PRESS & MEDIA
FEATURES & MENTIONS
Nose to Tail: A foodway born out of necessity is maintained as a tradition
Jan 2023
"Boudin. Cracklin. Hogshead cheese. Sausage. Backbone stew. These beloved southwestern Louisiana dishes have fed locals and attracted hungry tourists for decades. Yet the Creole boucherie—the communal hog-butchering and cookout that produces these culinary delights—is a segment of American life that we do not hear much about." Read More >>
Louisiana Creole Culture in Acadiana Featured on National Geographic’s “World of Flavor with Big Moe Cason”
Aug 2022
"Look for Acadiana on the big screen as Louisiana Creole Culture will be front and center on an episode of National Geographic's "World of Flavor with Big Moe Cason."
The new series from National Geographic debuted on July 25th and features Navy veteran and champion pitmaster Big Moe Cason as he "embarks on an epic journey to seek out the most mouthwatering dishes cooked over an open flame."" Read More >>
Keith Frank making his return to the stage on January 16th
Jan 2022
"Zydeco Homecoming will be kicking off on Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. at Parc International in Downtown Lafayette.
Dustin Cravins, Vice President of LA Louisianne Consulting, hopes the event will bring Zydeco as we know it back to Southwest Louisiana." Read More >>
Longtime Lafayette pastor, founder of Black chamber of commerce dies at 91
Jan 2022
"One of the founders of the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce died in late December.
Bishop Roy Winbush, who founded the organization along with JeNelle Chargois and Don Cravins Sr. in 2003, died at 91 on Dec. 19. A service in his honor will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Lafayette, where he served as the pastor.." Read More >>
The slow road to getting vaccinated after back-to-back hurricanes
May 5, 2021
"During the last two weeks of April, canvassers with La Louisianne, a Black-led consulting firm based in Lafayette, knocked on doors in town, providing residents with information about vaccines and fielding their questions." Read More >>
The Southern View
May 2018
Recipient of The Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce’s Trailblazer Awards.
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Riders
Winter 2017
"Against the most difficult odds of entrenched racism, racial violence, poverty, language denigration, and cultural appropriation, Creole-identifying people have held fast to their Catholic faith, their rural roots and land ownership, their food and musical traditions, and fought to maintain their ancestral French language.” Read More >>
Quoted in Book: 'Louisiana Rambles: Exploring America's Cajun and Creole Heartland'
Louisiana Rambles, by Ian McNulty
"In this era, with this pop culture we have, it's amazing to me that the pop culture of southwest Louisiana still is Creole culture," said Dustin Cravins. "It's cool to be into country music here, and not just for the white guys from the country. Our music is Creole country music." Read More >>
Dustin Cravins is King Toussaint L'Ouverture LVII
Feb 14, 2015
"As king of one of Lafayette's oldest and most historic Mardi Gras Krewes, Dustin Cravins knows the importance of serving as King Toussaint L'Ouverture LVII.
Born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, Cravins is the third member of his family to serve as king of the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc. ." Read More >>
Buckwheat Zydeco, Famed Bandleader and Accordionist, Dead at 68
Sep 2016
"Family friend Dustin Cravins added to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “It’s a tough one for us and the entire Zydeco community and the greater music community. Words like legend and icon are tossed around so much these days that it almost sounds watered down, but he was the true definition of it.” Read More >>
Produced: Ancestral Grooves
Produced Ancestral Groove alongside Terrance Simien, Danny Williams and Cynthia Simien. Why? Because we respect our past and understand our present and as we meet the moment of a global pandemic and a season of racial reconciliation the likes of which we’ve not seen since the Civil Rights movement, we felt compelled to reflect and give thanks for what we’ve got. " Learn More >>
Donors sending St. Landry students to ‘Black Panther’
Feb 14, 2015
"Last weekend, Dustin Cravins and his wife Jessica were feeling joyous on the drive home from the movie, “Black Panther.” Dustin, a music promoter and business consultant, was already thinking of ways to share the experience. Cravins reached out to the community for assistance. Keith Frank and Chris Ardoin, zydeco musicians that Cravins books regularly, responded with $1,000 to cover the ticket costs." Read More >>
Movers and Shakers: Dustin Cravins
"No authentic conversation about Creoles in southern Louisiana can exist without mentioning the Cravins family. These are some proud country folk down in Mallet (half-way between Opelousas and Eunice) who respects authentic quality while understanding that it takes time to achieve that quality. And they have a crystal clear understanding of what it means to be Creole." Learn More >>
Donald Cravins – Once Upon A Creole: The Remarkable Story of Donald Cravins Sr. of Louisiana
His smile is as infectious as his wit is quick. His opinions are both direct and unapologetic. A man of broad talents and unusual experience, to say the least, he is currently, “Mayor Donald Cravins” of the Creole city of Opelousas, Louisiana. Who is he and what do you know about him?
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