Community Foundation of SWLA Releases Hope Video

Hope.

It’s what has sustained us through the months of recovery since the 2020 hurricanes and what continues to fuel our resiliency as we work hard to rebuild Southwest Louisiana. This is the inspiration for the Community Foundation’s SWLA Hope video, where they showcase the strength and spirit of the people who live here, as they change their focus from what happened to what we are going to make happen for our community. Creating opportunity from devastation is a commitment we all share and that’s what the video is about.

According to Foundation President and CEO Sara Judson, the name encompasses the message of the video. “There is no doubt the hurricanes of 2020 have challenged us in ways we could have never imagined, but through it all we have never lost hope. Hope has sustained us through the months of recovery so far, and hope continues to fuel our resiliency as we work hard to rebuild Southwest Louisiana.”

The video features local performers singing on rooftops, which provides a literal representation of the song’s chorus, “Shout it from the rooftop, we’re coming back better than before.” Dancers, people enjoying life and other positive scenes of recovery across the region are also featured.

“The production of this video is the result of many talented people working together to basically create a hurricane recovery theme song for Southwest Louisiana,” says Judson. “From the moment the Healthy Image Marketing team came to us with the idea, the willing support of everyone involved has been incredible. Local music producers Ed Fruge and Michael A. McGowan brought the song to life. The United Christian Fellowship Church Choir, Mickey Smith Jr., Gyth Rigdon, Angie Manning, members of the St. Louis Show Choir and Lake Charles Dance Academy added their impressive performing talents. There are many others who contributed. Everyone we asked to participate, lend us a location or provide airtime said yes. It truly is a project from our community, for our community.”

Find the video on the Community Foundation’s website, www.foundationswla.org, the Rebuilding SWLA resource site, www.rebuildingswla.com, and on both organization’s respective Facebook pages. The Foundation asks the community to show their support for hurricane recovery by sharing the video to their social media pages. “Sharing the message of this video within and outside our region will help keep the spotlight on our recovery in a positive way,” says Judson. “Let’s send a loud, strong message that Southwest Louisiana is coming back, better than before.”