By Paige Laurain
Martha Alexander has made her mark in politics and in the lives of countless women. As a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, she advocated for issues including child daycare standards, racial justice, chemical dependency and mental health. She credits her time in the Junior League with helping her develop some of the skills necessary to succeed in the world of politics.
“One thing I always found interesting when I was active, was I could tell who was a Junior League member or who was a husband of a member because they were punctual, they were engaged, they did their research about an issue, and they were committed to what was going on,” she says. “It always amazed me because those people understood the role of a volunteer.”
Martha Alexander joined the Junior League more than 55 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida. She has been a League member in Jacksonville, Montreal, Atlanta, and Charlotte. She served as League President for the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) from 1976 – 1977 and was awarded the Mary Harriman award, the Association of Junior Leagues International’s highest honor, in 2003.
Whether working in the House of Representatives, or volunteering with the JLC, Alexander identified and sought solutions to meet the needs of others. One need she identified while active in the JLC was educating and supporting women who were returning back to work. She helped to initiate a 10 week course for League members entitled LIVE: Liberate Individuals through Voluntary Education. This course supported women at a time of transition when they were beginning to evaluate their lives and many had self-doubts about returning to college or to work.
“The greatest lesson I learned while in the Junior League was how to take on responsibility. Doing your homework or research on anything you’re working on makes the biggest difference. It’s important to be aware and carry out a commitment”.
Alexander also spoke about the growth opportunities she had through JLC. “One time someone who was speaking at our meeting canceled last minute. We had the meeting anyways and I learned that it was OK. When things happen, you just deal with them the best way you can and keep it positive”.
Alexander used the trainings she attended and the lessons she learned to move into politics. Her political roots started in high school, where she served as the student council secretary. She then went on to serve as the Women’s Vice President at Florida State University. At the time, this was the highest position held by a woman, as the student Senate was divided by gender. Alexander recalled leaving a committee meeting one day and deciding members of the JLC needed to be involved in politics. She believed they could use their skills to make positive changes at the legislative level. Alexander took her conviction and went on to serve as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 – 2003.
Many of the disciplines and expertise Alexander learned and applied during her active JLC experience transferred into her political career. “I think there’s a misconception that all we do is volunteer. I spent a lot of time out in the community, and the more involved I became the more I realized the importance of my League training, and how I could use it to impact the community,” says Alexander.
