On June 15, 2022, Family Resource Group Inc. and Family Resource Group Foundation revealed the new Kid Scoop News Literacy and Learning Lab Family Room located at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The Literacy and Learning Lab was created in collaboration with Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Trility Partners, LLC., Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), and many other community partners. The Kid Scoop News Literacy and Learning Lab Family Room is conveniently located by Concourse B. Frost-Barber of Louisiana LLC designed the plan for the space and donated the educational furniture used throughout the room.
Presenters at the ribbon cutting included Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome; Amy and Brandon Foreman, Publishers of Family Resource Group, Inc. Baton Rouge Parents Magazine, Kid Scoop News, Nola Family Magazine, and Louisiana Boomers Magazine; and Michael Edwards, Director of Aviation from the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Stuart Gilly, Trility Partners, LLC.
Honorable attendees included: Councilwoman Chauna Banks; BTR Airport Commissioners Kermit Johnson IV, Alfred Buckley, Lawrence Callender, and Val Lowery; Paul Arrigo, CEO of Visit Baton Rouge; East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library System Staff (EBRPL); Dr. Barbara Lashley, EBRPSS Chief Literacy Officer; as well as several public officials who were also in attendance for the official opening of this exciting literacy resource.
“The Kid Scoop News Literacy and Learning Lab is an extraordinary addition to the Baton Rouge Airport. I’m excited that our community recognizes the importance and urgency of providing children with interactive educational resources needed to succeed regardless of location,” says Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
“We are excited that Baton Rouge Parents Magazine has partnered with the Baton Rouge Metro Airport to help reimagine our Children’s Playroom,” says Mike Edwards, Director of Aviation at BTR. “When combined with the new Step ‘n Wash stations that we’ve installed in all of our restrooms, and private lactation rooms on every concourse, the addition of our new Children’s Playroom makes BTR the most family-friendly airport in the region. Having young children of my own, I know the importance of providing a fun, clean, and engaging space for them to burn off some energy while waiting for their flight to depart.”
“The Kid Scoop News Literacy and Learning Lab located at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is a dream come true for my family, myself, and Family Resource Group. It is an integral part of our continued passion and mission to solve children’s literacy issues in our community. When we started Kid Scoop News last April, we always envisioned an opportunity to bring something to the airport that would enhance the travel experience and be a true service to our neighbors and families. We are beyond proud of what this Learning Lab will provide, and we appreciate all of the community support,” says Brandon Foreman.
“What a wonderful way to enhance the travel experience! As families leave Louisiana, the Learning Lab will allow kids to spend time doing exciting, educational and creative things before boarding their flight. It also gives parents the opportunity to get some work done or relax while their children have fun in a safe environment,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
The Kid Scoop News Literacy and Learning Lab Family Room supports the community’s early readers and those from across the region and nation who will be making stops at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport while traveling.
Family Resource Group Inc. and Kid Scoop News are committed to providing engaging educational content to encourage early literacy, as seen by the room’s creative design featuring fun activities cascading down the walls of the room. The designs came right off the pages of an issue of Baton Rouge Parents Magazine’s Kid Scoop News publication. Brandon and Amy Foreman, in partnership with EBRPL, have sponsored the distribution to East Baton Rouge 1st-5th grade classrooms since April 2021. Additionally, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, Zachary, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana School districts have all received copies of Kid Scoop News for their 1st-5th grade classrooms each month during the school year.
Kid Scoop News continues to provide elementary-school children, free of charge, innovative and high-interest reading materials designed to encourage independent reading both in school and at home. The more children read, the better they read. ACCESS to high-interest reading materials drives the MOTIVATION to read, which in turn leads to reading ACHIEVEMENT in school, and, ultimately, SUCCESS in life.
