Quality of Life

The Quality of Life Task Force (QoL) formed in 2014 to make our region better in small steps that would radiate outward to bigger changes. The group is made up of volunteers and fellow non-profits all working together towards the same goals. In the past, the QoL Task Forces raised money for the Bark du Lac Dog Park, hosted regional workshops for hobby gardeners and small farm owners to encourage participation in our growing Farmers Market system, advocated for quality of life measures on the city and parish level, and worked with the City of Lake Charles on a permit for street musicians.

Currently, our QoL volunteers have been focused on two main initiatives: Healthy Lifestyles & Promoting Regional Businesses.

Our Healthy Lifestyle Task Force is focused on sharing the Complete Street concept throughout the region. We have hosted a two-day Complete Street conference for all of the regional municipalities and like-minded non-profits. Complete Streets is a national movement to look at our community infrastructure to make sure that all people from 8 year-olds to 80 year-olds have a safe means to get around if they are in a car, walking, in a wheelchair, or cycling. We have also hosted a “Better Blocks” demonstrating where a section of town was temporarily updated with a bike lane and reshaped to make it more user-friendly and festive for a short amount of time. 

The other Quality of Life Task Force - Choose Local - wants to encourage shopping locally. Volunteers have researched other programs nationwide and gathered information on the benefits of shopping locally. As a test run, the group reached out to small businesses that focused on retail and food service to put together and distribute a Small Business Saturday guide which was accessed nearly 3000 times directly through the SWLA Economic Development Alliance’s Facebook page and also shared to a wider audience through KPLC’s social media. 

To say current with Quality of Life projects, like and follow the Facebook Page.

If you are interested in being a part of the Quality of Life Task Force,  contact Amanda White at awhite@allianceswla.org or (337) 433-3632.