“The Centennial of Black History Month reminds us that progress requires courage and community. When we Unite to take action and expand access to opportunity, lasting change is possible."
Our team marked the 100th anniversary of Black History Month with a meaningful conversation featuring Dr. Leona Tate, a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Tate is one of the three six-year-old girls who integrated McDonogh 19 more than 60 years ago. As a child, she showed extraordinary bravery as she faced protestors, daily escorts by federal marshals, bomb threats, and a constant police presence outside her home.
The same courage she demonstrated as a child, now fuels her work as a passionate activist dedicated to educating the community about the history of school desegregation and its role in the broader Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans. Through the Tate, Etienne, and Provost Center, housed in the former McDonogh 19 building she helped preserve, she ensures this history continues to inform and inspire future generations.
Dr. Tate’s courage, perseverance, and lifelong dedication to justice remind us why our work matters and prove that when communities come together, lasting change is possible.
We have a bold goal to place 100,000 individuals living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Threshold on a pathway to prosperity by 2035. Supported by our 2025-2027 Strategic Plan and ALICE Pathway to Prosperity Grants, we can help ALL struggling families afford the basics, build stability, develop essential skills, and access opportunities that strengthen long-term financial security.
As Black History Month comes to a close, we recognize that this history is not distant. Dr. Tate reminded us that preserving and uplifting it is essential to progress, because if we don’t learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.
Many individuals, like Dr. Tate, who shaped pivotal moments in our nation’s story, are still with us. This centennial is both a celebration and a call to action to honor their legacy by continuing to build communities where EVERYONE has the opportunity to thrive.