MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
LOVE YOUR ROOTS
JLW MEMBERS STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR HOMETOWNS
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By Alex Sarp
he Washington, DC, metro area currently ranks fifth in population growth in the U.S. It also has the second busiest subway system in the nation due in part to the estimated additional one million people commuting into the city each day for work. A study by the New York Times found that Washington, DC, has always had an influx of outsiders; it has the largest share of newcomers to any state except Florida and Nevada. The Junior League of Washington (JLW) membership reflects this trend, with members representing states from all across the nation. As the saying goes, in order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you have been. In today’s society it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle without taking a second to pause and reflect on why we are who we are and how we got here. This is especially true when living in the nation’s capital, a place that sometimes allows us to forget our roots and find a new identity among the monuments and museums. Several JLW members shared about how they stay connected to home while living the metropolitan life in the nation’s capital. JLW member Taylor Jackson is the Communications Chair of the DC RAM Network, the local alumni group for Colorado State University. The group’s social activities include football watch parties every game day and attending the “Go West Beer Fest” each year. “My city, Fort Collins, is definitely famous for beer. It’s home to New Belgium Brewery and Odell’s Brewery and a countless number of other microbreweries. You could spend an entire day trying different beers and still not even come close to seeing everything Fort Collins has to offer,” said Jackson. While the group is definitely a way to make friends, it still devotes resources to give back to the community. Each spring and fall, members greet the Northern Colorado Honor Flight, which brings veterans from the region on an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC, to see the monKentucky Executive Member Tara Gabaldon and Vice Chair- uments and memorials honoring military service. man Amanda Faulkner pose in “They’re always so excited to see front of their state’s booth at the us there with the Colorado flag 2018 Taste of the South gala.
Kesha Butler snaps a photo with a fellow volunteer during the Big Ten Day of Service cleaning up Deanwood Park in southeast DC. and CSU gear when they get off the plane at the airport. It’s a very moving experience every time,” Jackson said. Taste of the South (TOTS) is a nonprofit organization that raises more than half a million dollars annually for charities throughout the southern states. JLW member Tara Gabaldon is the Executive Committee Member for Kentucky and hails from Richmond, KY. Each spring, TOTS hosts a charity gala at a venue in Washington, DC, and participating states set up booths that showcase the great things that best represent them. Kentucky is well known for “horses, bourbon, basketball, and great southern food,” Gabaldon said. JLW New Member Kesha Butler is on the board for DC Illini, the local alumni club for the University of Illinois. She recently coordinated a service event for the group along with other Big 10 Conference schools. A native Chicagoan, she is passionate about ending the misconception that her city is completely overrun with crime. “While those issues should be on the forefront in order to lead change, it’s important for people to recognize that it is not our city’s whole narrative. Chicago is a beautiful, diverse city full of culture, music, different ethnic groups, art, and nature. It’s a world class city,” Kesha stated passionately. While many agree with the sentiment that home is where the heart is, in a city as diverse as Washington, DC, it’s possible to find home away from home. JLW offers members a place to connect with others who share similar backgrounds and meet people from all over the country.
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