The CRIER - Spring 2021

spring | summer 2021

WHY LOOKING BACK

IS THE KEY TO MOVING

FORWARD The Junior League of Charlotte Celebrates its 95-Year Anniversary, and Plans for the Next 95

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table of contents

in this issue SPRING/SUMMER 2021 30

8

22

38

14

13

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4 Letter From The President 5 Letter From The Editor 6 Meet The CRIER Staff 8 A Legacy Built on Love 11 New Partners, Same Mission 13 Provisional Spotlight 14 95 Hours of Service 16 Transfer Spotlight 19 The Queen City Welcomes JLC Transfers 20 Creating Empowered Volunteers and Community Leaders 22 Active Spotlight 24 Hidden Message - Word Search Puzzle

answers on page 27

25 26 28 30

Beyond COVID-19: Planning Today to Impact Tomorrow

32

Adjusting the Jewels in the Crown of the Queen City: The Future of Charlotte and the JLC’s Role

34 35

Future of Charlotte - JLC Member Survey

37 38

Book Review - The Big Leap

28

T heLittle

Black Dress Intiative ASK ME ABOUT MY

Dress!

16

Sustainer Spotlight A Little Black Dress Can Go a Long Way! From the Archives: Classic Junior League of Charlotte Cookbook Recipes

The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) 2019-2020 Annual Report

Crafting 101

letter from the president

a letter from

Charlitta Hatch JLC President 2020-2021 As I reflect on the state of our city, our country and the world, I am proud of the commitment that the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has made to our tri-part mission not only this year, but the last 95 years.

We have developed women leaders, engaged in difficult conversations, supported hard decisions and challenged the status quo so we can show up for each other and our community the way only the JLC can.

We had several challenges surrounding our communities during this 2020-2021 League year including, but not limited to, the global pandemic, racial injustice and inequities and difficult conversations surrounding the election, all while figuring out when we could be together safely. Yet, as Junior League women we rallied together to make our mission possible.

This year we will add 2020 to the list of historic moments that we navigated together, and I hope that you reflect upon our legacy of 95 years of service and impact with pride. This edition of The CRIER reminds us of our historic impact and gets us excited to travel the road to 100 years of service and impact to the Charlotte community and beyond. Mahatma Gandhi said “The future depends on what we do in the present.” What will you do to create the JLC of the future?

At your service,

Charlitta C. Hatch

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Photo credit @maskwithmeproject

Remember: Impossible is a mindset.

Impossible things become possible when they are done.

letter from the editor

a letter from

Kelsey Barker The CRIER Editor 2020-2021

As we reflect on the 95 year history of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC), the difficulties of this past year have emphasized our organization’s purpose. We went virtual, but not distant; we connected with each other and with the community in every way we could think of. And finally, after being closed for more than a year, in April, we reopened the JLC building.

What better way to commemorate everything we’ve accomplished and celebrate a fresh start?

In this issue, we reflect on some highlights of the JLC’s history since its founding in 1926. We take a look at multiple generations of JLC families — members whose service inspired their daughters, nieces and others to get involved. We also consult the archives for an old-school Junior League classic: vintage cookbook recipes!

Of course, we haven’t lost focus on the present. We celebrate the JLC’s impressive fundraising and voluntarism efforts this year and feature some of our fantastic members, leadership programs and more.

In this issue especially, we have an eye on the future. As Charlotte grows, how will the JLC grow with it? We look at the challenges the community currently faces and how members can help tackle those challenges through leadership and annual giving. And finally, we ask JLC members about what they see in Charlotte’s future.

I know that when we reflect on this League year 95 years from now, our strengths will shine: resilience, community and more than a little flexibility. I am so proud of what this League has accomplished in both its recent and its storied past. After reading this issue, I hope you will be too!

With gratitude, Kelsey Barker

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meet the crier

Kelsey Barker, Editor Kelsey Barker, a native of Roswell, GA, graduated from the University of Virginia in 2012 and currently works as a Senior Channel Consultant of Annuity Marketing at Brighthouse Financial. Previously, she and her husband William lived in Washington, DC, Charleston, SC and West Palm Beach, FL, before moving to Charlotte in 2019. Kelsey joined the Junior League in 2016 and has enjoyed the opportunity to experience different Leagues in all the cities where she has lived! In addition to her work on The CRIER, Kelsey and her husband founded Dogwood & Dominion, an apparel company that also supports historical preservation and environmental conservation efforts in the state of Virginia. She also enjoys cooking, painting and throwing a tennis ball around for her springer spaniel, Rowdy.

Tammy Stanard, Assistant Editor Tammy Stanard relocated to Charlotte with her husband in 2018 and is currently searching for a new opportunity to apply her vast experience in marketing. While she searches for a new role, Tammy is pursuing her passion in Interior Design taking classes at CPCC. In addition, Tammy holds a Masters in Business Administration from Michigan State University and a Bachelors in Transportation Management from the University of New Haven. In her spare time, Tammy loves volunteering with the JLC and spending time with her husband Pat, her adult step-children and especially her grandkids, Braxton, Evie, Beckley and the newest arrival due in June.

Ashel Sommermann, Advertising Sales Coordinator Raised in the Charlotte area, Ashel Sommermann graduated from High Point University in 2014 with a BA in Human Relations. She returned to Charlotte after college and currently works at Bank of America as an Enterprise Vendor Manager. Ashel joined the Junior League of Charlotte in 2019 and is currently serving her first Active year as The CRIER’s Advertising Coordinator and a member of the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center committee. She and her husband, Eric, live in the North End neighborhood of Charlotte with their two dogs, Gibbs and Theta. In addition to spending time with her family, Ashel enjoys reading, working out at Queen City Training and practicing her newest hobby, crocheting.

Shellisa Multrie, Reporter Shellisa Multrie, a native of Milwaukee, WI, moved to Charlotte in 2004. She is passionate about community service and leadership. Shellisa has served on the McCrorey YMCA Board of Managers for six years. She was recognized as a 2019 George Williams Award winner for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. Shellisa has spent the majority of her career in Learning & Development in the Financial Services industry. Currently, she is the Vice President of Company Culture & Engagement at LPL Financial. She enjoys developing other leaders in her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, and has served on each level with the current role of national appointee. Shellisa is a published author and enjoys writing editorial commentary in her free time. She also loves to cook and enjoys doing live cooking demos on YouTube and Facebook. Shellisa is a loving wife, mom of two and friend to many.

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meet the crier

Jessica Bush, Reporter Jessica “Jess” Bush, from Clarksburg, NJ, received her MA in Organizational Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University in 2008, and her BA in History and BA in Communication Studies from Tulane University in 2006. Jess joined the Junior League of Oakland East Bay in 2013 and transferred to the Junior League of Charlotte in 2015 after her move to the Charlotte area. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Jess and her husband Matt lived in California, Georgia and Arizona during Matt’s active-duty Army service. Jess is a stay-at-home mom to four young children, and previously worked onsite in Recruiting for LendingTree, Google and Safeway corporate. Jess enjoys crafting, reading, traveling and spending time outdoors with her family and their goldendoodle, Griffin.

Anna-Bryce Hobson, Reporter Anna-Bryce Hobson is a native of Greenwood, SC. She relocated to New York City and graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in Politics from New York University in 2013. She went on to work for AT&T corporate for a few years before deciding to pursue a legal career. Anna-Bryce graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2018. Upon graduation, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Laura T. Beyer of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte. After finishing her clerkship, Anna-Bryce joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in its Charlotte office as an associate in its construction practice group. AnnaBryce serves on the board of Camping Ministries of the Carolinas and the Wake Forest University School of Law Rose Council. Anna-Bryce lives with her husband, Cauley, in Matthews. She spends her free time hiking, shopping at the Matthews Farmers Market, traveling abroad and spending time with her two dogs, Moose and Salem.

Marshall McFadden, Reporter Marshall McFadden, a native of Rock Hill, SC, graduated from Presbyterian College in 2013 with a major in English and a minor in Art History. Marshall currently works as Manager and Assistant Buyer for KK Bloom Boutique. In 2018, she joined the Junior League of Charlotte in hopes of meeting other like-minded women and serving the Charlotte community. In her free time, Marshall enjoys trying out new restaurants, going on long weekend getaways and spending time with her King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Conroy.

Mattie Cross, Guest Contributor Mattie Cross, originally from Atlanta, GA, received her MS in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Alabama in 2016, and her BS in Communication Disorders from the University of Alabama in 2013. Mattie joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2016 and transferred to the Junior League of Charlotte in 2021, after living in Charlotte for 3 years. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Mattie and her husband, Paul lived in West Hartford, CT. Mattie is a Speech Language Pathologist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and is expecting her first baby in August! Mattie enjoys spending time in the Georgia mountains at Lake Burton with family, walks on the greenway and trying new Charlotte restaurants with friends.

Alicia Morris-Rudd, Guest Contributor Alicia Morris-Rudd is a Charlotte native and 25-year member of the Junior League. This year Alicia is the advisor to the Education & Training Council, a member of the JLC Fundraising Task Force and a member of the Women of Color and Allies leadership advisory team. Alicia works for UNC Charlotte in development and community engagement and has served on many local and area nonprofit boards including Meredith College, Good Friends, Care Ring and the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Charlotte, among others. Outside of work Alicia enjoys spending time with her family and her “doghter” Wrigley and being by the water (ocean, lake, river) every chance she gets.

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member highlights

A Legacy Built on Love By: Anna-Bryce Hobson In its 95 years, the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has been many things to its members. It has been a place where women can come to volunteer their time. It has been a place of solitude where members can gather after a long day to socialize and feel supported. Members have come together to support a common good or to lift up a fellow member in need. Many lifelong friendships, sisterhoods and business relationships have been forged during hours spent at the JLC building and in community placements.

And, on some rare occasions, JLC members have even had the good fortune of serving alongside their grandmothers, sisters, daughters, mothers and aunts. Indeed, one of the greatest blessings of having a 95-year-long history is that generations of families have had the opportunity to be League members – passing down shared experiences, memories and traditions from one generation to the next. By “passing-the-baton” of service onto those that come after them, JLC members are building a legacy built on family ties, and more importantly, a legacy built on love. One such family is the dynamic duo of Mary Tinkey and her daughter Lauren Tinkey.

Two “Lifetime” Members Mary Tinkey has been a member of the Junior League for the better part of 20 years.

Upon relocating to Charlotte in 1993, Mary almost immediately joined the JLC in hopes of finding community, friendship and volunteer opportunities. She knew very little about the city of Charlotte and thought that the JLC would introduce her to her new home.

Today, Mary is what many of us think of as a “lifetime” member who has worn many hats within our beloved League. She has served on the Fund Development Council, Human Resources Council, the WearHouse committee and LeaguePrint committee. She was League president in 2005 and is now an active Sustainer. In addition to serving the JLC, Mary also managed to juggle her work and then, ultimately, raise three children. It is no wonder that Mary’s two worlds, mother and League member, often overlapped. Mary recounts hours spent printing invitation and announcement orders during her time on LeaguePrint; she would be packaging materials and feeding her baby at the same time.

Some might call this multitasking at its finest! Mary says the League has given her the perfect place to challenge herself, personally and professionally. In taking on finance positions, Mary was outside of her comfort zone. The JLC gave her a safe haven to grow her own financial acumen. Personally, Mary was able to continue her love for service without sacrificing her time with her kids. Unbeknownst to Mary, she was raising servant-leaders through living a life of service – bringing her children to the League office, volunteering the entire families’ time at service events and making service a lifestyle rather than an obligation.

While Mary’s daughter, Lauren is in her Provisional year with the JLC “on paper,” she is no stranger to the League. Lauren, too, is a “lifetime” member in her own right. Lauren and her siblings spent many days during their childhood at the JLC building, playing games, doing arts and crafts and watching as their mother gave of her time and talents.

Over the years, Lauren had many opportunities to volunteer alongside her mom. She met her mom’s JLC friends, heard stories about committee obligations and watched as Mary 8

took on the all-important role of President in 2005. Of course, one of the mother-daughter pair’s favorite memories is a speech Lauren gave at a dinner celebrating the League year and her mother’s service as President. Lauren was 11 and, by her own account, not one to stand up and give speeches. Neither Mary nor Lauren can quite put their finger on what motivated Lauren to speak – but speak she did.

Lauren admits she was nervous but overcome with pride in all that she had watched her mom accomplish during her year as President.

In truth, although Lauren was young, she was already learning the importance of voluntarism and leadership from her mom. Lauren notes that her mom’s involvement in the League motivated her to join the JLC. Like Mary, Lauren also wears many hats. Not only is Lauren a registered dietitian and nutritionist, but she also works for Windy O’Connor at her space at Camp North End. Lauren is very impressed with how the JLC navigated this past year in the “COVID-era.” Despite Lauren’s Provisional year being anything but normal, she has made the most of it. She’s still had the chance to get involved with her small group, and she got the opportunity to serve with her mom back in the fall as they packaged meals for families at Reid Park Elementary. One other perk of joining the League has been Lauren’s ability to form her own relationships with her mom’s friends. Having heard many of their names and meeting them as “Mary’s daughter,” Lauren says it has been a lot of fun to reintroduce herself as a fellow League member and form her own friendship with them. Lauren is happy the JLC building is back open.

After all, it was practically her second “home” growing up!

We Are Family Mary (left) and Lauren (right)

According to Mary, the JLC has given so much more to her family than she could ever have imagined back in 1993. It has given her lifelong friendships. In fact, it was a JLC connection that ultimately led Mary to her current job as events coordinator at Camp Blue Skies, a 501(c) (3) dedicated to providing recreational and social opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. JLC members have even helped Mary’s children with job interviews and applications. Mary and Lauren’s story is just one of the many testaments to how the JLC has allowed generations of families to serve alongside one another and, in turn, be served by this organization.

The JLC allows members to not only grow themselves through service, but also grow their relationships with loved ones – related or otherwise. The hours spent serving together are indeed the catalyst to some of the most precious memories many League members share with friends, colleagues and “soul sisters” in the League. In reality, the Tinkey’s story showcases that JLC members are all part of a larger family: a multi-racial, multi-generational, multilingual family of women. The League is comprised of women with different talents, strengths, backgrounds, upbringings and stories. It is a family built on shared experiences and a shared vision for a better community.

And, with each new member who joins the JLC (or is born into the League like Lauren), the League family grows in numbers and its legacy lives on in the hearts and homes of people all over Charlotte.

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community partner highlight

New Partners, Same Mission By: Anna-Bryce Hobson During the January General Membership Meeting, the members of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) approved three new community partners to partner with in the 2021-2022 League year. Those new partners included Alexander Youth Network, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool and Heart Math Tutoring. They each share a connection with the JLC’s Community Focus Area for 2018-2023, School Readiness for children from birth to fifth grade in Mecklenburg County’s priority zip codes.

These partnerships will allow JLC members to further the JLC’s mission in meaningful ways. Here is a little more about each new community partner’s mission and the ways the JLC plans to partner with them this year.

Alexander Youth Network

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool

Alexander Youth Network, which has been a previous JLC partner, is an organization committed to providing quality professional treatment to “children with serious emotional and behavior problems.” It offers a network of 13 different mental health programs and services for youth in the Charlotte area. It has served more than 10,000 children and families since it was founded in 1946. Alexander Youth Network provides programming, in-home services and outpatient care to children in need of stable relationships, consistent mentoring and day-to-day treatment.

The Charlotte Bilingual Preschool was launched in 1999 in response to the need for preschool options for Spanishspeaking children from “economically marginalized families.” It is housed within the Hickory Grove Elementary School Annex and has approximately 150 children in its program. The Preschool targets a very prevalent issue within the Charlotte community. Nearly a quarter of Charlotte’s school aged children are Latinx and many of them struggle with gaining access to early education programs. Since research shows that children without a preschool education enter Kindergarten 12-14 months developmentally behind their peers, Latinx children are disproportionately impacted.

This setback at such a young age has been tied to long-term barriers on economic mobility. The Charlotte Bilingual School is an organization that increases access to early education programs for Latinx children, improves their family engagement in these programs and trains more Latinx educators. Ultimately, it prepares Spanish-speaking children for success in school by providing a superior dual-language, multicultural early childhood education.

The organization offers a plethora of programs ranging from psychiatric residential treatment and therapeutic foster care to programming that helps with grief and loss, attention problems, anger issues, bullying problems and self-esteem.

Alexander Youth Network also offers trauma assessments, psychological evaluations and rapid response crisis homes.

This year, JLC members will have the opportunity to assist in planning and hosting special events as a committee.

These events could take the form of planned celebrations or recreational activities like arts and crafts, yoga or gardening events. JLC members will also have the opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with children, be it in the form of weekly lunch or dinner outings, tutoring or classroom buddy arrangements.

This year, JLC members will serve this organization by supporting programs like supply drives and delivering materials to the Preschool’s families. They will also provide virtual homework assistance and in-person classroom assistance with reading books, facilitating activities and preparing materials.

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Behind every successful woman are other successful women.

Being confident and believing in your own self-worth is necessary to achieving your potential.

-Sheryl Sandberg

Heart Math Tutoring While Charlotte Bilingual Preschool addresses language barriers and Alexander Youth Network addresses behavioral barriers, Heart Math Tutoring is focused on addressing those barriers that exist in the education process itself, mainly the nearly 49% of Charlotte children who lack proficiency in math upon entering the fourth grade. Heart Math Tutoring, which was also a prior community partner, recognizes that without intervention at an early age, children who struggle with math will continue to show declining test scores and grades. This will cause their learning gap to continue to widen. The organization focuses on giving children the tools they need to understand numbers rather than memorize math facts. Heart Math Tutoring’s goal is not only increasing proficiency in the subject matter itself, but also teaching children problem-solving and critical thinking skills, confidence and perseverance. With a stronger math foundation, its participants have the tools they need to excel in math and science courses well beyond their elementary years. Heart Math prioritizes students who may not have access to resources for private tutors.

Over 90% of their students are people of color, reflecting the demographic makeup of high-poverty concentration schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

JLC members who are placed with Heart Math Tutoring this year will be paired with one to two students for one-on-one tutoring sessions. The goal of these partnerships will be for the tutor and student to build a relationship and complete an activity based, structured curriculum that will help in the student’s mastery of crucial math skills.

The JLC’s three new community partners offer a variety of opportunities for JLC members to get involved and impact the lives of children.

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member highlights

Provisional Highlight: Lauren Jones Lee By: Anna-Bryce Hobson Lauren Jones Lee is no stranger to change. She’s lived in four different cities, traveled to 46 states and 15 countries and left a successful career in the nonprofit sector to pursue her passion for educating young children. By choosing to maintain a “can-do” attitude, Lauren was able to settle into a new city and new career as well as join the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) during a year unlike any other.

From Philanthropy to Teaching Lauren studied education in college, but after graduation she pursued a successful career in the nonprofit sector. In 2017, she and her husband relocated from their home state of Texas to Wisconsin. There, she worked for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley. Lauren ultimately decided to trade in her role working with children in the nonprofit sector for an opportunity to engage with them in a classroom setting. When her husband’s job brought them to Charlotte in 2020, Lauren began her teaching career as a third-grade teacher at Union Preparatory Academy (UPA). What a crazy year to start teaching!

COVID-19 forced Lauren and her colleagues to begin teaching fully remote in March of 2020. On top of it being Lauren’s first year as a teacher (which undoubtedly comes with its fair share of challenges), she also had to adapt to teaching young children virtually. UPA transitioned back to in-person learning this past fall – but with several adjustments. Lauren now has a hybrid classroom with about 80% of her students participating in person and the remainder participating virtually. Her classroom is outfitted with an Owl camera that follows sounds in her classroom, allowing her virtual students to experience lessons and story-time and even hear the questions posed by their peers who are attending class in person. Lauren is one of the many unsung heroes that has had to adapt and overcome in her profession due to COVID-19. This new teaching model surely makes lesson planning, class participation and student engagement more difficult, but Lauren says she is encouraged daily by the ways in which her students have been able to learn and grow in a socially distanced setting. Lauren even joked that moving to a new city in this pandemic meant that many of her first Charlotte friends were primarily seven and eight-year-olds!

A New Way to Give Back The transition out of the nonprofit sector left Lauren looking for a way to stay engaged and involved in her community. Lauren knew that she wanted to rekindle her love for philanthropy and find ways to surround herself with likeminded women in her new city. She had several friends who were members of various Junior Leagues throughout the country and learned about the League during her time in Texas. Once in Charlotte, she knew the JLC would be the perfect outlet for her to explore the city, meet ladies with a similar passion for service and connect with local businesses. Through the JLC, Lauren hopes to learn more about the Charlotte area. She is excited to make Charlotte her home! Lauren hopes that she can connect with fellow JLC members by serving alongside them in furtherance of the JLC’s goal: getting the children of Charlotte “school ready,” whether that school is in person or virtually.

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a JLC feature

95

Hours of Service

by: Marshall McFadden

The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has served and impacted the Charlotte community for 95 years. In celebration of this milestone, the JLC initiated their 95 Hours of Continuous Service Campaign that ran from November 15 to November 19 of 2020. The campaign appropriately kicked off on National Philanthropy Day. For 95 hours straight, JLC members worked to make an impact in the Charlotte community.

During these 95 hours, JLC members volunteered with various community partners and other nonprofit organizations. They made flashcards for Classroom Central, created bookmarks and donated books to Promising Pages and wrote letters of encouragement to local teachers. Members also packed up food for 250 families and staff at Reid Park Academy, sorted through items at Second Harvest Food Bank and put together snack bags for Bright Blessings USA. Other projects included organizing the library at Sugar Creek Charter School, creating video messages for ParentChild+ and making videos for the children at Thompson Child and Family Focus.

During this campaign, JLC members learned so much about their community partners and how much these organizations appreciated their support.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Myers, who volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank, said “I learned that while Second Harvest does have employees, their volunteers allow them to save a lot of money on labor which is how they can afford to provide food to so many people in our community. So without volunteers from the JLC and in the community, many of our neighbors would go hungry.”

After volunteering at Reid Park Academy and Thompson Child & Family Focus, Caroline Will spoke on her experience and said “After participating in these projects, especially at Reid Park Academy, it is humbling to see how much need there is in our community, and how by working together we can truly make an impact. To be able to see the people we were helping and how many lives we touched was amazing.”

Since 1926, the JLC has donated over $13.7 million in grants and special projects and provided more than 1.6 million volunteer hours to the Charlotte community.

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252 JLC members collectively

gave 449 volunteer hours to the

Charlotte community

16 members assembling hygiene

and snack kits for Bright Blessings

48 members writing words of

encouragement for teachers and creating flashcard sets for Classroom Central

8 members organizing the library at Sugar Creek Charter School

37 members donating books

and creating bookworm buddies for Promising Pages

29 members creating video messages of encouragement for ParentChild+

27 members organizing and separating

items at Second Harvest Food Bank

34 members creating short videos teaching

a skill or telling a story to kids ages 6 to 9 for Thomson Child and Family Focus

53 members supplying $5,000 worth of

food to pack meals for 250 families and staff at Reid Park Academy A diaper drive culminating in over $2,000 worth of diapers (that’s for Smart Start

8640 diapers)

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member highlights

Transfer Spotlight: Chiedza Hooker By: Jess Bush Chiedza Hooker always knew she wanted to join the Junior League. Growing up in Winston-Salem, Chiedza had a lot of teachers and knew many older women who belonged to the League. These women influenced her life and inspired her to want to join the Junior League of Winston-Salem (JLWS) in 2018 after graduating from Wofford College in South Carolina.

Transferring to the Junior League of Charlotte and the Little Black Dress Initiative Chiedza and her husband moved to Charlotte for his job. Matthew is clerking for one year with North Carolina Business Court Judge Adam M. Conrad before going into practice.

Early in this League year, Chiedza participated in a Transfer orientation at Freedom Park where she got to meet some of the other new Transfers. It was a very hot Charlotte summer day, and following social distancing guidelines, it was a small group meeting outdoors. The meeting ended up being very pivotal for Chiedza because only a small group of women attended and she was able to better connect with them. She learned that they had a lot of shared connections. Chiedza explained that the “Junior League is a great connector for women and breaks barriers no matter where you are since it’s a shared mission and purpose.”

This year, Chiedza was part of the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) committee.

The Initiative is a week-long awareness campaign that coincides with International Women’s Day. Chiedza explained that the “program encourages you to be an advocate where you are, and is there to bring awareness to poverty in our community.” No matter what your occupation, you can wear a black outfit and support the program, which brings awareness to the plight of poverty, and shows that some people don’t have the option to buy a new dress or outfit when they need one.

Chiedza previously participated in the Winston-Salem League’s inaugural LBDI, so was thrilled to continue to be involved in the campaign here in Charlotte.

Working on Moderna’s Vaccine Trials Chiedza’s job has also shifted a lot over the past year. Chiedza works for Javara, a clinical research company that assisted Moderna in their clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine. Chiedza was able to transfer her job to the Charlotte location and pivot from marketing to patient engagement for the Moderna Phase 3 clinical trials. She’s in the clinic every day doing vaccine trial research, working long but worthwhile hours. Chiedza says it was an exciting day when the FDA announced that the Moderna vaccine was approved. During her time with Javara, Chiedza watched the Charlotte location go from three to about 25 employees, all involved in the big team effort of enrolling almost 500 patients in the clinical trial. She was able to help make a world of difference and be involved in an amazing experience that she says she “never could have imagined in a million years.”

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Her Pandemic Wedding and The New York Times Chiedza and her now husband, Matthew, got engaged in August 2019 and had originally planned for a large wedding in May 2020 with 200 guests. However, after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and with the safety restrictions in place, Chiedza and Matthew decided to cut down the number of attendees to 15 people, including themselves. They moved the venue outside and settled on a courtyard at the school Chiedza grew up going to, since it was beautiful and had a special place in her heart. Chiedza explained that even with all the changes, it was a “great day surrounded by people that loved us, and we wouldn’t change that day even with all the craziness going on in the world.”

Their wedding story was featured in The New York Times. Chiedza has always loved reading The New York Times, especially the wedding announcements, and so she told her husband that they should submit their announcement to see what happens. Since it’s very competitive to have an announcement in the papers’ wedding section, they forgot about it until they received a call asking to interview them about their wedding story. The article chronicles their inspiring love story and ability to pivot during unprecedented times.

Reflecting on the Past and Looking to the Future Chiedza’s message is that “the past year has been so challenging for everyone” but wants everyone “to do their best and stay positive; there is light at the end of the tunnel and to just remember to have hope in this season.” She says that hopping on the phone or a zoom call to interact with people you normally connect with – a loved one or friend, helped her immensely during this time. Moving to a new city during a pandemic, the JLC has helped her connect and make new friends.

Chiedza is planning on exploring her career options in the future. She was accepted into the MBA program at Wake Forest for Fall 2021, but doesn’t want to limit herself. After transitioning out of marketing she realized there is so much more out there to do. But one thing is for sure, she plans on continuing her time in the Junior League and staying connected.

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Revamp Financial Coaching JANICA BUCKLEY

kj

KATRINA JOURNEYS Coach Career+Life+Health

FINANCIAL COACH & JLC MEMBER

Email: janica.buckley@gmail.com Website: www.revampfincoach.com

Cur rent Sustainer and for mer Director of Staff for the Junior League of Char lotte, Katrina is also a S omatic Coach committed to helping others find their path.

Helping women take control of their finances and find financial freedom.

Through her business, Katrina Jour neys, Katrina partners with her clients to explore new directions in thinking, feeling and moving through the wor ld.

Thank you to the JLC Legacy Foundation The JLC Legacy Foundation is a critical part of the JLC’s ability to sustain financial giving to community and special program needs.

Active members and sustainer trustees are appointed to sit on the Foundation Board and have a critical role in managing the health of the current endowment funds, as well ensuring the long-term strategy and growth of these dollars to support the JLC.

Katrina’s wor k is Trauma-Infor med and integrates S omatic Experiencing ® techniques into her practice.

Interested in starting your journey and clearing the obstacles from your path?

Contact Katrina Whelchel, CPC, MA today at KatrinaJourneys@gmail.com or call 704.244.7000, for a free consultation.

KatrinaJour neys.com

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Past President JLC, current Board of Director, and Sustaining Board member

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The Queen City Welcomes JLC Transfers One of the many member benefits of the Junior League is the ability to transfer your membership to any one of the 292 Leagues across the country and abroad. This year the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has members who have transferred from all across the country to find their new home in the Queen City and the JLC. Take a look!

JLC Transfer Demographics

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17

Transfers

Cities

States

“In my time as a Transfer, I have been able to get to know so many amazing women during the fun events our advisors planned for us throughout the Queen City. Finding a friendly face at the next GMM will be a breeze!” - Jessica Swanson “The JLC Transfer program was great! I loved being able to connect with a group of women who were new to Charlotte and had similar interests. Being paired with a Transfer Advisor who understood JLC requirements and could make connections was another awesome benefit.” - Erica Dozier

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leadership

Creating Empowered Volunteers and Community Leaders

By Alicia Morris-Rudd

A core tenet of The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc’s (JLC) mission centers around developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Training is essential for leadership, growth and continued learning, and a required component of League membership. Through an annual program of training and education, covering a range of workshops, seminars and events, the nearly 1,600 members of the JLC make a significant impact on our community through what they have learned.

The JLC’s trained volunteers take what they have learned in the League to extend their influence in business, philanthropy and advocacy. The benefit of Junior League voluntarism and personal development impacts our community long after active membership.

“The experience and confidence I have gained in the League led me to take on leadership roles within the League and in other organizations. The development of others has become a passion and I want to serve as a resource for others in this organization.

- Paris McAdoo, Incoming Education and Training Manager Members gain experiential training through their volunteer roles each year, serving in one of five areas: Community Impact, Fund Development, Communications, Education and Training and Membership. Additionally, the JLC’s Education and Training Council delivers multi-faceted, relevant and flexible trainings structured to create empowered volunteers and community leaders.

Paris McAdoo

“2020 forced a new design on a leadership framework and demanded a new focus on how to truly lead people across all industries. During this pandemic, the JLC took our leadership development programs and demonstrated how professional leaders should pivot and lead people through a crisis. It is not always about how a leader leads in the good times, but also how a leader leads in challenging times. The leadership training curriculums were adjusted masterfully to still execute and prepare the JLC members to be professional leaders no matter the challenge.”

- Nicole Smith, Education & Training Council Manager

Nicole Smith

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LEADERSHIP TRAINING New Member Training:

Leadership Training Programs:

New Members, both Provisionals and Transfer members, are immersed in training from the beginning. They meet as a group and have monthly small group meetings to learn about all aspects of the JLC. Additionally, Provisional members have the option to complete a Capstone Project with a focus in the community. As of this League year, the Provisional course has also added a diversity and inclusion training component to the program.

Members who are interested can participate in any of our formal training programs to develop a specific area of skills.

General Membership Meetings: These meetings provide JLC members with more robust content around the inner-workings of the League. Members have a unique opportunity to learn about various relevant topics and community needs from prominent guest speakers.

Committee reports, event promotions and important JLC updates from the leadership team are also shared.

Training Tuesdays: The Training and Development committee offers monthly training opportunities to members on a variety of topics including developing leadership skills, mindset growth, poverty simulations, finance, community engagement and issue awareness. This year’s programing has centered on the theme of #Growth. This committee also oversees our annual LEAD (Leadership Engagement and Development) Saturday for all incoming League leaders.

A key benefit of JLC membership is the selection of low- to no-cost seminars, award-winning workshops, well-known speakers and other training opportunities offered throughout the year.

• Leadership Development Institute (LDI) supports the JLC’s goal to help members become great leaders both in the League and in the community by strengthening their leadership skills. LDI Participants attend eight indepth workshops, as well as optional community service and social engagement opportunities each month. LDI is open to JLC members and the community.

• Get On Board is a five-session training program designed to identify and develop leadership skills. Whether you are new to voluntarism, are interested in serving as a volunteer leader or are already a board member seeking to enhance your skills, this event is designed for you! This program is open to JLC members and the community.

• Public Policy Institute (PPI) is an Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) award-winning training program designed to help League and community members deepen their understanding of advocacy and public policy issues. The PPI curriculum teaches participants advocacy skills on the local, state and national levels. Participants also learn from city council members, state officials and community leaders who share their experiences of advocating for change. This training program typically has two sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. PPI is open to JLC members, area League members and community partners.

Training and Education Information and Questions: Training and Education is a valuable part of the Junior League experience. If you are interested in serving as a Keynote Speaker, offering a location or serving as a nonprofit partner, please contact us at info@jlcharlottte.org.

21

member highlights

Active Spotlight: Kathryn Anderson By: Jess Bush

Journey to Charlotte Kathryn grew up in Greensboro and lived in Boston, Chapel Hill and Washington D.C., before returning to North Carolina to attend graduate school. Kathryn received her Masters in IndustrialOrganizational Psychology and Human Resources Management from Appalachian State before settling in Charlotte.

After finishing her education, Kathryn realized she wanted to move to Charlotte in order to be close to her family living in Greensboro, while also living in a city where she felt she could build a life. Her desire to put down roots and be a part of the community is what drew her to the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC).

Kathryn currently works in Fort Mill as an HR Business Partner for Lash Group (part of AmerisourceBergen), an organization that provides patient services support to pharmaceutical companies.

She’s been a part of the team for over three years and enjoys being in Human Resources since it’s a great fit for her passion and personality.

Joining the JLC Kathryn joined the JLC as a Provisional in the 2017-2018 League year, after hearing the perspective of her childhood friend Ashley Hansen Morris, current JLC Human Resource Manager. Ashley and Kathryn have been friends since the 4th grade and kept in touch even while living in different cities. Through Ashley, Kathryn met other members of the JLC who were very like-minded and wanted to help give back to the Charlotte community. She found that the women were all there for different reasons, and she was exposed to a variety of opinions and perspectives from women in different professions and stages of life. Kathryn also realized that many members of her professional network were in the JLC. She loved the idea of, in her words, “supporting a common cause to give back to our community and also invest in ourselves through the professional development the Junior League offers.”

Membership Role

Kathryn says her Provisional year was a really great experience and rang true to what she heard from other JLC members. She says the volunteer work was some of her favorite activities. With Kathryn’s HR passion and her positive experience as a Provisional, she became a Provisional Advisor for the Plaza Midwood area her first Active year. She says she got a great group of women and enjoyed being there to help them navigate their first year in the League. Kathryn said her first question to ask was “How do you want to be supported?” since everyone is a member of the JLC for different reasons. She wanted to tailor her support to each individual and their reason for being connected to the JLC.

When the opportunity for a position as the Vice Chair of Membership opened up, Kathryn raised her hand to step into the role. She will be stepping into the Chair role next year. By working alongside Whitney Feld, current Chair of the Membership Advisory, Kathryn has learned about the inner workings of the JLC and where the vision is to go from here. She’s found it fascinating to understand the different experiences from the diverse women in the JLC. She says her role as a member advisor helped her get a holistic understanding of what the League offers and helped her navigate her members’ goals, aligning with

22

Kathryn Anderson (left) and Ashley Hansen Morris (right)

her HR experience. She says it’s been a great experience and she really appreciated the way JLC leadership has pivoted and embraced virtual opportunities. Kathryn believes that her vision next year will be how the League can process after the pandemic is over, keeping members in mind. She’s learned a lot from this year and wants to continue to build a community while also maintaining each member’s individualized experience. Kathryn feels the JLC’s mission of school readiness has been more important than ever this year because of the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the community.

Kathryn desires to eventually have a senior leadership role in the JLC to have an even greater impact. Part of why she loves the JLC is because there are so many other committees and placements, which provide the opportunity to have an individual experience that can change and flex with you when you need to go into a different direction in life. She thinks she’ll learn a lot next year since Human Resources and training is a passion of hers.

Kathryn fully believes that you get what you put into the League. And there are so many opportunities to connect, learn, develop and give back to the community. “The beauty of it is that you get what you put into it,” Kathryn

explains. “There is no judgment; you can make it your own to navigate the League and create your own path.

People respect other members’ individual desires and what they want to get out of the League experience.”

Kathryn advises to “remember to communicate what you need,” explaining that the JLC “is so understanding and real about making sure that expectations are reasonable, with the sole passion and intent to retain members and value their contributions, whatever they are.” Kathryn emphasizes that “we have smart and talented women in our network and I would love to bring all those great perspectives to the table.”

Favorite thing about Charlotte Kathryn loves where Charlotte is headed. Growing up in Greensboro, she felt there was a perspective that Charlotte was a big city with no identity, something she now feels has changed, as every community here is unique with its own creativity and opportunity. Kathryn loves the North End, where she lives with her husband, and she enjoys “getting to see all the amazing artistic voices and perspectives that are slowly shaping this city in a really great way.”

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word search puzzle

Hidden Message - Word Search Puzzle

by Tammy Stanard

This word search puzzle has a hidden message in it. First find all the words in the list. Words can go in any direction and share letters as well as cross over each other.

Once you find all the words, start copying the unused letters (starting from the top left) into the blank spaces below until you fill it up. Then you will reveal the hidden message!

S E R V I C E T L C A P S R F

C N S B V P R C L Q V P S J I

E E C V X O X J D L R G E W V

L T N O P N O L E U W M R Z E

E Y X E A V O A A B A Z D P E

B F R Z M D D I U U T W E W C

R I E E I E P A T Z N N J U O

A V C X R L D A U A I N V O W

T E R S B U T O E N D K A N R

I Y H X K Z F W E L M N Z J S

P E M W T R Y S W S I I F O X

G A E U C B I T U R R C B O F

annual

bigleap

dress

five

foundation

future

JLC

leadership

ninety

report

service

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 24

N I M M R U H T Q X G B U M H

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

N R R K X C D O T Q I D H G U

I E A H M C N V Y A S Q R P V

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

a JLC feature

Beyond COVID-19: Planning Today to Impact Tomorrow

By Cara Tucker, Planned Giving Coordinator, Fund Development Council If this last year has taught us anything, it is that time is precious. Health is precious. Life is precious. So much was taken away one year ago as we hunkered down for “two weeks to stop the spread.” Two weeks turned into months.

Over these months, some of us lost loved ones that we will not see again in this life. Other loved ones, we may still be waiting to hug for the first time in more than a year.

We acutely yearn to hug and kiss, to gather, to travel, to eat out, to volunteer, to hit the gym and so much more without fear. We have missed our family and friends, our work colleagues, our community members. While there is hope at our fingertips with the vaccine, that does not negate the inestimable toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on our society, on us as individuals, on our children.

But, if the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has taught us anything, it’s that you—yes, you who are reading this now— have the power to positively impact our community right now and for the future.

For 95 years, the JLC has provided women with many opportunities to volunteer and to help Charlotte be better each day for the people, especially the children, who call it home. Over these many years, the JLC has developed the potential of countless women in our community—women who have taken their gifts and skills to enrich their homes, their schools, their places of worship, their neighborhoods, their city. Since 1925, the JLC has volunteered more than 1.6 million hours in the Charlotte community and invested more than $13.7 million in contributions to the Charlotte community. There have been many meaningful projects resulting from these investments, including the Council for Children’s Rights, Reid Park Academy Community School, Discovery Place and the Levine Children’s Hospital Family Resource Center.

Continuing the JLC’s important mission and work for future generations will be all the more critical to the Charlotte community as we audaciously hope and plan for not only recovery but our community’s future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, we encourage you to invest in the long-term financial sustainability of the JLC by making a planned gift to the League. A planned gift may be an outright contribution to the JLC, such as cash, personal property or real estate. It may also be a planned contribution, such as a bequest in your will, a charitable gift annuity or even naming the JLC as a beneficiary of retirement assets.

The JLC website includes helpful tools to assist you in organizing information for your estate planning efforts, including a comprehensive Resource Planning Guide and a Memorial Gift Request Form.

To impact the JLC’s important mission and work today, we also encourage you to make a charitable contribution to the JLC Annual Fund, which provides monetary support to the League’s community partners that work to make sure kids are school ready. The Annual Fund also supports the creation of member training and leadership opportunities.

Contributions to the Annual Fund help us make a difference in the Charlotte community.

Let’s not wait a single moment before taking action to cement our deep personal commitment to the continued success of the JLC’s mission to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information on how you can plan today to impact tomorrow, visit https://www. jlcharlotte.org/support/planned-giving/.

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member highlights

Sustaining Member: Lisa Tomlinson By: Marshall McFadden

How long have you been a Junior League member?

I joined the Junior League 40 years ago at age 22.

In the old days of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC), members secretly sponsored new members.

I was invited to join the JLC in 1980. I visited three members’ houses for coffee and a visit, I guess to see if I might fit in. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but they accepted me!

However, my husband, John and I were married that year and moved to Durham. I transferred to the Junior League there and was a Provisional. We moved back to Charlotte in 1982 and I started with a community placement as most do when becoming an Active.

What is your current placement in the JLC? My current position is on the Board of Directors.

This is my second year and before that I served on the Management Team as an Advisor.

I got “roped into’’ being on the Sustainer Board during the 2015-2016 League year, which was so much fun -- re-engaging with so many I knew over my Active years. It just warms my heart to take time to do fun things together and take trips! Then as President of the Sustainers the next year, I had the opportunity to recruit more of my friends and acquaintances back -and the story goes on!

How has your membership in the JLC impacted your personal and/or professional life?

My experience in the League gave me the training to be a leader at my church. Christ Episcopal Church was so involved in outreach in the community, so I could recruit, manage and train leaders as we did in the JLC. Professionally- after being President of the JLC during our 75th Anniversary year, I was recruited to work full time for a fashion company and I could use my Junior League contacts all around the U.S. to network. It is a known FACT that if you qualify as a leader in the Junior League, you can handle most anything.

How has the Junior League changed since you first joined?

The JLC has diversified. As I commented 20 years ago in the Charlotte Observer, we are not your Mother’s Junior League. This means we embrace those who want

Sustainer Board 2019 (Lisa is middle front)

What has been your favorite placement in the League?

I had so many. They included the year I got to talk to elementary school children about the harmful effects of smoking, leading the Drug Free High School Graduation at Carowinds and an all-time favorite was talking to children of alcoholics (while parents were at AA or NA) about the disease and how it was not their fault. And I loved the Membership Development Committee and Nominating.

Sustainer Lunch

Sustainer Cocktail Party 2019 26

(Lisa is in the middle)

It is a known FACT that if you qualify as a leader in the Junior League, you can handle most anything.

Word Search Puzzle

with Hidden Message answers S E R V I C E T L C A P S R F

C N S B V P R C L Q V P S J I

E E C V X O X J D L R G E W V

L T N O P N O L E U W M R Z E

E Y X E A V O A A B A Z D P E

B F R Z M D D I U U T W E W C

R I E E I E P A T Z N N J U O

A V C X R L D A U A I N V O W

T E R S B U T O E N D K A N R

I Y H X K Z F W E L M N Z J S

N I M M R U H T Q X G B U M H

P E M W T R Y S W S I I F O X

G A E U C B I T U R R C B O F

N R R K X C D O T Q I D H G U

I E A H M C N V Y A S Q R P V

One Store All Batteries to volunteer and be trained. We also don’t have secret sponsors anymore.

What’s your favorite thing about Charlotte?

Two Charlotte-Area Locations 8605 Concord Mills Blvd.| 704.979.3430 303 E. Woodlawn Rd. | 704.377.1131

There are so many ways to learn and be involved. Just start with one volunteer effort and continue to grow.

I recently volunteered at Classroom Central and WOWit was so fun to pull bags of supplies for teachers to pick up and to meet our young and fun members of the JLC. 27

a JLC feature

A Little Black Dress Can Go a Long Way! By: Shellisa Multrie What’s in a dress? Well, a lot! Each year, the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) makes giving back a priority during the week-long Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) campaign. LBDI raises awareness of the effects of poverty here in Charlotte and raises money for the JLC’s mission. This was the sixth year for this annual fundraiser. The fundraiser acts as a conversation starter for participants to share about the JLC’s mission and focus area.

Participants wear the same black dress five days in a row as a way to strike up interest and conversations about the effects poverty can have on women and children and their ability to access resources and professional opportunities that can change their economic mobility. In addition to wearing the dress, participants also post daily pictures of their ensembles along with information on social media in the hope that their personal and professional networks donate to the cause.

LBDI can impact recruitment as well. Four years ago, I noticed Active member Shelby Ray Allen participating in the campaign, and that prompted me to not only donate, but also ask about the JLC. I admired her commitment and the creative way that the campaign raised awareness of the effects of poverty. Shelby introduced me to The Junior League of Charlotte and became my sponsor to join.

This is Shelby’s second year on the Little Black Dress Initiative committee and her fourth year participating.

Here’s how Shelby not only met but exceeded her goal this year. “I talk to people about the JLC’s community partnerships and share how their donation will help support the overall mission. I receive a ton of positive reactions. I am totally surprised by the people that I only know virtually that donate to my campaign.”

This year, LBDI partnered with Michelle Managan Cameron, Chair of the JLC Bright Blessings committee, to participate in a community service project during the week of the annual event.

Both committees worked together to make snack bags for Bright Blessings.

LBDI Chair Finnessa Sandy shared her pride in the participants that raised nearly $38,000 to benefit the JLC’s community partners. “We had an amazing and dedicated committee who really stepped up this year,” Finnessa shared.

“I am so proud of what we accomplished even though we were smack dab in the middle of COVID-19!!!”

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T heLittle

Black Dress Intiative ASK ME ABOUT MY

Dress!

The 2016-2017 Focus Advisory Board Subcommittee recommended, and the membership approved, that the JLC adopt for 2018-2023 a Focus Area of Economic Mobility with a primary emphasis on removing barriers to school readiness. The recommendation was based on community needs and research including the report finding Charlotte last (50th out of 50) in economic mobility – with children born into poverty in Charlotte having only a 4% chance of making it out of poverty; the Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force and its Leading on Opportunity Report; information and statistics from the Mecklenburg County Health Department; research and recommendations from the Council for Children’s Rights; and membership input and feedback from various surveys and events including the Cocktails and Conversations series events. The goal of the Economic Mobility focus area is to make a measurable impact to help move the needle from being ranked the worst large city in the country for Economic Mobility, by targeting and serving areas of greatest need.

Did you know: 40% of 3rd graders in Charlotte-Mecklenburg school can read at or below grade level?

40%

of North Carolina children live in poor or low-income households Imagine what that percentage might be when we factor in the pandemic.

Did you know: 15.2% of those in Charlotte are living below the National poverty line and that just includes the neighbors we know about.

Imagine what that percentage might be for those that lived in Tent City and how much that area grew as a result of the pandemic.

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recipe

From the Archives: Classic Junior League of Charlotte Cookbook Recipes

by Marshall McFadden In 1942, the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) published its first cookbook, “Old North State Cookbook,” and in 1964 its second, “Cooking Mother’s Goose.” In 1969, the Cookbook Committee borrowed from both these cookbooks the recipes they considered the most outstanding and published their third cookbook, “The Charlotte Cookbook.” In honor of the JLC’s 95th anniversary, I looked back at some of the featured homes and menus and chose some delicious recipes to showcase. Enjoy these delicious treats that stand the test of time!

Summer Luncheon On the Terrace Cheese Souffle

Recipe by Mrs. Dennis Myers

8 slices buttered bread, cut in fourths 2 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 cup American cheese grated

1 teaspoon salt 4 eggs

Remove crusts from bread and cut in fourths. Place half the bread in a greased 2-quart casserole and cover with half the cheese.

Alternate with remaining bread topped with cheese. Beat the remaining ingredients together and pour over the bread mixture. Let set in the refrigerator, covered, 12 to 24 hours. Bake in a pan containing a small amount of water at 350 degrees for one hour. Tastes like a cheese souffle, yet can be made a day ahead. Serves 8.

Waldorf Salad 2 large red apples 1 small can pineapple, drained 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Recipe by Mrs. Charles Warner 1/2 cup seedless grapes 1/4-1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup diced celery Lettuce 1 banana

1/2 cup raisins Dash of salt

Wash, peel and core apples, cutting into medium sized pieces. Cut pineapple into small pieces. Cut grapes in half. Slice banana into small pieces. Add all ingredients together, using amount of mayonnaise desired. Serve on crisp lettuce. Serves 6.

Strawberry Meringue Cake 1 package yellow cake mix (2-layer size) 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 4 egg yolks 2 cups whipping cream

Recipe by Mrs. John Campbell 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup water 4 egg whites

1 cup orange juice 1 teaspoon grated orange peel 1 quart fresh strawberries

Combine cake mix, orange juice, water, egg yolks and orange peel. Beat for 4 minutes in mixer.

Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Beat egg whites with tartar to soft peaks.

Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until stiff. Spread meringue evenly over batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely. With flexible spatulas, carefully remove layers from pans, keeping meringue side up. Set aside a few berries for garnish. Slice remainder. Whip cream with ¼ cup sugar. Spread ⅔ of the whipped cream over meringue on bottom cake layer. Arrange berries on whipped cream. Add top layer, meringue side up. Top with remaining whipped cream and whole berries.

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Luncheon Around the Pool Gazpacho Soup

Recipe by Mrs. Henry Pierce

4 cups chicken bouillon (canned or cubed) Handful of herbs (parsley, chives, basil) 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 lemon, juiced

1 mild onion, cut in very thin rings 1 green pepper, cut in very thin rings 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped Salt, pepper, paprika

Mix in pitcher or bowl. Refrigerate overnight. Before serving, add a cup of sliced unpeeled cucumber. Serve chilled.

Salmon Roll

Recipe by Mrs. Herbert H. Browne, Jr.

1 small can salmon, drained 1 small package cream cheese

2 tablespoons lemon juice salt and pepper

2 tablespoons grated onion 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

Mix everything together and chill. Serve with crackers or toast.

Marinated String Bean Salad 2 packages frozen French style string beans 1/2 cup French dressing (see recipe below) 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped Spanish onion

Recipe by Mrs. J Overton Erwin 6 slices cooked bacon 4 to 6 hard cooked eggs 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped

Salt to taste 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Cook and drain beans. Prepare French dressing as listed below. Mix drained beans, French dressing, and onion together and let stand 24 hours. Before serving, drain bean mixture and add the remaining ingredients. Serves 6.

French Dressing 1 cup olive oil or salad oil 1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Put all ingredients into jar with tight top. Shake very thoroughly or mix in blender.

White Grapes Divine Seedless white grapes

Recipe by Mrs. John Scott Cramer Rum

Brown sugar

Sour cream

Cover grapes with brown sugar and let stand a short while. Marinate with rum and chill overnight.

Just before serving, add a generous spoonful of sour cream to each individual serving. The amount used of each ingredient is up to the cook.

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a JLC feature

Adjusting the Jewels in the Crown of the Queen City: The Future of Charlotte and the JLC’s Role By: Shellisa Multrie One part of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc’s (JLC) tripart mission is to improve the community. Because of this, the League and its members naturally have their eyes on the future of this city. To make sure the League has the pulse of the city in mind, League leaders have created a relationship with Charlotte’s Assistant City Manager and city planner, Taiwo Jaiyeoba. Jaiyeoba moved to Charlotte in 2015 and was hired as planning director for the city of Charlotte in January 2018. He has been working on the city’s first comprehensive plan in decades, including some important updates to land use regulations.

When Jaieyoba talks about Charlotte, there is a clear hope for the future and pride in work that is coming from his office.

Where it all began “I grew up knowing that I wanted to do something with people,” recalls Jaeyeoba. And while he thought that might mean the police force or being a pilot, he studied geography initially because his uncle was an expert in the field.

The Evolution of the Crescent and the Wedge Jaieyoba began to notice some of the ways that Charlotte could use some help before he started working for the city. He noted the differences between Providence and Beatties Ford Roads as he drove the streets when traveling around Charlotte. He noted that there seemed to be a clear gap that needed to be bridged.

Many talked about the “crescent and the wedge” that existed in the city referring to voting patterns. Over time, it expanded to describe income, school performance, race and food deserts, and now, during the pandemic, even the COVID-19 infection rate can be illustrated this way.

Many have described the coveted area of south Charlotte as a wedge or pie slice shape that expands from Uptown. This is typically the area where the rich, affluent and mostly white communities are located. In this area are more parks, job access, grocery stores and high performance schools. The rest of Charlotte, which creates sort of an arc shape around the wedge, is more racially mixed, significantly poorer and does not have THE “ARC” AND THE “WEDGE” some between of the same that the wedge.

Charlotteare Douglasnoted Internationalin Airport is included within the It’s arc Comparisons the arc and wedgeconveniences geographies are shown geography, however, because here are no residential units in that below, and depicted for the data sets that follow. Average data for NPA, it isat excluded from averages for data sets such as housing, voter the arc and wedge can mask significant differences among NPAs a look quite striking when you take the visual depictions. participation, and household proximity to grocery. within each of these larger geographies, as noted for several of the data sets.

“My first day of class, the instructor asked, ‘What is the city for? The people.’ That statement let me know that this was the right place for me.” During his studies, he interned with a town planner in Nigeria and benefited from a host of other opportunities over the last 26 years in Botswana, Sacramento, California, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Atlanta, Georgia and now here in Charlotte.

“I came to Charlotte in 1999. I don’t remember a lot about it but, when I came back in 2011, I couldn’t believe how neat and organized uptown was. When the company where I worked moved me here in 2015, I was so happy because I knew the city was still growing. I could have moved anywhere, but I chose Charlotte because there was so much diversity. I was also taken by the city skyline.”

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Graphic Source: Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan BUILT CITY EQUITY ATLAS

Introduction | 15

The Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan used data to outline a Built City Equity Atlas that evaluated how equity is distributed in Charlotte, the process for planning land use and development patterns. This Built City Equity Atlas even covers parts of the city that the Arc and Wedge do not.

Bright spots on the horizon When I asked Mr. Jaiyeoba about what he is most proud of, he was quick to talk about the work that is done along Beatties Ford Road. “I’m so proud of those investments,” he shares.

Under the leadership of JLC Sustainer and Mayor Vi Lyles, there have been great strides to bridge the gaps in opportunities and development. He firmly believes that wherever you live, you should have access to amenities.

What is also inspiring is that Jaieyoba genuinely believes that even if you don’t agree, you can work to find a solution. That spirit of collaboration and working through differences is going to come in handy as he works to change longstanding land use plans to try to solve affordable housing. It becomes more important to do things like forming a task force to address disparities in Charlotte, which currently ranks 50th out of 50 for economic mobility according to a study led by Harvard professor Raj Chetty. As a response to this study, the 2016-2017 Focus Advisory Board Subcommittee recommended, and the membership approved, that the JLC adopt a 2018-2023 Focus Area of Economic Mobility with a primary goal on removing barriers to school readiness.

Another positive note is the anticipated growth of our city.

Charlotte, the 15th largest city in the nation, is also one of the fastest-growing cities. City leaders expect another 385,000 people will move here by 2040. Companies such as Centene, Amazon, Robinhood and Arrival, just to name a few, keep making plans to add jobs in Charlotte. City leaders want to make sure that everyone benefits from our growth — not just the wealthiest people.

The pandemic uncovered different needs for city planning The pandemic has been tragic because of the loss of lives, jobs and more. Almost everyone in Charlotte has been affected in one way or another.

“When planning, we had to take a step back to look at how our plans can be sustained even in a health crisis. We started thinking about our plan and how to work with Mecklenburg

County Health Director, Gibbe Harris - what are the things that make sense to see in a land use plan? Some of the considerations in a public health crisis include wide sidewalks, managing overcrowding in one part of town or another and of course affordable housing, which has become even more important in this economic crisis. There has to be a plan for healthy, active lifestyles and access to healthy food. Lastly, public spaces now need to be designed for social distancing so people can enjoy balconies for example, but still be six feet apart. These were all brought to the surface during the pandemic. Something quite unique happened during the pandemic. We held community meetings before, but once we had to start having them virtually, attendance skyrocketed. Being creative with our format grew the audience to more than 6,000 people.”

What’s on the horizon for the Queen City, and how can organizations like The Junior League of Charlotte play a part?

“One of the things that impressed me about the JLC was the volunteerism. I often say to run for office and have a platform that is about people.” Jaieyoba states. He acknowledges that everyone cannot run for office, but one important thing that we all have is a voice. Jaieyoba shared that we all often hear a lot from people who oppose things, but not always from those who are in support. He thinks it is important to lead demonstrations for what we are for and not just protest what we are against.

“We have to be connected and in contact with our city leaders.”

Jaiyeoba encourages JLC members and all in the Charlotte community to get familiar with the comprehensive plan and help educate others on what the plan could mean for the future of Charlotte.

Jaieyoba shared that it is important that we all work together and get the work done. Affordable housing, which is included in the plan, is a big way that we can come together. What can we do as a city and a county to help those who need it the most? When we think about the homeless and former tent city residents, we need to realize that most people do not choose to be homeless. They often need support to transition and comprehensive plans to help.

Jaiyeoba closed by sharing, “I’m proud of this city. We will always have healthy tension but that lets us know where the fault line is. Our positions allow us to do more. If you see something, have concerns, reach out to me at taiwo@charlottenc.gov.”

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a JLC feature

Future of Charlotte - JLC Member Survey What does Charlotte’s future look like?

What do you think Charlotte will look like in 95 years?

For the 95th year of the Junior League of Charlotte (JLC), we’ve been looking back, but also looking forward. The CRIER surveyed the JLC membership on what they thought the future has in store for Charlotte and for the Junior League.

“A completely different city - I’m sure very futuristic. We’ve always been ahead of the game.”

In 10 years, do you think Charlotte Saleswill: 0% : Stay about the same 30% : Increase in size by 25% 40% : Increase by 50% 30% : Double in size

Stay the Same

“I hope the city is clean and sleek, and is a major economic and transportation hub for the country.”

“More diverse and hopefully major progress in the evolving of dismantling the historic framework that prevented us from fully embracing members from all walks of life.”

Increase by 25%

Increase by 50%

Double in Size

Of the following, what would you like to see the city focus on in the next 10-20 years?

90% : Affordable housing 50% : Preserving and developing green space 20% : Sustainability and recycling efforts 60% : Mass transportation 40% : Education 20% : Other

“Historic preservation, especially of Black communities” “Equity”

What do you think Charlotte will look like in 5 years?

“It’ll continue to grow at a rapid pace - same as it has been since the late 90s/early 00s.”

“Hopefully more diversity of economy. Finance alone won’t cut it.”

“There are a lot of really smart people working on this question every day here in Charlotte but the answer will depend on what we - the voters and taxpayers - decide is best for our community.

Vote!!”

“A more diverse city hopefully that embraces that everyone deserves opportunity and a chance at life.”

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“My hope is that we have found our way back to a place where we listen to each other and respect each other - work together to determine what’s best for everyone in our community.”

What do you see yourself doing in the JLC in the next 10 years?

“I’ve been active for 25 years - I expect to be actively engaged for the next 25!”

“I would like to serve as JLC President in that timeframe, if not AJLI President.”

“A variety of placements, including leadership.”

What would you love to see the JLC accomplish in the future?

“Regaining a stronger place in the CLT nonprofit resource community — be one of the top three organizations people think to support through their time, talent and treasure.”

“We are a nonprofit run by volunteers so we will always have the opportunity to work on different aspects of the organization.

And our mission is to develop community leaders, so if we continue to do that, JLC members will continue to impact their work in for-profits, nonprofits, government agencies, the school system and everywhere else that impacts the lives of those in our community.”

“Continuing to grow in numbers and service” “Significantly increase cultural competence of leadership; we serve a very diverse community and owe it to them to be supportive of their issues and advocate for them if we want to stay relevant.”

annual report

The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) 2019-2020 Annual Report

Who We Are Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) is an organization of nearly 1,600 Charlotte-area women. The League is a diverse group who welcomes all women who support the League’s mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. In addition, League members serve on numerous boards and coalitions throughout the region, as well as lead a variety of business, civic and nonprofit organizations.

• The JLC is a member of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI), which is comprised of 292 Leagues throughout the U.S., Great Britain, Mexico and Canada, with a collective membership of more than 155,000 women.

• Founded in 1926, the JLC has provided more than 1.6 million volunteer hours and $13.7 million in contributions to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

The Journey of a Lifetime Provisional – First year of membership in the League. Provisionals are focused on gaining exposure to and a greater understanding of the League’s community involvement, partners and fundraising.

Active – Continue training to become effective volunteers and civic leaders. Actives focus on community partners, running the League effectively, communicating our story and fundraising.

Sustainer – Upon achieving Active requirements, members may transition to Sustainer status, remaining involved in League work, fundraising and advising partners and projects.

Leadership Development Training is at the heart of the JLC’s mission to empower women as they build stronger communities. Leadership programs include Get on Board, the Leadership Development Institute (LDI), and the Public Policy Institute (PPI). Additional monthly Training Tuesday workshops focus on a variety of professional, leadership, health and personal growth topics.

Community Projects & Placements JLC run community projects: - Advocacy and Public Awareness - Kids in the Kitchen - Big Shots Saturdays - Project Development & - Done in a Day Evaluation JLC community partnerships -

Alexander Youth Network Allegro Foundation Baby Bundles Center for Community Transitions Charlotte Community Service Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center

Digi-Bridge Heart Math Tutoring Promising Pages Second Harvest Food Bank Sugar Creek Charter School

Advocacy Since 1926, the JLC has been committed to advocating for the issues and causes of importance to our members, including the children and families of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The JLC has two committees dedicated to advocacy and public awareness. The JLC’s Advocacy and Public Awareness Committee, in partnership with the JLC Public Policy Institute, educates JLC members, community organizations and policy-makers on issues facing the communities we serve. Our advocacy efforts fall into the following categories: – Draft policy recommendations – Act as JLC liaisons with city, state and federal legislators – Host voter registration drives and Meet the Candidate events Women of Distinction Awards Founders Award: Betsy Conway Outstanding Service Award: Barb Pellin Community Partner of the Year: Reid Park Academy Provisional of the Year: Mallory Moyer Spirit of the League Award: Briana McNeil Transfer of the Year: Allison Broemel Sustainer of the Year: Dawn Liles In-League Placement of the Year: Project Evaluation and Development Community Placement of the Year: Digi-Bridge

Mission Statement The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, to developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Vision Statement The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. will be a leading force in improving the lives of children and families in the Charlotte community.

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment Statement The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

Community Impact The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) commits financial and volunteer resources to community agencies and projects that focus on the most critical needs of the Charlotte community. From June 2018 through May 2023, the JLC will partner with our community to ensure that all children are school ready by focusing on health and educational needs of children from birth to fifth grade in priority areas of Mecklenburg County.

Thank you!

Thank you to our volunteers who have donated their time, skills and funds to support the JLC’s commitment to promoting voluntarism, developing leaders and improving communities. Thank you to our individual and corporate donors who have allowed us to increase our impact in this community. We are grateful for the generosity of all who support the Junior League of Charlotte.

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JLC Board of Directors 2019-2020 President President-Elect Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer Nominating Chair Board Secretary Sustaining Advisor Members at Large

Tricia Wilson Magee Charlitta Hatch Beth Bechhold Shannon Vandiver Emily Reichs Ashley Soublet Mary Tinkey Eugenia Brown Julie Brown Allyson Colaco Kelly-Ann Leverone Claire Magee Ferguson Amy Rhyne Lisa Tomlinson Elizabeth-Ann Wieber

JLC Management Team 2019-2020 Executive Vice President

Beth Bechhold

Executive Vice-President Elect

Jamie Mills

Vice President of Finance

Martha Bordogna

Nominating Vice Chair

Monique Perry

Risk Manager

Julie Spahn

President-Elect

Charlitta Hatch

Communications Manager

Spencer Collins

Assistant Manager

Tramayne Osbourne

Community Impact Manager

Rhonda Blasingame

Assistant Manager Education & Training Manager

2019-2020 Annual Report Financials: To view our complete 2019-2020 audited financial statements, please visit www.jlcharlotte.org.

Breakdown of Expenses by Category

Breakdown of Expenses

by Category

I will have to change the it looked when I uploade

Fundraising $59,211 Management & General $91,194

Program Services $424,219

Total Revenues and Support Revenue and Support

Other $17,840

Contributions & Fundraising $109,501

In-Kind Legal Services $23,657

Investment Income $163,281

Membership Dues and Fees $352,574

Breakdown of Expenses vs. Reven Yearly Net Assets = $92,229

Expenses vs. Revenue Yearly Net Assets = $92,229 Revenue 54% Expenses 46%

Amber Shannon Whitney Hill

Assistant Manager

Nicole Smith

Human Resource Manager

Allie Hanson

Total Net Assets Year Beginning vs. Year Ending

Assistant Manager

Ashley Morris

Total Net Assets Year Beginning vs. Year Ending:

Helen King

■ Ending ■ Beginning

Fund Development Manager Assistant Manager

Ending

Bginning

Brittany Wright $2,895,473 Total Net Assets

$2,803,244

Total Revenues and Support - $666,853 Net Assets End of Year - $2,895,473 These numbers reflect the 2019-2020 audited financial statements of The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. which comprise the financial position as of May 31, 2020, and the related statement of activities, functional expenses and cash flows for the year. The JLC’s financial statements were prepared using the accrual basis of accounting. All significant receivables, payables and other liabilities are reflected. The JLC is tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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book club

Book Review - The Big Leap Take the Leap - Operate in your genius zone! by: Shellisa Multrie Do you ever wonder if you were meant for more? Are you still trying to figure out what you want to be when you “grow up”? Are you busy with lots of things that you are just good at but not great at? Well, me too! Even though the pandemic may have amplified those feelings for me, if I am honest, I was starting to think about my life’s work even before the world went on one big timeout. Most of us are good at lots of things, but we often struggle with prioritizing where our time and commitment truly belongs.

We are often overwhelmed with balancing our passion and purpose with other commitments and responsibilities. The truth is, even “superwomen” have their moments when they need to recalibrate. I recently read The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks. This short read really provided some great strategies for evaluating what you are on Earth to do and moving you to operating in your so-called “genius zone.”

There are several key messages in this book, but what I found to be most important was how you feel about yourself and your life. One of the early reflections in the book centers around your willingness and desire to feel good about your life. There are several thought-provoking questions throughout the book that challenge you to evaluate how you think about your life and what you really believe you deserve. For example, it is common to experience disappointment, sickness or negative emotions in the periods following great triumph or happiness in your life. Hendricks explains that he believes that this often has everything to do with whether or not we feel like we deserve the happiness or success we achieve. It seems that sometimes we can sabotage our own success because of our beliefs and fears.

“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks

The author further argues that there is great reason to begin to operate more in your “zone of genius.” According to Gay, there are four zones including the zones of incompetence, competence, excellence and zone of genius that we tend to move in and out of from day to day. He explains that we would do well to identify our zone of genius and increase our commitment and involvement in things within which we are uniquely suited. I found this to be very accurate in my own life and I have worked hard since reading to truly lean into what I am gifted to do. It doesn’t mean that everything else goes away, instead it means that I focus my energy and time into my genius and right-size my attention and commitments to things that I am not good at or just as good at as anyone else.

Another great highlight is the author’s description of “Einstein time” and how you can manage your time better once you fully understand where it comes from. For everyone who feels like there are not enough hours in the day for all of the things you want and need to do, this chapter will be enlightening.

This book was a great pick me up and I think it is a great add to your “must read” list!

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crafting

Crafting 101 By: Jess Bush With spring in bloom and summer weather coming soon, now is the perfect time to decorate with some brightly colored DIY crafts. I always enjoy crafting on rainy days, waiting for sunshine and the opportunity to display the craft and admire the hard work. This year, I decided that joy and happiness are my inspiration, so I will be demonstrating how to make a modern floral wreath and colorful beaded garland. The wreath is perfect for a front door or to bring a bit of whimsy into an interior space. The colorful beaded garland is the perfect accent for a display shelf of photos, the top of a mantel or a wrap arranged stylishly around a vase.

When thinking of crafting, it can get overwhelming, but fear not - these are easy DIY projects that you can modify for your own style. Below is a list of all the items you need, but feel free to adjust items to your own design if the creative urge hits you. Pinterest can be a wonderful place to start and a never ending source of inspiration, as my husband has learned. But one person’s Pinterest fail is another’s Pinterest art, and in the end the goal is, as Marie Kondo says, “to bring you joy” or a smile. I hope these crafts bring you joy, or inspiration for a project of your own.

Happy Crafting! Most of these supplies can be purchased at a local craft supply store or online at Amazon.

Modern Floral Hoop Wreath Supplies you’ll need: - 14 Inch Large Metal Macrame Gold Craft Hoop Ring - Artificial flowers of your choosing (I chose Vintage Artificial Peony Silk Flowers) - Artificial floral greenery - Floral Wire - Floral Wire Cutters - Hot Glue I love how simple yet elegant the hoop wreaths look. You can buy a gold colored macrame hoop, silver or a matte iron look. You can also spray paint the hoop ring if you’d like a different look, just make sure to use paint made for metal. I personally am going with a gold craft hoop that is 14 inches. Macrame hoops come in a variety of sizes so it’s up to you on size that fits your space or door.

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1.) Once I have the hoop ring, I lay it down on a table. Because it’s metal and can scratch, I recommend putting a towel or mat underneath.

2.) Next, I lay the flowers on top of the wreath to get an idea of how I want them to look. I’m going for simple yet elegant so I pick only a few flowers. This is an area where everyone can determine what looks best in their design.

3.) Next, I use the wire cutters to trim the floral greenery stems to the desired length. Then I cut some floral wire with the wire cutters and wrap the floral wire around the stems and floral greenery itself, keeping a bit of branches out to give dimension. This is creating the base for where we will hot glue the flowers.

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4.) After your floral greenery is attached, cut the flowers close to where the stem meets the back of the flower, ensuring that the flower is still attached. Then take the hot glue and apply to the back of the flower and press the flower down onto the greenery in your desired location. Hold for 15 seconds or until the glue has cooled a bit and the flower is securely in place.

5.) Repeat the last step with your additional flowers and any leaves you’d like to add.

6.) Once the glue is dry and the flowers are in place, your wreath is complete. You can add an optional piece of tied ribbon or twine to hang the wreath from, or you can choose to hang the hoop directly on a hook or nail for a more modern look.

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Colorful Beaded Garland Supplies you’ll need: - Unfinished Natural Solid Round Wood Beads - Fabric dye - Toothpicks - Bowl - Embroidery thread, string or hemp - Hot Glue - Scissors - Sewing Needle (optional)

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The beaded garland is very versatile. You can leave the beads the neutral wood color, paint the beads, stain the beads with wood stain or dye the beads with fabric dye in a similar method to Easter eggs.

Since spring and summer colors bring me joy, I’ve decided to use the RIT fabric dye method.

1.) First, you need to choose the length of the beaded garland. I decided to display the garland on a decorative shelf and wanted the total length to be 24”. I measured out my hemp string to be a few inches longer at 28” to allow for the overhand knots and to cut down any extra length at the end.

2.) Next, I measured 28 beads in total for the string. I decided on four RIT dye colors, yellow, pink, purple and teal, and divided the total number of beads into 4 groups of 7 - one group for each color dye I chose.

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3.) For dying the beads, I chose RIT dye, but you can choose any brand. Following the package directions, I mixed one color dye with water in a disposable bowl. I did this four times, one bowl for each dye color. You can combine dyes to make your own color or lighten the color by adding additional water to dilute the dye. Add the dye sparingly or add additional water until you get the desired color hue. I then placed the beads in the dye for roughly 10 minutes. Make sure to move the beads within the bowl to cover the wood with the dye. I occasionally stirred to keep the dye uniform. You can let them soak for a longer time for darker colors or shorter time for lighter shades.

4.) Scoop the beads out of the dye with a spoon, then use a toothpick to transfer the bead from the spoon to a paper towel. Let the beads dry on the paper towel.

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5.) Take the string and tie a knot on one end. I did a simple loop knot, where you create an O and pull through. This knot is formally known as an overhand knot if you want to Youtube it. The knot is a guide to know where to stop the first bead. Once the dyed beads are dry, string one onto the hemp string and pull toward the overhand knot, stopping the first bead on top of the knot itself. Take the hot glue and secure this bead in place by squeezing a small amount of glue into the hole on each side of the bead. Hold in place for 15 seconds or until cooled.

6.) Next, start stringing the beads onto the hemp string in the pattern of your choosing.

A sewing needle may be helpful here to help string the beads. Once you add the last bead, tie an overhand knot as close to the last bead as possible, trimming any extra string with the scissors.

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7.) Then take the hot glue and secure the final bead in place by again squeezing a small amount of glue into the hole on each side of the bead. Hold in place for 15 seconds or until cooled.

8.) You can add tassels or embellishments on the ends of the garland as well using hot glue.

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9.) Display and admire!

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9

CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL

CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL A CO-ED BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GRADES 9-12. FOUNDED IN 1921 LOCATED ON 125 BEAUTIFUL ACRES ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER IN VIRGINIA

ISTCHURC HR

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C

ADMISSION@CHRISTCHURCHSCHOOL.ORG | 804.758.2306 ext. 122

SC H OL O

2020 BEST SCHOOLS

Top 15%, Best College-Prep High Schools in America

N NICHE

®

IN-PERSON CLASSES | ATHLETICS & MORE | NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED LEARNING SKILLS PROGRAM TUITION ASSISTANCE PACKAGES | ROLLING ADMISSION | NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SAILING TEAM

“I am grateful to the Junior League of Charlotte for the experiences that I have received. Through my service and volunteerism, I gained the skills that enabled me to be selected as the first female chair of the Board of Governors at Christchurch School, a school that is celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary. As the Chair, I have initiated a strategic planning program that will lead the school into it’s next century.

Lynne Tatum Little Christchurch School, Board of Governors Junior League of Charlotte, Sustainer member

I encourage you to consider Christchurch School, one of the best college-prep schools in America. Our son is a 2014 graduate and I can’t say enough wonderful things about the curriculum and the experiences.”

1332 Maryland Avenue Charlotte, NC 28209 704.375.5993 info@jlcharlotte.org jlcharlotte.org

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CHARLOTTE

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