Update: Original Post from witness Crystal Ellis Luter
Mayor Ronnie Williams responds to racial comment
The president of Northwestern State University, Jimmy Genovese, approached me at the swearing in ceremony for Congressman Cleo Fields. Many details about this encounter have been shared including unsubstantiated claims, false narratives, and/or unfair commentaries both on social media and in the Natchitoches Parish Journal. As a result, I am releasing a statement to provide an accurate account of the events as I experienced them.
When President Genovese approached me, he did so with an opening comment that by his indications was intended to be a joke. I do not feel it is necessary to quote President Genovese’s exact words, but I will confirm that his comment referred to both his race as a white American and my race as a Black American. Racism, even when veiled as a joke, is unacceptable and must be handled in a direct and firm manner. I communicated my response directly to President Genovese and Northwestern State University (NSU).
President Genovese and I have a working relationship. As key stakeholders in the Natchitoches community, we must continue to cultivate our working relationship and take all necessary steps to foster positive race relations. True unity is built on respect, understanding, and the recognition that our differences make us stronger. NSU is a crucial part of our amazing City and I know by working together, President Genovese and I can ensure NSU becomes even more involved in the community, especially by expanding partnerships and developing programs for historically disenfranchised and underprivileged populations.
Beyond his opening remark, our conversation centered around the economic earthquake that the impending closure of International Paper has caused in the City of Natchitoches. My focus has been and will continue to be on moving the City of Natchitoches forward. Nearly 500 individuals were affected by the closing of International Paper. I am committed to attracting new jobs and fostering economic growth while also prioritizing building strong and diverse partnerships. Our community thrives when everyone has access to opportunity and feels a sense of belonging. By working together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive city where economic prosperity and social unity go hand and hand.
See Orginal Post from witness
Original Post from witness Crystal Ellis Luter
Jimmy Genovese, President of Northwestern State University
Jimmy Genovese, President of Northwestern State University
Jimmy Genovese, President of Northwestern State University
Jimmy Genovese, President of Northwestern State University
Jimmy Genovese, President of Northwestern State University
Gov. Landry meets with North La. leaders
Landry at NSU:
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry met with elected officials and other stakeholders at Northwestern State University Feb. 25 to discuss the closure of the International Paper Mill in Campti.
NATCHITOCHES – Gov. Jeff Landry visited Northwestern State University Tuesday to meet with community officials, legislators and leaders in business, industry, education and economic development to address the pending closure of the International Paper mill in Campti and its projected negative impact for Natchitoches Parish.
“There is no one who understands the economic impact of the loss of these jobs more than me,” Landry said, referencing the closure of multiple Fruit of the Loom facilities in south Louisiana in the 1990s and early 2000s. “It’s not only the jobs that are leaving the Campti facility, but the downstream effect of what it does to the small businesses that are attached. While I don't have all the answers today, I can tell you that we will continue to work towards building economic opportunities throughout central and north Louisiana.”
“I think that the greatest opportunity that we have for economic development is actually central and northern Louisiana,” he said, referencing the selection of Richland Parish as the site of Meta’s $10 billion artificial intelligence data center.
The governor said a proposed constitutional amendment on the March 29 ballot to reform the state’s tax code could open new opportunities to bring jobs to north and central Louisiana. He has also tasked higher education administrators with shaping Louisiana’s universities and community college systems to support jobs and industry.
“I think it's evident from the governor's remarks that his intention is clearly to bring the full force of the government to do whatever we can do to mitigate the reality of this decision by IP,” said Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Department of Louisiana Economic Development. “One of the things I started out talking about in my role was that we really had to take the whole of government approach to economic development. It's not just a government solution to the challenges or the opportunities that we face. It really does have to be the private sector, the education sector, the public sector, all of us pulling on the same rope.”
Bourgeois said her office is currently working with five active wood-related projects in north Louisiana.
“We’ve announced 21 wood-related projects in the last seven years that our team is now going to focus on seeing about placement of employees, placement of product and how we can redeploy some of the Louisiana resources that were used at the Campti facility in those projects,” Bourgeois said.
Susie Schowen, secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said she has engaged a rapid response team, the team that responds to layoffs, who can offer services specifically for IP workers.
“The IP workers are getting services in career counseling, envisioning where their career could go and how to connect with training. We can help offset the cost of that training with the focus of getting people jobs right here in this area.”
“We want to do as much as we can to backfill, to give back, what the closure is going to cause,” Landry said. “We will work as hard as we can and the good news is you’ve got other areas of the state that are performing, and a high tide has a tendency to lift all boats. We are focused on this area, not only Natchitoches but the central and north Louisiana area. We are hyper focused on opportunity because I think that there are opportunities out there.”
Landy said there are companies around the country and around the world are looking for investments in the U.S., which aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda to boost American manufacturing.
“Right now, that is being driven primarily by the president's agenda and we want to be able to capture as much of that as we can. You see this great team and we have worked hard and I don’t know anyone who isn’t trying to soften the impact,” he said.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has resources available at https://www.laworks.net/.
Information on the Louisiana office of Economic Development is available at
https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/.
Landry at NSU:
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry met with elected officials and other stakeholders at Northwestern State University Feb. 25 to discuss the closure of the International Paper Mill in Campti.
Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)
Director of Public Information and Media Relations
Northwestern State University
(318) 357-4553