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July 2021 Newsletter

Message from the President

Dear Community Leaders, Friends and Supporters,

Every year we make a plan, deliver on it, review how it went, and then take action steps to make next year’s plan even better. In the Junior League of Tallahassee, this is part of our DNA and the foundation on which we build our lifelong legacy. We always want to raise more than last year’s fundraiser, have a new Member class larger than the last, and most importantly, do more in our communities. As we navigate our post-pandemic summer with increased activities let us keep sight of what is most important. The JLT leaders are using this summer to focus on what brings our members to our doors and what brings our mission to fruition in the community. As we prepare for the 25th Anniversary of our signature project, Kids Boutique, we dream about the next 25 years this project will bring to the Tallahassee community. We are focusing on building community engagement, delivering innovative leadership, and developing experiences for women. Most importantly, we must create a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into everything that we do.

Last week, the Association of Junior Leagues International released the Diversity, Equity, Inclusions and Belonging Strategic Plan. It centers around creating a strong sense of belonging across the entire Junior League. Our local JLT has been working on embedding these values into our organization for many years. One of our latest initiatives is monthly Growth Club topics ranging from YouTube videos, historical documentaries, to recently released Best Selling books!

When people have a deep sense of belonging, they have a sense of purpose and meaning. They are committed to the organization because the organization is committed to them. I was lucky enough to see these values exemplified this weekend at the new member orientation day, Super Saturday, where the new member team welcomed 50+ members into our circle! I also was able to attend a “Summer Splash Day” at HOPE Community on a hot summer afternoon and I witnessed the commitment our members have towards improving the lives of women and families. May we continue to keep sight of our mission the rest of Summer 2021 and beyond!

Happy July, all!

#MassiveAction #LeadOn

Katie Britt Williams

JLT President 2021-2022

Gearing Up for the 25th Kids’ Boutique Back-to-School Shopping Event

What a milestone! We are excited to celebrate 25 years of Kids’ Boutique by continuing to serve Leon County elementary school students as they prepare to return to school for the 2021-22 academic year. It is with gratitude to partners like you this event has been a continued success.

As we ramp up for this year’s event, we are excited to announce that we expect to serve nearly 200 students. Following the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, our community needs us now more than ever.

Your support makes a difference in the lives of the children we serve. If you would like to support this project as a sponsor or through an in-kind donation that will help us make this year’s event extra special for participating children and their families, please contact AtLargeRep1@jltallahassee.org to learn how you can make an impact today.

JLT Prepares for Hurricane Season

The 2021 hurricane season kicked off on June 1st. The JLT and Tallahassee are not strangers to hurricanes and natural disasters. Many thanks to Sandi Poreda from the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and Robyn Wainner from the City of Tallahassee who spoke to JLT members about preparing for a natural disaster.

New Members Gather

The 2021-2022 JLT New Members had an opportunity to get to know each other and JLT leaders at a special coffee social at RedEye Coffee in Midtown. Members learned more about the League’s involvement in the community and were given a sneak peek at upcoming volunteer projects they can participate in as a new member of the League!

JLT Renovates! Progress Made at HOPE Community

This past month, JLT volunteers put the finishing touches on the Resident Care Specialist (RCS) office at Big Bend Homeless Coalition's HOPE Community. They hung original artwork created to unify the space with the entrance and the lobby and built a locker system, which gives the staff a place for their personal items while at work.

JLT Brunch at Charlie Park

JLT hosted a lovely brunch to celebrate the summer at Charlie Park in downtown Tallahassee. Members mingled and enjoyed delicious brunch and creative cocktails and mocktails at the rooftop lounge overlooking Cascades Park. Many thanks to Charlie Park for hosting our members at this fabulous event!

JLT Teen Board Recruitment

JLT Teen Board offers high school age junior and senior women from local high schools a foundation of service and leadership by providing them with the opportunity for community involvement and to enhance their leadership, advocacy, and fundraising skills. Members will receive training from JLT members and community leaders and will have the benefit of interacting with other young women their age from across the community.

Applications are now open and are due August 31st, 2021. We invite all interested women who will be juniors and seniors during the 2021-2022 school year to complete the JLT Teen Board application online. For more information contact Susan Bodner or Tracy Armbruster Richardson at TeenBoard@JLTallassee.org.

Support JLT!

Partnerships, Sponsorships & Donations

To aid us in our mission of improving the lives of children and families in the Tallahassee area, JLT relies on the generosity of sponsorships and donations to enhance our community impact. When an organization financially supports the League, we support the organization in return by valuable recognition and exposure to both our members and the general public through online and in-person channels. The League consistently fosters strong partnerships with our sponsors, and we would love to work with you or your organization next!

To learn more about how you can become a JLT Sponsor, please click here to review our sponsorship or email Nicole Okken at AtLargeRep1@jltallahassee.org for more information.

Copyright © |2021| Junior League of Tallahassee, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 13428 Tallahassee, FL 32317

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