BATON ROUGE — The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metro Baton Rouge Chapter, is hosting its fourth annual scholarship gala, The Royal Experience, this Saturday, May 31. The event begins at 6 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women advocates on behalf of Black women and girls, as well as all women working to drive change in areas such as economic empowerment, health, education, and public policy. The organization’s mission is to uplift and empower future leaders.
At Saturday’s gala, women recognized as “change makers,” along with scholarship recipients ranging from high school to graduate-level students, will be honored. Tickets to attend are available here.
The 2025 honorees include Lakeisha Robichaux, Dr. Sandra Chaisson Brown, Judge Erika L. Green, Dr. Nicole Thomas, and Dianna Payton.
Dr. Thomas is the founder of Love Impact, a nonprofit that provides free medical, dental, and vision care to underserved communities. Robichaux, a realtor, is also the CEO and founder of Chief of Minds, an organization that supports local entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses.
Dr. Brown serves as a dean and professor at Southern University’s School of Nursing and is known for mentoring students and promoting academic excellence. Judge Green is being honored for her contributions to public policy and her efforts to advance justice and economic equity. Payton, CEO of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), is this year’s recipient of the Royal Legacy President’s Award.
Kourtney Janeau, a representative of the organization, said the gala emphasizes community recognition and the importance of celebrating women who are driving local change.
“It’s super important for young girls to be able to see that they have people that look like them in these spaces,” Janeau explained.
By recognizing women like this year’s honorees, she added, young girls will have a “tangible representation of their dreams.”
Funds from the gala go toward funding the organization’s scholarship program, along with other educational opportunities. By attending events with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and donating to its causes, people can help invest in young women, who will create the future.
“Those things are really what drives the needle in terms of investing into our children’s educational future,” Janeau said. “Investing in the organization allows us to put on the programs like ‘everybody can code’ to where our young girls are learning these skills outside of school to be able to put forth change in the community as well from a young age.”
Visit the Baton Rouge chapter’s website for more information about the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s initiatives and programs. For more information about the Royal Experience Gala and to purchase tickets, click here.
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