Jade Simmons is glad to be back in Baton Rouge for the National Debose Piano Competition. She performed and served as the artist in residence during the competition which was held April 15 and 16 at Southern University.

Simmons is one of only a few African American professional concert pianist. She was also the first runner up at the 2000 Miss America Pageant. The Charleston, South Carollina native earned a bachelors from Northwestern University and a master's from Rice University. 

Members of the board of the Debose Foundation recently hosted a dinner in Simmons honor at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel on Harding Boulevard.

It was a lively dinner with soul food and lots of laughter as the group enjoyed chatting about a variety of topics and getting to know Simmons whom they've adopted a little bit better.

Simmons says her mission is to increase the number of Blacks in her profession so she's always happy to perform in front of African Americans and other minority groups.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge and St. Joseph Cathedral will host their annual Way of the Cross downtown Good Friday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The procession will begin at St. Joseph Cathedral, travel a 14-station station route throughout the State Capitol grounds, and return to the steps of the Cathedral.  

The Way of the Cross is a symbolic pilgrimage highlighting the suffering of Christ in the world today through the poor, abandoned, abused, ill and homeless. It is an opportunity for the Baton Rouge faith community to come together for a day of united prayer.

This year, community advocates, church leaders, and representatives from local nonprofits will lead the crowd through the capitol grounds, stopping at each station to read the mysteries of Christ and reflect upon them as they relate to our world today through the suffering of the poor, illiterate, sick, imprisoned and unborn.