Hoodstock Saturday in Morgan City

 

By ZACHARY FITZGERALD

The third annual Hoodstock event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday on 11th Street at La. 182 and will include kids’ activities, free health screenings, gospel music, live bands, poets, speakers, and more.

The speakers will discuss topics that affect the community such as knowing your rights, the importance of being involved in your child’s education, and young men’s role in the community, Hoodstock founder Courtney Long said. 

“Hoodstock was started from my belief that … the things I remember growing up are starting to dwindle away. Instead of standing by just watching that happen, I figured I’d try to do something to try to revitalize those morals that I remember coming up,” Long said. 

“Hoodstock” is a community organization that promotes having “stock in your neighborhood,” he said.

Gospel music will be played from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Free health screenings, which include blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A dietitian will also give a talk on healthy eating for diabetics.

Other entertainment provided includes a mechanical bull, rock climbing wall and pony rides. Visitors should bring their own lawn chairs.

When Long started Hoodstock he only envisioned the organization would host an annual event, he said. The organization has begun to get more involved in the community outside of the annual event. Hoodstock held a community forum this year with the mayor, police chief and NAACP president, and a seminar for girls called “Transitioning to Womanhood” to teach life skills and etiquette.

“We’re starting to branch outside of the annual event and get more involved year round so I’m proud of that,” Long said. Saturday’s event is for the entire community, he said. 

“What we’re trying to do is to encourage people to realize that they have a vested interest in their community,” Long said. “We’re trying to pull together the entire community.”