7 minute read
New Partnership with Sugar Creek Charter School
by Shellisa Multrie
This year, the Junior League of Charlotte began a new partnership with Sugar Creek Charter School (SCCS). Led by Chair Lisa Newth and Vice-Chair Shamira Youkhaneh, this placement has offered a unique opportunity to support a community school with deep Charlotte roots. Chair Lisa Newth shared, “Actually getting to work with the kids is so rewarding. It’s a very supportive environment and they (SCCS) make it happen for their students.”
Sugar Creek Charter is a year-round, public charter school for over 1,700 students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade, all of whom are considered minorities. This north Charlotte school and its 250 staff members just celebrated their 20th Anniversary, and there is much to celebrate. SCCS’s motto is “Whatever it takes” and that motto has been adopted and upheld by JLC members since the JCL began its involvement.
Richard Russell, elementary school principal at Sugar Creek Charter School, is a fan of the services JLC members provide the students. “The impact and work of the Junior League has been invaluable to our students,” raved Russell.
Last fall, the JLC hosted the first Family Night Out event about mental health called, “Creating a Winning Hand” -- an event the school counselor had wanted to host for years. The goal was to get the families to connect, especially since many Sugar Creek parents work multiple jobs and do not have time to participate in school events or even the PTA. Principal Russell noted how the committee worked hard to ensure the night was special for both parents and students.
The Creating a Winning Hand event focused on supporting students and families with different Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Families were educated on the downstream impacts of trauma, food insecurities, and other common issues to help them find ways to thrive. The program provided an opportunity to discuss how not to let ACEs become generational issues. The students participated in games on communication, selfexpression, and made crafts to give them a way to talk and express themselves at home.
Committee member, Aaliyah Jenkins, had this to share about her experience with the Family Night Out event:
“Working this event made me realize what the true meaning of volunteering was. I realized that volunteerism was not only about my selfsatisfaction but was about being able to bring a positive impact to your community and the members within it. The majority of the children enrolled at SCCS belong to low-income stricken families. Being able to provide families with resources needed to break generational curses felt so gratifying, because now there is hope for our youth. We will see them succeed, we will see them grow to be the best version of themselves and we will see them help and fight to make our community better. ”
One of the JLC Provisional small groups also supported Sugar Creek Charter as their Capstone Project. Camese Noel shared, “When we visited for a tour, we learned the school library was converting from a mobile unit. My small group needed a Capstone project so this was a good opportunity to help.” Her group saw the need and worked diligently to sort the books by grade level and category to assist in the upcoming move.
JLC is proud to partner with Sugar Creek Charter School and look forward to its continued partnership in the future.
As Junior League Members, we appreciate YOU, the Actives, Provisionals and Sustainers, and all that the JLC does in our community.
Jane Grosse NC REALTOR® 704. 607. 7075 jane@helenadamsrealty.com jane.helenadamsrealty.com
We hope you will contact one (or both) of us for your real estate needs. We have been involved in the JLC & our community for 30+ years, and we’d be proud to partner with you in finding the abode of your dreams or we can help market and sell your home.
Previously served as: -Past President -Sustainer Past Presidents -Follies Chairperson
Lisa Tomlinson NC REALTOR® 704. 641. 1798 ltomlinson@helenadamsrealty.com lisatomlinson.helenadamsrealty.com
Recently, I sat down with Laurie Allen, Director of Human Resources at Carrier Enterprise, to get her take and valuable tips for job seekers! Laurie has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources including talent acquisition, organizational development, compensation, employee relationship, and training. She has seen it all!
Make Your Resume Count First things first, have someone else look at your resume. Nothing is more annoying than a resume with grammatical errors or vague language. You should really refine your resume for the job you are seeking. Keep in mind the company size, scope of the role, etc. Don’t be shy about listing your volunteer work as well. Show your commitment by including offices or ways you have led in the organization. Second, make sure you have a LinkedIn profile. Laurie added, “All of my hiring managers go right to LinkedIn to look at candidate profiles...make sure LinkedIn and your resume match.” Add a LinkedIn link on your resume to make it easy to find you. Third and most importantly, do not embellish your resume. Be prepared to answer detailed questions about the results you are touting on your resume. If you cannot speak to it, do not put it on there.
Work your network For more seasoned job seekers who find themselves back in the job market, it is a good idea to network with a diverse group of ages, experience and perspective. It is important to keep up with past coworkers, professional associations, and other connections you have. Most importantly, have your elevator speech ready. Be able to talk about yourself in a results focused way. Don’t be shy about sharing a key accomplishment. Your resume may get you noticed but you have to be able to sell yourself on the initial conversation.
RESUME AND INTERVIEW TIPS
FROM LAURIE ALLEN
by Shellisa Multrie
Practice interviewing It is a great idea to have someone practice interviewing with you. Many people prepare for face-to-face interviews but they do not take as much time to prepare for the phone screen. Phone interviews can be short or they can last an hour so the more you prepare for this part, the better. You can also Google behavioral interviewing questions to practice answering. Many companies incorporate these types of questions so advance preparation is always helpful.
Do your homework and ask good questions Get very familiar with the job description. Research the company, its performance and competitors. Have good, detailed questions prepared. It is a good idea to use what you have heard from the interviewer. A few great examples might be: • How do you define success? • How will my performance be measured? • What would you like to see someone in this role achieve in the next three months?
Don’t be afraid of interview panels At some point during the interview process, you may encounter a panel. Approach the panel knowing that in almost every case, they are pulling for you! They want you to be successful. If you are able to get names of who will be on the panel, look them up on LinkedIn so you can recognize them when you meet them in person. Be calm and imagine there is one person in the room. Think through your answers and speak with confidence.
Send thank you notes!
Don’t think about it, just send them! Laurie Allen has been a member of the Junior League of Charlotte since 2016. She was attracted to the JLC commitment to improve lives in the community. She also values the diversity, personal commitment and drive of the membership. She has served on Center for Community Transitions and most recently the Social committee. Laurie believes that the work we do in the League can really change the trajectory of someone’s life.
