Leona Tate
Leona Tate, born in 1954, is a prominent American activist and civil rights pioneer from New Orleans. At just six years old, she became one of the first Black children to desegregate a public elementary school in the Deep South. On November 14, 1960, Tate, alongside Tessie Prevost and Gail Etienne, integrated McDonogh 19 Elementary School, despite massive protests.
Facing immense adversity, the "McDonogh Three" persevered, enduring a year and a half as the only students in their class. In 2009, Tate established the Leona Tate Foundation for Change, purchasing her former school. The building reopened in 2021 as the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center, a mixed-use development dedicated to preserving the history of desegregation, civil rights, and Black life in New Orleans, offering anti-racism training, and promoting social restorative justice.
Gail Etienne
Gail Etienne is an American civil rights activist and one of the "McDonogh Three," who bravely desegregated McDonogh 19 Elementary School in New Orleans on November 14, 1960. Etienne, along with the others, spent two years as the only students in their class, demonstrating remarkable courage. After McDonogh 19, she and Tessie Prevost attended a segregated middle school, diverging from Leona Tate and Ruby Bridges.
Today, Etienne's legacy is honored through the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center, a mixed-use development at the site of their former school. The TEP Center serves as a memorial and offers anti-racism training, preserving the history of desegregation and promoting social justice in New Orleans. Etienne remains an important voice in the ongoing fight for equality.
Tessie Prevost
Tessie Prevost (1954-2024) was a civil rights icon and one of the "McDonogh Three." Along with Gail Etienne and Leona Tate, she made history on November 14, 1960, when she integrated McDonogh 19 Elementary School in New Orleans at just six years old.
As one of the first Black children to desegregate public schools in the Deep South, Prevost faced intense hostility and isolation. Despite these challenges, she and her classmates persevered, spending two years as the only students in their class.
Throughout her life, Prevost remained committed to education and civil rights. She worked for over 20 years as an administrative assistant in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the LSU School of Dentistry while also speaking publicly about her experiences with desegregation.
Sybil Haydel Morial
Sybil Haydel Morial (1932-2024) was a lifelong activist and champion for civil rights. Despite being rejected from Tulane and Loyola due to her race, she persevered in securing higher education in Boston, and then returned to New Orleans with a commitment to inclusivity. She was instrumental in forming the Louisiana League of Good Government, advocating for Black voter registration and rights. In 1963, she challenged discriminatory practices against teachers supporting integration.
Married to Ernest "Dutch" Morial, New Orleans' first Black mayor, Sybil was a fearless partner in his civic endeavors. Her passion for education included 28 years at Xavier University, retiring as Vice President for External Affairs in 2005. Morial's life exemplified dedication to equality, leaving an enduring impact on New Orleans and beyond. Her efforts to break down barriers and create opportunities for marginalized communities solidify her legacy as a transformative leader.
Dorothy Nairne
Dr. Dorothy Nairne is a dynamic serial entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in entrepreneurship and public health. Her life's mission focuses on eliminating poverty, promoting environmental justice, and creating well-paying jobs while celebrating African cultural heritage. Growing up as the youngest of six children, her early travels to Jamaica and rural Louisiana exposed her to poverty, igniting her passion to address this issue.
Dr. Nairne founded Africa Loves Babies in Johannesburg, South Africa, to support HIV prevention and support. This venture gained international recognition, including an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her work across more than twenty African countries between 1998 and 2016 led to the establishment of Project Possible in Louisiana, which aims to produce biodegradable tableware from sugarcane waste.
Dr. Nairne holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs and Economic Development from Clark Atlanta University. Outside of her professional life, she is a parent to three adult children and enjoys cooking spicy meals, traveling, and participating in mixed martial arts classes.
Leah Chase
Leah Chase (1923-2019), the "Queen of Creole Cuisine," was a New Orleans-based chef, author, and television personality. Her restaurant, Dooky Chase's, became a vital gathering place during the Civil Rights Movement, hosting activists like Martin Luther King Jr. and serving as a safe haven for strategy discussions. Known also for its extensive collection of African-American art, Dooky Chase's was more than just a restaurant; it was a cultural hub.
Born into a Catholic Creole family in Louisiana, Chase's culinary journey transformed a humble po-boy stand into a renowned establishment. She updated the menu to reflect her own family's Creole recipes as well as recipes—such as Shrimp Clemenceau—otherwise available only in whites-only establishments. Her influence extended beyond the kitchen, as she served on the boards of numerous organizations, advocating for art and community development. Chase's legacy lives on through her cookbooks, awards, and her profound impact on American cuisine and culture.
Alanah Odoms
Alanah Odoms is a civil rights leader, mother, and a professional and spiritual support to countless activists across Louisiana and beyond. As the first Black woman to lead the ACLU of Louisiana in its 65 year history, she has answered the call to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights by challenging systemic racial and gender injustice – vestiges of slavery displayed most prominently in Louisiana’s epidemic of mass incarceration, immigrant detention and deportation, and racist policing across the state.
Before joining the ACLU in June, 2018, Odoms served as the director of the Division of Children and Families, Deputy general counsel of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and special counsel to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice, Bernette J. Johnson. Alanah co-chaired the statewide effort to reduce incarceration of children through the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), and was appointed special counsel to Louisiana’s landmark Justice Reinvestment Task Force, which developed the policy recommendations behind the state’s historic package of criminal justice reforms passed in 2017.
Alanah is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law- Newark and a Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers College in New Jersey. Her selection as a scholar in Rutgers’ Institute for Women’s Leadership was a compass in her academic and leadership journey. Odoms also completed a prestigious certificate program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics as an undergraduate student.
Bernette Johnson
Bernette Joshua Johnson is a trailblazing legal figure, serving as the 25th Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and its first African-American Chief Justice. Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, she earned her law degree from LSU, becoming one of the first African-American women to do so.
Chief Justice Johnson began her judicial career in 1984 and then was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1994, becoming Chief Justice in 2013. Throughout her career, she has championed fairness, equality, and social justice. Before becoming a judge, she was the Managing Attorney of the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation, advocating for marginalized communities.
A recipient of numerous awards, including the ABA's Spirit of Excellence Award, Johnson's legacy is celebrated through the Louisiana State Bar Association's Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award. She remains deeply committed to her family and her community.
