Helen Frink
Office of Baton Rouge Mayor-President
What was your motivation for becoming a Serve Louisiana member?
I had recently graduated from college and was on the job hunt. Following a sociology course where I volunteered at Front Yard Bikes, I was freshly excited about nonprofit work in Baton Rouge, so when someone told me about the opportunity and that there was an available position in the Mayor's Office, I jumped at it. It seemed like the perfect overlap of my love for local government and for local service!
What are some memorable moments from your service term?
Our 3-day overnight personal and professional development retreat at Fontainebleau State Park was THE most fun and rewarding experience. Also, my involvement in the planning and organizing of MLK Festival of Service 2018 literally changed the trajectory of my life in Baton Rouge.
What did you do after your term?
I worked in Mayor Broome's office for an additional 3 years before transitioning to the Information Services Department in March 2022. I also remained highly involved in Together Baton Rouge, The Walls Project and other local nonprofits I was introduced to during my service term.
I now serve as the Community Outreach Coordinator for City-Parish's award-winning Information Services Department, connecting City-Parish leaders and community members to the dynamic data and analytics work available through Information Services' tools from Open Data BR to EBRGIS Portal. My year of service embedded me in the world of local government, learning hands-on how to connect the citizens of Baton Rouge to City-Parish events, services, and tools. My years of work on the ground in the community have helped me develop an understanding of the needs of community leaders and organizations, the importance of community collaboration, and the fabric of government and organizations in Baton Rouge.
What did you gain from being a member?
My year of service not only served as a direct launching pad for my career in local government, but also gave me a profound appreciation for valuable, dynamic, creative nonprofits in Baton Rouge. I have found few better ways to truly serve and connect with a community than through working with the nonprofits partner with Serve Louisiana.