We can overcome

There are so many positive things going on in our city. Unfortunately, negative news constantly dominates front-page headlines and TV reporting. As we continue to battle crime, poverty and illiteracy in our community and state, we cannot forget that many of the world’s greatest people faced enormous challenges—but overcame them.

I was born in Louisiana, and I love our city and our state. However, during the last three decades, I have watched our public school system erode, crime increase and poverty tighten its grip on generations of families. It’s true, too, that some areas have eroded while others have improved. I believe we can overcome all of the issues impeding our ability to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Louisiana.

Think about it. A young man raised on America’s sparse, rugged frontier grew up to become Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. A politician paralyzed by polio fought back to become our 32nd president, Franklin Roosevelt. Extraordinary men and women such as Booker T. Washington, Marian Anderson and George Washington Carver overcame a society filled with racial discrimination and went on to make positive contributions to their country and the next generation.

What about a man born to parents who survived a Nazi concentration camp—a man paralyzed below his waist? Itzhak Perlman went on to become one of the greatest violinists the world has known. He was also a visitor to Baton Rouge a few years ago as part of the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Great Performers in Concert Symphony Series.

I could write about so many others—Margaret Thatcher, Helen Keller, Enrico Caruso—this list goes on and on, enough to fill this magazine. They emerged from various backgrounds with all manner of obstacles to overcome, but they all can teach us the same lesson today: Success doesn’t depend on circumstances. It happens when we overcome our circumstances.

So, whether it’s poverty, a hurricane or an oil spill, we will overcome if we don’t give up or give in!

What your car says about you!

This month, contributing writer Chris Frink takes us under the hood, behind the dashboard and into the minds of Baton Rougeans to find out why they drive that car. We asked mechanics, a psychologist who specializes in the study of people and their automotive choices, and finally, several local drivers to learn about that most personal American choice: what we drive.

Heads up

Last year 225 and inRegister launched Head 2 Toe : the Ultimate Day Out for Women and was a huge success. Thanks to our sponsors Woman’s Hospital, Acura/Infiniti and Blue Cross Blue Shield it’s back and even better. Shopping, pampering, seminars, food and fun are all on the agenda. One of the highlights of the day will be a special luncheon selected by Holly Clegg that will be topped off with International Speaker Carol Gardner, author and creator of ZeldaWisdom. She’s been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, the Today show and Martha Stewart show. The event is designed for moms, daughters, grandmothers and girlfriends to enjoy their day. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, May 7th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. To purchase your tickets online you can go to AvenueRouge.com or call 924-5339.

• Also, if you missed the chance to attend our 225 Hot Off the Press event March 31st – you missed a good time. A crowd of 225 fans gathered at the Roux House downtown to get the first copies of this new April issue and network with new friends, as well as our 225 staff. Guests enjoyed a live art battle, break dancers, food and cocktail samples and good music. Special thanks to our sponsors: Roux House, Tin Roof Brewery, Patrón, and Ultimat Vodka for making it happen. If you wish get a notice of the next “Hot off the Press” event, celebrating our Best Of 225 issue, be sure to become a fan of 225 magazine on Facebook!

• April is an amazing month to live in South Louisiana. Not only is spring in full bloom, but we can enjoy an abundance of festivals celebrating the best our culture has to offer. The Big Daddy of them all is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 29-May 8), an event that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world to hear our great music, taste our incredible food and experience our warm culture. FestForAll (April 30-May 1) and the Baton Rouge Blues Festival (May 7) bring great music and food right here to our doorstep, while Festival International de Louisiane (April 27-May 1) brings Lafayette to life with an infusion of African, Caribbean and other international cultures that have so influenced our own. Take time this spring to enjoy some of this spicy gumbo of music and culture.