The First Blight Boot Camp was on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Monroe Civic Center. There were several breakout sessions, including sessions on adjudicated properties and rental assistance. The city of Monroe has received a $ 1.5 million grant through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to launch a Safe Housing and Healthy Homes Program. Eligible applicants, including landlords, can apply to obtain up to $28,000. Johnnie Thomas, a Newtown resident, was chosen to speak on neighborhood revitalization because she has been an advocate for the Newtown community all her adult life. Some of her honors include the Outstanding Woman in the Community award from The Louisiana Judicial Council NBA, a Distinguished Community Service Award in honor of her commitment to serving her community throughout District 4 and the City of Monroe from former Councilman Kenneth Wilson, and a certificate of appreciation from Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis and Ellen Hill, Director of Planning and Urban Development during the inaugural Blight Boot Camp. The following text is her speech which addresses the pride and legacy of a community and extends an outreach to all Monroe neighborhoods to become more active and empowered.

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I could talk about Newtown all day, but I have listed a few things for those of you who may not know where Newtown is. The original location was from Orange Street and Millhaven Road to South Third Street and from the railroad tracks on South 8th Street to Orange Street. Of course, there has been a great deal of rezoning. Oak Manor Apartments behind Carver School has been incorporated, and the new homes on Maplewood Drive off Orange Street are now considered Newtown.

My love for Newtown flows in the blood that runs warm in my body. When my mom and grandparents moved to Monroe in 1945, Newtown already existed. My grandmother lived on the corner of Texas Avenue and South 8th Street. My mom lived next door, and my great-grandmother lived in the house where I now proudly reside, which is why some used to call it Tyson's Corner! The Newtown community has always been a close-knit group of families. The rich history of our churches and businesses played enormous and pivotal roles in our development. Our foundation for living was anchored and cultivated in five churches: Avenue, Free Gift, Mount Pleasant, Peter Rock Baptist Churches, and Little Flower Catholic Church. I'm proud to say that three of them are still in the Newtown community. Unlike now, the majority of children went to church, and our parents supported us 100 percent. Our motivation to achieve and become successful was cultivated by many role models, some of whom were business owners and entrepreneurs. Among the most noted was Professor Madison Foster, Sr., Principal of Monroe Colored High School. His son, Dr. Madison Foster, Jr., was our first Black Physician. There was the famous Carroll Hotel where entertainers Bobby "Blue" Bland and Little Milton stayed. There was Hills BBQ, Mitchell's Grocery, Tucker's Grocery, Josephine's Grocery, Mama Jessie's Grocery, and Jewels Grocery Stores. There was the Texas Avenue Pharmacy, Mr. Bunny's Food Truck, Kyle Green's Bar, and Doc Taylor's BBQ, which was a community gathering place because he had the first big television set in Newtown. He had a 50-foot tower on top of the building where he lived and showed what was happening in the world, especially sporting events like Joe Louis fights and the World Series.

Newtown is striving to re-energize the legacy of a close-knit community by hosting events to acknowledge our past and support endeavors of pride and progress. We have held a Newtown Community Reunion and Charity Banquet, a Fall Festival, community cookouts, and recently, on April 8, 2023 at Benoit Community Center, the Newtown Community partnered with Region 8 Community Coalition and Piney Grove Baptist Church of Monroe, LA, to bring vendors who represented various health resources and other community needs, including free vaccines. A special treat was the LA Division III Back-to-Back State Champions, the Wossman Lady Wildcats, who signed balls for the children. In June 2023, we are planning a community clean-up day and will continue to stay engaged! Carver Elementary School was built in 1952. We chose their colors to represent the Newtown community because it stands as a pillar of hope, and many, including myself, attended school there. So, if you see groups having events wearing green and gold, it could be the mighty Newtown community as we continue to build and stand as a symbol of immense pride. So, I invite you all to become proactive in your community. Join me in attending council meetings so that you can become more correctly informed. Don't rely on hearsay. When there is trash that needs to be picked up, call public works; if there is a streetlight out, contact Entergy. Many of you know the problems and dangers of not having a red light at Texas Avenue and South 8th Street. Some of you know that I have been lobbying to get one there for over 20 years and will not stop because I believe one day it will happen. As Monroe City Police say (of course, I refer to them as Monroe's finest), "See something...say something!"

All communities are different, but we all want a good quality of life. However, to accomplish that, we must all participate! We must commit to do whatever it takes to make our communities and beloved city better! When you get right down to it, Monroe is just one big neighborhood. Think about it. When the media gives statistics about Monroe, good or bad, they don't break it down into specific neighborhoods because we are all interconnected. Matthew 26:11 says, "The poor will be with us always."

So, remember, there will always be blighted communities as there always have been throughout the world. So let us extend a helping hand to each other and work together as one big community. Thank God for all of you, and may God continue to bless and keep all of us. So let's get busy starting now; after all, we stand strong, and divided, we fall hard!