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Don’t we all wish we could be young again? Take our life experiences and lessons learned and go back to age 25, 30 or 35? Opportunities abounding?

This issue is annually dedicated to those who are at that place in life—right now. And our Forty Under 40 are making quite a mark as they seize their opportunities in our community. They inspire me. We are fortunate to have these young people in Baton Rouge—many who stayed, some who returned and others who chose to move here.

We salute those honored this year, one and all. This year, we received more than 250 nominations. That is outstanding, and it speaks to the talent and energy we have to build for the future in Baton Rouge. So, while we only recognize 40 rising stars in 2007, the future is bright with many stars on the horizon.

To all the young people in our community who are committed to excellence and stepping up to make a difference, I applaud you and want to say thanks.

‘Energy for Life’

That’s the campaign theme developed to sell the benefits of living and doing business in the Interstate 10/Interstate 12 corridor stretching from Lake Charles to Slidell. I like it.

Months ago, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation got together a group of business and community leaders from Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and the Northshore to examine the demographics and economics that have emerged in the corridor (especially post-Katrina). They also looked at how our state is perceived by business executives and young people nationally. The challenge: How do we change that perception and promote our strengths? Many of our strengths are so familiar to us as residents that we take them for granted or overlook them completely. But there is also much that the nation is not aware of about Louisiana. Much of what they know about us lately comes from reports by Anderson Cooper on CNN (hurricane recovery update: things are still bad).

A research study done by LSU’s Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs showed New Orleans was the first thing folks elsewhere in the country thought about regarding Louisiana. The second was hurricanes. And when they were asked what was our major contribution to the economy, 55% said they had no idea. The second answer was “hot sauce.” That’s good news for Tabasco, but not for Louisiana—and it must change.

After months of research, last week the marketing firm Idea City said they had discovered a cultural, entrepreneurial and economic energy in south Louisiana. Group leader Haley Rushing said, “The things you have to offer here are what makes life worthwhile.” They reported they learned that the I-10/I-12 corridor’s core values are family, community, camaraderie, joy of life, tradition, faith, diversity and ingenuity. Sounds accurate to me—and attractive.

As John Spain, executive vice president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, pointed out, this is only the first step. But the perceptions must be changed because we all know, like it or not, “perception is reality” to those watching us around the nation and the world.

As for the “energy for life,” the corridor is known for three things:

• A cultural energy born out of the diversity, ingenuity, community, camaraderie and family values that creates a vitality for life that’s hard to find elsewhere.

• An entrepreneurial energy that’s found among business and community leaders who have committed their talents to make a difference, make their mark and be a part of making history.

• An economic energy from traditional and alternative energy sectors, the entertainment industry (film, digital media, gaming, tourism, recreational hunting/fishing/boating) and the industry of “eating” (a food industry that includes everything from aquaculture and culinary exports to Pennington Biomedical with its focus on nutrition).

Now that is energizing.

To read additional stories on the I-10/I-12 corridor, see page 8 and page 22.

Publisher’s note: We plan to capture that “energy,” as well as the news and the people in the corridor on the pages of our new four-color magazine, 10/12, which will debut in January and be distributed regionally.

Raising the bar on ethics

The battle is on once again. It kicked off last week at Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal’s ethics advisory council, and the charge from Jindal was to “be the best.”

The message from those who presented to the council, as well as members, was that by improving our ethics laws we will do much to improve our national image and attract business.

Take a look at current rankings as to the need for raising the bar on ethics. We ranked as the third most corrupt state in a 2004 report by the Corporate Crime Reporter and 44th in quality of financial disclosure requirements according to The Center for Public Integrity.

“Corruption is stealing opportunity from our children, stealing opportunity for our state,” Jindal said. Sean Reilly, chairman of the ethics council, said Louisiana’s reputation has been an issue of discussion on Capitol Hill as he and others from the LRA have sought hurricane recovery money.

Our state has suffered enough because of political corruption. This can change fast with the approval of tough ethics laws and transparency. And Jindal plans to push that in a special session soon after he takes office—and send a clear message to the rest of America.

What a mess

It has been two years since Katrina, but the political storms in the Big Easy seem to be ongoing. Whether it is Ray Nagin, William Jefferson or Eddie Jordan, the city can’t seem to stop it from raining bad publicity. After five years as district attorney in New Orleans, Jordan has resigned and left behind a $3.4 million judgment that the office or the city can’t seem to pay.

The judgment resulted from a federal jury deciding Jordan, who is black, was guilty of firing white employees on the basis of race when he took office. He appealed for years and the interest grew. He paid $300,000 and then bailed out—sticking the taxpayers (somewhere) with the tab.

The problem now is that the courts have started seizing bank accounts of the district attorney’s office and they are having trouble operating. It has resulted in the acting D.A. asking the city or state for help—and you and I might pay for it. Pathetic.

Our state’s once-largest city is reeling from this situation, which puts the justice system and people’s safety at risk. But they can’t blame this one on Katrina. No, this one was caused by just one more bad politician—and in this case, he was a bigot. Worst of all, we may pay for his mistake.

Happy Thanksgiving

At this time of year, we pause to join family and friends and give thanks. Just living in America, the greatest country on earth, is enough to be thankful for. God has blessed this country and each one of us. I hope you and your loved ones have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.