re: Tensions within Baton Rouge's community police ambassador program have participants search

It sounds like they're rearranging deck chairs on the SS Titanic.

But these separate sections of the article stood out to me.

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Part of this process is trying to get people comfortable with having conversations about uncomfortable situations," she said. "Race was the nucleus of discussions about Alton Sterling and police–community relations. At the core of this issue is talking about how we're functioning racially. That's just a conversation we need to have."

Wicker proposed that the group host an event focused on "real talk" about race and invite the public to join in the discussion. She said ambassadors are planning to participate in implicit bias training and a citizens' police academy. In the meantime they'll also coordinate with Baton Rouge police and get involved in some of the department's summer outreach events.

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"They have to literally take ownership of this process," Wicker said of the ambassadors. "This really has to be something that's community driven. And that transition is not always easy. … I'm excited to see what they accomplish once they get their feet on the ground."

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So in the first section, Wicker is saying that she is focused on the group having conversations about uncomfortable situations. About how they're functioning racially.

But then she says that they need to take ownership of this process, mentioning how it must be community-driven.

From the sounds of it, the tension in the community of ambassadors reflects the tension in the City. To me, this speaks of a need for leadership at the ambassador level to ensure they stay focused and accomplish their goals.

Either the group's leadership isn't setting the right example or providing said leadership. Or the group's composition may not be constituted of, "the right stuff," to accomplish said group's goals.

Either way, Tara Wicker is driving the bus. She is the leader and has been there since the origin story of this group's inception. Whether her ambassadors aren't made of the right stuff, or they aren't getting the proper direction, there is one person-and one person only-responsible for inertia or challenges.

Tara Wicker.

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Either the group's leadership isn't setting the right example or providing said leadership. Or the group's composition may not be constituted of, "the right stuff," to accomplish said group's goals.

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There was never a need for this group or it’s goals.