Empower JLOC Members in Our Community
A Spotlight on Representative Chelsey Branham By Molly Brantley
M
embers of the Junior League have a gift of using skills learned professionally and from the League to benefit their communities and beyond. Rep. Chelsey Branham (D-District 83) is no exception. A member of the 2020 Provisional Class, Branham is utilizing her skill set to serve not only her district, which encompasses much of Nichols Hills, North Quail Creek, the Village, Camelot, Benttree, Greystone, Chisholm Creek and Fairview Farms, but to better the Oklahoma City community as a whole. A native of rural Oklahoma and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Branham previously worked in Zambia. It was a position with the YWCA that brought her back to Oklahoma in 2014. When she is not in session, she consults non-profits in the areas of training and strategic development and recently traveled to New York to work with the Ms. Foundation. Branham sought to join the League in 2019 to serve the community in other ways and to
have the ability to communicate directly with more of her constituents. “Many Junior League members live in my district, and I wanted as many opportunities as possible to learn what their concerns and values are,” Branham said. Additionally, she holds a degree in international economics and development, so much of her legislation involves how the social infrastructure impacts the economy and vice versa, as well as legislation focused on children, families and criminal justice reform. Her experience as a legislator has impacted her experience in the Junior League. “I knocked on over 15,000 doors during my campaign, and so I learned how to listen and connect with people about hard topics and things that are important to them. I get to do the same thing in the Junior League because we are all working together to improve people’s lives to make an impact, and to leave someone better off than before they came in contact with us.”
Next year, Branham will embark on her first year as an Active Member. “I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity to share my passion for service with others that are also passionate about making their communities and their neighbors’ lives better, as well as bringing attention to groups that are not otherwise receiving attention.” Much like her role in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Branham hopes to work with her fellow League members to devise creative, modern solutions to long-term problems affecting the community. Whether it is through her work as a legislator or involvement in the Junior League, Branham’s focus will remain on working with others to serve the community better.
2020-2021 JLOC PROVISIONALS MEMBER CLASS Alexandra Adkins Athen Andrade Sandra Andresson Smith Vivian Armitage Kenzie Arms Lynda Backstrom Barbara Bahner Katie Blankenship Alexandra Bridges Emily Burris Laura Butler Lauren Carter 8 SPRING 2020
Jessie Chavez Jade Coale Kirsten Collins Kati Conners Abigail Conte Jessica Dano Jakey Dobbs Sarah Dumas Shannon Easter Haley Esche Ashley Ewers Jennifer Fillmore Suzanne Frewaldt
Jennifer Grover Shaundra Hicks Katie Hill Jordan Horn Amanda Houska Brittani Hunter Elizabeth Isensee Jamie Jackson Elena Johnson Kelsey Jones Jessica Leonard Rachel Leonard Hannah Liles
Madison Lippert Sarah Lynch Madison Malget Lindsey Marczewski Sarah Masterson Danyale Matthews Alexandra McCurdy Kelli Miller Hannah Moore Teryn Moorman Katie Morgan Annie Mueller Ashley Narayan
Ashton Neufeld Kendra Norman Maribel Orduna Claire Painter Alicia Patterson Amanda Patterson Whitney Pittman Victoria Powell Sara Powers Elizabeth Rice Lauren Riepl Brandi Rizzi Erica Robinson
Mary Kate Roy Angela Shen Pooja Singhal Talia Sperry Brook Tipton Sara Watkins Rebecca Weingart Meagan Wilbourn Allyson Wilcoxv