a JLC feature
The JLC and the Pursuit of Social Justice by Shellisa Multrie 2020 has seen its fair share of challenges. The country rang in a new decade, but was quickly overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. While stuck at home, the country then watched the back-to-back deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Their deaths sent shockwaves through our nation. It forced many Americans to face an uncomfortable truth about racial inequity and unequal justice in America. Calls for change followed in the days, weeks, and months to come. Those calls, still being echoed today.
JLC Leadership Speaks Out
JLC Members Take Part in Community Events
When organizations, companies and even local governments grappled with the right approach to take, the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) spoke out as an ally. The JLC published supportive messages and developed early action steps for JLC members who wanted to help. Days after the incoming 202021 JLC Board of Directors were installed, they sent a collective message to the the JLC:
In June, several JLC members and their families participated in the Black Mamas March to help celebrate and defend the lives of Black people. This community event attracted almost 400 people. Although not a JLC-sponsored event, many members attended, including Charlotte Mayor and JLC Sustainer, Vi Lyles.
League Leaders, we cannot stay silent and sit on the sidelines watching as our community feels the heaviness of grief. As an organization that believes in building better communities and strives for leadership excellence, many of us have asked what we can do. Junior League women are trained to be civic leaders in our communities. It is time to use our training to improve our communities through effective action and leadership. We must do the work. We must be willing to be humiliated and vulnerable. We must speak out and we must be visible. We must know when to be quiet and listen. And equally important, when to speak up. To our JLC Women of Color, we stand united with you. We are here to listen and ready to engage in difficult conversations.
Many JLC members signed the Charlotte Black Upward Mobility & Restorative Justice Resolution, which outlines commitments for the City of Charlotte to actively work to heal and transform while acknowledging past trauma.
Action items announced included the continuation of the Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee. The JLC Board of Directors committed to partner with the sub-committee on a strategic direction for the League. Additionally, the Board and Management Team provided resources, including videos, articles and books to educate members and their families.
During the months that followed, the JLC shared encouraging words and community events on the members only Facebook group as well as the JLC Women of Color & Allies group.
The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) also proclaimed its support of diversity, equity and inclusion. They outlined next steps to implement a 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge and extend funding for innovative D&I programming.
The first JLC-sponsored event was a listening session featuring Pat Heard, the first Black JLC member, and Toni Freeman, the first Black President of the JLC. A second event, “Status: It’s Complicated,” featured a powerful set of panelists who discussed the power and evolving alliance of Women of Color and non-Women of Color in the workplace. Both events offered meaningful dialogue and “food for thought” for participants. cont. > 33
