New initiative aims at helping residents ‘THRIVE’

The Real Change in Ruston anti-poverty initiative rolls out its next phase June 20 when up to 50 people start the first course in the new THRIVE 360 program.

THRIVE 360: Breaking the Cycle, Building the Dream is a partnership between the Zion Traveler Community Development Corporation and the city of Ruston.

The free program addresses financial literacy, career development, and health and wellness, all with the ultimate goals of increasing participants’ earning potential and quality of life and helping prepare them for home ownership, should they wish to do that.

“We don’t want to give them a handout, we want to give them a hand up,” Rev. Maurice White, pastor of Zion Traveler Baptist Church and Real Change in Ruston committee member, said.

The Zion Traveler CDC is an outgrowth of the church.

White and Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker are scheduled to talk about THRIVE 360 during Saturday evening’s Juneteenth celebration in Railroad Park.

THRIVE 360 is funded by a $ 515,000 federal grant that passes through the city. The program’s name comes from organizers’ vision that participants will learn to succeed in all areas.

Participants who complete the 10-week sessions will leave with knowledge about credit and savings, how to avoid predatory lending practices, job- search and interview skills, and have information about education opportunities, White said.

They’ll also learn about dietary management and diabetes, a major health concern in the Black community, he said. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Black adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white adults.

“Diabetes is rampant in our community,” White said.

Interest forms for THRIVE 360 are available at ziontravelercdc. com. Completed forms are reviewed by a program selection committee. There’s still time to apply for the upcoming session, White said.

As of midweek, about 21 people had submitted interest forms.

“Our goal is to help those who really, really need it,” White said. “ This is a serious program. It’s going to take some commitment.”

Walker, whose pledge four years ago to address poverty and end the remnants of racism is Ruston birthed the Real Change in Ruston initiative, praised the THRIVE 360 concept.

“The part I like more than anything else is ‘breaking the cycle, building the dream,’” Walker said.

He said although the city sought the grant, the program isn’t technically a city program.

“Really, we’re just the conduit,” Walker said. “This has not been a city of Ruston push. This is something that’s come from within the community.”

Walker said seeds for THRIVE 360 were planted when Real Change in Ruston talks began in 2020. Zion Traveler church had already started the CDC.

“So it was an easy transition to go straight to the CDC and to our legislators,” Walker said.

He credits U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R- Louisiana, with helping win the $515,000 allocation. Walker said Cassidy “saw the vision” for the holistic approach to eliminat-ing poverty that’s the backbone of Real Change in Ruston.

When Walker first ran for mayor about 10 years ago, he campaigned on helping non-profits get grants and partnering with the city.

“It’s a reality now; $515,000 to alleviate poverty in the city of Ruston, that’s a dream come true,” White said.

Though the grant was approved in the spring of 2023, the first dollars didn’t come until May of this year.

According to the latest U. S. Census data, 36% of Ruston residents live below the poverty line, and slightly over 40% of them are Black.