Group honors first responders during monthlong celebration

The Commission for Women of Bossier City Inc. works to educate and support not only the women of Bossier City and Bossier Parish. Last month, the commission celebrated its annual Inspiring Women Week, celebrating Women’s History Month.

This year’s Inspiring Women Week honored first responders.

“First responders just don’t get the extra attention they deserve,” Commission for Women of Bossier City representative Meredith Johnson said. She added the focus was especially meaningful following the recent flooding in Shreveport-Bossier.

The week consisted of five events, raising money for Bossier City’s Smoke Detector Program and the Blue Forever Organization.

“We wanted to honor two organizations that work with first responders,” she said.

Johnson said Bossier Parish had been out of smoke detectors as they waited for more from the state. The Blue Forever Organization provides QuickClot Trauma Kits for law enforcement agencies, helping them to treat the injured quickly.

Events included a kickoff breakfast at the Bossier Parish Sheriff ’s Station featuring Lt. Sarah Rhodes, a first responder and mother of three, an Alive at Five networking event at Flying Heart Brewing, a complimentary spa day at Virginia College provided by its students, “Women, Wine and Paintbrushes” at Bossier Arts Council and their annual luncheon at the Bossier Civic Center with keynote speaker Lt. Bill Davis.

Johnson said the week offers opportunities for many different people, including different genders, age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. They also work to showcase different areas of Bossier Parish that residents may not frequent, such as the Sheriff ’s Office or the Bossier Arts Council.

When the commission is not busy with Inspiring Women Week, which takes place every March, they offer opportunities for women and children throughout the parish.

“Our main focus is our mentoring program,” Johnson said. Two seniors from every high school in Bossier Parish, including Providence, are selected via an application process and recommendations from guidance counselors. The commission then exposes the students local politics, such as a city council meeting and a school board meeting, arts and culture events, such as programs at Centenary College of Louisiana and dating violence seminars.

“It may not be the student who’s involved in everything,” Johnson said. “It may be the student who needs the opportunity.”

At the end of the school year, one student is honored with the Lead Award, which provides funding for the college of the student’s choosing.

“We’re women who all believe in Bossier City and Bossier Parish and love our community.”

–Meredith Johnson

“It’s so neat to see where the girls are years later,” she said.

Established in 1986, the commission is a direct branch of the Governor’s Commission For Women of the State of Louisiana. The group is made up of a rotating board, and potential new members must complete a application, which is available on the organization’s Facebook page.

“The women who are in the commission ... you know their heart and their passion. We’ve got an awesome group of women, but there’s always a need for women,” she said. Members must live or work in Bossier City or Bossier Parish.

Whether it’s hosting a network event at a brewery or educating high schoolers about dating violence, the Commission for Women of Bossier City seeks to not only empower women, but the community as a whole.

“We’re women who all believe in Bossier City and Bossier Parish and love our community, and this is a way we can give back.”

LEARN MORE:

For more information on the Commission for Women of Bossier City, go to their Facebook page, Facebook.com/commissionwbc, their website, bossiercwbc.org, or contact Meredith Johnson at meredith.johnson@vc.edu.