MAGAZINE OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI
Perspectives AUTUMN 2016
Catching Up with RefugeeConnect Our RefugeeConnect project has been busy with local impact earning national recognition PAGE 4
Nonprofit Incubation We explore what it means for our organization to be a “nonprofit incubator,” and what that means for our community PAGE 5
SPAC: Fostering Connections Act Junior Leagues of Ohio State Public Affairs Committee sees success in passage of the Ohio Fostering Connections Act PAGE 6
In this issue 3
President’s Perspective
12 An Evening with Dr. Mark Whitacre
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Catching Up with RefugeeConnect
13 On the Road Again with “Linda’s Tour”
5
What It Means to Be a Nonprofit Incubator
13 From the Archives: Women at War
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SPAC: Ohio Fostering Connections Act
14 Member Milestones
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Member Spotlight on First-Year Actives
15 Celebrate with #GivingTuesday
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We’re Just Getting Started: Photo Review
16 Tour of Kitchens
11 The Importance of Women in STEM
Your Perspectives Team
Managing Editor Kristin Boyatt
Assistant Editor Chelsea Zesch
Writer Emily Haun
Writer Cara Monaco
Writer Kara Sewell
Thank you to our tremendous team of photographers: Jesus Andres • jesusandresphotography.com Mike Bresnen • mikebresnenphotography.com Kathryn Hayden • kathrynhayden.com Dyan K. Miller • arteologie.com
Photography Editor VP Communications Robin Creighton Haley B. Elkins
As well as JLC Members Alison Bushman, Jenna Filipkowski, Lisa Hubbard, Kristian Scarpitti. and Kendall Shaw.
The Junior League of Cincinnati is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the affective action and leadership of trailed volunteers. Perspectives is the magazine of the Junior League of Cincinnati, published multiple times throughout the year. Past issues and advertising rates can be found online at www.jlcincinnati.org. For more news and events, follow us on social media. Junior League of Cincinnati, 3500 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 • 513.871.9339 • www.jlcincinnati.org
President’s Perspective Dear Friends, Reading the newspaper was a ritual growing up. Especially on Sundays, as a college student on break, and into my first year of law school when I lived at home with my parents, I have great memories of trading sections of the paper over coffee and pancakes. It was then that I first heard of the Junior League of Cincinnati. I read the biographies of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year with admiration. These women were giants in our community, and year after year many of them mentioned they “learned it in the Junior League,” as the training they received in the JLC was crucial to their success.
I am especially thankful that I now get to serve with two of those incredible women again, Sustainer Advisor, Melanie Chavez, and President-Elect, Vicki Calonge. My term on the Board inspired me to apply to become the Chair of the Nominating Committee, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my JLC “career.” To witness the accomplishments, experience, and impact of our members was a tremendous privilege, one that motivates me daily to focus on the stewardship of this amazing organization and the wonderful women in it.
After my graduation from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2003, I moved to Columbus to begin my career as a commercial litigator. Life was busy and before I knew it, five years had passed. My husband, Kyle, a Detroit native, and I had just been married when It’s now nearly 20 years since I first the opportunity to move back home “Transformative learned of the Junior League, and eight knocked. We spent our first year here getting oriented (him) and reacquainted community impact and since I joined. Kyle and I have added (me), and putting down roots – but I the cultivation of civic three more children (Ted, Jane, and hadn’t forgotten about the JLC. And so leadership are the heart Margaret) to our family. Reflecting of our mission.” on these experiences, I know why as we bought our first home in Oakley, they kept me engaged with the JLC. preparing to welcome our first child, Transformative community impact and the cultivation Tommy, I joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2009. of civic leadership are the heart of our mission. Your I vividly remember leaving my new member meetings JLC leaders on the Board and Executive Management energized and excited to be a part of an organization that Team remain steadfast in championing our 97-year had done such good for so many. I came to recognize that history, focusing on nonprofit incubation with the kickoff the sign of a great volunteer event was when I couldn’t of our next program development cycle to determine, stop talking about it when I got home. Kyle has been the and ultimately meet, urgent needs in Greater Cincinnati beneficiary of much post-JLC event exuberance. and Northern Kentucky, and in refining our training Two years later, in the summer of 2011, I began my first curriculum to develop the next generation of women term on the Board of Directors as the Legal Advisor. At community leaders who can proudly proclaim, as I our first meeting, we shared our reasons for joining the now can and do at every opportunity, “I learned it in the JLC. I felt a mixture of awe and gratitude sitting at that Junior League!” table of motivated, passionate, smart women, discussing With many thanks, big plans for the year, which included our first new member bus tour (“Linda’s Tour”), the development of our award-winning Board Bank training, and our most recent program development cycle that resulted in our two current projects, GrinUp! and RefugeeConnect.
Kendall Shaw President, 2016-2017
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Catching up with RefugeeConnect By EMILY HAUN
T
he Junior League of Cincinnati’s RefugeeConnect project is thriving due to the dedicated powerhouse of JLC members involved since the project officially launched in 2013. This year’s committee welcomes back ten visionary members and nine new members who bring innovative perspective to the growth of the project. In November 2015, the League hired Robyn Lamont as Program Director of RefugeeConnect; Robyn is a licensed social worker who has worked to empower refugee populations since 2010. RefugeeConnect is Greater Cincinnati’s connector program that links refugee communities, service providers, and engaged community members to one another. Lamont explained, “RefugeeConnect is a resource and connector to ensure refugees have access to the programs available in our community.” The United Nations defines a refugee as someone who has been forced to flee his or her country due to well-founded fear of persecution based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Lamont emphasized that, “People are resilient and what we’re doing is creating a community where each new Cincinnatian feels welcome. We’re investing resources in five key areas: healthcare, education, transportation, housing, and employment. These investments are resulting in the acceleration of people reaching their goals.” Welcoming America, a national nonprofit working to create inclusive environments for all, recognized the impact of RefugeeConnect and selected us as one of five programs across the country to receive technical assistance and coaching to further #JLCincy | 4
our efforts. Give Back Cincinnati’s Fuel Cincinnati program recently awarded RefugeeConnect a grant to create the “Funnel” volunteer program which serves as a springboard to educate, train, and place volunteers in meaningful opportunities in a united, citywide effort to welcome Cincinnati’s refugees. RefugeeConnect’s efforts have also been recognized by the U.S. State Department’s Share America publication, as well as the inspirational online site Upworthy. On World Refugee Day in June, RefugeeConnect launched an indepth virtual resource center, RefugeeConnect.org, which Lamont described as “a collaborative, evergrowing database for anything that may assist a new Cincinnatian in the acculturation process.” As a referral hub, RefugeeConnect hosts the Refugee Empowerment Initiative, a quarterly forum that brings more than 80 partner organizations together for an ongoing discussion about services, resources, and needs. These forums keep information in the virtual resource center accurate, assess shared impact areas and volunteer needs, and make connections to better allocate resources. According to Co-Chair Brooke Olson, the RefugeeConnect committee is focused on diversifying and expanding volunteer opportunities to allow more members to directly connect with refugee families. She shared that, “We’ve had so many people participate in the potlucks and donate through our partnership with CandO, but it’s usually just a few of us who actually drop off the donations. We want more members to have the opportunity to experience the impact firsthand.”
“What we’re doing is creating a community where each new Cincinnatian feels welcome.”
Opportunities to GET INVOLVED Thanksgiving Potluck November 2016 Holiday Party* December 13, 2016 *includes product drive for RefugeeConnect
New Cincinnatian Birthday Celebration January 2017 Volunteer “Funnel” Program Training Workshops January, April, June 2017 World Refugee Day Cup May 2017
What it Means to Be a Nonprofit Incubator By KARA SEWELL “Make a difference.” Ask any Junior League
Medical Center and many other community partners.
member why they dedicate time to volunteering and training, and that reason will likely top their list.
But the JLC doesn’t just incubate nonprofits; we also cultivate civic leadership through our training programs and strategically raise funds to support these projects in their development stage. According to Kamine, “Everyone has an important role to play; without finances, without leadership we can’t make these projects happen.”
In an interview, JLC Past President and Cookie Nowland Award Winner Darlene Kamine pointed out, “You can make a difference that lasts a century; where else can you find that but the Junior League?”
As a former Juvenile Court Magistrate, Darlene Kamine was one of those people outside the “You can make a League looking for support. In working closely difference that lasts a with abused and neglected children, she saw a century; where else can need to recruit and train volunteers who could you find that but the speak for those kids and help place them Junior League?” into a safe environment. After selecting this The JLC is a nonprofit incubator, meaning need from a request for proposals, the JLC members facilitate the development maintained this flagship project for seven years, resulting in the of a potential nonprofit through project resources and funding, which ensures that a new organization will remain launch of ProKids into the nonprofit it is today. Meeting unmet needs in the community is at the core of the mission Junior League of Cincinnati, but its process in filling those gaps is largely unique among other nonprofits and Junior Leagues across the country.
sustainable over time. Our nonprofit incubation model works on 4-5 year average project cycles that begin by bringing community stakeholders together to conduct needs assessments and identify existing service gaps. The JLC evaluates the findings, creates or facilitates programming to address those specific needs, and then seeds the staff, funds, and volunteers necessary for the program to become a stand-alone nonprofit organization.
As the JLC makes plans to embark on a new cycle of program development, Kamine feels that the League’s biggest challenges moving forward as a nonprofit incubator will be financial competition and implementation in the changing nonprofit landscape. She encourages League members to ask, “How big will we dream?”
Sometimes incubator ideas are homegrown, developed internally with community support, while other concepts are brought to the JLC as a need from the community. The League has impacted or incubated 120 projects as we begin our 97th JLC year! One of the first homespun ideas began decades ago when JLC Members noticed a gap in children’s arts programming in Cincinnati. In the 1930s, they began putting on plays for kids by writing scripts, building sets, and performing in pop up locations. The idea evolved from what was called the Junor League Players into the magic of Children’s Theater of Cincinnati, which now presents dozens of shows annually and hosts performing art classes. Kamine reminds us that, “We can make huge things happen and we have to continue to remind ourselves that’s what we do, not because we’re getting paid, but because it’s in every molecule in our being.” MindPeace is another incubated project; the JLC spent an entire year in the early 2000s looking at the biggest needs in the community and found that children’s mental health was gravely underserved. We spent an additional year forming an action plan that could tackle such a big issue. Hundreds of JLC volunteers devoted thousands of hours to develop a model for a seamless system of children’s mental health and wellness with the help of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
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SPAC Effort Signed Into Law: Ohio Fostering Connections Act By CARA MONACO In the heart of World War II, at a time when the nursing profession was in particularly high demand, the Junior Leagues of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown saw a need for changes in the licensing and education of practical nurses. As a result, the women of these Leagues formed SPAC, the State Public Affairs Committee, to make legislative recommendations to improve nursing across the state. Today, SPAC represents nearly 3,000 women who join together through six leagues to leverage their shared voice and create enduring community impact through public policy. Since its historical launch in 1942, the Junior Leagues of Ohio SPAC has been actively advocating for legislative change in our state. The purpose of SPAC is simple: to monitor and address concerns within the Ohio legislature, keeping in mind SPAC’s three pillars: education, reciprocity of ideas, and advocacy. Considered the advocacy arm of the Ohio leagues, SPAC has been the champion of Ohioans on a variety of issues. Today, SPAC is currently dedicated to ensuring that children in foster care are provided opportunities for developmental growth – something that isn’t always readily available in the foster care
system. Their most recent success was the passing of Ohio House Bill 50 (HB 50), or the Fostering Connections Act. On June 13th, 2016, the Fostering Connections Act was signed into law. With instrumental support from SPAC, this bill created a new program to support older foster children. This program serves the more than 1,000 Ohio teens who will, each year, age out of foster care on their eighteenth birthday. Introduced in February 2016 by Representatives Dorothy Pelanda and Chery L. Grossman, HB 50 was approved on a count of 90-0 by the State Senate. The Fostering Connections Act received bipartisan support and went into effect on July 1, 2016. The bill’s extended support for foster children includes transitional housing and college/ career preparatory support, and can aid the affected youth until they turn 21. Representative Grossman told the Columbus Dispatch, “Once a child ages out of the foster system at age 18, they often have only themselves to rely on. As these young people approach legal adulthood, they face tremendous obstacles.” Representative Pelanda further explained that expanded support is a cost benefit to the state after 10 years, with higher employment and less need for government assistance.
With the passing of this bill, Ohio joins 26 other states who saw a need to extend services to youth in foster care through age 21.
“Once a child ages out of the foster care system at age 18, they only often only have themselves to rely on.”
While the passing of HB 50 is something to celebrate, SPAC isn’t stopping there. The committee’s current focus is to develop advocacy and education programming around foster care and to improve the college graduation rate for foster children. Our membership in SPAC is an effort we reaffirm each year through appointing member delegates that meet regularly as a state committee, then act locally to partner with organizations, civic leaders, and government representatives in their individual geographic areas. When asked about her experience on the committee, JLC SPAC delegate Jane Muindi said she was enjoying her SPAC service because it allowed her to “see the positive changes that happen when a group of women get together to improve their communities.”
Member Spotlight: First-Year Actives Two First-Year Active Members Share Their Goals & Experiences Kasey Marr Kirtley Krombholz
I joined the JLC to expand my network of professional women, to learn more about what women are doing to improve Cincinnati, and to give back to my community. This year, I became a member of the Leadership and Development Committee in order to focus my efforts on empowering JLC women to become the best versions of themselves. I believe success with our initiatives in the city starts by looking internally and tapping into the talent and resources we have in our membership. Professionally, I aspire to grow my reputation as a probate and estate planning attorney and build long-term relationships with my clients. Personally, I look forward to being a mother one day and being a positive example for my children. I recently got engaged while on a trip to Traverse City, Michigan. My fiancĂŠ proposed at Mission Point Lighthouse, built in 1870, so that we will always be able to return to this very special place.
I decided to join JLC after moving back to Cincinnati after living in Denver for three years. Although many of my friends still lived in Cincinnati, I thought it would be a great way to get involved in the community while meeting and networking with women who have similar interests. I find that getting involved in the community is a great break from the everyday grind of work. It is absolutely refreshing to be surrounded by other people that also want to make a difference in Cincinnati. I just joined the GrinUp! committee and I am hoping to raise awareness about this amazing project in my community. As one of the only female Division 1 diving coaches in the country, I am hoping to empower other women to step up to the plate in male dominated fields. I also want to encourage my peers to step out of their comfort zones and to get involved in their community. I believe it is our responsibility to better this place we call home for every single person in our community.
A Warm Welcome to Our 2016 New Member Class We welcomed an incredible class of New Members at our first meeting this fall, with a resounding keynote by President Kendall Shaw on how the JLC develops the potential of women and cultivates civic leadership. Devon Bader Erika Bailey Anne Bangert Rachel Barski Alissa Benham Byrd Bergeron Emily Bergmann Connie Bisesi Adrienne Bodolay Elizabeth Boss Jillian Brandstetter Maria Brutz Katharine Burke Nikki Burt Samantha Byers Kayla Caskey Sonia Chanana Mackenzie Davis Alison Dinkelacker Charlotte Eichman Catherine Eifrig
Margaret Ernst Samantha Evans Lauren Fink Elizabeth Fisher Chelsea Fox Arushi Gandhi Kathryn Gawne Lauren Gonzalez Alyssa Grelak Brittany Gruber Nancy Harrill Alexis Hartman Jessie Hayden Allison Hermes Tiffany Hernandez Sarah Houseman Mattie Hulett Haley Jones Anna Kuertz Kristie Lammi Danielle Levy
Nicole Lewis Rebecca Littlefield Chelsea Manning Melanie Margraf Amanda Martinez Ellen McCartney Kirstin McEachern Kelty McLaurin Ashley McManus Evelyn McWilliams Lindsey NeCamp Amanda Nelson Victoria Neumann Julie Niehaus Lynn Norwood Maria Painter Kelly Saylor Rachel Scherzinger Emily Schmidt Holly Smith Sarah Stem
Courtney Sutherland Colleen Tersmette Jessica Vierling Hannah Wallach Nicole Winkler Ashley Yanzsa Chelsey Zulia
Joining the JLC We host events for potential members all year long! Women interested in joining the JLC can sign up for our interest list online at jlcincinnati.org/membership.
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oh, we’re just
GETTING STARTED Dressing Downton at the Taft Museum As part of the Taft Museum’s Dressing Downton: Changing Fashions for Changing Times exhibit, JLC Members attended a Learning on Location lecture on the sweeping fashion shifts of World War I and how they reflected women’s rapidly changing roles and newfound independence. #LearningonLocation
Forum IV: An Evening with Dr. Mark Whitacre
JLC Members and guests were given an incredible opportunity to hear Dr. Mark Whitacre speak on “When Good Leaders Lose Their Way” at this year’s Forum, hosted by JLC Sustainers. #CultivatingCivicLeadership
September General Membership Meeting Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Victoria Morgan gave an inspiring keynote on the importance of digging deep, developing grit, and finding what speaks to your soul. #LeadershipEmpowered
“Linda’s Tour” JLC Sustainers organized an exciting educational bus tour for JLC New Members and Transfers, highlighting Cincinnati landmarks, history, and community organizations. #CultivatingCivicLeadership
Between the World and Me Roundtable JLC’s Advocacy & Education Commitee hosted a roundtable discussion on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ award-winning, best-selling memoir, Between the World and Me. #JLCincy | 8
Fall Leadership Conference
October General Membership Meeting
Taste of Hope Dinner Service
President Kendall Shaw and President-Elect Vicki Marsala Calonge presented on our nonprofit incubator model at the Association of Junior Leagues International Fall Leadership Conference. #NonprofitIncubator
Members learned about our nonprofit incubation model through the lens of our RefugeeConnect program, including an introduction to two “New Americans” who spoke to their experience as refugees. #MissionMoment
JLC Members prepared and served dinner at Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House, allowing parents more time to focus on their critically ill children. #MissionMoment
Dress for Success Client Suiting Day
Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Family Gala
After a 2-month handbag and accessory drive, JLC members delivered items and assisted Dress for Success clients with suiting for a job interviews as they enter the workforce. #MissionMoment
Jewish Hospital Women’s Health Fair
We’re always up for a past JLC project! Members helped with dinner, children’s games and activities, the photo booth, prize table and more at the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre Fall Gala. #MissionMoment
Our incubated GrinUp! project organized two shifts of volunteers to assist with educational demonstrations on pediatric oral health at Jewish Hospital’s Women’s Health Fair. #GrinUp
RefugeeConnect Volunteer Workshop RefugeeConnect hosted a volunteer training workshop for community members that included traiining on employment, financial literacy, education, and citizenship. #RefugeeConnect #JLCincy | 9
Between Ada and Me: The Importance of Women & STEM By HALEY B. ELKINS
When I was ten, a teacher informed me that I wasn’t good at math, and I would never be good at math, because girls just weren’t very good at math and science. It wasn’t my fault, that’s just the way it was. And, because I was a child, I believed him, and I resigned myself: I couldn’t do math. What could I do instead? I liked to write, and I was good at telling stories. The Internet was just getting legs, so I decided to build a website to share the stories I’d written. The coding systems that make a website run have fancy acronyms (HTML, CSS, PHP), but they’re called “programming languages,” and the way I figured it, I was good with language - I didn’t realize it was math in disguise. So I taught myself how to code. Later, I would take computer classes where I was the only woman in the room. I felt alone, a lot. And yet, something magical kept happening: I could build things, I could create something from nothing, I could fix problems and leap obstacles. Every time someone said “I wish we could,” I was able to yell, “BUT WE CAN!”
her own degree, came back, then wrote the code to create solar panels, wind power, and electric car batteries. At the age of 29, a woman named Radia Perlman invented something called spanning-tree protocol — also known as “what makes the Internet work.” Marian Croak is currently a mother of three from New Jersey who also serves as the Senior Vice President at AT&T, with 160 technology patents in her name. Her work is why you can make phone calls on the Internet. All that, to say this: when women get involved in Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology (STEM), unbelievable things happen. We don’t just reach longingly for the stars: we arrive at them.
Magaret Hamilton, next to the code she wrote for the moon landing
My story isn’t unique. It follows in a long line of women who were told, specifically, that math and science weren’t open to them – and still went on to do those things anyway. Almost 175 years ago, a woman by the name of Ada Lovelace developed the first piece of code intended to be carried by a machine. Charles Babbage, her mentor and the inventor of the first programmable computer, called her “The Enchantress of Number.” Between Ada and me, there were many other women who didn’t just engage in math and science, but defined it. Above is a photograph of Margaret Hamilton, age 30, standing next to a stack of computer code she wrote by hand - to put a man on the moon in 1969. She was joined by women like Annie Easley, who also worked for NASA at a time when they paid for advanced math degrees for their male technicians, but not for women. So Annie paid for
One of the Junior League of Cincinnati’s long-time community partners, Cincinnati Museum Center, offers a free STEM Girls program that offers classes and training, day-out events at various science and tech institutions, and connections to adult women successfully working in STEM fields.
Our own Julie Niesen Gosdin teaches at Girl, Develop It!, a Cincinnati nonprofit that offers affordable programs for adult women to learn web and software development in a judgment-free environment. And our spectacular Online Committee, right here in the JLC, is constantly strategizing ways to empower women through technology, with trainings, resources, and tools. As an organization devoted to developing the potential of women, I hope encouragement and training in STEM is something we can all strive towards, for ourselves, and for the girls and young women in our lives.
Learn More Cincinnati Museum Center’s STEM Girls Program www.cincymuseum.org/STEMGirls Girl, Develop It! www.girldevelopit.com/chapters/cincinnati #JLCincy | 11
Forum IV: An Evening with Dr. Mark Whitacre Junior League of Cincinnati Members and their guests were recently invited to a riveting presentation from Dr. Mark Whitacre on corporate ethics and the warning signs of flawed corporate leadership as the guest speaker for Forum IV. Dr. Whitacre and his wife, Ginger, spoke about his role in the Archer Daniels Midland price-fixing scheme of the 1990s, and his subsequent history as the highest-ranking executive of a Fortune 500 company to become an FBI whistleblower and informant. Dr. Whitacre emphasized the importance of long-term, community-focused leadership, and testified to how blinding and far-reaching corporate greed can be, and its echo impact on families, communities, and countries. As part of his presentation, Dr. Whitacre offered this revealing story: “For months, the same executives sat in meetings around the world, conducting illegal activity without realizing the exact same green lamp appeared in every single meeting room, country-to-country. That lamp was set up by the FBI with a concealed camera as part of my role as an informant, and no one ever noticed it somehow showed up in every single meeting. That’s how blinded we all were with greed.” After reflecting on his nearly-nine-year prison term and how it impacted his life and his family, he advised the audience to make choices “as if that same green lamp is always with you.” The annual Sustainer Forum program was conceived by JLC Sustainer Linda Smith in 2014, who sought a way to bring Sustaining members together and keep them connected while continuing the grand JLC tradition of learning and training. Previous Forums have included presentations on human trafficking, journalism, and innovation in the arts. Forum V is scheduled for Autumn 2017.
Dr. Mark Whitacre discussing the importance of family support
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On the Road Again with “Linda’s Tour” Sustainer-Led Bus Tour Trains New Members and Transfers on Our Cincinnati History In September, our New Member and Transfer bus tour (affectionately named “Linda’s Tour” in memory of JLC Past President and late Sustainer Linda Appleby) celebrated its sixth year. More than fifty New Members, Transfers, and Sustainers participated in the tour, which features the history of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, including several former JLC projects and partners. “Linda’s Tour” serves as a Learning on Location training for members who are new to the JLC, to demonstrate the history of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and how the Junior League of Cincinnati has both impacted and been influenced by it. Favorite features of this year’s tour included Devou Park and Drees Pavilion, a gift to the community in celebration of the Drees Company’s
75th anniversary; the memorial statue of Native American Chief Little Turtle on the Covington riverfront; the Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati, a JLC past-project that highlights the significant contributions that Cincinnati has made to the firefighting profession; Smale Riverfront Park and Carol Ann’s Carousel, named after our own beloved Carol Ann Haile; and Findlay Market, the oldest continuously operating public market in Ohio and the last one remaining of the original nine that served Cincinnati.
“I’m always amazed at just how deeply the JLC roots are planted within our city.”
Tara Mosley, New Member Chair, shared her own “mission moment” about this year’s tour: “For me the bus tour is a great way to connect new members of JLC to both the rich history Cincinnati has to offer and the vast knowledge and pride that our Sustainers have of our organization. I’m always amazed at just how deeply the JLC roots are planted within our city. This year was my third bus tour, and I can honestly say that I have learned something new each time.” Susan Anthony, Amelia Crutcher, Marty Humes, Chris Lewis, Linda J. Smith, and Martha Steier served as tour guides. The tour included dozens of landmarks, murals, memorials, buildings, and artwork that demonstrate Cincinnati’s unique heritage, and the Junior League of Cincinnati’s place in it.
From the Archives: Women at War During World War II, the Junior League of Cincinnati focused its skills as a volunteer powerhouse on contributing to the war effort. As an organization, the JLC raised $28,600 in U.S. War Bonds as part of the “Women at War” Bond Program. Adjusting for inflation, this amount is equivalent to nearly $400,000 in 2016.
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Member Milestones
Darlene Kamine, Second Act Award Winner JLC Sustainer and Past President Darlene Kamine was named a Second Act Award Winner by the Cincinnati Business Courier for her work with the Community Learning Center Institute, which leads the ongoing engagement of the Greater Cincinnati community in the development of all schools as community learning centers,.
Cecilia Boldrini Cecilia started a new position this spring as Operations Manager for Perfetti van Melle, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery.
Sarah Fischer Sarah and her husband, Michael welcomed their first child on June 25: a son, Braeden Michael Fischer. Baby Braeden shares a birthday with his Mom!
Monica Hitchcock Monica Hitchcock welcomed a baby boy, Gregory David Hitchcock (“Rory”) on May 24, 2016 at 5:08 AM, weighing 6 lbs. 9 ounces, 21 inches.
Monica Miller Monica Miller and Jeff Buckhout were married on October 8 in the bride’s hometown of Columbus, OH.
Abby Hofmeyer Morgan
Paaras Parker Paaras joined the HR Leadership Team at 84.51 focusing on Talent Development, Organizational Development and Learning and Development.
Abby and Max Morgan were married at St. Lawrence Church on June 11. Abby also started at Western & Southern Financial Group as a Creative Services Project Manager this spring.
Deborah Livingston Deborah accepted a new position as Development Director at Mayfield Education & Research Foundation where she will oversee the continued expansion of the Mayfield Foundation’s commitment to neuroscience research, injury prevention, neurological health, and the education and training of neurosurgeons.
Breana Trauger Breana and Josh Trauger welcomed baby boy, Lincoln Joshua on May 2, 2016
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Elizabeth Sharp Elizabeth Sharp and James Longaberger were engaged in her favorite place, Kiawah Island, South Carolina on July 28.
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Megan Stacey Megan Stacey, husband Drew, and daughter Emory, welcomed baby boy Ford Joseph Stacey on May 6, 2016. Megan was also nominated to serve on the Keller Williams office Advisory Leadership Council as a result of her successful summer.
We love to celebrate your personal milestone moments with the JLC. Share your promotions, retirements, awards and nominations, new babies, engagements, weddings, and other milestones! Please remember to include a highresolution photograph. Submit your milestone by logging into the JLC member site online at: members.jlcincinnati.org
Celebrating Our Annual Fund with #Giving Tuesday Tis the Season: Introducing Black Friday’s More Generous Sister Our Annual Fund campaign provides essential support to our mission and sustainable growth for our organization. We sat down with JLC Past President and Sustainer Advisor to the Board Melanie Chavez to discuss her thoughts on the Annual Fund’s history and future. Will you share why this fundraising campaign began? The Junior League of Cincinnati is about growing community leaders and incubating programs that directly better our community. In 2010, our Board thought it was time that we begin an Annual Fund to support both of these goals. Not only does a successful Annual Fund allow for additional JLC programs, but it is a true vote of confidence in the organization. By virtue of being a member and writing an Annual Fund check, you are saying you believe in our mission, you believe in the stewardship responsibilities assigned to you, and that you want to do all you can to ensure that the great things the organization does can be amplified. The understanding of, and committment to, an Annual Fund is a part of that community leadership growth, and something that the Junior League of Cincinnati should encourage and sustain.
What is #GivingTuesday? #GivingTuesday takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. It is a movement started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to create an international day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season, and is a response to the commercialization of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday connects diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving.
How can I participate? The Junior League of Cincinnati will be participating in Giving Tuesday as part of our Annual Fund campaign. JLC members and supporters are encouraged to log on to www.jlcincinnati.org on Tuesday, November 29 to make an online contribution to our annual fund and then share the reasons they give on social media using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #JLCincy.
How is the Annual Fund crucial to our finances? Most, if not all, nonprofits rely on some type of annual funding to balance yearly operating budgets, allow for extra programming that might not otherwise be realized, and to add a cushion for the year in case something unexpected happens. While we have brilliant women who manage our finances; and generous members, corporate sponsors, and community philanthropists who donate each and every year, having a successful and robust Annual Fund remains critical for the Junior League of Cincinnati. How do you foresee this campaign growing in the future? We have an incredible amount of women who take their leadership charge seriously and who are determined to keep improving upon our reputation, our ability to cultivate leaders, and our ability to define critical needs and act upon them. I’d like to see each member so engaged that we develop a culture of philanthropy whereby each member understands their role in sustaining the organization. I’d like to see increases in participation among all league members, and I’d like to see us discuss and set giving goals in an open conversation that happens each year. This would also serve us well as a catalyst for intentional conversation about regular capital and endowment campaigns to support long-range needs. As a training organization, our built-in rotation of leadership and programming means we need to be ever-mindful of sustainability, and ensure conversations like these are woven into the fabric of the organization.
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Read Melanie’s full interview online at members.jlcincinnati.org. #JLCincy | 15
Join us on November 5 for Tour of Kitchens, a self-guided tour exploring the East Row Historic District of Newport and the surrounding area’s finest and most unique kitchens and entertaining spaces! The tour will feature sweet treats and savory delights prepared by Cincinnati’s top chefs and caterers. Tour homes will also feature chefs’ demonstrations, wine and beer tastings, and local decorators showcasing home design ideas. Proceeds from the tour are vital to building better communities; they further the impact of our GrinUp! and RefugeeConnect projects, provide training for our members, and grow educational programming our community. When: Saturday, November 5, 11:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Toast of the Tour Reception: Patrons, sponsors Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and vendors are invited to a Toast of the Tour New Riff Distillery reception at the conclusion of Tour of Kitchens. Purchase a ticket at “Cooks In the Kitchen” level or Where: East Row Historic District of Newport above to unlock patron perks at each stop, and for access to the Toast of the Tour reception. Tickets: Tickets start at $35 pre-sale or $40 day-of November 5, 2016 www.jlcincinnati.org/tourofkitchens 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Turn Vintage Warehouse