Finding Something Safe To Do: How One Woman is Transforming Cedar Grove

The voice on the other end of the microphone is warm but determined. "I'm able to bring everybody together with no violence," says Satonia Small Davis, and the pride in her voice is unmistakable. After 25 years of community work, particularly in the Cedar Grove neighborhood where she was born and raised, Davis has accomplished something remarkable.

Known affectionately as the "Community Lady," Davis embodies grassroots activism at its finest. Her journey began in 2000 with the Cooper Road and Cedar Grove Bicycle Drive, and has expanded to include women's empowerment programs, feeding the homeless, toy giveaways for children, and her signature "Find You Something Safe to Do Sundays." What makes her approach unique is her emphasis on action over rhetoric. "I'm not a talker, I'm a doer," she states plainly, "If I say something, I stand on my brand, I stand on business."

When asked about the most pressing needs in Cedar Grove, Davis doesn't sugar-coat the challenges: "They need resources and they need jobs." She highlights the often-overlooked elderly population who struggle with basic necessities and the children from broken homes who desperately need mentorship. Yet her perspective remains hopeful and collaborative: "It's not about me, it's about us as a collective whole... I want to bring everybody in where everybody can eat a little piece of pie." Davis's greatest accomplishment? Creating gatherings where violence simply doesn't occur—a powerful testament to her leadership in a community that has faced significant challenges over the years.

Want to support this vital community work? Contact Satonia at 318-200-8730 or find her on Facebook as Satonia Small Davis. Whether through donations, volunteering, or partnerships, she welcomes all who share her vision of a stronger, safer community. As she reminds us all: "Find you something safe to do."

Chapters

• 0:00 Meeting Community Leader Tonya
• 1:44 Community Needs and Challenges
• 3:19 Getting Involved and Supporting
• 4:00 Bringing People Together Without Violence
• 5:22 Contact Information and Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

I'm able to bring everybody together with no violence. That's the biggest thing that I'm proud of, that I'm able to bring everybody together with no violence. Hey, you guys.

Speaker 2: 0:49

We are here today with one of the leaders in the community. She is phenomenal and she's working, and she's been working in this community for 25 years. I'm going to let her tell you a little bit about herself and what she does. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1: 1:10

I am Mrs Tonya Small Davis. I am an advocate for the city of Groveria. Anybody who knows me community lady. I love my city, groverians and all. It was a great need in my neighborhood, so that's what I'm focused on. What's focused on I'm for every neighborhood, now for the whole city. But I started out in Cedar Grove. I started out with Cooper Road and Cedar Grove Bicycle Drive. That was the first thing I did in 2000, and I've just been going ever since. I do women empowerment programs. I give away toys to the kids, I feed the homeless. I do find you something safe to do Sundays. I just do some of everything. I volunteer wherever I'm needed, all around the city. In Shreveport I work closely with other nonprofits. I mean, I just do what God has called me to do.

Speaker 2: 1:55

What inspired you to get involved with your community.

Speaker 1: 2:00

I seen a great need Okay, a great need. I was born and raised over here and I just seen a great need that somebody needs to get the people back out active and find them something safe to do, and I want everybody to feel safe and low. I'm also the Cedar Grove weekend too, y'all, I'm just over some of you.

Speaker 2: 2:19

What do you see as the biggest need or challenge in the community?

Speaker 1: 2:23

as the biggest need, or challenge in the community. They need resources and they need jobs. Over here, that's one of the biggest needs in Cedar Grove. We need jobs and we need resources and we need to help the elderly more because they're forgotten about. So we most definitely need to find people to just take them to the stores, to just help them get some of the things they need, and, with the kids, they need mentorship, they need love. They're not getting in the homes. The homes are broken and it's not their fault, so they need a big sister, big boy, big brother program. So I'm trying to be in the process of all that and if anybody want to help me, get with me so we can start all this here. Let's not talk about it, let's be about it, and I'm not a talker, I'm a door and anybody who know me, that's what I do. If I say something, I stand on my brand, I stand on business. I'm standing on business. That's why they call me the community lady.

Speaker 2: 3:09

Okay, all right. Y'all heard from the community lady. How can?

Speaker 1: 3:18

people listening, support what you're doing or get involved. You can tell me for donations because I need plenty for this. Cedar Grove weekend 318-287. I'm on Facebook. It's Tonya Small Davis and again, you just got my phone number. You can call me if you want to be a part, to volunteer, to help. Let's make some things happen. Let's collab together. I'm willing to partner with other nonprofits. I'm just ready to do what we need to do and, like I say, let's make Shreveport better. We, let's make Streetport better. We are better together too, because with me the vision is there. I want to bring everybody in where everybody can eat a little piece of pie. It's not about me, it's about us as a collective whole.

Speaker 2: 3:51

Okay, well, before I let you go, tell me one thing or two things that you've done in the community, that you're proud of.

Speaker 1: 3:59

I won so many awards just one day, but the one thing I'm just most proud of I'm able to bring everybody together with no violence. That's the biggest thing that I'm proud of, that I'm able to bring everybody together with no violence. Every day that I have been, I haven't had no violence, and not only that, there hasn't been anything going on that we've been doing this. I have been something that nobody has ever been able to do in the city of Shreveport, so I'm real proud of myself Very good, very good.

Speaker 2: 4:32

So, for those watching and everyone in the room, how can we support and how can we help you and where can we find you?

Speaker 1: 4:41

Cedar Grove for one, and again my Zelle's 318-287 for donation. And again I'm on Facebook, you can invite me. So Tonya Small Davis and I welcome everybody, everybody, much love. I'm showing the city love, just like City Grove. The whole city need to be shown love big up and kisses to everybody. Is there, everybody, awesome?

Speaker 2: 5:04

Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for being such an important pillar in our community.

Speaker 1: 5:12

Thank you.

Speaker 2: 5:12

And thank you for being on this show.

Speaker 1: 5:14

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 2: 5:16

My pleasure.

Speaker 1: 5:16

Find y'all something safe to do too, you hear?

Speaker 2: 5:18

me Find you something safe to do. Alright, guys, that's it Until next time, bye.