Presents
1st Annual Scholarship Essay Contest
For All New Orleans High School Students
Deadline Date- December 28, 2008
Essay Topic: “How does crime in New Orleans Affect your life? If given the opportunity to stop the violence, what would you do?” Essays must be 250- 500 words typed and mailed to 2700 Chartres St. New Orleans, La 70117
- 1st Prize $500
- 2nd Prize $250
- 3rd Prize $100
Dinerral Jevone Shavers, Sr. was born March 19, 1981. On December 28, 2006 he was unintentionally shot and killed. He left behind one son, Dinerral Jevone Shavers Jr. and a host of relatives and friends. Dinerral’s death angered a community and sparked a movement which led to the January 11th march on City Hall. His name and legacy is the driving force behind the anti-violence organization Silence is Violence. Dinerral received his education from Alfred Lawless and Fredrick A. Douglass High Schools . He also attended The New Orleans Center for Science and Math and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. At Douglass, Dinerral served as an active member in the marching band and as drum major. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he was also a member of the band.
Dinerral later worked as a Civil Sheriff Deputy, founded D’s Diamond Car Detailing, and taught within the New Orleans Public School System. Dinerral and fellow band member Joseph Williams were playing in a band called The Little Jazzmen when tuba player Bennie Pete recruited them for what would soon become the Hot 8 Brass Band. Dinerral, a founding member of the Hot 8, was known by his band members as a prolific song writer with a knack for UPLIFTING lyrics. His song “Get Up,” featured on the band’s recent CD “Rock with the Hot 8,” was about making things better in this world. “My people keep the peace, keep the murder rate down,” he wrote. Dinerral loved the city of New Orleans and its deep musical culture and was dedicated to restoring the city through music. Dinerral appeared in Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke.” He left a final mark of his love for music and his city when he became director of the first ever Marching Band at L.E. Rabouin Senior High School in late 2006.
The Dinerral Shavers Educational fund was established to support and carry out the dreams and aspirations that DINERRAL left behind. There are three main focal points of THE DSEF:
1. The number one priority of the DSEF is the welfare of Dinerral Jevone Shavers Jr., Dinerral’s only son. A Trust Fund has been established for Dinerral Jevone Shavers, Jr’s college expenses. DJ was six at the time of his father’s murder and has already begun to fill his father’s shoes by performing with the Hot 8 Brass Band. DJ made his musical debut at the Inauguration of the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund, held in March of 2007. He later shocked the crowd as he performed with the Hot 8 at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. DJ is currently studying music at the weekly Youth Music Clinics sponsored by Silence is Violence. He has not only taken on the snare drum like his father, but has already added the trumpet and the trombone to his skills.
2. Shortly before his death Dinerral founded the first ever L.E. Rabouin Senior High School Marching band as well as marching units. In his short tenure at Rabouin, Dinerral made a huge impact; becoming a friend to many, a father to some and a role model to all. The Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund is proud to support the L.E. Rabouin Senior High School Marching Band. We intend to honor DINERRAL'S legacy and keep his dream alive by making certain that this band keeps playing music
3. The final goal of the DSEF is to sponsor, donate, and pay tribute to programs honoring his name, as well as institutions that helped to shape him into the wonderful, gifted and talented musician that he was. To this end we plan to make a special donation to Douglass Senior High School Marching Band, as well as sponsor initiatives such as the Youth Music Clinics and programs for Peace by Silence is Violence which are held in his memory and his name.