NEXTGEN SUMMER CAMP: ST. JAMES PARISH EDITION

Since 2021, Inclusive Louisiana has stood in defense of both St. James Parish and the River Parish communities as a whole, consistently showing up in moments of environmental threat, community displacement, and critical policy decision-making. Providing both generational wisdom and spirit-led guidance, that only older Black women from the South can, Inclusive Louisiana stands at the intersections of “most-impacted by industry” and “one of the greatest threats to industry,” positioning community members not only as those harmed by extractive development, but as informed advocates and decision makers shaping the region’s future.

In addition to stewarding resources at the community anchor, known as The Village Hub, which functions as a centralized space for organizing, training, youth engagement, and mutual aid distribution, they’re also expanding their leadership development efforts by adopting Rural Root’s NextGen Youth Program into their parish this summer. This program will directly engage youth in environmental education, civic leadership, advocacy strategy, and community organizing, preparing a new generation of leaders to sustain long-term resistance efforts. By pairing youth training with mentorship from seasoned community organizers, Inclusive Louisiana is creating a durable pipeline of leadership that strengthens community capacity, reduces burnout among frontline advocates, and ensures continuity of local organizing efforts.

NextGen Summer Camp is an 8-week immersive leadership and enrichment experience designed to equip youth from St. James Parish, Louisiana with the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to become future leaders. 

This summer Inclusive Louisiana launches our inaugural Next Gen Summer Camp (St. James Parish edition). The original idea was developed and successfully hosted by our community partners at Rural Roots last summer in Ascension parish. This year, we are hosting this same summer camp for the youth in our community as well. 

We expect that our carefully curated curriculum, rooted in science, environmental justice, public health, and community advocacy, and care for the people, will help interrupt many of the problematic messaging many youth are absorbing about who they can and should be. We believe when youth leadership is invested in they become powerful decision-makers that drive positive change in their families, communities, and countries.  

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION TODAY!