Women's History Month

Continued from February 24, 2022 Betty Ward Cooper

Betty performs other community volunteer service work that includes President of the Board of Control (Trustees) for the Ouachita Parish Public Library System; President of the Louisiana Federation of Democratic Women (LFDW). She serves as a Northeast Louisiana liaison with Power Coalition for Equity & Justice and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Serves on the Planning Committee - Mayor's Friday Ellis' City of Monroe Early Childhood Initiative. She was appointed by former Mayor Jamie Mayo, as Chairperson of his "SAVE Our Youth" Jobs Skills Training Initiative; and Chairperson of the Civic Engagement and Sub-Committee and Technical Committee member for the Concerned Clergy of Monroe. Pastor Earl Davis, president of the Concerned Clergy of Monroe, expressed the following: "Mrs. Cooper, is one of our board members and worked on many issues effecting the Southside of Monroe, including crime, education, police brutality, and the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Grambling University to implement programs to address social ills in Monroe. Currently we are celebrating Women's History Month and it is fitting that the work and efforts of Mrs. Cooper be highlighted. Her life of service and commitment is an inspiration to so many and I feel that this is the spirit behind why this month was even imagined."

In 2018, Betty was elected to the Monroe City School Board for District 5. In the second year of her tenure, she was elected by her colleagues to the leadership role of president. During her tenure as a board member and president she brought accountability and transparency recommendations that were accepted by the board to ensure that committee and board business meetings are held in accordance with the board's calendar, consistently and at stated dates and times convenient to allow the public to attend and have input. Her motto "It's all about the children" motivates her as Chairperson of the Curriculum Committee, to work to ensure that polices and administrative directives are properly implemented to improve student achievement, particularly in failing schools. Betty's sister Sylvia Ward-Rivas, writes: "As far as Betty goes, she has always carried herself majestically. There is always and array of issues for the children that she will fight for. I love her, I salute her, and I know that our parents and grandparents would be so very proud of her." State Representative Pat Moore of Louisiana House District 17 says that she and Betty has worked together on a host of community issues to improve the quality of life in the district even in her earlier years on the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. Rep. Moore, said that Betty, serves as Chairperson on her Education Sub-committee which focuses on early childhood education, ACT preparation, and turning around failing schools. Rep. Moore further said that, " Betty also serves on her "Save Our Black Males" initiative. Betty's expertise in planning, proposal writing, documentation and implementation has been invaluable to the process of launching this initiative."