Rumors of impending Sterling report delay north Baton Rouge biz boot camp, pitch comp

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A new boot camp and pitch competition that aims to spur investment and development in north Baton Rouge has been postponed in anticipation of the U.S. Department of Justice’s pending decision on the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by Baton Rouge police officers.

The Conscious Capitalism Boot Camp was slated to take place from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the Baton Rouge Community College Ardendale Campus, 1969 N. Lobdell Blvd. But the organizers behind the event—which the Baton Rouge Area Chamber produced in partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge North Economic Development District, and the Conscious Venture Lab—say the event is being rescheduled as rumors swirl that the DOJ’s decision could come as early as Tuesday.

“We sort of felt that out of respect to the city that we were giving people room to deal with the decision however that may come down,” says Conscious Venture Lab Executive Director Jeff Cherry.

The organizers also wanted to respect the seven entrepreneurial teams preparing and participating in the event, Cherry says, by avoiding the competing news cycle.

Organizers hope to select a new date for the boot camp and pitch competition sometime this morning, he says.

A BRAC spokesperson confirms the postponement, adding that the organization’s Signature Speaker event also has been postponed. The event was scheduled for Tuesday.

Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was fatally shot in July of last year after two white police officers—Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II—confronted him outside the Triple S Food Mart at 2112 N. Foster Drive. The officers were responding to a call about a man in a red shirt threatening someone with a gun. His death was captured via cellphone and sparked protests locally and nationwide, thrusting Baton Rouge’s economic and racial disparities into the national spotlight. Sterling’s death was followed by the shooting of six law enforcement officers—three of whom were killed—by a lone gunman who came to Baton Rouge.

Cherry, who lives in Baltimore, says the economic disparities exposed by the Sterling death was part of the reason why he and his Conscious Venture Lab team came to Baton Rouge.

Conscious Venture Lab teaches companies to think holistically and aids entrepreneurs in using capitalism to transform underserved communities.

—Alexandria Burris

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