Alturas Institute, TEP Center Celebrate 65th Anniversary of School Desegregation with “Conversations with Exceptional Women”
Three-day event will also honor Capt. Theresa Claiborne, the first female African American pilot in the U.S. Air Force
Living Legends, civil rights activists, award-winning filmmakers, journalists and academics will gather Nov. 12-13, at the TEP Center in New Orleans, for The Alturas Institute’s 15th annual conference, “Conversations with Exceptional Women,” to discuss threats to civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, freedoms of speech and press, and democracy itself.
This annual conference, making its debut in New Orleans, will be held in conjunction with the Leona Tate Foundation’s 2025 Gala, celebrating the 65th anniversary of the desegregation of New Orleans public schools. The event, which features a galaxy of extraordinary women leaders, welcomes both women and men interested in a searching examination of the critical issues confronting our constitutional democracy.
The Alturas Institute’s, “Conversations with Exceptional Women” does not feature formal lectures from a podium, but rather a series of “conversations” with guest speakers, either in a one-on-one format, or sessions with three to four women, facilitated by a moderator. This forum advances stimulating, insightful and relaxing conversations that invite audience participation and engagement. “Over the years,” Dr. David Adler, president of the institute said, “audience members warm to the opportunity to raise questions and engage speakers, and before you know it, we are witness to a roomful of exceptional women, and more than a few good men.”
The Alturas Institute, an Idaho-based educational non-profit organization, created to defend democracy through advancement of the Constitution, equal protection of the law, women’s rights and civic education, has hosted Supreme Court Justices, recipients of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, Grammy Award winners, Olympic Gold Medalists, astronauts, writers, filmmakers, journalists and governmental officials. In 2022, Alturas hosted Dr. Leona Tate in Boise, Idaho, and presented her with The John and Abigail Adams Award, an honor that celebrates a distinguished leader’s contributions to equal protection and women’s rights.
“Dr. Tate’s historic role in desegregating the New Orleans public schools, and her continued leadership as a champion of civil rights, mark her as a civil rights icon,” Adler said. It was at that event in Boise that Dr. Tate and Alturas leaders began discussing the idea of holding a conference in New Orleans. “Three years later, and here we are,” Adler said. “Alturas is proud, and humbled by the opportunity, to host this conference in New Orleans, the epicenter of the Civil Rights struggle, in tandem with the TEP Center’s celebration of the 65th anniversary of the desegregation of public schools.”
The conference begins at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, with the kick-off conversation, featuring Capt. Theresa Claiborne, the first female African American pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Capt. Claiborne will be awarded The John and Abigail Adams Award, for her distinguished work on behalf of equal protection and women’s rights. A hosted reception follows the conversation with Capt. Claiborne. On Thursday, Nov.13, the conference features a full-day of conversations, followed by a reception. Tickets to the conference include a reception and lunch, and cost $99. Tickets may be purchased at thealturasinstitute.com.
“We are thrilled to host a lineup of incredible women leaders from various sectors in this inaugural conference in New Orleans,” Adler said. In addition to Capt. Claiborne, speakers include:
Dr. Leona Tate, Founder and Executive Director, Leona Tate Foundation for Change, desegregated New Orleans public schools on November 14, 1960.
Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, the Louisiana Supreme Court’s first African American Chief Justice.
Ms. Alanah Odoms, Executive Director, ACLU of Louisiana, and national civil rights leader.
Ms. Darcy McKinnon, Prize-winning documentary filmmaker, including “Natchez,” awarded Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Ms. Angela Lynn Tucker, Emmy and Webby winning filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist, with works on Showtime, PBS and Netflix; trilogy on Black women and political power in the South.
Ms. Maren Scott, Cultural strategist, supporting visionary innovators and storytellers, and internationally award-winning competitive Angolan Semba dance and instructor.
Ms. Anitra Brown, Managing Editor, The New Orleans Tribune, veteran journalist and journalism professor
Dr. Caroline Heldman, Award-winning political scientist, author, Chair of the Gender, Women & Sexuality Programs at Occidental College in Los Angeles; Board President of the TEP Center, Chair of the Board of The Alturas Institute, national commentator for CNN and CBS.
Ms. Christine Walker, Award-winning feature filmmaker, director and producer, including “America Splendor,” “Darling Companion,” and “The Turin Horse,” Principal, New Globe Films, and member, Advisory Board of The Alturas Institute.
Ms. Karen Day, award-winning writer, documentarian, photographer, war correspondent, and television producer. Founder and publisher of IdaHome Magazine.
Ms. Sasha Larkin, Director of Intelligence and C4 Operations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A recognized and honored speaker who has presented all around the world in topics ranging from leadership development, wellness and resilience education, homeland security and counterterrorism topics, community building and refugee integration all the way to human trafficking and mass casualty events.
Dr. David Adler, president of The Alturas Institute, author, award-winning constitutional scholar, whose writings have been invoked by the US Supreme Court and lower federal courts.