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1. Jennifer Caldwell Receives Pilot Funding from Forge AHEAD Center for Genetics and Nutrition Project
2. Grady Hurley Elected President of Maritime Law Association of the United States
3. East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority Recognized for Excellence in Senior Community Development
4. Louisiana Small Business Awards Honors Entrepreneurs and Supporters
Assistant Professor Jennifer Caldwell from Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been selected as one of four early-stage investigators to receive pilot funding of $50,000 from the Forge AHEAD Center at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Caldwell’s upcoming project, Linking Genetics and Improving Nutrition in Scotlandville (Linking GAINS), aims to educate Black individuals on their genetic makeup and its impact on their health outcomes.
The project will offer tailored nutrition and cooking classes to address the limited resources in food deserts like those in Scotlandville and north Baton Rouge. Participants will undergo genetic testing for chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, receiving personalized information based on their genetic background.
In other news, Grady Hurley of Jones Walker has been elected as the president of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Hurley, a partner at the firm, is known for his expertise in maritime litigation and dispute resolution. He is the fourth MLA president from New Orleans in the organization’s 125-year history.
Additionally, the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority has received an award of excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials for their Cypress Pinchback senior community project. This 99-unit development near Highland Road and Gardere Lane was recognized for its innovative design and focus on the needs of aging residents.
Furthermore, the 2024 Louisiana Small Business Awards ceremony honored various business owners and supporters. Notable recipients include Cristy Cali of Cristy’s Collection, Mayra E. Pineda of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, and Xavier Barreda and LaDonte Lotts of JiggAerobics.
Other awardees include Jack L. Gunter of GUNCO, Trudy R. Poret of Tarpan Construction, and Susan Thibodeaux of LSBDC at McNeese State University. The ceremony also recognized Dirk Guidry, LaDarby Williams, Anastacia Francis, and many others for their contributions to the small business community in Louisiana.
