The Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives to host Career Day, May 17

The Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives Y.E.S. After-School program will host a Career Day on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. for enrolled students ages 6-14. Local professionals from various career fields will participate and provide hands-on demonstrations, including a police officer, a fireman, entrepreneurs, a beautician, a judge, a chef, a funeral director, an attorney, a coach, a doctor, and a dentist.

Located in Opelousas, the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives serves a 10-parish region. It operates as a satellite entity of the SU Ag Center whose mission is to conduct basic and applied research and to disseminate information to the citizens of Louisiana in a manner that is useful in addressing their scientific, technological, social, economic and cultural needs.

The Southwest Center coordinates and links university-based needs and strategies to address the current status of socioeconomic conditions, with particular emphasis on rural and persistent poverty areas. Wanda Burke serves as director.

For more information, contact: Edna Lastrapes Johnson at 337-943-2410.