The 2026 Exchange

Connecting Africa in Paris.

The inaugural Louisiana Global Leadership Exchange took place October 23–24, 2026, at the Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel.

Why Paris

Most African nations maintain embassies in Paris, and the city is a center of the Francophone world Louisiana shares.

Program

Friday, October 23: Parti Gras in Paris — the Welcome Mixer
Saturday, October 24: The Working Exchange

The Welcome Mixer

Parti Gras in Paris

Every Exchange opens with Parti Gras, where delegates, ambassadors and Louisiana leaders meet over Louisiana food and music before the working sessions.

Parti Gras Welcome Mixer

Culture opened the conversation.

Louisiana music, hospitality and the spirit of celebration welcomed delegates and guests to Paris.

International guests at the Parti Gras Welcome Mixer

Louisiana brass band welcoming guests in Paris

Guests arriving at the Parti Gras Welcome Mixer

Guests gathering for Louisiana hospitality in Paris

Second-line celebration during the Welcome Mixer

Guests enjoying the Parti Gras celebration

NOLA French Connection Brass Band performing at Parti Gras in Paris

Guests meeting during the Parti Gras reception

Guests sharing the spirit of Louisiana Mardi Gras

Louisiana and international guests together in Paris

A cross-cultural conversation during the Welcome Mixer

International delegates at the Parti Gras Welcome Mixer

Guests gathered for the Louisiana welcome experience

Delegation guests at Parti Gras in Paris

The Parti Gras in Paris venue prepared for guests

Louisiana Mardi Gras favors at the Welcome Mixer

Welcome refreshments prepared for Parti Gras guests

A guest arriving for the Parti Gras Welcome Mixer

Music and movement during Parti Gras in Paris

Friends celebrating Louisiana culture in Paris

Guests in conversation during the Welcome Mixer

Louisiana connections at Parti Gras in Paris

NOLA French Connection Brass Band performing in Paris

Guests connecting during the Parti Gras reception

Cultural guests gathered at the Welcome Mixer

Guests posing together at Parti Gras in Paris

Guests photographed at the Krewe de Louisiana display

A group of Parti Gras guests celebrating together

Working Sessions

Focused conversations

Powering Both ShoresSeeds of PartnershipCapital ConnectionsCulture Is Global CurrencyThe Sixth RegionNational presentations

The Working Exchange

Leadership at the table.

Louisiana elected officials, institutions, diplomats, business leaders and cultural representatives moved from introductions into direct discussion.

Delegates arriving and registering for the Working Exchange

A participant reviewing the Working Exchange program

Working Exchange materials prepared for delegates

Louisiana Global Leadership Exchange delegate pin

Delegates reviewing the program together

Direct conversation at the Working Exchange

A speaker addressing Working Exchange participants

Participants gathered for a Working Exchange session

Participants in dialogue during the Working Exchange

Panel discussion during the Working Exchange

Capital Connections panel during the Working Exchange

Louisiana leadership participating in the Working Exchange

Harrison Crabtree addressing Working Exchange participants

A participant engaged in the Working Exchange

Cross-sector conversation among Exchange participants

Delegates photographed during the Working Exchange

Louisiana leadership at the Working Exchange table

Cultural leadership discussion during the Exchange

Business and institutional leaders in discussion

Opening remarks during the Working Exchange

Recognition presentation during the Working Exchange

Exchange participants marking a moment of distinction

Members of the Louisiana delegation in Paris

Louisiana and international participants at the Working Exchange

Speakers and Program

Louisiana leadership and institutional participation

Calvin Mills Jr. — Master of Ceremonies and LGLE Chief Innovation Ambassador

The Honorable Lady Fontenette Brown — Chief Cultural Ambassador

The Honorable Regina Ashford Barrow — President Pro Tempore, Louisiana State Senate

The Honorable Jeremy P. Stine — State Senator, District 27

The Honorable Troy Jude Hebert — State Representative, District 31, Louisiana House of Representatives

Patrick Riley — Louisiana Chemical Association

Rodolphe Sambou — Consul General of France in New Orleans

Dr. Jenny Mains — Special Advisor to the Mayor of New Orleans for International Partnerships and Strategic Economic Development

Peggy Feehan — Executive Director, CODOFIL

Scott Feehan — Executive Director, Festival International de Louisiane

Louisiana participants

Louisiana Chemical Association · USA Rice · Southern University Law School · CODOFIL