Rev. Alexis Anderson is an ordained servant teacher, minister, and the founder and executive director of PREACH.  Rev. Anderson serves on the Louisiana Mental Health Advisory Council, the Committee to Support Healthcare Equity, the 19th JDC Domestic Violence Specialty Court Planning Workgroup, the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana Board and is the life skills chair of the Capital Area LA-PRI IST Committee.  She is a member of the Louisiana Stop Solitary Coalition’s jail subcommittee and the chair of the Louisiana Stop Solitary Coalition’s faith-based subcommittee.  Rev. Alexis Anderson is a proud member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition.

Get to know Rev. Anderson, one of eight people selected as The Drum’s persons to watch in 2022.

Age: Grown and Growing (60+)

Job Title: Executive Director, PREACH; Chair, Faith Subcommittee, Louisiana Stop Solitary Coalition; Chair, Children and Youth Subcommittee, Louisiana Behavioral Health Advisory Council; Board Member, Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana; and Member, East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition

Hometown: St. Louis

Moves made since 2019: 

• Focusing on educating the community on the intersection of voting, mass incarceration, and criminalization of poverty.

• Building bigger tables to solve problems whether for domestic violence or resources to help those struggling with behavioral health issues.

• Bringing attention to the impact on the entire community of having mass incarceration as the largest industry in the parish and the state.

What to expect in 2022 from you:

• Voting -Working to increase access for those housed at the EBRPP, increasing registration in low wealth communities, educating the community through the use of candidate forums and voter education tools.  Why:  Voting is the key to the kingdom.  That is why so many people try to stop people from participating.

• Shutting down the school to prison pipeline that demonizes children, labels them unredeemable, and criminalizes Black and Brown children as well as special needs and low wealth children of any background.  Building resources and tools for safe spaces for LGBRTQ, Foster Children aging out of state custody and children impacted by the mass incarceration system.  Why:  Children are a gift from God and this trend to label children as broken, damaged, and unrestorable is an affront to God.

• Working to end solitary confinement, reduce the death count at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and the continued criminalization of unsheltered citizens, immigrant populations and those struggling with serious mental illness. Why:  East Baton Rouge Parish has the deadliest jail/pretension in the country.  There is no excuse for this and we have the tools to end this.  No one is disposable.

• Encouraging everyone to use their power as citizens to change the world.  The importance of being an informed, educated and activist  “I” in the “We the People”.  Recognizing it’s our government, policymakers work for us and taxpayer money is ours and we must be good stewards.  Why:  Because to whom much is given much is required.

Personal resolution for 2022: To continue presenting resources effectively, applying Christlike Humbleness to everyone I serve and to honor my Lord and Savior in all areas of my living.

Life/business motto: Get in the game.  Who God called, He has equipped.

Business resolution: Study to show yourself.  A teacher must be a lifelong learner.  Somebody always has something to teach each of us.

What is your #1 priority right now? Re-imaging public safety in East Baton Rouge

Best advice you’ve ever received? To whom much is given much is required.

What do you want people to remember/know most about you? I served my God the best way I knew how.

Role Models: General Russell Honore, my mother the late Rev. Martha Crump, my youngest daughter Anastasia Anderson, my son Quentin Anderson, Southern University Law Center professor Angela Allen-Bell, Loyola Law School professor Andrea Armstrong, and Alma Stewart, executive director of the Louisiana Center for Healthy Equity.

What has been a deciding moment or an experience that pushed you forward--especially during the coronavirus pandemic? The ongoing deaths in the jail.  There have been 55 deaths since 2012 and 2021 was the deadliest year of all.

What music are you listening/dancing to? “I Miss Me More” by Kelsea Ballerini and always the “Hamilton” soundtrack.

What are you reading? Punishment Without Crime by Alexandra Natapoff

What’s entertaining you? “Hamilton,” “Call the Midwife,” and “Remember the Titans”

Facebook:preachisliteracy

Any other information? I am a proud great grandma/grandma of both children and puppies.

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BRNEDD offers grants for small business facade and sign improvement

The Baton Rouge North Economic Development District announced the launch of a new program established to help business owners give their buildings a facelift. The Facade and Signage Improvement Program, or FSIP, is a matching grant that requires the applicant to pay for 50 percent of the total cost, while the grant pays for the remaining 50 percent, not to exceed $5,000. Grant funding is limited and will be awarded on a “First Come – First Qualified – First Served” basis until all funds are expended. Program participation is limited to businesses located within the boundaries of the district. Visit https://www.brnedd.com/facade to apply.