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LAFAYETTE — Planning is underway for the establishment of the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Blanco is a UL Lafayette alumna and the only woman to serve as Louisiana governor.
The policy center and archive will house Blanco’s gubernatorial papers. It also will contribute interdisciplinary, independent research to a host of public policy areas, including criminal justice reform, poverty and economic opportunity, governmental ethics, and education.
“Gov. Blanco championed these issues throughout her career,” said Dr. Jordan Kellman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, which will oversee the policy center in partnership with the University’s Edith Garland Dupré Library.
“The center will draw on expertise from UL Lafayette faculty and other scholars from across the country who will gather data and offer nonpartisan analysis to confront challenges facing our state and nation.”
The center will issue policy papers that inform public discussions, Kellman added. It also will host lectures and symposiums that address pressing topics.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, the University’s president, said the center will consider issues that touch every citizen of Louisiana.
“Researchers that the Blanco center will attract, and questions it will examine, will provide policymakers and the public with insightful information necessary to improve lives and communities across the state,” Savoie said.
In an interview last month, Blanco said the center would do more than gather information for academic purposes. “I see it also as a voice of balance, a voice of honesty so that the people can trust in the information delivered from the center. I envision it as the voice of reason.” [Find more from the interview by visiting the University’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ullafayette]
Blanco graduated from the University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in business education.
During her 25-year political career, she was elected twice to the state House of Representatives, twice to the Public Service Commission and twice as lieutenant governor.
Blanco served as the state’s chief executive from 2004 to 2008.
As governor, she fostered international economic ties, and led trade missions to Cuba, Taiwan, China and Japan.
She also directed the single-largest increase in education funding in Louisiana history. Blanco expanded the state’s pre-kindergarten program and fully funded colleges and universities for the first time in a quarter century.
Less than two years into her term, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana.
The storms occurred in August and September 2005. At the time, they were the largest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Blanco’s gubernatorial papers include her direction of storm recovery efforts. The 90 boxes of material she donated to UL Lafayette will be transferred to the policy center and made available to researchers once University archivists process the collection.
Prior to 2015, state law permitted former governors to retain ownership of their papers, according to the Louisiana State Archives. Most chose not to make the materials publicly available.
However, Blanco hired an archivist who guided her office’s preservation efforts.
Blanco’s gubernatorial papers will attract historians, political scientists, other researchers and the public, Kellman said.
“Gov. Blanco has an exceptional sense of history. By directing her staff members to retain their records, she ensured that future generations would have an unparalleled vantage point from which to view an extraordinary period in Louisiana’s recent past,” he said
The center’s founding director is expected to be hired by the end of the year. There are plans to open the center in 2019 in Dupré Library.
Most of the funding for the $2.7 million center will come from private gifts.
The University will celebrate the center’s launch and honor Blanco’s career with two events on Sept. 21.
Issues central to her gubernatorial tenure, including higher education funding, criminal justice reform and improving social services, will be the focus of a panel discussion from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the LITE Center, 537 Cajundome Blvd. The event is free and open to the public.
Later that evening, a gala will be held at Le Pavillon in Parc Lafayette, 1913 Kaliste Saloom Road. Proceeds from the event will benefit the policy center.
To purchase a ticket, to make a gift to the center, or to find more information on upcoming events, visit blancocenter.louisiana.edu.

ABBEVILLE — We gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Minister Cynthia (Cindy) Chisolm.
Cindy entered this life on December 19, 1956, in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Samuel McGinnis Sr. and Minister Mattie Campbell McGinnis. Mrs. Chisolm entered eternal life on July 06, 2018, peaceably with family and friends.
Visitation at Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries, Inc., July 13, 2018 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Interment at Pleasant Green Cemetery Abbeville, La.
Cindy is survived by parents, Mr. Samuel McGinnis, Sr. and Minister Mattie Campbell McGinnis, her husband, Wayne Chisolm and her children, Lawrence Johnson, Christopher Johnson (Itale’), Elizabeth Chisolm, Andrew Chisolm (Cadie), Zion Hebert (Jared) and Brandon Benson. Siblings, Samuel James, Jr. (Fran), Brenda Thibeaux, Arnold McGinnis, Irene McGinnis Robinson (Calvin) and Kenneth McGinnis (Tracie) and a beloved sister in love, Tulula Smith. 8 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and 4 godchildren. Host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Condolences may be sent to the family at Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries, Inc. 6526 Chiasson Road Abbeville, La 70510. Arrangements entrusted to Desselle Funeral Home, Theophilus Rose I and Jonathan Rose, Sr.
Desselle Funeral Home (225-383-8891) is in charge of arrangements.

“Sacred Heart of Jesus I place my trust in you”

DELCAMBRE – A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Mrs. Nedier Joseph LeBlanc, Jr., the former Madge LeBlanc, age 81, at 11:00 a.m. Thursday July 12th, 2018 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Voorhies officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Lake Mausoleum.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.
A resident of Delcambre, LA, Madge passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 9, 2018 surrounded by her family.
Madge lived her entire life trusting in the Lord, sharing her faith, and serving the church. Her trust in the Lord was evident in the acceptance of her terminal diagnosis as God’s will. She prayed not for herself but for others, as she spoke so courageously, “Jesus you died for the love of me and I will die for the love of you.” Madge not only lived her faith, but shared her faith. She instilled Catholic values in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Madge was not only a loving wife and mother, but she spent much of her time serving the church. She and her late husband, Junior, were recognized by the Diocese of Lafayette with the Devoted Service Award.
She is survived by one son, Ned LeBlanc and his wife Margie of Lafayette; three daughters, Carey L. Laviolette and husband Kirk of Delcambre; Cindy L. Segura and husband Kent of Broussard and Annette L. Franques and husband Howard of Dallas, TX; seven grandchildren, Kal Laviolette and wife Candace; Laurie L. Hoxmeier and husband Mark; Marcus Segura and wife Kayla; Matthew Franques; Claire Franques; Andrew LeBlanc and Katherine LeBlanc; seven great grandchildren; one brother, Tommy LeBlanc and wife Nancy of Houston, TX and her sister in law, Judy LeBlanc of Lafayette.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nedier Joseph LeBlanc, Jr.; parents, Fred Joseph and Lou Elise Landry LeBlanc and one brother, Warner LeBlanc.
Pallbearers will be Kal Laviolette, Marcus Segura, Matthew Franques, Andrew LeBlanc, Tommy LeBlanc, Kirk LeBlanc and Bert Baudoin.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 206 West Church Street, Delcambre, LA 70528.
To view the on-line obituary, and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.