Loyola University New Orleans recently hosted The Reunion 2023, a week-long event that aimed to celebrate Black culture authentically. The event, which took place from February 26th to March 4th, was organized by Robert Morrison and Destiny Sanders, who were inspired to create a platform for Black campus clubs to showcase their talents and contributions to the university community.

Morrison and Sanders first partnered while running for the Student Government Association (SGA), where they realized their shared passion for representing the student body and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. They started planning The Reunion 2023 around Thanksgiving and provided facilitation for booking rooms, marketing, and other aspects of the event. All the clubs got creative control, and a committee was created to involve underclassmen to set up the future, with the first meeting held at the end of January.

The week featured various activities and events, including an RnB Paint and Sip with L.O.V.E (Living Our Visions Everyday), a group that aims to highlight black women. The event garnered lots of traction for the club. Also, the Caribbean and African Student Association (CASA) partnered with the NAACP to host the Black Diaspora Social, where both students and alums, dressed to impress, met on campus to get to know each other and enjoy performances from Mynthia, Piper Stringz, Messenger, and more.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) event was the best attended, with over 250 attendees, and was the first competition at Loyola since 2019. Other universities, including Dillard, Tulane, and more, came to support with the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., winning the competition. A viral ‘Watch the Yard’ post proved the event’s success.

Destiny Sanders said, “This past week was an emotional roller coaster. Robert and I are so grateful for everyone trusting us to organize and showcase Black culture at Loyola, even if it’s just for a week. We hope to see The Reunion grow for years to come.”