Serving her community through the arts is a way of life for Jackie Lyle. What started out as a mission to find performances for her children has evolved into her role as the executive director of Performing Arts Serving Acadiana . Also known as PASA, the nonprofit organization is the locus of arts and music in the Acadiana region that exposes community members to a variety of performing arts.

The nonprofit relaunched its first performing arts season in 2021, bringing lively arts back to the Heymann Center stage.

"The biggest mistake that arts organizations make is not giving people access to artists," Lyle said.

When the Fine Arts Foundation, which started in 1975, brought legendary performers like Roberta Peters, Ella Fitzgerald, Gregory Hines, Dr. Billy Taylor, Alexander Godunov and

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