Citizen Portal
Sign In

Lafourche-funded Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy reports record demand, seeks sponsors to expand

Lafourche Parish Council · October 15, 2025

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Program leaders told the Lafourche Parish Council the Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy received about 300 applications in 2025 and is seeking local sponsorship to expand enrollment from 80 toward a target of 100; 100% of parish funding is used for housing and feeding participants at Nicholls State University.

Dr. Laura Bato and program director Kristen Anselmi updated the Lafourche Parish Council on the 2025 Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy, reporting significant growth and asking the council to help recruit sponsors.

Anselmi said the program received more applications than ever before — closing at roughly 300 applicants — and that the academy was able to accept 80 young women for 2025. She said the program’s goal is to expand to about 100 participants in 2026 and asked the council to connect organizers with businesses and individuals who might sponsor participants. “One of my favorite gifts from LGLA are the friendships I have made,” participant Bridal Stell Phillips said in testimony about the program’s impact.

Anselmi told the council that “100% of the funds that we receive from Lafourche Parish go to housing and feeding our participants at Nicholls State University,” and that many graduates go on to attend Nicholls. The presentation referenced program survey results and outcome measures that program staff included in a packet for the council.

Chair members thanked the presenters and asked for materials and contact information to help secure local sponsorships. The council did not take any formal action during the presentation; staff provided the council with the program report for the record.

The organizers said they would return with specific fundraising asks and contact information for potential sponsors.

Next steps: program staff asked the council to help connect the academy with local businesses and individuals to support scholarships and expanded capacity.