ANCHOR THE BAYOU
Assessing Needs and Capacity in Historically Overlooked Regions of the Bayou
ANCHOR the Bayou is Bayou Community Foundation’s grassroots initiative to listen, learn, and take action on the challenges and opportunities facing residents in South Lafourche and South Terrebonne.
We are excited to share that Phase 1: Needs Assessment Phase of ANCHOR the Bayou has been successfully completed!
We are excited to share that Phase I: Needs Assessment Phase of ANCHOR the Bayou has been successfully completed!
This phase helped us better understand the priorities, gaps, and opportunities in South Lafourche and South Terrebonne, ensuring our work is guided by community needs.
We are now moving into Phase II: Strategic Planning Phase, where we will develop actionable strategies to strengthen local resilience and address identified needs. This transition to Phase II, has led to a name change from Assessing to Addressing Needs and Capacity.
At the same time, we are beginning Phase III: Capacity Building, which starts with identifying our Leadership Cohort — a group of dedicated community members who will help guide and implement resilience initiatives in their neighborhoods.
Stay Tuned for the Release of our Strategic Plan in Spring 2026.
Listening to Our Communities
In April and May 2025, BCF hosted a series of ANCHOR the Bayou Community Open Houses in the towns of Cut Off, Bourg and East Houma, where neighbors shared stories, voiced concerns and offered ideas on critical issues like housing, transportation, health care, food security and economic opportunity.
These open, welcoming gatherings provided a space for residents to connect with each other and with community leaders, sharing what is working in our region, identifying the challenges that remain and offering hopeful solutions to build a coastal community WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE!
Why ANCHOR the Bayou Matters
Your voice shapes the future. The conversations we have had so far are just the beginning of a long-term effort to strengthen our Bayou communities by:
✅ Identifying key challenges and needs
✅ Shaping future solutions and BCF initiatives
✅ Building connections among residents, nonprofits, and local leaders
A community survey will launch soon to continue gathering your input on what our region needs most.
This Project is Made Possible By Community Partnerships
We are grateful to the Community Resilience Center at The Water Institute for partnering with BCF on this important project and to the American Red Cross of Louisiana for providing meals during these community gatherings. We would also like to give special thanks to Hope Community Church, Popie’s Palace and the Terrebonne Parish Library System’s South Regional Branch for hosting these conversations.
