BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — One Baton Rouge organization is looking to help kick start advocacy groups around the city that aim to help with a wide range of issues. Metromorphosis has been working to lift up the parts of the community most in need for 10 years now.

For their 10th anniversary, Metromorphosis is investing $10,000 into 10 different small organizations that are working bit by bit to improve their neighborhoods across Baton Rouge.

The recipients are: 

  • Courtnie Cook- CPR Training for Youth Hazel 
  • Bradley-Davis- North Baton Rouge Youth Empowerment 
  • Mirando Georgetown Riley- Normalizing Autism in Children, One Play Date at a Time 
  • Murelle Harrison- Youth-led Bike Repair Shop 
  • Amanda Moorer- Mental Health Support and Life Coaching for Moms 
  • Ella Morgan- Addressing Blight in Eden Park 
  • Laci Sherman- Culinary Training Program for Youth 
  • Stacci J. Tobin- “The Longest Table” A Community Conversation 
  • Lynda Turner- Community Revitalization and Voter Registration 
  • Sophie Ziegler- The Louisiana Trans and Oral History Project

“There are lots of people who not only want to change but are doing their own best effort to change. We understand our role at MetroMorphosis to support these people who are making a difference in their communities,” MetroMorphosis Chief Executive Catalyst Raymond Jetson said.

Each organization is getting $1,000 and for some just starting out that will go a long way. The Gardere Initiative is looking to help kids in their neighborhood turn away from crime and learn useful life skills. Front Yard Bikes helps them with summer classes.

“One of the things we have seen is they learn to be more respectful, to learn how to socialize, instead of arguing or fighting,” Murelle Harrison said.

The Eden Park Neighborhood Group is looking to clear away blight and plant shrubs along Gus Young Avenue to help people appreciate their streets more. They believe when someone is proud of the community they come from it can help them tackle bigger issues like high levels of crime.

“We figure if we deal with some of the smaller issues then that in itself will help us to help the residents deal with some of the bigger issues,” Ella Morgan said.

MetroMorphosis will help create websites and organize events to help the 10 groups get more attention. The agency works to get nonprofits together to streamline the help the community needs, especially in the inner city.

“The people, the organizations, the institutions that are there are more than enough,” Jetson said.

They hope in 10 years these organizations will grow as much as they have.