This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Parish deputies are looking for a missing 15-year-old they believe to have run away.  A poster shared with WBRZ read that 15-year-old My'kala Howard was last seen in the Gardere area on Monday afternoon around 3 p.m She was wearing khaki bottoms and an orange collared shirt.  Anyone with information on Howard's whereabouts is asked to call (225) 428-5065 Gardere Community Christian School’s mission is to provide a firm Christian foundation in the educational and spiritual life of children in the Gardere neighborhood encouraging them to grow into and become the person God created them to be Christian education available to every child and family in the Gardere area regardless of their financial circumstances The Gardere Community Christian School (GCCS) is a beacon of hope in one of the most poverty-stricken and high crime neighborhoods in Baton Rouge The neighborhood boasts almost 4,000 residents per square mile with an average income that falls 21% lower than the already low state average founder Nancy Zito began an after-school tutoring program in the community Zito to expand the program to a full elementary school with funding from generous individuals and faith-based organizations GCCS opened its doors to the children of the Gardere community 99% of students are from low-income families Over 60% of the students receive full tuition assistance through the state scholarship program (which covers approximately 70% of the actual per pupil operating cost) and the other 40% are eligible for up to 97% tuition assistance the Gardere area primarily consists of African American and Hispanic residents GCCS’s current enrollment includes 99% of students who are low-income and 98.5% who are minority Additional student data reveals that 67% are in single parent homes; over 20% are being raised by their grandmothers and many parents are functionally illiterate and/or non-English speaking The school’s highly-trained faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of each student and the fruits of their labors are evident According to 2024 state standardized tests the percentage of GCCS students scoring Mastery or above was more than 2x higher than the state or district average and 6-7.5x higher than the nearest public options in ELA and Math and loving teaching faculty go above and beyond for our students and the leadership team is intentional about developing systems and processes for the most effective and efficient administration GCCS meets each child and family where they are with rigorous academics and a community to wrap arms around each other in times of need we believe that every child is gifted by God and has great potential and meaning in this world leaving her mother struggling with drug addiction She had a habitual behavior problem in her last school and was even threatened with suspension and grade retention as a result and spiritual counseling along with small classrooms and high academics she became involved in a youth theater program and performed in many productions over the years Alisa was a star student who earned her way into an academic magnet program for middle and high school Alisa is in her sophomore year at Louisiana State University Her grandmother recently reported that Alisa completed her freshman year on the Dean’s List Alisa plans to become a Speech Pathologist The Gardere Community Christian School’s Board of Directors and team are excited about the opportunity of new partners to grow the school’s work in the lives of children and families in the Gardere area The school is growing in the short term in two ways:  GCCS enrolled ten new students for the 2024-25 school year through its in-house tuition assistance The cost of ten new students is approximately $130,000 The GCCS leadership worked with Tipton and Associates APAC to develop a three stage master building plan to offer families a beautiful place to come together to grow spiritually The first stage will cost approximately $2.7M GCCS held its official groundbreaking ceremony on November 1 and staff of GCCS humbly invite community members and leaders to visit the school and see first hand the achievements and great potential of our students News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Gardere has been awarded the program's hallowed No which he will wear with Laufenberg's nameplate on the back starting Aug "I found out this morning; it was a no-brainer for me" to accept it Gardere said shortly after Thursday's practice which was when his teammates learned of his honor and celebrated with him with loud chants of "Ja-von-i!" "I saw the way Gavin Hardison carried himself when he wore the jersey That's someone I looked up to and I just want to do the same when it comes to wearing No who transferred in from Diablo Valley College in California last season was a junior in high school when Laufenberg passed away but understands the legacy he is inheriting having cancer and still working out to make sure he could come back stronger I want to embody what he brought to the team the same traits and be that same all-around person Laufenberg came to UTEP in the spring of 2019 as a junior college transfer following his first battle with leukemia He was originally diagnosed in December of 2017 lost 90 pounds in the next five months of intensive chemotherapy then put it all back on and got back in shape in time to make an appearance at UTEP's national signing-day press conference in 2019 He worked for the first three weeks of spring as the starting tight end before the leukemia returned and claimed his life on Aug Then-coach Dana Dimel took several initiatives to keep Laufenberg's memory alive, including involving his father Babe a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current Cowboys radio color announcer Babe Laufenberg raised money for a nutrition station in the Durham Center and the Luke Laufenberg Fight Foundation regularly sends groups of schoolchildren to UTEP football games More: UTEP football roster includes 20 El Paso players, including potential future star QB When Walden took over the UTEP job this year he met with Babe Laufenberg and committed to continuing the memory of Luke "Obviously today is the five-year anniversary of Luke Laufenberg's death I've been able to get close to Babe and hear the story in his heart about Luke When you start hearing a common theme about people I know it means a lot to Babe Laufenberg and his family to see that Laufenberg's name on a Miner jersey It means a lot to us to exemplify the fight he played with and lived with." "Javani Gardere has been the young man who has exemplified everything we're looking for in representing that Laufenberg jersey," Walden said "For a young man to replace his name and put on the Laufenberg last name that's the ultimate form of unselfishness to keep Luke's legacy going we went around the room multiple times and hands-down he could have left; after the spring he could have left "He's one of the highest-character young men I've ever been around and he fights every day you could hear it in the team: 'There's no doubt there' When I spoke with him there was no timidity I actually thought about that this morning "We couldn't pick a better human being to exemplify the fight Luke had." More: UTEP football to revive iconic Mine Shaft entrance Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X Stanton face off for spot in girls final four60 PHOTOSBishop Kenny Crusaders hoist the trophy after the game of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday 2025 at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville The Bishop Kenny Crusaders held off the Stanton Blue Devils 2-1 and advance to the FHSAA Class 4A final four next week in Auburndale Stanton's Kate Huntington (13) is congratulated by teammates for her goal during the second half of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday Bishop Kenny's Emma Baggett (8) collides with Stanton's goalkeeper Savannah Yerger (1) during the first half of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday Bishop Kenny's Emma Baggett (8) and Ella Hodgett (25) hug after the game of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday and Ella Hodgett (25) hug after the game of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday and Priscilla MacDonald (2) hug after the game of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday Bishop Kenny's Cate Petre (18) kisses the trophy as Bishop Kenny's Stella Jones (22) reacts after the game of the FHSAA Region 1-4A high school girls soccer final Wednesday BATON ROUGE — Firefighters put out a fire on Fox Run Avenue that displaced three on Friday afternoon Fire units arrived at the scene just off Highland Road around 2:48 p.m a Baton Rouge Fire spokesperson said.  The spokesperson said that the cause of the fire is still under investigation but the electrical meter was pulled as a precaution BATON ROUGE — The Gardere Initiative is hosting its inaugural Kite Fest in Baton Rouge later this month The festival aims to bring the community together through a day of food The event will also feature a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy The event is free to the public and is scheduled for March 29 to noon at the Hartley/Vey Park on Gardere Lane For more information about the event click here CNN's Alisyn Camerota speaks with clinical psychologist Dr '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" Laura and Steven Smith felt the call to provide gifts for a family in need during the holiday season They adopted a family through a church program and excitedly arrived at their home with dolls only to find that the children had no socks the front door was being held shut with a rubber band and what the family wanted most was a warm meal to share though the mission to make the holidays brighter for local families has remained the focus they added the Gardere Community Christian School initiative,”says Christie Viso who serves as the team leader for the Christmas Socks and Shoes Fundraiser benefiting Gardere Community Christian School we have been raising money to get all the students and staff brand new shoes.” Through a partnership with New Balance of Baton Rouge/Big River Footwear Co. custom-fitted shoes for each student and staff member The Christmas Give aims to provide 170 pairs of shoes along with two pairs of socks for each child Volunteers will meet at the Renaissance Hotel to fill and organize the personalized gift bags we try to make it something that could fit in their backpack,” Viso explains noting that this is to cater to children who frequently move from one place to another we give them a blanket so they can always have something of their own to cuddle with and we focus on providing them with comfortable shoes that properly fit and we could put it in each of the kids’ bags which the Squishmallows have been a hit for all ages.” For those interested in donating to The Christmas Give Christmas Socks and Shoes Fundraiser checks should be made to New Balance and dropped off at The Market Real Estate Co This story originally appeared in inRegister. To keep up with inRegister, subscribe to the free inRegister@Home e-newsletter here world renowned as a premier hospitality destination for its entertainment ranging from casinos and diverse stage productions is far more complex than meets the eye This mega destination is also quite the innovative hub home to several pioneering innovations such as the Sphere and the Hyperloop the true marvel lies in the formulaic genius of hospitality structures that seamlessly cater to large crowds and endless events constantly adapting to high visitor demands All these extremely unique factors in unison make Las Vegas the perfect case study for smart city innovations This innovative approach to city planning holds tremendous potential for space optimization One of the main challenges facing the hospitality industry in Las Vegas today is adapting to constantly increasing demand with many event spaces reaching high capacities and having inadequate resources dissuading guests or leaving them dissatisfied and uncomfortable Why implement smart city features?Smart cities are concerned with capturing and providing real-time data on all factors that may influence the guest experience from weather or building occupancy with the goal of improving operational strategies and increasing guest autonomy and satisfaction Although Las Vegas has already begun implementing some of these features primarily regarding traffic control management the impact on hospitality concepts in terms of efficient allocation of resources and cost management is very promising A central technology to smart city concepts is Internet of Things or IoTs these are physical devices such as sensors and or cameras that serve to collect and communicate data motion sensors within casino floors currently detect guest movement and provide live occupancy data which is used for security analyzing game popularity and generating efficient machine layout for increased interaction in combination with new mobile-enabled features Las Vegas could learn to maximize the use of these pre-existing IoTs allowing guests to receive notifications on quieter areas or available amenities giving them greater control over their time and experience (Khan an extension of IoTs to create a network of accessible real-time information across all Las Vegas venues as well as city conditions like weather and traffic By tracking offerings available such as slot machines and amenities reflecting this data through real-time notifications and wayfinding guest satisfaction is sure to improve through reduced congestion and increased hospitality provider attention Going beyond the city’s current uses of Machine Learning and AI for gathering and analyzing attendee and user data AI can further assist in a smart city’s goal of increased efficiency and analysis of real-time occupancy data; AI can support operations helping to handle resource allocation and even predict visitor spikes AI can help tailor operations in terms of staffing and space allocation to keep things running smoothly AI analytics can reduce supply costs up to 50 percent and lost sales by 65 percent overall improving business resilience (Amar Cognitive Buildings and Sustainable Operations for a Greener Vegas The rise of IoT and AI technologies paved the way for the cognitive building concept a structure equipped to adapt environmental controls such as lighting and ventilation based on real-time occupancy and activity cognitive buildings have the power to improve air quality creating a safer and more responsive environment (Khan et al. the creation of smart buildings in Las Vegas could offer a sustainable solution for managing the high energy demands of casinos and event spaces anticipating visitor flow and adjusting resources as needed to enhance comfort and reduce waste should Las Vegas decide to become a pioneer in smart city technology not only would the city be a leader in hospitality innovation but it would drastically improve the already exceedingly impressive operations structure of its hospitality outlets and take a step towards increased sustainability Being able to provide not only real time updates but solutions and alternative entertainment to guests during peak rush hours will not only increase guest mobility and autonomy but tremendously decrease dissatisfaction and the need for service recovery Las Vegas can redefine the guest journey and set new efficiency standards Daniela Gardere is a graduate student of the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business a tri-continental program jointly offered by three leading hospitality schools: EHL Hospitality Business School Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in International Relations from the University of St Her professional experiences span various facets of the hospitality industry including project management for boutique hotels and consulting on operational efficiency for luxury properties across the U.S Khan, I., Zedadra, O., Guerrieri, A., & Spezzano, G. (2024). Occupancy Prediction in IoT-enabled Smart Buildings: Technologies, Methods, and Future Directions. Sensors Khan, I., Cicirelli, F., Greco, E., Guerrieri, A., Mastroianni, C., Scarcello, L., Spezzano, G., & Vinci, A. (2024). Leveraging Distributed AI for Multi-occupancy Prediction in Cognitive Buildings. Internet of Things Amar, J., Rahimi, S., Surak, Z., & von Bismarck, N. (2022). AI-driven Operations Forecasting in Data-light Environments. McKinsey & Company.  Las Vegas smart city hospitality technology IoT EHL University of Houston Hong Kong Polytechnic University Click here to join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest hotel news and trends Copyright © Hotel News Resource & Nevistas | All rights reserved Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting Friday night on Starboard Drive in Gardner that left two others injured Officials from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office have identified a suspect wanted in a Friday night shooting that left one dead and two injured is wanted in connection with the shooting death of Terrell James Williams who was found dead after being shot around 8 p.m Two others also sustained gunshot wounds during the incident Both were taken to the hospital with one in critical condition Investigators said they believe the incident involved domestic violence "Henderson allegedly entered a residence with his ex-girlfriend inside and shot the three men," an EBRSO spokesperson said in a news release Saturday Henderson is wanted on counts of first-degree murder attempted first-degree murder and home invasion Deputies said the man is known to walk around the Gardere area and does not own a vehicle or have a permanent residence Those who come into contact with the man are advised to "proceed with caution and notify the EBRSO Homicide Division," a spokesperson said Email notifications are only sent once a day A grand jury handed down two counts of second-degree murder against Kendrick Jerrold Henderson home invasion and aggravated animal cruelty 18 indictments stem from a May 24 encounter in the 1600 block of Starboard Drive that left Terrell James Williams and Ross died at the hospital two days later Parish deputies said the shooting involved domestic violence as the man who stormed into an apartment just off Innovation Park Drive and shot three men who were inside the residence with his ex-girlfriend Williams and Ross both sustained gunshot wounds to the head and the other victim was hospitalized by a bullet that grazed his head Animal Control agents removed the wounded dog from the apartment Henderson's ex-girlfriend was among the eyewitnesses in the apartment that said he exited the residence and fled the scene immediately after forcing his way inside and firing multiple gunshots now faces a mandatory life sentence if he is convicted of either of the murder charges He pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday morning when he appeared before 19th JDC Commissioner Nicole Robinson for an arraignment Robinson appointed the Public Defender's office to represent Henderson and set an Oct 31 hearing date for him to appear in District Judge Louise Hines Myers' courtroom Editor's Note: This story was updated to include details from an arrest report and the outcome of Henderson's arraignment Email Matt Bruce at matt.bruce@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter This story is only for subscribers like you${formattedName BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Housing Authority on Wednesday installed two state-of-the-art backup generators at Cypress Pinchback in Gardere. Entergy installed the two generators as a part of their Power Through Program. They were funded by Partners Southeast. Seniors like Joe Harris say they are grateful for the generator. "If something happened here with the generator, it would be quite the situation. We have people here who have breathing problems, and that's a lifesaver for us," Harris said. The generators will power nearby residences as well. "Not only will our seniors have whole-house solutions that provide uninterrupted power for our seniors, but it will also provide as a mini-grid system, it will feed power back into the grid for the surrounding neighborhoods, so it's a win-win situation," J. Wesley Daniels, CEO of Partners of Southeast, which owns Cypress Pinchback, said. Seth Schilling, Entergy Louisiana Region Custom Service Manager says this will help seniors who rely on refrigerated medications. "It's very important, especially for the elderly population, to have insurance that their oxygen and their medicine stay cool during that unfortunate time when power loss is expected," Schilling said. Annie Miller, another senior living in the facility, says she feels blessed and happy for the new generators. "There are people in our surrounding areas, or like next to us in the apartment building, who may have seniors in there who also may need electricity for their breathing equipment or their other medical needs," Miller said. The facility said they would make payments for the maintenance of the generators. BATON ROUGE — Six people were chased from their homes Tuesday by a fire that started in a clothes dryer at an apartment in the Gardere area of Baton Rouge. The St. George Fire Department said it was summoned to the 8300 block of Amy Drive around 10:35 a.m. The fire was contained to the top floor of a two-story apartment but a downstairs unit sustained water damage. The blaze was ruled accidental, caused by a lint build-up in the clothes dryer. No injuries were reported. The fire was near where smoke from a shed fire two weeks ago chased 22 people from their apartments. It's also near the site of a triple-shooting at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Copyright © 2022 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Gardere Wynne Sewell and Foley & Lardner will combine on April 1, creating a 1,100-lawyer firm. Gardere Wynne Sewell and Foley & Lardner have agreed to merge creating a firm of approximately 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices in the United States The combined firm will be known as Foley Gardere in Austin All other offices will operate as Foley & Lardner The joint firm's revenue will total $830 million The Recorder The Legal Intelligencer New York Law Journal The American Lawyer National Law Journal Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc Read More Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment Read More Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls Read More a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement Read More Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase Read More Already have an account? Sign In Jeff Gardere is a board certified clinical psychologist and an ordained interfaith minister In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan he is an Associate Professor and Course Director of Behavioral Medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City is also a prolific author of four books and a contributing author of a half-dozen books including the brand-new text In addition to being a respected academician Jeff has been a contributor to the FOX Network and was recently the substitute news anchor on the nightly newscast Jeff was also the psychologist on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Potomac as well as Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta and Love and Hip Hop: New York He is the principle psychologist on For My Man on TVOne and Celebrity Damage Control and They Got Away With It on the Reelz Channel He is also the aftercare coordinator and psychologist for the syndicated shows Lauren Lake's Paternity Court,and Couples Court with the Cutlers Jeff has also been a producer on the following documentary films: raising his six children who range in age from 4 to 27 years old Gardere’s favorite activities include attending religious services exercising daily and volunteering to help those in need “it takes a village to raise a child.” And local nonprofit Gardere Initiative is that village for many families in the Gardere area From providing postage stamps to finding a ride to a dentist appointment the faith-based coalition is a one-stop-shop for the community It is a safe place where youth can snack and do their homework after school Spanish-speaking children can practice conversing in English and families can use computers to print documents and seek finance Gardere Initiative is a small organization making a big impact More than 50 children and teens are enrolled in its after-school program and it provided food for 700 children weekly during the COVID-19 shutdown the group hosts its two biggest events: The Love Fest in December and the Gardere Initiative Back-to-School Extravaganza in August the group gives over 400 gifts to local families for the holidays the organization donates 700-plus bags of school supplies to students Students and families can also connect with helpful organizations and school representatives and access vital services such as health screenings the coalition focuses on educating and empowering youths to become resourceful Gardere Initiative offers after-school tutoring connections to physical and mental health resources legal advice and holiday and summer programs for children and youth “Education is the pathway out of poverty.” “Education is the pathway out of poverty,” Gardere Initiative Executive Director Murelle Harrison says Gardere Initiative started as a solution to a crime problem Harrison says murder was on the rise in Gardere and concerned churchgoers from several local congregations wanted to create positive change for the area They started with connecting youth to proper mentors and the organization started working out of a facility on Ned Avenue next to BREC’s Hartley/Vey Park at Oak Villa As a neighborhood pillar helping an increasing number of families in need staff and volunteers to best serve the community Harrison wants to raise enough money for the Gardere Initiative to open its own permanent facility with paid staff and reliable transportation to pick up and drop off students “If young people don’t have a path to higher education, what is there for them?” Harrison says. “We’re trying to help them stay motivated to stay in school. To do that, we need a permanent space, a staff and a van. We rent three units right now and use our personal vehicles to transport children without access to transportation. The community needs us.” Learn more or donate at gardereinitiative.org This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue of 225 magazine Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBATON ROUGE (WAFB) - Three people were taken to the hospital after a car crash sparked a fire Tuesday night George Fire Department said it happened at the intersection of Gardere Lane and Ned Avenue One of the cars was fully engulfed in flames Firefighters put the fire out and got everyone safely out of the vehicles The three people involved were taken to the hospital in stable condition The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and EMS also responded to the scene Click here to report a typo #inregister Murelle Harrison is regarded as a top crime fighter in one of Baton Rouge’s toughest neighborhoods Gardere gained a reputation for being a dangerous area As Hurricane Katrina evacuees crowded into the area’s fourplexes and duplexes the crime rate skyrocketed and clashes between “225s” and “504s” resulted in violence To support families caught in the crossfire, Faith Chapel Church of God member and attorney Rica Kwentua and pastor of the Greater Sixty Aid Baptist Church Rev. Reginald Pitcher founded the Gardere Initiative in 2006 An industrial organizational psychologist and the Sunday school superintendent of Faith Chapel Harrison volunteered with the organization early on and became its executive director in 2013 the commander of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’ Office’s Gardere substation Andrew Stevens and the president of the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District Karen Lee began meeting with residents churches and nonprofits to develop a shared vision of Gardere’s future Lee was particularly impressed by a Gardere Initiative proposal that combatted crime by creating a safe and healthy environment for the neighborhood’s children “If you want children to develop a strong brain to do well in school and have emotional stability they have to live in a safe environment and community,” explains Harrison Acknowledging the connection between crime and children living in underserved communities the proposal offered a commonsense approach involved and support them in their development in growing up if you don’t have anything positive for them to do?’” Harrison envisioned a safe neighborhood hub where kids had fun and enhanced their life and academic skills She set her sights on BREC’s 14-acre Hartley/Vey Park at Gardere and the adjacent apartment complex near a bus stop the Gardere Initiative secured two apartments overlooking the park as its headquarters the Gardere Initiative received a national $15,000 KABOOM The new playground proved to be more than a cosmetic improvement to a green space “When people who live in the neighborhood see others care about their families where they live and the conditions that they face The Gardere Initiative has become a one-stop community resource with concierge-level service to meet needs of each household children remain at the heart of its mission In addition to distributing 700 school supply kits and 400 Christmas gifts each year the nonprofit also offers afterschool programs Tiffany Thompson is raising five nephews and nieces in addition to her seven children her kids are involved in the Gardere Initiative year round occupied and teaches them how to have a positive mindset a work ethic and the skills they need for independent living and a real job,” Thompson says By concentrating on the neighborhood’s children the Gardere Initiative has improved the entire community 64% of all calls for service to the EBRPSO came from the Gardere area only 31% of calls for service came from the same neighborhood “The Gardere community is a prime example of how community involvement can bring about positive change and improve the quality of life for everyone,” says East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux “The results are clear that dedicated residents business partners and collaborative initiatives can have a huge impact by reducing crime.” The Gardere Initiative’s biggest accomplishment isn’t likely to show up in any statistics, though. “One of things I’m proudest of is hard to measure,” says Harrison, “that’s the hope we give children.” gardereinitiative.org By Karen Robinson-Jacobs Dallas-based law firm Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP said Friday it will merge with Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner LLP to form a firm with about 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices across the United States Asia and Europe and joint revenues of $830 million The combined firm will be known as Foley Gardere in Texas and Denver and as Foley Gardere Arena in Mexico City Business BriefingBecome a business insider with the latest news GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy "Gardere clients and attorneys will benefit from Foley's strong presence in the Midwest as well as Belgium and Tokyo," the law firms said in a statement Foley will expand in several service areas including corporate financial restructuring and reorganization Foley's energy practice also will be strengthened in both oil and gas and renewables as well as infrastructure and project finance The combination also means that Gardere will have access to Foley's extensive experience in the automotive sports and technology sectors — as well as its deep bench of government affairs talent in Washington The two firms are not alone in looking to buddy-up New York City-based Hunton & Williams LLP and Houston's Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP — both with Dallas offices — announced they would merge to form one of the nation's top 50 legal practices The combination of the two firms will have about 300 lawyers in four Texas offices a global legal giant with a sizable Dallas office merged with New York-based Chadbourne & Parke Earlier this month, Texas Lawyer reported that a third of Texas law firm leaders said they were open to merger talks Consolidation also has opened the Texas market to new law firms looking to expand. In 2017, Philadelphia-based Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP opened an office with 23 lawyers, all formerly of Sedgwick's Dallas office. And Chicago-based Winston & Strawn LLP hired 23 lawyers from eight different law firms for its Dallas office Twitter: @krobijake Note: An earlier version of this article gave incorrect hometowns for  Hunton & Williams LLP and Andrews Kurth Kenyon. Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines Please read the guidelines before participating we marked the five-year anniversary of the combination of Foley & Lardner and Gardere Wynne Sewell which strengthened our shared culture and core values provided our people with opportunities for growth and enhanced our platform to serve our clients The synergies between the two firms were clear from the beginning The combined platform provided significant additional areas of expertise to service our clients and has proved to be a catalyst for the sector approach now propelling us into the future But it has been the compatibility of our people that fortified our core values and truly has made Foley and Gardere “better together” To celebrate this significant milestone in our history we collected commentary from a mix of attorneys and business professionals who were integrally involved and have seen the positive effects of the combination we are pleased to share a few of these insights “Foley met nearly all of the qualities we were seeking in a combination but the compatibility of our client-first cultures proved to be the most compelling reason we are better together.” “As we began the process of identifying potential merger partners we were hopeful that we would find a highly compatible firm with shared values we are so fortunate to have found the perfect one!” “Relying on the core values and focusing on our culture – and in particular recognizing that our people are our most valuable asset and providing them with growth opportunities – have been the keys to enabling our great success.” “The combination has offered new opportunities for me to push myself and reach my full potential “The Foley combination instantly provided nationwide coverage and a deeper bench for many practice areas and allowed us to win business that we would not have otherwise received.” Foley and the integration team were committed to building strong relationships with Gardere colleagues in Mexico City the combination has certainly provided a platform for and enhanced the international reach of our sector approach.” “So many of our practices within Business Law immediately were much stronger and were operating as integrated teams almost from day one. Our clients have benefitted greatly as a result.” “Gardere added 83 litigators in Dallas and Denver to Foley’s proud reputation of trying and winning complex cases for our clients.” “Gardere was a firm known for its expertise in the oil and gas subsector and Foley had a vibrant practice in the renewables space Our combination has enabled us to match the way our energy clients do business and meet their needs holistically.” “Nowhere has it been more evident that we are better together than in our upholding of our core value of citizenship Gardere’s long-standing and inspiring Martin Luther King Jr Oratory Competition has continued and thrived since the combination.” “One of the many ways Foley and Gardere have been better together has been to strengthen our shared value of citizenship Oratory Competition that Gardere has long hosted in Houston and Dallas is one example and I’m so proud that we were able to bring that event to Foley’s Chicago office.” “The two teams of talent professionals came together to create something that truly made our two firms better together: the dedicated intentional effort and resources supporting the critical moment of career transition for lawyers who join the firm both laterally and from law school.” We look beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients Images of people may not be Foley personnel BATON ROUGE - A large fire collapsed the roof of a two-story apartment building off Gardere Lane late Sunday night.  George Fire Department said crews arrived shortly after 10:30 p.m to find flames spewing from the roof of the apartment building on Ned Avenue all of which were vacant at the time of the blaze.  Multiple fire engines were called to scene to get the flames under control The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  (WAFB) - A 22-year-old is dead following a shooting in Baton Rouge overnight A spokeswoman with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office confirmed Malaakk Ross was found shot dead in the doorway of his apartment Deputies confirmed the shooting happened in the 8600 block of Old Hermitage Parkway near Gardere Lane around 11:40 p.m There is no word on what led up to the incident A possible suspect or motive is unknown at this time Anyone with information is asked to call 389-5000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 344-STOP (7867) Click here to report a typo. BATON ROUGE - The coroner was called to the scene of a shooting off Gardere Lane late Monday night.  Officials said they responded to reports of a shooting on Old Hermitage Parkway shortly before midnight Monday. The parish coroner was called to the scene.  The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said the shooting left Malaakk Ross, 23, dead in the doorway of his apartment.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867. As some lawyers left Gardere on eve of its merger with Foley & Lardner, the newly formed Foley Gardere has started to expand in Texas. (L-to-R): Andy Szuwalski and Jeremy Berman   A client conflict prompted two intellectual property lawyers to leave Gardere Wynne Sewell as it merged with Foley & Lardner this month. They have joined Oklahoma-based Crowe & Dunlevy in its new Dallas office Andy Szuwalski and Jeremy Berman joined Crowe & Dunlevy as directors on April 1, the same day the merger of Gardere and Foley & Lardner took effect, creating Foley Gardere Szuwalski and Berman focus on patent prosecution and Szuwalski had been chair of the intellectual property practice group at Gardere the managing director of Crowe & Dunlevy's office in Dallas said Szuwalski and Berman bring a lot of transactional experience to the firm's IP practice and also expertise in semiconductor work which is an area the firm has been wanting to beef up Already have an account? Sign In The moves are further evidence that mergers in Texas are spurring a hot lateral market. Husch Blackwell has hired 14 lawyers in Texas from Dallas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell, which merged Sunday with Foley & Lardner Already have an account? Sign In is important to the well-established clinician whose mission is “to smash the stigma of addressing mental illness and help people access the care that will change their lives for the better.” Dr. Gardere’s dedication to his calling also extends to being on the Medical Advisory Board of Ro Mind a digital mental health platform that offers support for those living with anxiety and depression exercises and consistent check-ins with healthcare providers are provided for users of the program.   In light of his many accomplishments and strong views on mental health, Athletech News checked in with Dr Gardere for our “Recovery Day” series to see how he manages his own daily life and mental stability Athletech News (ATN): You’re currently an advisor for Ro Mind a digital mental health platform for anxiety and depression As a clinician and contributor to Ro Mind I am proud to be part of their pioneering and revolutionary efforts to facilitate mental health support ATN: How do you manage your own anxiety and stress Jeff Gardere: I am a big proponent of daily exercise and do barbell workouts three to four times a week I also maintain a mostly fish and vegetable diet This has resulted in extraordinary health and energy as well as self-confidence and an excitement about life I truly believe this kind of lifestyle has been the elixir to help me manage stress and anxiety and not let stress and anxiety manage me ATN: Biggest piece of advice to help others manage their anxiety Jeff Gardere: Recognize the stressors in your life that cause inordinate anxiety Go online and find easy self-help techniques such as breathing exercises and or mindfulness techniques to address them you can problem-solve with a mental health professional (Ro Mind is a great resource for that) which releases endorphins and makes you stronger and more resilient a healthy body can result in a healthy mind Jeff Gardere: I start my day with prayer (I am also an ordained minister) and then actual exercise for 30 minutes to an hour Jeff Gardere: I can relax after the work goals I have set are finished I believe in having the ‘eye of the tiger’ when it comes to worry I see myself as a warrior that does not rest until the mission is accomplished I take a walk or take in some fresh air and get back to work Jeff Gardere: I am a stickler for disciplined and scheduled sleep The early bird catches the worm and seizes the day ATN: What are some of your greatest indulgences? Dr. Jeff Gardere: Sitting at the beach on a warm Sunday afternoon, listening to jazz, and reading the New York Times.  Dr. Jeff Gardere: I don’t meditate but it’s on my bucket list, though I do pray every day.  At times I have practiced mindfulness. For me, exercise is a form of meditation. I tune out the world and revel in physicality. I cherish movement, knowing that at my age, it may not always be this way.   Dr. Jeff Gardere: Yes, Dr. Johnnie Walker Black. Just kidding, I am not a whiskey fan. But I have been in therapy in the past and recommend that everyone try it once in their lifetime and utilize therapy as often as seeing a family doctor or dentist.   ATN: Can you disconnect from “devices” (ie. emails, work)? Dr. Jeff Gardere: To be honest, no! But I master them by using them only when necessary. They serve me, not the other way around! Sign Up for Our Newsletter Trusted by 100k+ Fitness, Wellness & Health Executives. Athletech News provides comprehensive media coverage of the most impactful news and trends shaping the fitness and wellness sector. Our newsletter and website cover emerging fitness technology, brick and mortar gyms, wellness trends, new fitness formats and the industry’s economic outlook. COPYRIGHT© ATHLETECH MEDIA GROUP LLC 2022, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Keep pulse with the latest in fitness news. The firm tracked at least $10 million in new work that resulted from the April 2018 merger. Foley & Lardner's Miami office. Photo: J. Albert Diaz/ALM Foley & Lardner saw gross revenue and net income swell in 2018 as its merger with Dallas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell bore fruit Gross revenue hit $836.7 million for the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner compared with $169.1 million the year before revenue per lawyer (RPL) came in at $858,000 in 2018 Already have an account? Sign In Texas Tech Lawyer the alumni magazine for the Texas Tech University School of Law O’Neil in an article titled “At the Helm.” The article discusses alumni who have progressively risen through the ranks in their legal professions, noting that legal managers who delegate projects and communicate expectations like Ms O’Neil are better equipped to focus on their firms’ growth “What I am interested in is ensuring the longevity of our client relationships and a strong platform for all of our lawyers to be able to be successful and increase their client base,” said Ms we don’t want to be viewed as just a Texas firm that means on an almost-daily basis going beyond the borders of Texas.” The full publication can be accessed here Gardere partner Carrie Hoffman has been selected by the Texas Diversity Council as one of its 2017 Top 50 Women Lawyers in Dallas The list recognizes and honors women who have not only achieved personal success but who have also made it possible for others to more easily follow their footsteps the women who are selected receive a high degree of peer recognition for leadership excellence and professional expertise They exemplify a noteworthy commitment to fairness equity and justice in client representations and professional collaborations maintain a superior level of integrity and dignity across the full spectrum of legal dealings and responsibilities and demonstrate a commitment to helping other women succeed.  who serves as co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice group and chair of its retail industry team represents and counsels major employers nationwide in all areas of labor and employment law across a wide range of industries Hoffman is highly regarded for her experience with wage and hour issues as well as employment discrimination and retaliation claims She regularly reviews and drafts employment agreements – such as covenants not to compete – and advises clients on a wide variety of labor and employment issues Awardess will be honored during Dallas Legal Diversity Week in November. For a full list of honoress, click here Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters By Steve BrownReal Estate Editor And another major tenant is in talks for space Law firm Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is the largest tenant in the new McKinney & Olive high-rise on McKinney Avenue in Uptown The law firm — which moved from Thanksgiving Tower in downtown Dallas — has four floors and 115,000 square feet in the new high-rise built by Crescent Real Estate D-FW Real Estate NewsGet the latest real estate news you need to know Gardere has moved 287 attorneys and legal professionals into the building designed by award-winning architect Cesar Pelli. "Our new home was conceived almost four years ago to reflect the dynamic evolution of our 100+ year old firm," Holland O'Neil, chairman of the firm, said in a statement. "It is an ideal environment for our lawyers and our staff to thrive and is an inviting space for our clients." Architect Gensler designed Gardere's space. Other tenants in McKinney & Olive include advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi and law firm Sidley Austin. CrossFirst Bank is in talks to lease another floor in the tower, real estate brokers say. The new office tower — which features a ground-floor retail center and 1-acre park — is 90 percent leased. Jeff Ellerman and Phil Puckett with CBRE negotiated Gardere's lease in McKinney & Olive. Join the conversation Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines. Please read the guidelines before participating. With Gardere Wynne Sewell combining with Foley & Lardner, a group of six lawyers, including four partners, has moved to Jackson Walker's Dallas office, along with an associate from Gruber Hail Johansen Shank. The group from Gardere includes real estate lawyers Cynthia Brotman Nelson each of whom has joined Jackson Walker as partners along with associates James Miers and Ben Whitehill Trial lawyer Gabriela Rawlings also joined Jackson Walker as an associate coming on board from Gruber Hail Johansen Shank in Dallas Kelley had previously served as chairman of the real estate practice at Gardere while Nelson chaired the firm's hospitality practice Already have an account? Sign In An article about Partner Paul V. Storm joining Gardere's Dallas office was posted to Texas Lawyer's Tex Parte Blog Storm joined Gardere's Intellectual Property Practice Group after closing the doors of his own boutique IP firm "Many firms this size have decided to get out of the patent prosecution practice so that is one of the big attractions," says Mr The full blog post may be accessed here The Dallas Business Journal spoke with Gardere Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization Partner Stephen A McCartin about the most recent legal battle between Snuffer Restaurant Inc.'s new owner Firebird Restaurant Group and Snuffer's former claiming that the group's new concept is an imitation of the original Snuffer's and could cause consumer confusion Firebird claims it owns the intellectual property business opportunities and proprietary information of the brand "It's just a legal maneuver for the Firebird group to try to acquire the restaurant that they didn't," Mr "I don't think they truly believe there's confusion." The full article can be viewed here