Opportunities. Possibility. Strength. Intentional.
Those were all words that Black members of the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) used to describe the League during a training session this past week during Black History Month. The event was open to all members to learn about the history of Black women in the League.
President Charlitta Hatch moderated the panel that included Toni Freeman, the first Black president of the JLC, Past President Lisa Johnson, Sustainer and incoming Board member, Ayanna Wakefield, Sherri Belfield, the incoming Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and incoming Diversity and Inclusion committee member, Alexis Kondratyk.
These women all joined the JLC at different times, but all had the same thought when they joined — “Will there be someone who looks like me?” Many noted that much to their surprise, they did find members who looked like them.
Sherri recalled that when she joined in 2013, she thought, “The League doesn’t take people like me.” Even when she learned the JLC does “take people like her” she thought,“I’m going to be here and just be a number”. She quickly learned there were jobs for her to do, saying “If you put yourself out there, you can work. Nobody says ‘wait your turn.’” During her time in the League, she has gone on to serve in many leadership roles, including the JLC Board of Directors and was just selected as the first Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion.
When Lisa joined the JLC in 2002, she didn’t know many people, but went to a dinner attended by other Black women in the League and thought “How could you be in a room with all these fabulous women and not want to serve with them?” Thirteen years later, she went on to become President of the League. She became one of those ‘fabulous women’ she talked about.
But finding other Women of Color in the League wasn’t always the case. Pat Heard was the first Black member of the JLC. She was accepted into the League in 1979. Thirteen years later, when Toni joined, there were still only 10 Black members. In her Provisional class of 180 women, only two of them were Black. In 2021, the League is much more diverse. “The JLC looks like the community I live in,” says Alexis. As Ayanna points out, diversity is heartfelt as well, and not something the JLC is doing to check off a diversity and inclusion checklist. “We’re seeing women as individuals and what they can achieve.”
To get to this point, the League has had to do away with hardships that Women of Color used to face. In 1992 when Toni joined, prospective members had to have four sponsors. When she originally wanted to join, Toni didn’t know enough women in the League, so she couldn’t get enough sponsors. The next year, she had an ally who sponsored her and then invited her to a tea where she could meet her other three sponsors which meant she could finally join the League.
Now, League members only need one sponsor. Recognizing that new members don’t always know someone already in the League, a sponsorship pool is set up to make sure that every woman who wants to join will be partnered with a sponsor. It is one of the many ways the League has worked to be both diverse and inclusive.
Speaking of those allies that Toni mentioned, how can they help support the League’s commitment to diversity? “Show up. Listen Up. Speak Up.” says Sherri. She added that she is proud of the women who are willing to be brave enough to sit down at the table and say “I haven’t always gotten it, but I’m willing to learn. I’m not going to talk, but I’m going to listen.”
While our members admit there is still work to be done, they’re happy to see how far we have come. Toni noted that she is proud that almost 30 years after she joined the JLC, the League is having these conversations, because back then, they weren’t happening. Ayanna is excited to sit on the Board and have a voice. Sherri is looking forward to stepping into the role of Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and continuing to build on the foundation that the League has already laid when it comes to D&I work. Her words of encouragement to all — “We’re there, so let’s go!”
