2023 JLLR Interaction

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League of Little Rock

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CONTENTS

A publication of the Junior League of Little Rock, Inc. Volume XXIX, Annual Issue 2022-2023

Interaction Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Monica McGee

Sustainer Advisor: Stephanie Maxwell Newton

Staff Writers: Meaghan Davis, Mary Hargraves, and Danele Poole

Copy Editors: Lindsey Carney, Rebekah Hallman, and Corrie Reaves

Contributing Photographers: Lacey Duncan

Art Director: Amy Vaughn

2022-2023 Board of Directors

President: Tabitha McNulty

President-Elect: Sara Beth Leader

Administrative Vice President: Jordan Broyles Hallenbeck

Community Vice President: Mandy Ellis Keller

Development Vice President: Ganelle McBryde

Marketing Vice President: Shannon Heard

Membership Vice President: Telischa Lewis

Nominating Director: Amberlie Pearce

Training Director: Tracey Bradley-Simmons

Treasurer: Jessica Blair

Treasurer-Elect: Kirstin Davis

Sustainer Advisor: Maggie Young

Mission: The Junior League of Little Rock is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

Community Impact: The Junior League of Little Rock improves our community by assessing community needs, developing solutions and training civic leaders. These efforts, concentrated within the following areas of impact, give direction to our organization: school preparedness and nutrition and wellness.

Interaction is published annually by the Junior League of Little Rock. All rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission, except by other Junior League publications, is prohibited.

Junior League of Little Rock

401 S. Scott St. Little Rock, AR 72201

501-375-JLLR

www.jllr.org

Impact

Holiday House Magic A Century Worth Celebrating

All about the community impact and celebration surrounding 100 years of the Junior League of Little Rock—and the committee who helped make it happen

Who,s Who

Moneywise

Kota Camp Volunteers at Camp Aldersgate

by Monica McGee

Meagan

Davis, Writer

Meagan is an advocate, attorney, and artist. She is Vice President of Government Relations for inVeritas and owns davisdrew, LLC, where she offers live painting services. During the 2020-2021 League year, she served as Development Vice President and spearheaded multiple fundraising initiatives during the pandemic.

Stephanie

Maxwell Newton, Sustainer Advisor

Stephanie is Editor in Chief of At Home in Arkansas, a monthly magazine showcasing home interiors and lifestyle inspiration across the state. This is her third issue of Interaction to help produce. In addition to JLLR, Stephanie enjoys volunteering with the Six Bridges Book Festival.

I’m excited to be the 2023 Publications Chair and Editor for the Junior League of Little Rock’s magazine, Interaction . I served as a staff writer and editor for a digital publication in Dayton, Ohio, for three years, established a writer’s group called “Melanin Meetup” geared toward teaching minority writers best writing practices for the past five years, and served as the Communications Chair for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)–Dayton Chapter for two terms. What a privilege it is to serve in an area of the League where I have prior experience and that is dear to my heart.

During the height of social unrest and beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I merged my skills as a professional artist, writer, and Certified Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Workplace Specialist to benefit JLLR as well as other small Leagues: I created a nine-part, virtual training series for the Junior League’s Small Leagues Big Impact (SLBI) affinity group to approach the challenging topics of DEI. Along with that, I painted an art piece titled “We Are One Sisterhood” symbolizing no matter where we come from or what shade we are, we share the common goal to serve our community and provide an inclusive environment within Junior League. My goal is to bring you a publication that informs you of our recent news, celebrates our achievements over the past 100 years, and shares the vision of our leaders for the next 100 years to come. I hope you enjoy this edition of Interaction

In Service,

CONTRIBUTORS

Mary

Hargraves, Editor-elect

Mary is a Little Rock native and has enjoyed being a part of Junior League of Little Rock since 2016. She currently works in the marketing department at Simmons Bank. Mary and her husband, Max, enjoy traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Danele Poole, Writer

Originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, Danele has been in central Arkansas since 2010. She is a Senior Associate Chair at UAMS and has been an active member of JLLR since 2018. She loves playing tennis with her husband, Nicholas, as well as reading, traveling, and spending time with family.

Monica McGee, MBA 2023 Publications Chair and Interaction Editor

Monica McGee

“We Are One Sisterhood”

Better Together

Let’s

Nonprofit Board Institute

11

More than

250

childrens books donated during Little Readers Rock

Holiday House 2022

$120,000+

attendees

Over the course of weeks

7

Topics covered included Board Basics: Roles & Responsibilities, Finding Your Why and Its Connection to Your Mission, Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities, and Resource Development & Allocation

4

5

580

Community Focus hours served since June 2022

raised speakers shoppers

Approximately

6,250

80

vendors

100

Years of Junior League of Little Rock. JLLR celebrated with a yearlong Centennial Celebration.

138,675

No. 2 pencils donated to children at six Little Rock School District elementary schools during Stuff the Bus

Nonprofit Center tenants

Arkansas Birthing Project, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, AR STEM, and Rural Community Development

15

Boardwalk seats

Including seats on:

Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Potluck Food Rescue, Old State House Museum, Jericho Way, Excel By Eight, Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Arkansas Food Bank, Well Fed, The Gaines House, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Our House, Volunteers in Public Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas, and Camp Aldersgate

count the ways Junior League of Little Rock has left its mark on the community in the past year

Take

5

with Tabitha

by: Stephanie Maxwell Newton

West Memphis native Tabitha McNulty was drawn to the Junior League of Little Rock for the same reason many members are: to become more connected to her community. “I’m not originally from Little Rock. When I joined as a new member, I had a 1-year-old son and really wanted to make the city my home,” she says. “I felt the best way to do that was through community service, and I hoped to meet other moms—people whose kids would likely grow up with my kids.” Now in her 13th year as an active member, Tabitha is President of the 2022-2023 Board. She balances this role with a career as an appellate attorney and life at home as wife to Kelly McNulty and mom to Max, Maggie, and Henry. Here are some of her top five favorite memories over the years— including an unforgettable past year as President.

JLLR’s induction into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in April 2022.

“It was so moving watching our organization being honored along with all the other amazing women.”

Taking part in 100 hours of service at the Arkansas Food Bank as part of the Centennial Celebration’s yearlong “Legacy of Impact” project.

“This was such a fun day with lots of smiles and hard work. My two youngest kids volunteered with me and, after six hours of service, my daughter wanted to know if we were going to work a third shift. It was a great day of service with women of the Junior League, both actives and sustainers.”

JLLR’s reception of the President’s Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Arkansas Chapter.

In November 2022, JLLR was recognized during National Philanthropy Day for its commitment to the central Arkansas community. “Receiving this award was a wonderful honor.”

4

1 2 5 3

Witnessing JLLR’s mission to improve elementary school students’ school preparedness in action.

One of Tabitha’s proudest moments as a League member can be summed up in a letter JLLR received from a Little Rock School District librarian at one of the schools visited by Little Readers Rock. “A mother came to the school one morning to return a book to the librarian she thought the little boy had stolen,” Tabitha explains. “She learned the book was actually one JLLR had given him through Little Readers Rock. The mother was so touched, and said it was the first book the little boy had ever owned.”

Feeling inspired by her fellow League members.

“One of my favorite memories was sitting at a general meeting and watching the photographer for our Publications committee wearing her new baby while taking photos at the event. As a mom, I loved watching another mom with her baby while serving our women’s service organization. I loved that she felt supported to do both.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LACEY DUNCAN

Friends Forever

A decades-long partnership between JLLR and Camp Aldersgate makes Kota Camp a community favorite

by: Mary Hargraves

Going to summer camp growing up was the highlight of the year. You spend months counting down to being reunited with friends, s’mores, the camp dance, and lots of friendship bracelet making. The Junior League of Little Rock is fortunate to get to play a role in Kota Camp each summer and fall. Kota Camp is one of those Junior League placements that once you serve on it, it sucks you in. Lots of members request to be on it multiple times and even end up volunteering at Camp Aldersgate throughout the year.

A JLLR sustainer helped start the joint service project between JLLR and Camp Aldersgate a little over 20 years ago. Kota Camp allows individuals ages 6 to 26

with special needs and/or medical conditions to attend a fully accessible traditional summer camp. Kota Camp is unique in that it allows for an inclusive camp experience where the camper is accompanied by their sibling or friend. Activities including fishing, canoeing, archery, and arts and crafts are designed to allow every camper the opportunity to participate, face challenges, and succeed.

We are proud to have a tangible reminder of what the Junior League can accomplish. Just this year, Camp Aldersgate received the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence from the American Camp Association for the Kota Camp program. Here’s to 20 more years of Kota Camp!

Across the Board

Boardwalk gives JLLR members hands-on leadership training with nonprofit organizations across the city

by: Stephanie Maxwell Newton

The Boardwalk committee offers League members the valuable opportunity to gain experience on a nonprofit board. “Partnerships between JLLR and local nonprofits is important to the League as it provides our members the chance to act in a board role without all of the requirements that board members typically have,” says Mary Walter, current Boardwalk chair, referring to the financial obligation waived for Boardwalk members. Some Boardwalk partners, such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas and Volunteers in Public Schools, overlap with JLLR’s impact areas of school

preparedness and nutrition and wellness for community children. The League’s most recent Boardwalk partner is Well Fed, whose mission is to combat food insecurity with access to healthy food and education.

In turn, each Boardwalk member walks away from the placement (either a one- or two-year commitment) with the tools and experience necessary to be an effective member of a nonprofit board. “It also allows JLLR members to make relationships with nonprofits and lets them volunteer with other amazing organizations,” Mary says.

Camp Aldersgate volunteers have fun with Kota Camp attendees.

Shining Nightingales

This Junior League of Little Rock committee helps support families when they need it most

by: Monica McGee

Meet active member Jennifer Hoss, Chair of Nightingales, a JLLR community project that assists families with loved ones receiving medical treatment. We asked Jennifer a few questions to learn more about Nightingales, share her experience as a third-year committee member, and find out how we could support the cause, which has been a JLLR committee since 1999.

Q: What is Nightingales?

A: Nightingales plans and facilitates weekly activity nights for parents and caregivers of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). We also provide snacks for patients and parents residing at the Home for Healing, formerly known as the UAMS Family Home, which provides free and convenient lodging while patients receive medical treatment.

Q: What kinds of opportunities does Nightingales provide for JLLR members?

A: Placement with Nightingales provides an opportunity for members to directly volunteer with members of the community. We provide services to caregivers and patients who are often in a stressful time in their lives, giving these people some respite. We also offer snacks, which help nourish their bodies when they may not have the means or opportunity to do so themselves. In addition, because Nightingales volunteers are required to meet the volunteer requirements of ACH, which requires certain training, up-to-date immunizations, and TB testing, Nightingales members are also able to volunteer at ACH for other functions, should they so desire.

Q: What is a standout moment for you as being part of the Nightingales committee?

A: In 2021, the Nightingales were not able to host Bingo night at ACH due to pandemic policies, but we were allowed to deliver snacks to certain departments at the hospital. Nightingales volunteers would load up a cart with snacks and small prizes (like cozy socks) and walk to each department to offer these items to caregivers. One night, one woman came to the snack cart seeming a bit lost and frantic. Unprompted— because ACH volunteers are trained to never ask such

to what she was going through.”

questions—the woman explained how her teenager had just been life-flighted from Oklahoma to receive lifesaving treatment. As a major medical facility, ACH was the closest hospital that could provide the services her teenager needed. She explained she had just arrived via helicopter with nothing but what she had on and was grateful for the snacks we provided that would now likely be her dinner. We listened. When she finished, she quickly left the room to await news of her loved one. While she was grateful for the snacks and socks, I got the sense she really needed someone to listen to what she was going through. Even though our training limits the type of response we could have provided, I think our presence was the most impactful that night.

Q: How does the purpose of the Nightingales committee resonate with you personally?

A: I really enjoy serving on Nightingales. I picked this committee because when I was younger, my dad had cancer that required him to travel to another city—a 12-hour drive from home—to receive treatment. We didn’t know anyone in this city and without the help of a place like Home for Healing, he would not have been able to receive the treatment he needed. My dad was able to make a full recovery. I know how impactful a place like that was for my family, and I like being able to “pay it forward” now as a part of the Junior League.

“While she was grateful for the snacks and socks, I got the sense she really needed someone to listen

— Jen Hoss, chair of Nightingales

Holiday House Magic

JLLR’s annual fundraiser continues to draw crowds and support the League’s mission, 30-plus years after it was founded

by: Meagan Davis

The Junior League of Little Rock’s most beloved fundraiser, Holiday House, returned for its 31st year November 16-19, 2022, at the Statehouse Convention Center. Keeping with tradition, the event was filled with fantastic vendors and holiday cheer.

2022 Holiday House Chair Shelby Hardin and 2023 Chair Morgan Karrant have both devoted their JLLR careers to serving on the Holiday House committee. They each describe working on the committee as stressful but rewarding and lovingly refer to fellow committee members as family. “The friendships I have built over the past seven years has hands down been my favorite part of the placement,” Shelby said.

Various special events were hosted throughout the four-day holiday shopping extravaganza. Preview Party, held on Wednesday night, was Shelby’s favorite special event. “When the doors open at 6 p.m., our committee gets to see their hard work put into action and watch shoppers pour through the doors excited for a night of fun,” she said. Morgan reported her best-loved event is Ladies Night, because of how fun it is to see women of all ages coming together to celebrate and shop.

Holiday House has faced challenges over the past few years with the pandemic and the ever-changing holiday shopping market. These challenges, combined with the pressure of being the primary fundraising mechanism for the League, puts a lot of weight on the committee’s shoulders. Shelby describes the experience as incredibly fulfilling. “It’s so rewarding to see how the proceeds are used and how much impact our hard work of planning and executing the event has on our community,” she said. In 2022, Holiday House raised more than $130,000 for JLLR community projects—a major accomplishment only two years after the beginning of the pandemic, which caused the fundraiser to pause operations for a year.

In typical JLLR fashion, the committee has faced hurdles head-on and continues to evolve to meet the needs of those they serve. Morgan affirms that the 2023 committee is exploring ways to continue to improve special events, cater to smaller businesses, and have a bigger impact on the community. “We have some great ideas, so stay tuned for Holiday House 2023,” she said.

A Century Worth Celebrating

Six years of planning and hundreds of hours of service culminate in an eventful Centennial Celebration for JLLR

by: Meagan Davis

The Centennial Celebration may have taken place in 2022, but planning for the event started at least six years prior. The Centennial Celebration was not just a culmination of 100 years of community impact by the Junior League of Little Rock, but also a testament to the countless hours spent in brainstorming, researching, developing, and implementing by dedicated members and sustainers of the League. The Centennial Celebration was true to its theme, “Legacy of Impact,” showcasing our history, our members, and our impressive community footprint.

The JLLR Centennial Task Force was formed in 2016 to create a compendium report of recommendations, strategies, goals, committee structure, and feedback from other Junior Leagues across the globe who had celebrated their 100th anniversary. This base structure was utilized by the Centennial Celebration Committee (CCC), a group of women who have devoted the past four years to ensuring the League’s 100th anniversary was a commemoration worthy of JLLR’s vast accomplishments. And in the midst of a pandemic, the CCC prevailed with a year that highlighted our League’s history and incited excitement for its future.

Members of the CCC reflect on their four years of service to this project as both challenging and incredibly rewarding. From Zoom meetings to event postponements, the pandemic added obstacles to an already considerable task, but the committee persevered. CCC Co-chair Candace Anderson acknowledged the difficulty added by the pandemic but affirmed that the committee “never gave up hope that [they] would be able to eventually gather in larger groups for volunteer days and a celebration party.”

Thanks to the perseverance and dedication of the CCC members, those dreams came to fruition. The Centennial Celebration party was held on January 28, 2023, at the League building, which was adorned with celebratory decor. On a rainy and cold Saturday evening, the building was packed with active and sustaining members of all ages and their significant others to celebrate a Legacy of Impact. “The atmosphere was electric,” said CCC Marketing Subcommittee Chair Mimi M. Hurst. Former President and CCC member Sabrina Lewellen also marveled at the outcome, saying, “it was so exciting to finally reach this apex event and to see so many people come together to mark this once-in-an-organizational-

CCC Held Reading Days and Cooking Matters Classes at Rockefeller Elementary

lifetime milestone.” Many CCC members also remarked on the impactful display of photos, documents, historical items, and awards from across the League’s 100 years.

The Centennial Celebration was, of course, much more than one celebratory event. The CCC worked tirelessly to ensure the League’s history of community service was highlighted, honored, and reinforced during the Centennial year.

As one of its first courses of action, the CCC met with community leaders in both the public service and nonprofit sectors to identify and address critical needs in our city. Upon learning that the Rockefeller Early Childhood Education Center lost its media center when it transitioned from an elementary school to an early childhood center, the CCC proposed the creation of an age-appropriate replacement. “My eyes were opened wide to the critical importance of the years from birth to age 4 for brain development related to literacy outcomes,” said Jennifer Ronnel, a member of CCC’s Community Impact Subcommittee. In May 2022, with a gift of $13,000 from JLLR, the media center at Rockefeller Early Childhood Education Center became a reality.

The CCC also connected with leaders of several JLLR Legacy Projects to honor them with gifts, including two $10,000 gifts in the fall of 2022. The gift to the Museum of Discovery will sponsor the Wiggle Worms program for one year. In partnership with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, CCC’s gift will bring the Art Start program to Rockefeller Elementary. In reflecting on the meaningful work completed during the Centennial year, Mimi M. Hurst said, “It was so rewarding to me to see how several of these nonprofits or projects have evolved, grown, and continue to provide greatly to help our community.”

From reading days to Cooking Matters classes, volunteer opportunities were plentiful during the Centennial year. Candace Anderson fondly recalled

“100 Volunteers for 100 Years” as her favorite service day from the Centennial year. Held on October 8, 2022, at Arkansas Food Bank, Candace described the event as “the epitome of what the JLLR is about, bringing women together from different backgrounds with the common goal to make a difference in our community.” 2022-2023

JLLR President Tabitha McNulty was joined at the event by her two youngest children. She said the event was “a wonderful way to spend the day with other Junior Leaguers and two children while serving the community.”

Top: JLLR volunteers at Arkansas Food Bank for “100 Volunteers for 100 Years.”

Bottom: Representatives of JLLR, including the CCC, in the new media center at Rockefeller Early Childhood Education Center

MAY 2022

CCC Revealed $13,000 Gift of New Media Center to Rockefeller Elementary

AUGUST 2022

CCC Sponsored Wiggle Worms Program at Museum of Discovery for 1 year ($10,000 Gift)

AUGUST 2022

Multigenerational Event held at Museum of Discovery

SEPTEMBER 2022

Inviting Arkansas Highlights JLLR’s 100 Year Legacy of Leadership

SEPTEMBER 2022

CCC Partners with Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts to bring Art Start Program to Rockefeller Elementary ($10,000 Gift)

OCTOBER 2022

“100 Volunteers for 100 Years” Service Day at the Arkansas Food Bank

NOVEMBER 2022

JLLR Received President’s Award from Arkansas Association of Fundraising Professionals

2023

DECEMBER 2022

100 Years of JLLR Takes the Cover of Little Rock’s Soireé Magazine

JANUARY 2023

Arkansas

Democrat-Gazette Recognizes JLLR’s Community Work During the Centennial Year

Ensuring long-term League sustainability through increased engagement and financial giving was also an important focus of the CCC. CCC Membership Subcommittee Co-chairs Jamie Jones and Wendy Saer spent time reminding sustainers why they joined the League and encouraging future involvement. Maggie Young, CCC Development Subcommittee Chair, worked on reengaging longtime League supporters from a development standpoint and implemented the Second Century Campaign, ensuring sustainers and active members appreciate our rich history and support our future trajectory is vital for continued, meaningful impact.

The Centennial Celebration marks an end and a beginning for JLLR as we honor our past and we transition into a second century of service. “JLLR exists today because of the vision and labor of the hundreds of women who have belonged to JLLR since 1922,” Candace said. Likewise, its future depends on the current members and sustainers who serve. When asked what advice they would give to new JLLR members, the feedback from CCC members was consistent: capitalize on every placement by learning and giving back as much as possible. Although our first century of leadership and service has come to an end, JLLR is just getting started. Cheers to another 100 years!

“Junior League of Little Rock exists today because of the vision and labor of the hundreds of women who have belonged to JLLR since 1922.”

1 Ellon Cockrill, JoBeth McElhanon, and Sheila Vaught 2 Archival photos through the years of JLLR. 3 Priscilla Barnes and Shannon Heard 4 Rosalyn Middleton and Susan Altrui 5 Nan Ellen East and Lou Ellen Treadway 6 Kenya Eddings, Nikki Hite, Sabrina Lewellen, and Vontifany Smith Johnson

1 Maradyth McKenzie, Candace Anderson, Kim Logue, and Dana Coburn

2 Wendy Saer, Jennifer Ronnel, Jan Hundley, and Maggie Young

3 Tony and Dr. Marisha DeCarlo

4 Carolyn Coleman and Joanne Riddick

5 Tabitha McNulty and Mimi M. Hurst

6 Telisha and Terrence Lewis

7 Whitney Mosley, Kim Jenkins, and Britney Harcourt

8 Terri and Chuck Erwin

9 Carmen Hamilton-Parks, Gina Pharis, Stephanie Purifoy, and Jeanne Joyner

a BIG

Thank you to the many JLLR members that spent years preparing for this event

Leading Ladies

To get to know the 2022-2023 Board of Directors, we asked: What’s your favorite JLLR memory?

by: Danele Poole

Tabitha McNulty President

I have so many lovely Junior League memories. I think my favorite JLLR memory is doing my community focus shift at Kota Camp and getting to play with the kids during the dance party. I will always remember how the energy and joy in that room completely filled my heart. What an honor to get to work with the campers!

Sara Beth Leader President-Elect

During our Spring Project at the Boys & Girls Club my new new member year, we felt confident that the kids would be wowed by the new decor, supplies, big-screen TV, furniture, and computers. And while they really appreciated everything that we did to update the early childhood room, nothing thrilled them more than the goldfish I purchased as a class pet for the big reveal. It was an incredible reminder that what you may consider a small gesture can still make a big impact to those we are fortunate enough to serve.

Jordan Broyles Hallenbeck Administrative Vice President

My favorite Junior League memory was working on our Spring Project my new member year. We completed a big update to the teen room and bathrooms at the Boys & Girls Club. We painted, cleaned, set up new computers and TVs, and purchased new furniture. In true JLLR fashion, we went above and beyond the ask. Our class worked so hard, and it was a great culmination to our year.

Mandy Ellis Keller Community Vice President

My favorite memory has been serving as Chair of Stuff the Bus as it was the project that drew me to JLLR. In 2007, I was working at Watson Elementary, and we welcomed a literal busload of JLLR members who brought us supplies our students needed and updated our library. It was an honor to give back to the school where I started my career while serving with Stuff the Bus!

Ganelle McBryde

“Our impact is far-reaching and spans generations”

—

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LACEY DUNCAN

Ganelle McBryde Development Vice President

My favorite memory from the Junior League is selling cookbooks at Holiday House. There were so many women who came by with the most touching, funny, and meaningful stories about meals they had made or had made for them out of the Junior League cookbooks. We raised some money, and I got plenty of great cooking tips. Our impact is far-reaching and spans generations.

WHO'S WHO / KNOW YOUR BOARD

Telischa Lewis Membership

Vice President

One of my fondest memories was serving as Community Vice President. In that role, I was able to identify a community need and help come up with a solution to help combat COVID-19 by hosting multiple vaccine drive-through clinics. This is what the JLLR is all about—meeting critical needs in the Little Rock community through our strategic partnerships and voluntarism.

Training Director

One of my favorite memories was turning the Nonprofit Board Institute into a virtual experience early in the pandemic. There was a little bit of anxiety in terms of if it would work, but there was lots of excitement too! In the end, it turned out great and even allowed us to have out-of-state participants from other Junior Leagues.

Davis Treasurer-Elect

I loved the Childrens’ Event my new member year. We put together Santa’s Workshop, and it reaffirmed that joining the League was a great idea! I loved seeing the joy on the kids’ faces as they had pictures with Santa, put together crafts, and had donuts and hot chocolate. I also loved meeting a lot of wonderful women in my new member class and spending the morning getting to know them better!

Shannon Heard Marketing Vice President

My favorite memory of my experience with the Junior League of Little Rock was working with fellow new members on our Spring Project at the Boys & Girls Club. Seeing the fruits of our labor while positively impacting our city was one of my proudest moments, and I had fun in the process!

Amberlie Pearce Nominating Director

It sounds so corny, but my favorite memory is truly thinking about all of the close relationships I have with friends from the League. I have met ladies in this organization who have become such a big part of my life. I can think of a dozen times over the almost 10 years I have been a part of JLLR that my fellow League members have taught me, inspired me, and sometimes completely changed my perspective for the better. I love being surrounded by women who are such a force to be reckoned with and who selflessly give their time to make this community better.

My favorite memory is not one specific event, but the act of growing and learning beside women I admire deeply. I cherish all of the memories made at each and every League event alongside these women who have great passion and heart for what the League does!

Sustainer Advisor

It is hard to pick just one favorite Junior League memory, because I treasure all the relationships I have built through the League! If I had to pick just one, I’d go back to the beginning: being a new member and working shifts at the Bargain Barn warehouse in the winter. It was cold, dark, and pretty dirty, but we learned to work together and turn chaos into order. In the process, we forged friendships that are now 20-plus years strong.

Jessica Blair Treasurer

Tracey Bradley Simmons

Kirstin

Maggie Young

Raise a Glass

From members recognized for their leadership to those transitioning to actives and sustainers, here’s who is making waves in JLLR

by: Danele Poole

Hometown: El Dorado

Years Active in JLLR: 1984-1997

Occupation: Senior Vice President, Stephens, Inc.

Favorite hobby: I like to be involved with people and help organizations with missions I support.

Why did you join JLLR? My parents were involved with various volunteer/service activities in El Dorado, so I naturally was involved with community service where youth could volunteer in El Dorado. It was second nature to be involved in volunteer activities in Little Rock, and I knew how active and special the League was (is!) for the Little Rock community. Also, I wanted to meet more women and learn more about my new hometown in 1984.

What do you feel like the League has helped you accomplish? I believe the League has helped me become more open-minded. In my case, it helped me understand people and situations from many viewpoints and angles. Experiences gained during volunteering with the League showed me there are many roads to success, and one needs to be open to explore all viewpoints and angles before choosing which road to take.

June 2021

Kate Edwards

July 2021

Kayla Cook

August 2021

Jhanalyn Blount

September 2021

Allison Stephens

October 2021

Monica McGee

November 2021

Kirstin Davis

What’s your favorite League memory? I have so many good memories, but the year 1996-97, serving as President of the League, has many of my favorite memories because I was able to interact with lots of different League members. The executive officers worked closely as a group, and it was an exciting year for the League. We saw our involvement with the Museum of Discovery solidify, purchased two trees for Trees for the Future as a part of the new River Market development, and saw our third cookbook, Apron Strings, go to the printer! Another special memory that year was seeing everyone having such a good time together at the 75th Anniversary Dance.

December 2021

Shannon Heard

January 2022

Rachel McLemore

February 2022

Ginsie Higgs

March 2022

Drew Simon

April 2022

Kiara Swift

“Experiences gained during volunteering with the League showed me there are many roads to success”

Mimi M. Hurst

Sustainer Member

Hometown: Little Rock

Years Active in JLLR: 2017-Present

Occupation: Head of Global Sales Support, Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

Favorite hobby: Hiking followed by a local craft beer.

Why did you join JLLR? I joined the League to connect with other women that want to influence and improve our local community. Growing up, I was always involved in volunteer opportunities. After being removed from long-term volunteer opportunities due to my work travel schedule, I found myself missing being plugged into an organization and giving back to my community. When my job changed and allowed for more lifework balance, I took the opportunity to join JLLR.

What’s your favorite League memory? My favorite memory is receiving first-hand feedback from Nonprofit Board Institute attendees about how our course sessions have opened their eyes to what it truly means to serve on a nonprofit board. They then asked what we have planned for the next year!

I love being able to see the impact the Junior League of Little Rock is leaving on our community.

Lindi Miller

Hometown: Paragould

Years Active in JLLR: 2021-Present

Occupation: Public Involvement Representative, HNTB

Favorite hobby: Traveling

Why did you join JLLR? I joined to make strong professional connections with likeminded women and to give back to the community. I couldn’t be happier with the impact we have already made in such a short time!

What do you feel like the League has helped you accomplish? The League has helped me grow as a community leader. Serving as the Chair of our Spring Project during my new member year gave me a lot of insight as to what our Junior League and community leadership really deals with, and I am excited to continue to grow as a leader in JLLR.

What’s your favorite League memory? My favorite memory was our new member project painting the school!

“I love being able to see the impact JLLR is leaving on our community.”

“I am excited to grow as a leader in JLLR.”

Allison Stephens

SOUTHERN GLAZER’S WINE & SPIRITS OF ARKANSAS

is proud to support the Junior League of Little Rock

WHO'S WHO / MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

New Active Members

welcomed May 2022

Alana Anderson

Erica Archer

Mya Baker

Samantha Berlowitz

Hillary Boshers

Candice Bozeman

Cassandra Caldwell

Leslie Carter

Brooke Clanton

Morgan Crain

Christina Day

Dovie Dockery

Rebecca Dwyer-Coop

Theresa Flowers

Please always enjoy responsibly!

Susan Hale

Hannah Heffernan

Caroline Honea

Marico Howe

Jami Schmidt Howell

Kiauna Hughes

Keeley Jennings

Courtney Johnson

Katherine Loyd

Elizabeth Maddox

Sarah McClary

Summer McVay

Lindi Miller

Gillian O’Brien

Mariska Jordan Rhynes

Freta Rogers

Roxana Segovia

Alexis Seibert

Shai Stocker

Kaitlin Vereen

New Sustaining Members

as of May 2022

Thanks to these members for their years of service to the League!

Earning trust. Creating value. Building relationships.

For more than 100 years, we’ve worked hard to help make our customers’ dreams come true – dreams like buying a home, star ting a business or simply having the ability to manage your money safely and securely, anywhere you happen to be

Alicia Austin Smith, active since 2013

Isabella Moller Bradley, active since 2015

Danielle DuRousseau Cherney, active since 2015

Kandi Chitman Hughes , active since 2015

Mary Kennedy Fair, active since 2015

Marly Jeffries Gammill, active since 2013

Tanya Carter James, active since 2014

Jenna Cummings Martin, active since 2015

Frances Mitchell, active since 2015

Keri Adkins Richmond, active since 2015

Tinika Ricks, active since 2014

Wendy Howard Sander, active since 2015

Statement of Financial Position

would like to say THANK YOU to our 2022 sponsors

Junior League of Little Rock presents its statement of financial position for the period ending May 31, 2022.