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Discover Lafayette

著者： Jan Swift
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  • Peggy Feehan – Executive Director of CODOFIL

    Peggy Feehan – Executive Director of CODOFIL
    2024/09/21
    Peggy Feehan, Executive Director of CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the French language and culture in Louisiana, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the agency's mission and work. Born and raised in the New Brunswick province of Canada, Peggy grew up speaking French, enjoying the outdoors with deer and moose in her backyard. Fishing and hunting activities were prevalent, just like in Louisiana. While her region of Canada was predominantly Francophone, she learned English in school; some of her family spoke English, but it was not her first language. Peggy admits that she still thinks and dreams in French. And interestingly, she remembers watching American television and enjoying English-speaking shows such as Growing Pains and Family Ties which helped her in learning the English language. While Louisiana, and South Louisiana in particular, had many French-speaking citizens, the language was looked upon as uneducated and backward by some sectors of society. In 1921, a new Louisiana Constitution was adopted that mandated English as the official language of instruction in public schools. This effectively banned the use of French in classrooms. Many old-timers and their descendants clearly remember the shame felt when being ridiculed by teachers for using their native French language in school. The number of French-speaking people in Louisiana began to dwindle drastically as the decades passed. James "Jimmy" Domengeaux, a prominent Lafayette attorney and former U.S. Congressman, was instrumental in founding CODOFIL as a means to stop the loss of French-speaking Louisianians. CODOFIL was established in 1968 with the goal of preserving and promoting the French language and culture in the state. The council played a key role in advocating for French education and cultural programs, particularly in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. CODOFIL was empowered to “do any and all things necessary to accomplish the development, utilization, and preservation of the French language as found in Louisiana for the cultural, economic and touristic benefit of the state". Appointed by then Louisiana Governor John McKeithen, Domengeaux served as CODOFIL's first president from its creation until his death in 1988. Domengeaux was passionate about revitalizing French language education, and under his leadership, CODOFIL helped reintroduce French into Louisiana public schools. His work faced challenges, such as a lack of qualified teachers and resistance from some English-only advocates, but Domengeaux's efforts laid the foundation for a French cultural renaissance in the state. CODOFIL is an agency of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, under the direction of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. It is the only agency physically situated outside of Baton Rouge and is housed in the former Lafayette City Hall across the street from our Lafayette Parish Court House. COD)FIL has been housed there since the mid-1980s except for a period (2014 - 2019) when extensive renovations were undertaken. It is a bright, beautiful space which delights visitors and employees alike. The hiring of international French teachers began in 1972. The recruitees from France and Belgium were flown to Louisiana in chartered planes and landed in Baton Rouge where they were met by yellow school buses and driven to their respective parishes. Approximately 100 teachers would be hired each year. One teacher from Belgium was Phillippe Gustin, who moved here in 1974 from Belgium. He ended up staying and went on to lead the Lafayette International Center for 28 years, serving as an outstanding ambassador for Lafayette and Acadiana in promoting business and cultural opportunities. Peggy moved to Louisiana 25 years ago to teach French in the St. Martin school system for CODOFIL. At the time, CODOFIL advertised in Canada to recruit French teachers,
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    1分未満
  • NOMAD Music Festival – Seth Ransonet

    NOMAD Music Festival – Seth Ransonet
    2024/09/13
    Seth Ransonet joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the third annual NOMAD Music Festival to be held on September 21, 2024 at Warehouse 535. NOMAD is a wholesome music event emphasizing family-friendly values and aiming to promote truth, goodness, and beauty through music. It's mission is to glorify God and inspire people to find their true home, spiritually and emotionally, through the power of music and community. The name "NOMAD" was selected because the event strives to inspire all wanderers to find their true home. A graduate of UL-Lafayette and a theology teacher at Teurlings Catholic High School, Seth Ransonet co-founded the NOMAD Music Festival with Jude Lecompte. The two were roommates when they attended a performance in Houston by Caamp, an American folk band from Ohio, which Seth calls a "top 10" band. They had so much fun it inspired them to start their own music festival here in Lafayette LA. Seth recalled Jude saying, "We need to start an event that's wholesome, family-friendly, and a nice hang out." The young men were 22 and 23 years old at the time of NOMAD's inception. The third annual NOMAD Music Festival will be held on September 21, 11:00 a.m to 9 p.m. at Warehouse 535 in Lafayette, and features a variety of local and visiting artists, providing them with a platform to grow and reach a wider audience. Working to create a vibrant community experience, the event kicks off with a Catholic mass which is open to the people of all faiths. Games for the kids will be provided and anyone who loves dancing is sure to enjoy NOMAD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eLZLYAhwms&t=64s The headliner band is Happy Landing, and NOMAD 2024 also includes artists such as Zach Edwards and the Medicine, Kaleb Oliver, Swampland Stringband, Amis Du Teche, Mia Montero, Crosby & Ellender, Gabe Parsons, and Eden. General admission tickets are $39.99 (with family discounts provided to families attending with their children) and food trucks will be onsite offering meals for purchase. Parking is available onsite. To find out more, visit https://www.nomadmusicfest.com/. Discover Lafayette would like to thank Seth Ransonet, as well as NOMAD co-founder Jude LeCompte, for endeavoring to bring wholesome family entertainment to Acadiana. Seth is now only 24 years old and has taken on not only full-time teaching at Teurlings Catholic High School, but learning entrepreneurship as a festival organizer trying to break even, if not make a profit. An eagle scout who grew up singing Irish folk songs around the campfire, Seth has always been a person of faith who wanted to serve his Catholic church. Best wishes on a successful 2024 NOMAD Music Festival!
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    38 分
  • Michael Soileau – Director of LUS Fiber

    Michael Soileau – Director of LUS Fiber
    2024/09/06
    Michael Soileau, Director of LUS Fiber, joins us to discuss his vision for the organization. A native of Mamou, Michael graduated from Mamou High, and then earned a degree in International Business from UT in Austin and an MBA from LSU - Shreveport. He took over the reins at LUS Fiber in May 2024. Before this appointment, Michael had worked exclusively in private enterprise. His past employers include Comcast NBCUniversal, specializing in the broadband and cable television business, as well as Toffler Associates, O3, Viya, Comcast Cable, AT&T Broadband, and Optel. He's a proven business leader in sales, business development, and strategic planning in the telecommunication and fiber-optic industry. Michael's first work experiences in broadband came about through his work with Optel. The company was first acquired by AT&T Broadband, which was then acquired by Comcast Corporation, making it the largest broadband and cable subscription business provider in the U. S. Then, Comcast purchased 49% ownership of NBC, and several years later bought the remaining ownership in the broadcast network. These mergers resulted in Michael moving into the entertainment and distribution side of the business. "I worked with Comcast NBC Universal for twenty years, in every operational role you can imagine....sales, marketing, finance, strategic planning on how to grow the business. With the Time Warner acquisition, affordabiIity came up. We started off offering programs for low-income households, and expanded it to sectors such as seniors, Veterans, students...different sectors of the community that can find broadband expensive. I learned so much." Advocate staff photo by Leslie Westbrook. Michael retired from Comcast and then dedicated his life to studies, earning an MBA from LSU. "I admit to being a lifelong learner. When I retired from Comcast, I went to school to get my Master's degree. I had considered working in academia as I had guest lectured at UT for a while. I earned the degree to gain the needed credibility to lecture on international business. But I was reinvigorated by school to get back into the 'business of the business.'" He then spent a year and a half as CEO of O3, a digital experience consultancy based in Philadelphia. At O3, he focused on digital customer experience, strategy, and innovation, bringing the organization a fresh set of eyes on how to position it to tap into new markets and create innovative solutions. Michael had maintained a residence in Lafayette in order to be close to his parents who still reside in Mamou. One day, his neighbor was visiting and they started talking about the open position at LUS Fiber. Rachel Godeaux, LCG's Chief Administrative Officer, met with him and Michael then met with Lafayette Mayor Monique Boulet, who inspired him with her vision for Lafayette and the role fiber could play in attracting companies and driving economic development. "Her overarching belief in the importance of transparency in government was compelling." He wasn't looking for a position, but couldn't say no. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYsXM71kDIw "I love the business of broadband. I've seen the power of broadband and what it does to change communities across the country, so I was excited about the opportunity to come back." Familiar with the history of LUS Fiber, having watched it from its inception back in 2005 when the citizens of Lafayette voted to make it a reality, he remembers having a conversation with the President of Comcast's cable division, saying at the time, "This is a model that will hurt us because it drives community engagement and loyalty with in the community." He further added during our interview, "Those are the values that we are all a part of by living here in Lafayette." "LUS Fiber has had 17 years of operations. We have the opportunity to rethink our marketing and ask what do we stand for, what is our brand, what is our promise to the community,
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    57 分

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