Louisiana Grass Roots screening puts Southwest Louisiana's vanishing Cajun prairie in the spotlight

The City of Lake Charles hosted a screening of Louisiana Grass Roots on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. in the Ben W. Mount Auditorium at the Central School Arts & Humanities Center, 809 Kirby St. Woodside Energy sponsored the event in partnership with McNeese State University.

The documentary is part of the Louisiana Grass Roots project, which tells the story of Louisiana's disappearing native prairie and the people working to preserve it. Native Cajun prairie once covered wide stretches of Southwest Louisiana and Acadiana, and it's now considered one of the state's most imperiled ecosystems.

The screening focused on Louisiana's native prairie heritage and on what individuals can do to protect and restore these rare landscapes, starting with native plants in their own yards and gardens. The project aims to raise awareness of the prairies' ecological and cultural significance and to get more people involved in protecting and restoring them.

The program was scheduled to include refreshments and a panel discussion after the film with the documentary's producer and a local Cajun prairie expert.

More from the city's arts and culture calendar

The screening was organized by the City of Lake Charles' Cultural Affairs office, which also runs Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan St. The building is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and its second floor houses the Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake. The Charlestown Farmers Market sets up on Bilbo Street behind the building every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

For upcoming events and exhibitions, follow Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center on social media or visit the city's Arts & Cultural Events page.

For more information: Payton Lundmark, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of Lake Charles, 337-491-9159, artsandculture@cityoflc.us