Actors Bring Joy to Baton Rouge Schools with Celebration Friday

BATON ROUGE – Actors and comedians Omar Gooding and Miguel Nunez visited multiple East Baton Rouge Parish schools on Friday, January 10, 2025, as part of a new initiative called Celebration Friday. The program, introduced by the school system, aims to bring joy, inspiration, and engaging experiences to students while boosting morale.

Gooding, known for his roles in ‘Touched by an Angel‘ and ‘Smart Guy,’ and Nunez, famous for ‘Juwanna Mann’ and ‘The Return of the Living Dead,’ spoke to students at Tara, McKinley, Scotlandville Magnet, and Capitol high schools. The duo shared personal stories and promoted their ‘His Love is Amazing‘ religious comedy tour during their visit to Tara High School.

‘We want to show these kids that they can achieve anything they set their minds to,’ said Gooding. ‘It’s about spreading positivity and laughter.’

Nunez echoed the sentiment, adding, ‘Being here today reminds me of how important it is to give back to the community. These students are our future, and we want to inspire them to dream big.’

The Celebration Friday program is part of a broader effort by the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to enhance student engagement and well-being. School officials hope that such initiatives will create a more vibrant and supportive learning environment.

‘This is just the beginning,’ said a spokesperson for the school system. ‘We plan to bring more events like this to our schools throughout the year.’

Students at the participating schools expressed excitement about the visit. ‘It was amazing to meet them in person,’ said one Tara High School student. ‘They made us laugh and think about our goals in life.’

The event concluded with a Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to ask the actors about their careers and personal journeys. Both Gooding and Nunez emphasized the importance of perseverance and staying true to oneself.