Social Justice Civic League asks commission to maintain funding, outlines 21 years of scholarships and tutoring

Attorney S.P. Davis Sr., president and CEO of the Social Justice Civic League, told commissioners the nonprofit has operated for more than 21 years and has awarded partial college scholarships and after‑school support to more than 100 students. "The more money we get, the more academic scholarship we can provide," Davis said as he described scholarship and laptop programs and school partnerships.

Davis recounted program accomplishments — partial scholarships, laptops for matriculating students, after‑school tutoring at local schools and an adopted pediatric floor at an LSU‑affiliated facility (name as transcribed) where the group provides annual gifts at Christmas. He requested the commission continue funding and asked that the commission consider increasing its allocation to $25,000 to expand scholarship support.

Davis described a long-term objective to purchase a closed parish school to operate a religiously oriented first hour followed by academically focused after‑school instruction; he acknowledged constitutional constraints on teaching religion in public schools but said the plan would operate on a privately run campus. The chair noted parish purchasing rules limit direct building acquisitions by the commission and said the commission could consider other operational supports.

Commissioner Gregory Young and others praised the group's credibility and long-term community service. Davis closed by thanking the commission and mentioning his daughter's run for city court judge, which he presented as a personal note rather than a commission matter. No formal vote or funding decision was recorded during the session.