Fielkow-Chase Youth Education Initiative hosts inaugural graduation
30th May 2023 · 0 Comments
By Ryan Whirty
Contributing Writer
Thanks to a joint initiative between a legendary New Orleans family, several local high schools, Tulane University and other community organizations, 40 area teens received an education about a career in the sports industry, and about other’s religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
Dubbed The Starting Block and undertaken by the Fielkow-Chase Youth Education Initiative, the 18-month program saw its first graduating class feted last Wednesday (May 24) evening at the storied Dooky Chase’s Restaurant.
In addition to the program graduates, celebration attendees included local and state elected leaders, school officials, family and friends, and others who came to show support for the teens and for The Starting Block program.
The first graduating cohort of 40 students primarily came from the New Orleans African-American, Latino and Jewish communities; key facets of The Starting Block program were the cross-cultural bonding the students shared, and the cultural learning process that served as a catalyst for that bonding experience.
The lessons in Black history and culture were sponsored by St. Augustine High School, a historically Black institution; the Latino classes were offered by the New Orleans Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and the Jewish courses were sponsored by Touro Synagogue. Also involved are the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience and the Anti-Defama-tion League. The 18-month curriculum about careers in the sports industry was created by the Tulane University Center for Sports.
Spearheading the new initiative are the Edgar “Dooky” Jr. & Leah Chase Family Foundation, and the Arnie D. Fielkow family. The Chases have owned and operated the revered Dooky Chase’s Restaurant since 1939 in the historic Treme neighborhood, where the traditionally Black patrons gathered to dine and socialize. Over the years, the restaurant served as a meeting place for numerous Civil Rights advocates and activists.
Fielkow, an attorney and a longtime member of Touro Synagogue who serves as the board director for The Starting Block, enjoyed a celebrated, three-decade career in professional sports in New Orleans. Fielkow also served as a politician and elected official, including four years as an at-large member of the New Orleans City Council.
The Starting Block’s genesis occurred following the 2019 passing of Leah Chase, the wife of Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr. and daughter-in-law of restaurant founders Emile and Dooky Chase Sr., from whom they took over the restaurant in 1946. Fielkow said that after Leah passed away, he approached Edgar Jr. and the Chase Family Foundation about honoring Leah by launching a youth-oriented community program. “I said, ‘Let’s begin a program we can be proud of,’” Fielkow said.
According to Fielkow, one goal of the program is “to teach kids the ins and outs of the sports industry. If they’re interested in a career in the sports industry, we give them the foundation to pursue that goal.” The other aspect of the program “is the bonding and unity between the students. Not only did we teach them about the sports industry, but also each other and each of their traditions, history and culture.”
He added that moving forward, The Starting Block will include up to 75 teens per cohort; they must be rising freshmen, sophomores and juniors in high school. Fielkow said last Wednesday’s ceremony represented “the first public launch” of the program following the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the program is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.
At last week’s event, Edgar Jr. said he was proud of the new program and what it has accomplished so far. “This is a meaningful event,” he told the audience. “It’s the first attempt by us to bring all kinds of cultures together.”
Chase added that he and the other program founders wanted to create an example of the community giving back to local youth so that the teens themselves can have an opportunity to give back.
Others who addressed the crowd included Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, New Orleans City Councilman Eugene Green, and Eddie Davis, director of the Major League Baseball Youth Academy branch located in New Orleans.
Sisters Taylor and Savannah Williams both took part in the first cohort of The Starting Block and were among the 40 program graduates. Both are students at Haynes Academy in Metairie, and both said they enjoyed the program and are proud to have completed it.
“It was amazing,” Taylor said.
Taylor, a 2023 Haynes graduate, said that although she is now considering a career in engineering, The Starting Block program gave her crucial experiences and lessons that she will use as she moves forward in life. She said one of the best aspects of the program was learning about different cultures and how those diverse ethnic backgrounds are all similar in many ways.
Taylor encouraged all area high schoolers to consider the program. “This program really opened doors for me,” Taylor said.
Savannah Williams shared similar thoughts, saying that the program showed her different perspectives on life and potential careers. She said that by learning about the different New Orleans cultures, including her own as an African American, she felt more connected to her hometown.
“It made me feel at home in my own city,” she said.
Savannah added that she is interested in pursuing a career in law, including possible legal positions in the sports industry.
“If you want to go into law, this is the place for you,” she said of The Starting Block. “This really opened my eyes to the law profession.”
This article originally published in the May 29, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
