Khrystyne Rasmussen and Paris McAdoo are, respectively, in their fourth and eighth active years with the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC). These two women both sit on the JLC’s Education and Training Council where Paris is the Council Manager and Khrystyne is the chair of the Mentor Program. This Council, which includes four other programs besides the Mentor Program, is responsible for developing and executing all of the JLC’s signature training and leadership development programs. Both Paris and Khrystyne’s experiences over their years of service with the JLC have concentrated in internal placements, those which serve the JLC’s members and operations. Khrystyne previously worked with the Public Policy Institute and the Little Black Dress Initiative. This year, in addition to her manager role, Paris is a member of the Leader Framework and Member Transformation Board Task Force, previously served as the Training & Development Committee chair and worked with the Leadership Development Institute. We sat down with Khrystyne and Paris to find out more about their time with the JLC and what being a JLC Change Agent means to them.
First off, tell The CRIER readers a little bit about yourself. KR: I’m a newlywed living in Pineville with my husband, a corgi puppy named Stella and a cat named Cosmo. I’m an attorney in Charlotte practicing insurance defense and civil litigation. I actually got my current job because of the JLC. I was looking for a job and posted about my experience in our Facebook group where I received a lead from another JLC member I had never met before. I’m originally from Lake Norman and moved to the Charlotte area immediately after graduating from law school. I like to spend my free time outdoors, hiking, kayaking and running. I am also involved in my neighborhood’s HOA and on my college’s Alumnae Board. PM: I work in Architecture and Design, am a graduate of Hampton University and a current candidate for a Masters of Project Management at Georgetown University. I have spent most of my career in High-Rise Residential Design and I have a passion for traveling and experiencing architecture around the world.
Tell us what inspired you to join the JLC. KR: As a proud alumna of a women’s college, I learned how much our world needs strong leaders in the community who aren’t afraid of change and who are willing to take a seat at the table. I saw how the JLC worked to better the community while empowering its leaders and knew that was a perfect fit for me. PM: When I joined the JLC, I was looking for a space that included like-minded women. Women who were passionate about their professions, their family, and most importantly, passionate about people. As an architect, I spend my days with men and on most occasions, I am the youngest, the only African-American and the only woman. I was looking for an organization that would allow me to serve my community but also uplift me personally. The JLC was a much needed resource after being in environments where my confidence and expertise are consistently challenged. 12
