After being established in 2006, the Gardere Initiative hosted their third annual Kite Fest at Hartley Vey Park in Gardere, Baton Rouge.

Since 2023, they have been hosting this Kite Fest to bring the children together and enjoy a nice day out, making and flying kites. This event is one of their most successful ones along with other mentoring programs.

Children look forward annually towards the Kite Fest as it gives them the opportunity to build and fly kites, engage with other people in the area, and feel free and safe to enjoy their park. As this has been their third annual Kite Fest, Dr. Murelle Harrison, Executive Director of Gardere Initiative, looks forward to building and progressing each year to make the Kite Fest a successful and meaningful event for Gardere residents.

Dr. Harrison intends to make Hartley Vey Park a “safe place for families to come out,” said Harrison, which was shown by the number of people who attended the Kite Fest.

In 2024, Baton Rouge had more murders per capita than any other city in the U.S. However, with help from the Gardere Initiative, Gardere has seen a 70% reduction in violent crime since 2006, making the area safer for the residents to enjoy where they live.

Karen Lee, President of the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development, is community partners with the Gardere Initiative and has seen the community progress in a positive way. Lee has been hosting the Kite Fests for all 3 years along with Dr. Harrison and the Gardere Initiative.

“We do believe that the work we were doing out here with the community partners and volunteers along with the residents, that has been something positive to help transform the community,” said Lee.

As well as events like the Kite Fest, the Gardere Initiative also hosts other fun community events and mentoring programs to help children and their families. After such a successful day, they plan to host more and better Kite Fest’s in the future.