As the River Rises, So Do We
Together, we protect our progress
Mekaylyn, a recent graduate of River Parishes Community College and now a student at Loyola University New Orleans, grew up in Modeste, a rural Louisiana community nestled along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Once a quiet, bucolic stretch of small family farms and a refuge for bald eagles, Modeste shaped her early sense of home, nature, and belonging.
But today, that sense of safety faces an urgent threat. Modeste is now on the brink of major industrial expansion. Two ammonia plants, two CO₂ pipelines, and a steel facility have been proposed for the community. As these risky projects advanced, Mekaylyn realized that remaining silent was no longer an option and that immediate action was necessary.
Last year, RISE St. James was invited to Modeste to stand with residents in their fight against these developments. At her first community meeting, Mekaylyn saw people organizing, learning, and supporting one another, rising together with the strength of the river that connects them. That moment sparked her commitment.
Mekaylyn is now a member of RISE St. James and a youth leader working to protect her home, her community, and their future along the river.
Across Cancer Alley, local democracy is under strain, giving way to weakened environmental safeguards and the accelerated approval of new industrial permits. For frontline communities, the climate crisis is not abstract. It demands urgent attention, and it is experienced every day.
RISE St. James has secured real gains in recent years that once seemed impossible, but the stakes have never been higher. With our neighbors, we protect our communities by providing science-based information about industrial pollution and standing firm against megaprojects that keep us dependent on fossil fuels.
When you donate, you help train youth leaders like Mekaylyn, support community meetings and education, fund expert research that strengthens our advocacy, and supply immediate aid needed to safeguard public health during industrial emergencies. Every contribution powers community protection and the defense of our health, homes, and future.
Join us as we rise to protect our communities: https://risestjames.org/donate.
