The second installment in an ongoing series, this episode of Exit Interviews features Ashley Johnson and Ari Butler, both of whom have recently relocated from Shreveport, Louisiana to Connecticut. The Exit Interviews series features candid conversations with former Shreveport-Bossier residents about how living here shaped their lives and what lead to their decision to relocate.
Ashley and Ari’s conversation with host Sara Hebert highlights many of the best aspects of life in Shreveport (live music, grassroots-organized community events, a supportive LGBTQIA community) while underscoring the need for more professional opportunities. It’s an insightful, revealing conversation.
Key insights from their conversation include:
- “I didn’t want to leave, truth be told… I ran out of opportunities in Shreveport.” Ultimately, the decision to leave was driven by Ari’s career because there were very few chemistry or lab opportunities.
- For Ari and Ashley, Loving This Life Jada was the number one source for finding new and interesting things in Shreveport.
- “A scene is what you make it. Make your own scene.” Their least favorite things about the area are people who focus on things we do not have in the region, but don’t work to bring culture and opportunity here.
- As gay women, they found PACE and the Philadelphia Center were great ways to get plugged into the LGBTQ community. They wanted to see more non-drinking opportunities like coffee shops or poetry nights that are LGBTQ-focused.
- Would they move back to Shreveport? Absolutely. “When they opportunity comes for us to come back, hopefully we will come back to a city that has grown and gotten more industry.”
All Y’all Live: Going Through It on Saturday, Sept. 28
The next All Y’all live storytelling event, Going Through It, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at LSU Shreveport’s beautiful University Center Auditorium. Our sixth annual Fidnto Award fundraiser event will include stories by Melissa Goslin Moore, Abbas Moussaoui, Randy Moulder, and others. There’ll be a cash bar and live musical interludes. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit mental health support services for students at LSU Shreveport.
You can purchase tickets here or RSVP to the Facebook event here.
Thank you, Marilynn’s Place and Maccentric
All Y’all would not exist without the incredible support of our sponsors, including Maccentric and Marilynn’s Place. Please support these wonderful local businesses.
