FestiGals honors Leah Chase

25th July 2016   ·   0 Comments

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

A legendary festival created to celebrate the achievements of women will devote a large part of its focus this year to African-American women, particularly the favorite daughter of the 7th Ward, the famed Leah Chase.

FestiGals is a unique celebration of women and New Orleans. Now in its sixth year and attracting women from across the country, FestiGals Girlfriend Weekend Getaway is New Orleans first and only women’s event of its kind in which women from all backgrounds are inspired and empowered in a festive environment including New Orleans largest women’s second line parade.

As Honoree Leah Chase explained to The Louisiana Weekly, “FestiGals this year will shine a light on African American women who have to start remembering their heritage. Back in the day, women had to be the strong person, and today African American women have to be a good momma, but women today are too busy trying to be a man.”

“I think this is a great lineup of African-American women at this year’s FestiGals “ the 93 year old Restauranteur continued. “These are the kind of women who know how to lead. These are good women leaders, and I applaud the organizers of FestiGals for putting together a great group of AA women leaders.”

“Women today have to look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man and work like a dog to be successful.”

FestiGals, which is slated for July 28-30, 2016 at the JW Marriott, begins with this “Queen of Creole Cuisine” hosting a private dinner at Dooky Chase Restaurant on Thursday, July 28 for FestiGals Diva Package holders. Chase, a recent James Beard award winner, will also be featured in a session titled “Outside the Kitchen” discussing her plethora of life experiences beyond the Dooky Chase kitchen the next day at the inaugural New Orleans Women’s Conference.

Giving the keynote address at the Friday, July 29th conference will be Carla Harris, the first African-American female Vice Chairman at Morgan Stanley. Following her talk, a panel entitled “Ladies Who Make Music” will continue that theme of African-American female empowerment, featuring Germaine Bazzle, Stephanie Jordan and Helen Gillet.

Participants will also have the chance to attend a variety of professional and personal development sessions focusing on social media to promote business, networking, leadership, health and more. New this year will be FestiTalks, eight fast-pace sessions of short focused talks in the style of disrupt HR or TedTalks.

On Saturday, July 30, FestiGals will host its charitable “Bodacious Bras for a Cause” Brunch and Auction where the top fundraising bras from the Bodacious Bras Challenge are sold to the highest bidders.

The expanded downtown Stiletto Stroll offers women the opportunity to participate in an authentic New Orleans walking parade. This year’s Stiletto Stroll is aiming to become the world’s largest all women’s second line complete with the all-female Universe Brass Band, entertainers and dance groups.

FestiGals’ single event tickets are available; but for the true FestiGal, the Diva Package is available. Further details and event pricing are online at www.FestiGals.org.

This article originally published in the July 25, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.