3 minute read
Engaging Partners to Build a Better Future
By Jessica Sanchez
Each year, the Junior League of Washington (JLW) hosts a series of community roundtables, convening thought leaders and stakeholders in the nonprofit, civic, and business communities to discuss new and innovative ways to address Washington, DC’s most urgent needs.
The roundtables are meant to encourage a productive, and meaningful dialogue that informs and shapes the expansion of the JLW focus on critical education needs in the community. Roundtables are also an opportunity for JLW to provide resources and information to empower Community Partners in support of their mission.
The first roundtables, which were then called the Literacy Advisory Board, were held in 2006 to seek recommendations on how to strengthen the League’s relationship with community organizations and make a positive and lasting impact on literacy in the Washington, DC, area.
Since 2015, JLW has held multiple roundtable events with Community Partners and other stakeholders to collaborate on specific education concerns in the community. These roundtables have included topics such as: • Identifying ways organizations can work together to improve science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education in the community; • Brainstorming how cultural institutions, community organizations, and JLW can better unite efforts to educate DC students about arts and history topics; and • Collaborating on best practices to remediate the issue of absenteeism in DC-based public charter schools.
On October 17, 2019, JLW held a roundtable called “Grant Writing: Successful Tips and Tricks” at Pepco Edison Galleries in collaboration with Katy Moore, Senior Director at the Orr Group; Anna Bard, Community Affairs Manager at Wells Fargo; Sheila Archambault Helke, the JLW Targeted Grants & Volunteer Resources (TGVR) Committee Chair; and Cheyenne-Jordan Gill, TGVR Rising Chair. The roundtable focused on providing Community Partners and other local nonprofits with insight into and strategies for applying for JLW grants and other corporate funding. The roundtable also discussed JLW’s literacy focus, ways to engage community partners and the community-at-large in Readers2Leaders fairs this year, and challenges facing our community with respect to improving illiteracy more generally.
During the 2019–2020 League year, JLW received 56 applications for Targeted Grants. Of those, between 10 and 12 will move on to the full application phase. The TGVR Committee interviews the top three to four organizations and conducts site visits to evaluate those applicants’ programming. In February, the committee will choose two finalists for $30,000 Targeted Grants and two finalists for $15,000 Community Partner Grants. Once the JLW Board of Directors approves the list of finalists, they will be added to the annual ballot for review and will be voted on by the entire League. Winners will be notified in mid-May 2020. With such a competitive process, JLW is pleased to share insights with Community Partners on what makes a successful application.
Katy Moore, Senior Director of the Orr Group, and Anna Bard, Senior Vice President Community Affairs Manager at Wells Fargo, share tips and tricks for quality and effective grant proposals.
JLW President Carly Mitchell and Jacqueline “Jackie” Malkes kick off the October Roundtable.
“Grants give the League a unique way to support and be a part of the efforts of other community organizations working towards the same goal—improving literacy in the DC community. In addition to League volunteers directly working in the community, JLW grants are just one other way we can contribute to the important work of our Community Partners,” noted Archambault Helke.
JLW welcomes suggestions about potential partners as it continues its effort to make a positive and lasting impact on the Washington, DC community. If you have ideas for roundtable topics or would like to be included in future roundtable discussions, please email roundtable@jlw.org. •
3039 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20007
DATES TO REMEMBER
WINTER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Thursday, January 29
FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING: A READERS2LEADERS FESTIVAL
February 1
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST
Friday, March 6 (tentative)
TOSSED & FOUND
Friday, March 20–Sunday, March 22 (tentative)
KITCHEN TOUR ON CAPITOL HILL
Saturday, April 18
ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, April 23
SUSTAINER SPRING TEA
