News
Land of Lights to Open in Downtown West Monroe on Thursday
The Land of Lights in Downtown West Monroe is now officially opening on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, visitors and locals in Ouachita Parish can freely walk through a magical wonderland of light displays at the entrance at the Corner of Cotton and Pine Street in West Monroe. Special appearances of Christmas characters will be available for photos on some Saturday nights during the holiday season. Three built in photo opportunities at the Land of Lights include
United Way NELA Partners to Brighten the Holidays for Foster Children and Families
United Way of Northeast Louisiana is thrilled to announce a continued partnership with Royal Family Kids NELA and the Louisiana Foster Care Support Organization, a ministry of the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home and Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, to support foster children and families in the Monroe Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Region this holiday season. This collaboration aims to bring joy, dignity, and a sense of belonging to children and youth in foster care, as well as
Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana Presents $7,000 to The NELA Children’s Museum
The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana is proud to present a $7,000 check to The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum as part of its ongoing investment in early childhood education through School Readiness Tax Credit funds. The presentation will take place on Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. at The Children’s Museum, 323 Walnut St., Monroe, LA 71201. Community members are invited to attend, and media coverage is highly encouraged. These funds will expand access to the Museum’s educational
Chennault Fest Comes Back to Monroe for a Second Year
The Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is hosting Chennault Fest 2025 for its second consecutive year! The festival will take place for two days on Friday, Nov. 7 – Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at 701 Kansas Lane, Monroe, LA, 71203. This fall event brings hot air balloons that light up at night, live music, food trucks, drinks, petting zoo, a kid’s zone and more for all ages. “As a proud sponsor of the event, we look forward to the fun filled weekend for visitors and our community,” said Discover
United Way NELA Announces 2025-26 Heirship Project Workshops
United Way of Northeast Louisiana (UWNELA), in partnership with the Northeast Louisiana Bar Foundation, is proud to continue The Heirship Project, an ongoing initiative addressing the challenges of heir property and succession issues that impact families across Northeast Louisiana.The 2025-26 Heirship Project will feature free community workshops and attorney Lunch & Learn sessions, providing both practical resources and legal expertise. Events will be held at UWNELA’s Monroe office (1201 Hudson Lane,
ARCO Announces Retirement of Roma Kidd
Today, the ARCO Board of Directors announced the upcoming retirement of their long-time executive director, Roma Kidd. Kidd is the longest serving Executive Director for ARCO, serving forty-four of the organizations seventy-one years of service. During her tenure, she made measurable improvements at ARCO in service delivery, program effectiveness, advocacy, and resource development. “To have had an opportunity to participate in the development of family and individual community-based supports has been a
Governor Jeff Landry Declares October 23 Lights On Afterschool Day in Louisiana
The Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana (CCNELA), in partnership with the Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning (LACAL), today announced that Governor Jeff Landry has officially declared October 23 as Lights On Afterschool Day in Louisiana. This declaration coincides with the 26th annual nationwide celebration, joining over a million champions in raising awareness for the vital role afterschool programs play in student success and community support. The annual designation was celebrated locally
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Arrives in Northeast Louisiana
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has arrived in Northeast Louisiana, bringing free books each month to children from birth to age five. This beloved program, founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, fosters a love of reading by mailing high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes—at no cost to families. Through a collaborative partnership with the Bank of Oak Ridge, The Center for Children & Families, LA Blue, The Children’s Coalition, The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Morehouse
