The OKC Black Alumni Coalition sends this information as posted below:
The OKC Black Alumni Coalition (OBAC) is proud to present its inaugural Reunion Weekend, a powerful three-day celebration of Black excellence, community, and legacy in Northeast Oklahoma City. Taking place Thursday, July 31 through Saturday, August 2, 2025, the weekend features educational forums, community gatherings, and culminates in the River Bowl Classic (RBC) – the nation’s first and only Black-led and Black-centered regatta.
Launched in 2022, the River Bowl Classic is more than a sporting event; it is a movement. RBC unites alumni, students, families, and civic leaders to honor the past, uplift the present, and shape the future of Black communities in Oklahoma City through unity, innovation, and cultural pride.
Reunion Weekend Highlights
• Alumni Convocation & Empowerment Night
Thursday, July 31 at 6 PM | Page Woodson Auditorium
A multigenerational panel featuring alumni from Oklahoma City’s historically Black high schools sharing insights on leadership, education, and civic engagement in today’s educational landscape.
Panelists include: Tonika Williams (Douglass), Rev. Michael McDaniel (John Marshall), Kyndall Roland (Star Spencer), Ronnisha Wiley (Northeast), Dr. Wayne Jones (Dunjee), and Dr. Monique Bruner (Millwood).
Moderator: Vernona Dismuke
• Community Screening & 5-Year Anniversary Celebration of A Most Beautiful Thing
Friday, August 1 at 6 PM | Page Woodson Auditorium
A community screening and anniversary celebration of the groundbreaking rowing documentary A Most Beautiful Thing, followed by a special panel discussion. Panelists include: Members of the film’s original cast, director Mary Mazzio, U.S. Olympians Aquil Abdullah and Patricia Spratlen-Etem, and River Bowl Classic founder Shawntay Alexander.
Moderator: Oklahoma State Senator Nikki Nice
• River Bowl Classic Regatta
Saturday, August 2 at 6 PM | RIVERSPORT
A dynamic rowing event featuring alumni teams from Star Spencer, Millwood, John Marshall, Northeast, Southeast, and Douglass High Schools.
Youth participants will also compete in kayaking competitions, while community teams from OGE, TFCU, OKC NPHC, and the Major Taylor Cycling Club will race in dragon boat heats. Guests can expect live music, food trucks, vendors, and a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.
The event will also honor this year’s R.E.A.P. (Relationships, Excellence, Advocacy, & Placemaking) Awardees:
o Tanya Ruffin-Mustin
o Dr. Nancy L. Davis
o The Original 13 Sit-Inners, led by Clara Luper
o Vanessa Morrison
The legacy of Walnut Grove, a historic Black neighborhood once located at the site of the regatta, will be uplifted throughout the weekend, reflecting OBAC’s ongoing commitment to preserving place-based Black history in Northeast OKC.
“This weekend is a celebration, a reckoning, and a recommitment,” said Shawntay Alexander, OBAC’s Founding Executive Director and creator of the River Bowl Classic. “We are reclaiming space, honoring our legacy, and challenging individuals and institutions to invest in our youth, our schools, and our stories.”
Presented by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and RIVERSPORT Foundation, the River Bowl Classic is the marquee event of OBAC’s inaugural Reunion Weekend. The weekend expansion is presented by the Eastside DUO Fund, with additional support for the weekend being provided a range of community and corporate partners committed to education, equity, and cultural preservation.
All events are free and open to the public. To volunteer, donate, or learn more, visit www.okcbac.com.
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