Recruiting LSU Volunteers

My name is Doug Draper. I’ve served as a public relations instructor at Louisiana State University for the past six years and have taught a PR campaigns class, which is a graduation requirement. It involves students demonstrating their proficiency in all aspects of PR. For the past three years, the best learning experience for my students in this class has come from their work to support the communication needs of Mission for Movement.

This connection began when my wife, Linda Draper, came home from a meeting with members of the newly formed Capital Area Parkinson’s Activities Committee and told me that the group needed communications assistance. I thought my students might be able to help and proposed working together on a project that would benefit this new organization and, at the same time, provide my students with campaign experience.

Since then, we’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship that has included all the students involved graduating from LSU and CAPAC being rebranded as Mission for Movement. One of my teams recommended this name change along with a new logo, slogan, mission statement and key messages. The students have also participated in local fundraising efforts to assist people with Parkinson’s.

I retired from LSU in May 2024, but I will continue to work with the university as a volunteer and serve as a liaison between LSU and Mission for Movement. We’ve already seen remarkable outcomes and expect the positive momentum to continue as we deliver on the promise of our mission statement: Let’s move it. Together.