Recently, we officially kicked off our new League year with the first General Membership Meeting (GMM) on September 8. The meeting was held virtually, with more than 720 members tuning in via Youtube and Facebook. Here are some highlights from the evening:
Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) President, Kellie Lofton, was the first to address members and, fitting to the recent change of location, she spoke on this League year’s theme: Change Agents. Change Agent: “A person who has the skill and power to stimulate, facilitate, and coordinate external or internal transformations.” Kellie pointed out that though our League has dealt with many unforeseen circumstances since the pandemic first hit, we have still managed to make a difference in our community – our work still matters! The impact of our League has set many kids up for success for the upcoming school year, and provided a support system for many women both in and outside of our League.
President-Elect Christina Gratrix referred to the JLC as her silver lining, taking note of the ways our members have adjusted, pivoted, and made space for our mission to continue.
The current focus area is “School Ready” and will target the health and education needs of children in priority areas within our community. Our three panelists for the evening spoke on how they are assisting both students and their families in the Charlotte community this school year:
- The Honorable Judge Rickye McKoy-Mitchell: Mecklenburg County District Court Judge
- Judge McKoy-Mitchell spoke of growing up wanting to see more diversity among people in power, and wanting to be in a position to help others and give a voice to the voiceless. She encourages young people to be leaders for causes they are passionate about and to share their values with their peers to create change.
- Ms. Carol Hardison: CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry
- Influenced by her social justice focused upbringing, Carol decided to leave corporate America after many years to make a change for Charlotte families in poverty. Crisis Assistance Ministry provides basic necessities for free and empowers families to achieve financial security.
- Dr. Frank D. Barnes: Chief Accountability Officer, Charlotte Mecklenburg County
- At a young age, Dr. Barnes realized that among his friend group, not all kids were receiving an adequate level of education for their age group. He expressed that school systems don’t have enough resources or funding to make a real change long term. He believes that more diversity in leadership is key to understanding the school district’s families, as parents from all walks of life want a better future for their kids.
