Now in Our 56th Year!
RURAL RECOVERY IS WHAT WE DO
Breaking Barriers in Rural Louisiana for Creative and Innovative Investment in "Making Change Happen"
Plantationism
SMHA took on the powerful plantation system entrenched in Louisiana’s economy
- Workers saw the wealth they were creating, and like SMHA’s first Board President, Gustave Rhodes said to Congress, “I am proud of the work I do on sugar cane but I am mighty sad at what they think it is worth”
SMHA is currently partnering with Dr. Phebe A. Hayes, Founder and President of the Iberia African American Historical Society to reproduce and distribute SMHA’s book – “Plantation Portraits – Women in the Louisiana Cane Fields”
Together the women who created the sugarcane economy
WILL BE SEEN AND COUNTED
Health Care
SMHA Created Teche Action Clinic, 1st medical and dental clinic for sugar-cane farmworker families
- Charity Hospitals were the only care available but were only located miles away in larger cities
- Dr. Wiltz loved the model and created 17 more clinics across rural Louisiana
- There are no more charity hospitals open
President Lorna Bourg is advisor to HSEDD helping work on the community’s strategic plan. HSEDD is committed to economic revitalization, sustainable development and improved quality of life for New Iberia’s historic West End – community resources, health access, workforce opportunity, cultural preservation, and entrepreneurship
Disasters
SMHA Supports all aspects of Rural Recovery and Development
- After the hurricanes SMHA helped recover 1,064 homes, businesses & churches recovered after the hurricanes in 120 small towns & villages
- SMHA goes where no one would, NO government money, NO paperwork requirements
- Concentrate on those willing to help themselves, are generous and show appreciation
SMHA often received hugs and tears from home owners saying “you are the first one to check on us, NO ONE has come!”
We continue to stand ready to jump in and find those forgotten families!
Teche Ridge
SMHA broke many barriers to create Iberia Parish’s 1st and only Traditional Neighborhood Development
Teche Ridge is an innovative master-planned $150 million Smart Growth development
- When fully built, will bring new homes, commercial property, and civic space to Iberia Parish
- SMHA transitioned Teche Ridge in 2025 to a developer taking Teche Ridge into the future using private investments
- New homes are being built, additional landscaping and commercial are being planned and big are updates coming for the central park
SMHA created a new financing product to assist those in obtaining a new home and will continue to support new homeowners
- WE break barriers
- WE “Build Strong, Healthy, Prosperous Rural Communities”
- WE have a Passion for justice that drives who we are and everything we do
- WE work with families and communities, partners and policy-makers, to dismantle policies and systems that shouldn’t exist, and to build the policy infrastructure and institutions of equity that should
Leadership
We Transform Rural Communities by ….
Thank you to our long time supporters! If you wish to continue supporting SMHA, please contact us.
Would you like to know more about Southern Mutual Help Association?
Call (337) 367-3277 or Email smha@southernmutualhelp.org
This is wonderful; thanks for sharing. Congratulations on 50 years of outstanding work. Hilda is wonderful choice….smart, knowledgeable, known, committed. All the best to you and SMHA in the coming year. Arden Shank
Excellent video!! Well done. You’re all set for another fifty years of success. Bob Warwick
