In nearly every community we visited across the South, people described the pride and commitment they felt being a part of a resilient, southern community. We know that by celebrating this commitment to the South and what we have in common in our southern communities, we can all contribute to the creation of a more equitable South.

That’s why we’re launching a new Instagram Live series, Hometown Heroes. Our founder, Mitch Landrieu, will engage in conversations on Instagram Live with guests who will share what they love about their southern hometown and their southern roots. These conversations will also take an honest look at how we can all work together to create a more equitable and inclusive South for everyone.

Hometown Heroes taps into locals’ pride for their Southern community and asks those from the South what they love most about their hometown. Participants will share what they’ve learned from their home, how that has shaped them and the opportunities for their hometown to become more inclusive. Through this narrative project, EPU aims to showcase the diversity of the region that white communities may not be exposed to and associate it with the pride they feel for their hometown as well as surface the realities of systemic racism.

In our first conversation, Mitch will speak with Cat Cora, world-renowned chef, author and restauranteur. Cat will talk about growing up in Jackson, MS, what she loves about her hometown, what the South means, and how it influences us.