Letter from our President

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Something very exciting is happening at the historic Langston High School campus. The alumni of Langston High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, along with many friends and supporters from the community, are coming together with the City of Johnson City to preserve the historical campus of Langston High School, which served our Black community from 1893 to 1965. The Langston Educational and Arts Development Corporation, or LEAD, is the group spearheading this effort with local leaders.

LEAD seeks to preserve the cultural relevance and heritage of the Langston High School site and hopes to utilize the building as a multicultural community center for educational and artistic programs. Once the renovation is complete, LEAD members are committed to providing youth programming focused on computer science, theatrical arts, and mentoring in the facility. Further, the site is a highly-visible structure that serves as a gateway to the downtown Johnson City community, which can substantially impact improvements to downtown aesthetics and redevelopment.

Our organization is in a unique position to bridge a gap in our community’s development. Johnson City and the surrounding region as a whole lack a focal point and home for multicultural programs and endeavors. Having such a hub for multicultural programs helps to create a welcoming environment for the increasing diversity in our population. Having a welcoming environment for diverse populations is increasingly vital to economic development, and is especially illustrated by our regional employers’ need to retain a diverse workforce.

LEAD’s goal is to accomplish a capital campaign of $500,000 for the renovation. We are reaching out to numerous partners for help in making this facility a sustainable reality so the integrity, legacy and historical value of Langston High School campus can be preserved for the posterity and enhancement of the community. We ask you to join us in this noble project. Please help us show the commitment of our community by making a donation.

Thank you for your interest and support of our project.

Sincerely,

Michael Young
Langston High School, ‘65
President, LEAD

Carla Forney
Langston High School, ‘65
Campaign Chair, LEAD