Clouds hovered above and light rain sprinkled the ground, but it didn’t stop nearly 100 volunteers from showing up with paintbrushes, flowerbeds, rakes, and resolve on Wilson Street for the “Paint Monroe” initiative.
Organized by Louisiana State Representative Pat Moore, D-17, and the City of Monroe’s Programs and Urban Development Director Ellen Hill, the event was a hands-on demonstration of what community revitalization looks like in action.
Twelve homes along Wilson Street were chosen for free exterior upgrades—ranging from painted trim and fresh doors to landscaped flower beds and general debris removal.
There was no application process. “We went door to door,” Hill said. “If someone said yes, they were included. This effort is about jumpstarting pride, and we believe it will motivate others to do the same.”
More Than a Paint Job—A Bigger Vision
While the volunteers painted and pulled weeds, the heart behind the project runs deeper. Wilson Street is the centerpiece of a $10 million revitalization vision being pursued by Rep. Moore. Earlier this year, she returned from Baton Rouge with $850,000 secured through House Bill 460 to kickstart that dream. Of that amount, $800,000 is allocated to construct four new homes on Wilson Street, which will be sold to fund four more, creating a self-sustaining cycle of neighborhood development.
“Wilson Street is a corridor that leads to the zoo,” Moore said. “Beautifying this street makes a difference in how people view this community—both residents and visitors.”
Ron Calhoun Construction, the local firm tapped to build the homes, was also awarded an additional $50,000 to support the street’s transformation. Calhoun’s team handled skilled tasks during the week—such as building handicap ramps—so volunteers could focus on visible, morale-lifting tasks during Saturday’s event.
Southside’s Champions Step Up
The event was supported by Monroe’s “Brown Bombers,” the trio of Southside council members known for their hands-on approach: Council President Rev. Rodney McFarland, Minister Verbon Muhammad, and Councilwoman Juanita Woods. All three donned gloves, picked up tools, and worked alongside residents and volunteers to bring Moore’s vision to life.
“Today was about community,” said McFarland. “Not just what we can do for people, but what we can do with people.”
A Movement, Not a Moment
At a press conference held earlier this year at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, Rep. Moore shared a deeply personal motivation behind her efforts: “I lay in the bed at night and I talk to God about this. I tell Him I need help to make it happen.”
Moore emphasized that revitalization must not lead to displacement.
She is pursuing programs that help first-time homeowners—especially those who may not qualify through traditional lenders—secure financing and take part in the new Southside.
“We need stakeholders—investors, leaders, and believers,” she said in July. “People who see what this can become and are willing to help chart a path forward.”
Moore also announced plans to organize a stakeholder bus tour of the area to review its potential and map out future phases of funding and development.
“All dreams start with people who believe in the dream,” she told the crowd. “We want to create a renewed sense of pride in South Monroe. Not just fresh paint, but fresh purpose.”
Saturday’s cloudy skies may have dulled the sunlight, but on Wilson Street, the energy, hope, and shared belief in a better future for the Southside shone bright.
