The Shreveport Reconciliation Dinner is an invitation-only gathering of residents who were chosen based on their spirit of reconciliation and their lives being interwoven into the cultural and racial fabric of the city’s growth and history. Each invitee was encouraged to bring one special person in their lives to share the experience.

CUE WAGNER’S “RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES.” Hot air balloons are about to descend on Shreveport-Bossier City. The Red River Balloon Rally, along with the 2016 U.S. Hot Air Balloon Championship, will take place July 14 – July 20, throughout the metro area, with festivities to be held on the campus of LSUS.

Dr. Bill Bussey has been a hot air balloon pilot since 1977 and holds 15 world records. Bussey created the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas, in 1978 and is also credited with producing the very first ever balloon glow in 1981. “These events draw so many people,” he said.

On May 3, the Community Foundation of North Louisiana opened up its annual 24-hour midnightto-midnight online giving platform at giveforgoodnla.org with searchable profiles of participating nonprofits and a leaderboard to track giving.

The 10th annual Young Professional Initiative of Northwest Louisiana is accepting nominations for the 40 Under 40 Awards and Gala 2016. 40 Under 40 spotlights Northwest Louisiana’s outstanding entrepreneurs, executives, managers and professionals in public, private or nonprofit sectors.

Reeks is a local vintage jewelry “redesigner” and antique religious artifact dealer who will show her collection of rosaries and religious artifacts from the 18th century through the Art Deco period. Also featured will be select pieces from her vintage re-design jewelry collection.

Carol Smitherman Anglin has been the director and owner of Carol Anglin Dancenter for 34 years and is also the founding artistic director of the Louisiana Dance Foundation. Her company has performed 

Chef Holly Schreiber, owner of Sainte Terre, has worked with some of New York’s most discerning foodies, but it is the locallygrown, farm-fresh bounty in her hometown, Benton, that has her gushing about food.