Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
There was a lot to celebrate Saturday night at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, which hosted the ninth annual 24 Hour Citizen Project. The event helps connect civic-minded individuals and groups in Acadiana to local backers to fund community projects. And this year, five projects have the chance to become more than just an idea. Here are 2025's winners: Team Global Bites — $3,500 in funding Lafayette is gaining another way to connect with the community's diverse ethnic populations with a new food festival, which plans to kick off on the eve of Festival International. The project aims to bring together the cultural street foods of eight to 12 communities, ranging from Lafayette's Lebanese and Persian populations to its Laotian residents, under one tent in collaboration with Festival International. Food items would range from $1 to $3. Festival-goers would be asked to purchase their "passports" in advance. They would go station to station, getting them stamped as they try out cultural dishes. Team Certify Teens — $3,500 in funding As the job market becomes more competitive, certifications can be the way to give local teenagers the edge in snagging their first jobs, says Team Certify Teens. The project would help teenagers earn certification in CPR and food safety, developing usable skills. It brings resources directly into communities by partnering with established youth programs, schools, and local organizations. The project would begin operations in Lafayette, New Iberia, and Eunice. Team 64 Squares of Lagniappe — $3,500 in funding When you think of New York's Central Park, images of Bethesda Terrace and Strawberry Fields Memorial may pop up. What also comes to mind are images of people playing chess at the park's permanent outdoors chess boards. The Downtown Lafayette Chess Tables Project is looking to install one permanent chess table at key park locations, serving as free, year-round gathering spots for players of all ages. The organization is also looking to purchase a handful of pop-up tables to test out future locations. When it's completed, residents would follow QR codes that point them to nearby businesses that will hold the chess pieces. Team FOOD — $3,700 in funding Lafayette has slowly but surely built up a mutual aid food network for families and individuals facing food insecurity. The team at Feeding Others: Outreach and Distribution (FOOD) is an organization of volunteers driven to reduce food waste and improve access to food. The organization, working with a design team in New Orleans, is looking to create a solar-powered community fridge to create a greener way to provide food to those in need. The organization was created two years ago, has partnered with the Lafayette Community Fridge, and is now looking to expand its reach, with donations far exceeding capacity. The team will use community engagement, education, and empowerment to develop and sustain food pantries and fridges throughout Acadiana, distributing surplus food to locations.
