Verite News celebrated its second anniversary last Thursday (Sept. 26) with a party that brought together a diverse set of people from around greater New Orleans at restaurant Chapter IV.

Politicians, leaders of community organizations, educators, university students and more came out to recognize the work of Verite News to amplify the stories of disenfranchised residents of the region.

David Francis, Verite’s executive director, and Terry Baquet, Verite’s editor-in-chief, welcomed the crowd and thanked them for attending. Then, Drew Costley, an assistant managing editor at Verite, and Rich Webster, one of the publication’s senior reporters, highlighted some of Verite’s impactful work from the past year.

PHOTOS: Verite News celebrates two years of truth

  • (From left to right) Daniel Hammer, president and CEO of the Historic New Orleans Collection, Emery Van Hook, foundation director of Link Stryjewski Foundation, Kristian Sonnier, vice president of communications and business development of Ryan Goatee General Contractors, LLC, Chuck Bourque of St. Martin and Bourque and Larry Centola of Martzell, Bickford & Centola.
  • Verite News assistant managing editor Michelle Liu (left) and Jennifer Larino, director and co-founder of Lede New Orleans.
  • Deep South Today Warwick Sabin.
  • Dillard professor and Verite News political columnist Robert Collins and Verite News editor-in-chief Terry Baquet.
  • Julius Kimbrough, Jr., impact investment officer of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation (left), and Flozell Daniels, Jr., chief executive officer of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.
  • Todd Francis, founder and managing director of FFC Investment Advisors of Raymond James.
  • Deep South Today director of people and culture Dylan Penny, Verite News fellow Safura Syed and Ron McClain, executive director of the Institute of Mental Hygiene of the City of New Orleans.
  • Patty Riddlebarger, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Entergy (left), Kim Boyle of Phelps Dunbar and Verite News executive director David Francis.
  • Verite News assistant managing editor Drew Costley.
  • Verite News senior reporter Rich Webster.
  • Verite News editor-in-chief Terry Baquet.
  • Verite News executive director David Francis.

The work they highlighted are emblematic of Verite’s mission. Costley spoke about their reporting on City Park Conservancy’s proposal to build a road through Grow Dat Youth Farm and decision not to renew the farm’s lease and the community organizing that led the park to reverse its decision.

And Webster talked about the stories he’s written about inequities in Louisiana’s criminal justice system for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, such as his story on the state’s new 25-foot buffer law and medical care in the state’s prisons.

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