Nell Nolan: AKA Cotillion, Bubbles and Bubbly 2026, Children’s Rights | Entertainment/Life

Sororal Salutes

The 19th annual Pearls of Pride and Promise Cotillion amassed members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.| Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter to the Celestin Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel for a gala event. Titled “’Becoming Her:’ The Essence of Excellence,” it was presented by Crescent City OLQ Charitable Organization, which is chaired by Linda Barry Sevalia.

More important names are Omicron Lambda Chapter President Marjorie Parker and Dr. Yolonda Wornner Prevost, 2025-2026 cotillion chairman and ball captain, who opened the formalities with an introduction and welcome. Further program principals were, in turn, cotillion ball co-chair Judge Charlene Larche-Mason and cotillion co-chair Arlette Armour Jackson; mistress of ceremonies Tara Lampton Johnson; the 2026 “Pearls” mothers and escorts; the 2025 majesty, Miss Kelsey Amyri McPherson, queen legacy; president Marjorie Parker; debutantes and fathers, and then escorts, for the cotillion waltz; awards chair Nedra Alcorn for presentations; and Mss. Sevalia and Parker for acknowledgments. LaShanda Prevost was the choreographer and 45 women served on the cotillion committee. The closing moments spotlighted the grand curtsy by the members of Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter.

All hailed as debutantes Miss Madison Paige Andrews, daughter of AKA member Traci Perry and Ronald Andrews, as queen. She was escorted by Miles Morton, one of 22 escorts. The respective first, second, third and fourth maids and their parents were Misses Laila Nicole Cooper, Nicole Cooper and the late Maj. Kelvin K. Cooper; Trinity Renay Wilson, Erica Singleton-Thompson and Xavier Wilson; Kimberly Reese Buckner, whose mother is Kimberly Reese; and Marleigh Xavier Laraque, Shantel Ramsey Batiste and Jean Paul Batiste Sr.

Additional debutantes and parents were Misses Cade Myka-Ann Alphonse, Nicole E. Martin and Ardel D. Alphonse; Karina Angelique Brown, Tina and Kevin Brown; Dynasti Trinity Clark, Sasha Williams; Saya Vivian Ducros, Shantelle Ducros; Peyton Milan Dunn, Melanie G. and Andrew Dunn; Brea Alona Evans, Marcia Goff Evans and William Evans; Layla Marie Gourrier, LaCine Bertrand-Gourrier and Kevin Gourrier Jr.; Brea Rheann Hines, Kandi Francis; and Allynah Cire Lazard, Gelon Brandon and Eric Lazard.

Also, Laila Camille LeBeouf, Robinique and Larry LeBeouf; Braelyn Marie Martin, Chanelle Smith and Brelon Martin; Addisyn Maria Matthews, Charlinda Matthews and Avery Matthews Sr.; Kennedy Gabrielle Seals, Glory Carter Seals and Kenneth Seals; Victoria Louise Steib, Dr. Larissa Littleton-Steib and Kyle Steib; Keilani Niamya Diondri Wicker, Trina Wicker; Jalin Monet Williams, James and Erica Williams; and Jasmine Mariah Williams, Dr. Chantell Washington-Williams and Hasson Williams.

The escorts, in addition to Mr. Morton, were Messrs. Chase Cooper, Reese Douglas, Chase Barrow, Todd Joseph Laraque Jr., Cole Alphonse, Saint Alexander Durand, Joynal Abdin Jr., Carter Larche-Mason, Myron May, John Terrance Carter Jr., Kaiden Baptiste, Korbyn Baptiste, Jabaree Monday, Seth Ducros, Jamai Johnigan, Myles Williams, Kendrick Powell, Blake Steib, Brady P. Mitchell, Eric Plaisance, and Sean K. Johnson Jr. Several escorted relatives, especially sisters.

The youngest members of Pearls and Promise were princesses Lailah Avaé Bradstreet, Leonard and Arie Bradstreet; Saige Dior Nichols, Shantrice Nichols and Telemarcus Major; and Brylei Prevost, Jolisa Lombas; and pages Royce Saint Savage Brown, Naima Savage and Cale Brown; and Landon Morton Cook, Kelly Morton Cook and Vincent Cook. Their respective OLQ sponsors were members Chantell Washington, Kimberly McPherson, LaKeisha C. Ricks, and above Linda Sevalia and Kelly Morton Cook. Socializing followed the formalities.

In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. became America’s first Greek letter organization established by Black college women. The recent Pearls of Pride and Promise Cotillion provided an opportunity for young women to have a formal introduction to society, along with support and guidance, to become successful young women in our community. In addition, all of the young people spotlighted reveled in fun and friendship.

Sheltering

The alliterative (and rather homonymic) Bubbles and Bubbly titled a late-afternoon fundraiser in the Arbor Room at Popp Fountain in City Park to benefit the New Orleans Women’s & Children’s Shelter (NOWCS), the “only homeless shelter for intact families (including fathers) and the largest homeless shelter for women and children in the Metro area.” During the past nine years, it has assisted more than 4,700 parents and children. Gulf Coast Bank & Trust was the Presenting Sponsor and youngsters under 12 attended free.

Promised, and delivered, was an evening of fabulous food, drinks, entertainment, games for kids and a silent auction. Brheanna Boudreaux, WWL-TV anchor, repeated her role as event chair — and was duly appreciated and thanked. Further notables were NOWCS Board President David Schlakman with spouse Lisa, and founders Dan and Jackie Silverman, along with state Rep. Shaun Mena, New Orleans City Council member Lesli Harris, Elizabeth and Slade Simons, Pippy Newton and T. Cole Newton, Gretchen Hirt Gendron, Melissa Vandiver, Ari Ferrand-Goodwin, Ginger Spencer, Karen Matthews, Bonnie Dye, Amy Dye Domangue and Brant, Drs. Julie Wang and Alfred Luk, Stephanie Willis, Seanne and James Falconer, and Andrea Ramsel. Awards for service to NOWCS tapped Slade Simons, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust; Mandy May, NOLA Bombshells; and Karen Matthews, NOWCS volunteer.

They, and others, admired the entrance decorations of large white balloon installations with six-foot champagne bottle cutouts, and the signature purple white tablecloths that topped the tables where guests sat to enjoy donated purveyance by Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Lucy Lee’s Confectionary, Market Wego, Crescent City Meat Co., and the NOWCS staff’s chef. Spirits came from three generous donors.

Punctuating the dining were hops up to bid on the 131 auction items (chief of which was a Pelicans VIP Experience donated by Keesler Federal Credit Union), as well as to test luck at the punch wall’s 80 items and the Crystal of Hope raffle donated by Earth Odyssey. More cause to move about came via DJ Captain Charles (Charles Leach), who spun the hits the crowd wanted to hear.

Rights

Once again, The Building on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. was the site for the night when the neighboring Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights held its annual fundraiser, the 10th one. Venue owners Connie and Christian Labat rated thanks aplenty. It was also the 20th year of LCCR’s work in the community.

A first for the event was the presentation of the Diamonique Whaley Champion of Justice Award (with family members attending) that went to artist Journey Allen, founder of Spectrum Arts NOLA, for her work helping incarcerated youths “to engage healing through arts education.” Two short videos produced by Heiress Marketing showed, in turn, the ways LCCR supports legal system-impacted young people, and a testimonial from a teen client, now on a good path.

The three raffles produced as winners a group from the Sessions Israel & Shartle Law Firm; Damia Khanboubi-Delahoussaye; and Miles and Rebecca Thomas. Sweet Anoni’s Catering and Bakery fed the flock, who cast admiring eyes on The Building’s African American art that lined the walls.

Headliners included Celebration 2026 host committee members Allie Shapiro Dandry, Eileen Gleason, Carla Laroche, and Kaye Courington. Also, state Sen. Royce Duplessis; Judges Robin Pittman, Nandi Campbell, and Leon Roche; and Aaron Clark-Rizzio, former LCCR executive director. And, with titles, Thelma French, Gina Womack, Sarah Omojola, Kyla Romanach, Jared and Keshona Harris, Susan and Hervin Guidry, Georgiana and Ira Platt, Michelle and Anderson Baker, Wendy Hickok and Nick Marshall, a slew of lawyers, and about 150 others. All rejoiced when the funds were tallied. More than $137,000 was raised, a new record for LCCR and Children’s Rights.