Locals share their New Year’s resolutions—both for themselves and for our city
“I would like to see the city of Baton Rouge in the next year continue to embrace the art and culture that we’ve been so wonderfully growing over the last decade to become the metropolitan, functioning city that I always knew we could be.” —Clay Achee, afternoon DJ of WHYR 96.9 Baton Rouge Community Radio
“Being more bike friendly and pedestrian friendly. I know it has its challenges considering the streets were designed a long time ago without that in mind. … But I like to think or hope that I’m already seeing Baton Rouge take steps in the right direction.” —Tess Brunet, co-owner of Lagniappe Records
“I want the public to get on their feet and explore the local neighborhoods for their needs. Neighborhood groceries, shops, bars and restaurants, I feel, are neglected for the larger chains, and should be supported to keep the Baton Rouge economy flourishing.” —George J. Krause IV, executive chef at Doe’s Eat Place
“My new year’s resolution for Baton Rouge would be to help facilitate the creation of a shared and common agenda for families and individuals to realize their full potential in our region.” —Darrin Goss Sr., president/CEO of Capital Area United Way
“I’d love to see the city promote shopping local more. I think there’s a lot of untapped creativity in the fashion-retail scene. There is a really loyal following to the bigger retail outlets that have been here a long time, but there’s just some really unbelievable creativity [with local designers] that I think goes unseen.” —Amy Strother, owner of Denicola’s Furniture & Upholstery and Noelie Harmon
“We need to continue what we’ve been doing in the area of growing opportunities for young people so that we can keep our best and brightest here and also attract talent from other states to be our future leaders.” —Rebecca Hamilton, state librarian/assistant secretary of state of the Library of Louisiana
“We have to erase a lot of negatives out of our system and way of life and strive to make this place a better place for all to live and worship … show that Baton Rouge is not a just a great city by what we say—don’t show them by talking, show them by action.” —Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden
“I have been troubled by the fact that every year we’ve been either No. 1 or 2 per capita for HIV/AIDs in Baton Rouge, beating out Miami [and] San Francisco. My resolution is that we really commit to tackling this issue, and help fellow members of the community to fight this disease and to help our health professionals fight it. Everybody should be involved in eradicating this situation.” —Renee Chatelain, executive director of the Manship Theatre
“To strengthen our K-20 collaborative relationships. Obtaining a college/university degree does not start in orientation, it starts in kindergarten.” —Dr. F. King Alexander, LSU president and chancellor
“I’d like to continue to see the young professionals BE A PART OF AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH and development of the city.” —Kasey Henry, Forum 35 president-elect and audit manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
“Continuing to embrace the creative class that is here and is growing. I moved to Baton Rouge in 2005, and the amount of growth that I’ve seen just in the time that I’ve been here is staggering.” —Jason Andreasen, executive director at Baton Rouge Gallery
WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION?
“My wife and I have been here 17 months and have been really full-on focused on the United Way and the work we’re doing here. But personally, I want to spend more of my own time and effort really helping others – so mentoring a kid and [doing] things that I used to do all the time but haven’t really been able to do since I moved to Baton Rouge.” —Darrin Goss Sr., president/CEO of Capital Area United Way
“My New Year’s resolution is simple: help more people. Bethany Church will endeavor to do the same.” —Jonathan Stockstill, Bethany Church lead pastor
“I plan to take better care of myself during the work day, like stopping to take a lunch, taking a break from the computer and leaving the office at a reasonable hour.” —Rebecca Hamilton, state librarian/assistant secretary of state of the Library of Louisiana
“I’ve been doing something each month that’s new and different and kind of scares me and challenges me, so for my New Year’s resolution I’m going to do that. … One of the things I did recently was karaoke, which is something I’d never done before. I went camping with friends, and we’ve talked about going skydiving or bungee jumping.” —Kasey Henry, Forum 35 president-elect and audit manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
“Up until about eight years ago, every time I was asked for my New Year’s resolution, it was always something for myself. … Now, my resolution is to help others. There’s a different side to Kip Holden than you may see standing up in front of you at the mic. It’s not what you do behind the mic; it’s what you do to improve the lives of others.” —Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden
“To never do New Year’s resolutions again because I struggle to keep them! Whoops, I just did one.” —Dr. F. King Alexander, LSU president and chancellor
“I would like to see the city of Baton Rouge in the next year continue to embrace the art and culture that we’ve been so wonderfully growing over the last decade to become the metropolitan, functioning city that I always knew we could be.”
“Being more bike friendly and pedestrian friendly. I know it has its challenges considering the streets were designed a long time ago without that in mind. … But I like to think or hope that I’m already seeing Baton Rouge take steps in the right direction.”
“I want the public to get on their feet and explore the local neighborhoods for their needs. Neighborhood groceries, shops, bars and restaurants, I feel, are neglected for the larger chains, and should be supported to keep the Baton Rouge economy flourishing.”
