SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – The 13th annual Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators drew forty-two teams competing with flavor, meat, and roux in downtown Shreveport.
The cook-off serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for Volunteers for Youth Justice, generating between $70,000 and $80,000 annually. Those funds are directed back to the community’s children and families in crisis.
“But really, for us, it’s more important to have the awareness of what Volunteers for Youth Justice does and make sure that the community knows that there’s resources that can help them,” said Alex Person, director of community engagement and development for Volunteers for Youth Justice.
The Gumbo Gladiators competition began in 2013. Since then, one family team — known as Cooking Cousins — has returned every year…