Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden will highlight Baton Rouge’s continuing recovery from hurricanes and other issues critical to the city and parish when he meets with the President this week and provides input on the First Lady’s national address on childhood obesity and healthy lifestyles.
This evening, he will participate in a White House meeting with the administration to discuss ways East Baton Rouge Parish can get assistance in dealing with continuing problems that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav. On Thursday, he will join other Mayors in meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss other problems facing cities.
Mayor Holden was also one of five Mayors invited to participate in a teleconference briefing with First Lady Michelle Obama and her staff in preparation for her address to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting on Wednesday. Mrs. Obama plans to discuss initiatives to combat obesity, which is her key platform issue, and Mayor Holden was able to talk about the Baton Rouge Healthy City Task Force and the work it has done to improve quality of life for citizens in East Baton Rouge Parish.
“This is a tremendous honor for Baton Rouge to be a part of these dialogues at the highest level of our government,” Mayor Holden said. “I’m very grateful to have this opportunity to showcase our city and parish to the rest of the nation.”
On Friday, Mayor Holden and Baton Rouge Area Chamber President Adam Knapp will meet with the Ambassador from France to the United States, Pierre Vimont, to continue discussions on the French and Louisiana Accord, and joint efforts in education, ecomonic development and cultural and art exchange programs between Baton Rouge and France.
“We are continuing to build relationships that bring economic and cultural exchanges to Baton Rouge and enhance our reputation as a major city for investment,” Holden said. “This is a great week for Baton Rouge’s needs and priorities to be heard, and I’m very appreciative of these tremendous opportunities to represent our city and parish.”
