NEW ORLEANS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI CHAPTER HOSTS
REUNION EVENT TO HELP THE HURRICANE-RAVAGED CITY
“BOUNCE BACK”
New Orleans, LA—Warren Easton Fundamental Senior High School (WEFSHS) Class of 1996 alumni host “Bounce Back New Orleans,” a 10-Year Reunion Celebration designed to jumpstart economic development in the city of New Orleans, and instill a renewed since of pride in members of the high school’s Class of 1996. The three-day event takes place June 9-11, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Reunion activities include a meet-and-greet, Friday, June 9, 7:30 p.m. at AMF All Star Lanes; a banquet, Saturday, June 10, 8 p.m. at the W Hotel New Orleans; a Sunday morning worship service sit-in (location to be announced); and a class picnic and send-off, Sunday, June 11, 2 p.m. at Lafreniere Park.
According to Shantania Loving-Leggins, the WEFSHS Class of 1996 Reunion Committee Chairperson, getting alumni involved in the planning of the big 10-Year Reunion Celebration pre-Katrina did not require much effort. Following the devastation, however, members of her graduating class found it challenging to not only participate in planning the event, but a financial strain to attend the three-day festivities because of more pressing priorities, such as food, clothing and shelter.
“Immediately following Hurricane Katrina the Reunion Committee disseminated e-mails to members of the Class of 1996 to make certain they had escaped without harm,” said Loving-Leggins. “Once we located a large number of our alumni, we began developing polls to determine whether or not we should continue with plans to host the Reunion, and whether or not we should do so in New Orleans due to the city's condition.”
Loving-Leggins and the six-member Reunion Committee, including her husband Kendrick Leggins—Loving-Leggins’ high-school sweetheart and fellow member of the WEFSHS Class of 1996—began receiving e-mails from classmates declaring that the Reunion must go on; and it must go on in New Orleans.
“We received messages from classmates in several different states asking that we host the event in New Orleans because it was where we attended school and graduated,” said Leggins. “Of course a few people suggested that we should hold-off until next year to give everyone a chance to regroup, but the majority of the alumni were determined not to let the Hurricane disrupt any other areas of their lives.” The Reunion Committee had received its marching orders—forge ahead with plans for a Reunion weekend in New Orleans.
The Reunion Committee encountered yet another challenge—financing the Reunion Celebration and the scholarship fund they had initially proposed to assist future alumni with college expenses.
To generate funds to supplement the cost of travel and/or budgetary expenses for alumni who were challenged in meeting such expenses—specifically those affected by Hurricane Katrina—the WEFSHS Class of 1996 Reunion Committee created the “Bounce Back New Orleans” campaign. Vehicle, refrigerator and file cabinet magnets featuring the campaign slogan—“Bounce Back New Orleans”—are marketed to individuals who support the rebuilding of New Orleans, and others who simply support the Class’s charitable efforts. In addition, a portion of the campaign funds is earmarked for select students who would have graduated in Warren Easton’s Class of 2006.
“While these efforts benefit Warren Easton Class of 1996 alumni and future alumni, they also support the city we call ‘home,’” said Entertainment Committee Chairperson Jehielk Burke. “Attendees of our 10-Year Reunion Celebration will fill hotel rooms, rent cars and patronize venues and vendors in the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas during this three-day event, boldly proclaiming that we support the rebuilding of this fine city, not just in words but in deeds as well.”
Scholarships will be awarded to future alumni during a reception preceding the Reunion banquet, Saturday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. at the W Hotel New Orleans, 333 Poydras Street.
“Though the devastation claimed much of our memorabilia, and caused some damage to the Canal Street landmark, it has left our pride unscathed,” said Loving-Leggins. “We will create new memories!”
Warren Easton Fundamental Senior High School, New Orleans’ oldest public high school, began as a boy’s high school in 1913. The Canal Street landmark was declared a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education in 1996.
Renowned alumni of the New Orleans high school include legendary jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain, Class of 1949; Arthur Hardy, a premiere Mardi Gras authority and author, Class of 1965; Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Class of 1953; and Anthony Mackie, famous actor and Class of 1997 alumnus. Mackie, who matriculated from WEFSHS and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), has been featured in Spike Lee’s “She Hate Me,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “8 Mile,” and more.
Media inquiries should be directed to Kertrina Watson at (404) 246-9432.
