The Links Inc. honors community leaders during civic luncheon in N.O.

The Louisiana Weekly Staff Reports

Several Baton Rouge and New Orleans community leaders were honored on May 27 at a civic luncheon, one of several activities that were attended by representatives of 77 chapters in the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated meeting in New Orleans for the 41st Southern Area Conference May 25-29.

An estimated 1,000 Links, family members, business and community partners attended the four-day meeting, headquartered at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and hosted by the New Orleans, Crescent City and Pontchartrain (LA) chapters.

The Services to Youth Facet recognized Derrick Tabb, founder of Roots of Music and Jerome Smith, founder of Tremé-based Tam­bourine and Fan. The National Trends and Services Facet recognized Diana E. Bajoie, former Louisiana State Senator, who is Director of Community Relations for the LSU Health Sciences Center. The Arts Facet recognized Derek Gordon, president and CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. The International Trends and Services Facet will recognized Dr. Charles René, Clinical Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tulane University School of Medicine. Finally, the Health and Human Services Facet recognized Julia B. Moore, a community organizer and activist.

Tabb, Smith, Bajoie, and Rene are New Orleanians. Gordon is from Baton Rouge.

Tabb is one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes for 2009. He was chosen for his work as founder of Roots of Music, a mentoring program housed in the historic Cabildo in Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter. A professional musician and major contributor to the music industry, he has been the snare drummer with the renowned Rebirth Brass Band for more than 15 years. Tab had a dream of building a citywide marching band for students after Hurricane Katrina. He launched Roots of Music in the spring of 2008. One hundred and twenty-five students, ages nine to 14, participate in the program with 500 students on the waiting list. Tabb owns and operates a full-service recording studio, and has extensive experience with school marching bands.

Smith is revered and respected as a mentor, teacher, and nurturer of African-American youth in the Seventh Ward and Tremé neighborhoods of New Orleans. Mr. Smith is a dedicated activist, humanitarian and former Freedom Rider. He is founder of Tambourine & Fan, a community-based organization that passes on the history, culture, and heritage of Black Americans to youth. A wide array of activities and programs teach youngsters about civil rights, leadership, and political engagement. In August 2010, General Mills Feeding the Dreams Program named Jerome Smith the New Orleans Community Champion for his involvement and activism with youth in New Orleans.

Bajoie became the first African-American woman elected to the Louisiana State Senate in 1991. She was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1976. She became the first woman in Louisiana history elected to a leadership role in 2004 when she was elected Senate President Pro Tempore. Bajoie led the effort in the legislature to create school-based health clinics, and wrote legislation to provide breast cancer screening and treatment for low-income and uninsured women; mandated coverage of mammography and other cancer screening tests; and increased healthcare coverage for citizens with mental health disorders. Sen. Bajoie currently serves as Director of Community Relations for the LSU Health Sciences Center, where she is responsible for defining strategic direction, development, implementation and operation of programs that provide education and health resources to New Orleans citizens.

Gordon is president and CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. He is responsible for revitalizing the Arts Council and the development of the River City Jazz Coalition, a culturally diverse group of community leaders committed to bringing world-class jazz performances and educational opportunities to the Greater Baton Rouge community. Gordon and Debbie Allen, friend and artistic collaborator, created a community dance residency, which has provided world-class training and performance opportunities for young people of all ages, races and socioeconomic status. The residency gives young people a culturally diverse learning experience where they learn about dance and each other. Gordon is committed to the engagement of all residents in experiencing the power of the arts to transform lives and communities.

Dr. René is an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certified physician, with licenses in Louisiana and Mississippi. He serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. René has been actively committed to helping to improve health care in his native Haiti since the 1980s. He is co-founder of Association Haitienne de Développement Humain, Inc., a health and education program to support Haitians in the United States and Haiti; Comité de Support pour Restauration de le Démocratie en Haiti, a program to support Haitian refugees detained in prisons in Louisiana; Fondation Ertha Pascal Trouillot, a humanitarian project targeting women; and Haitian Organization for Health Services, a blueprint for a modern health system in Haiti after the restoration of democracy.

Moore is a breast cancer survivor who has dedicated her life to working with projects that support cancer survivors and their families. A former teacher and counselor, Mrs. Moore is a community organizer and activist. She is also a contributing author of Cooking With An Attitude, which contains the favorite recipes of cancer survivors. She has also written several articles and plays about surviving cancer. Mrs. Moore has been involved in a wide array of church and community programs, projects, and activities. In April 2011, the Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations named Moore as winner of the 32nd Annual Powell-Reznikoff Humanitarian Award for her community health activism.

This story originally published in the May 30, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.