 19 from Cenla Boardbuilders, a leadership development program for emerging leaders to become active as members of local nonprofit boards. 

Community Development Works, a program of The Rapides Foundation, presents the program to train participants in the roles and responsibilities of an effective board member. The program is free and open to newly seated board members or individuals with no previous board service.


FOUNDATION'S 2018 SYMPOSIUM SPOTLIGHTED FACTORS THAT IMPACT HEALTH
Focus of fifth annual Symposium was "Improving Health"
The Rapides Foundation held its fifth annual Symposium September 6 with featured speaker Julie Willems Van Dijk introducing attendees to factors that impact health in a community, offering a snapshot of the region's health data, and introducing tools that can be used to initiate change in the community.

Each year the Foundation presents the Symposium as a way to gather around a topic of importance and to recognize the creation of The Rapides Foundation on September 1, 1994. The focus of the 2018 Symposium was "Improving Health."


Watch the video about the Community Conversations meetings held in conjunction with the Symposium.
 
Joe Rosier

Mission
The mission of The Rapides Foundation is to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. 

Vision
Our vision is to positively impact Central Louisiana by deploying resources to improve key factors of health status.