Last month's March General Membership Meeting, Junior League of Greater New Haven members gathered at the Arts Council (and virtually) for an important Narcan Training led by Kara Sepulchers-Fonseca from Alliance for Prevention & Wellness (BHcare) and Fiona and Isabelle Firine from For Cameron, Inc.

This impactful training included:

✔️ Eye-opening statistics and insights into the ongoing opioid crisis

✔️ The knowledge to recognize an opioid overdose

✔️ Hands-on experience in using Narcan

✔️ The confidence to take action and help save lives

Attendees were also provided Narcan and a face shield to help save lives.

In 2023, Connecticut lost 1,329 lives to opioid overdose. We are grateful to Alliance for Prevention & Wellness and For Cameron, Inc. for sharing their expertise and dedication to overdose prevention and awareness.

A special thank you to our League Development Chair, Monica Grey-Childs, for planning and organizing this opportunity, along with others who helped make this experience meaningful.

Last month, the Junior League of Greater New Haven had the honor of hosting the first Connecticut Council of Junior Leagues (CCJL) event in years — and it was an unforgettable one!

As this year’s chair of the CCJL, we proudly welcomed Leaguers from across the state for Bubbly & Brunch at the historic Estate, once owned by Deb Townshend, a beloved New Haven leader and past League President. Guests enjoyed an upscale bruncheon, top-shelf brunch cocktails, and an inspiring keynote from our friends at the CT Diaper Bank.

The event brought together members past and present from West Hartford to New Canaan, and everywhere in between, creating new connections and celebrating the power of women-led community impact.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special gathering — we loved seeing so many familiar faces and meeting future leaders!

The Junior League of Greater New Haven is excited to celebrate the success of our Spring Provisional Class and their inspiring community project!

On February 22, the spring provisional class hosted a book drive at Spruce Coffee, bringing together community members over coffee and conversation, all in support of a great cause. Through the generosity of attendees and supporters, the group collected gently used and new books to benefit New Haven Reads, a local organization committed to promoting literacy and a love of reading among children in the Greater New Haven area.

This event was more than a service project — it was a demonstration of our newest members' commitment to leadership, community engagement, and meaningful impact. From planning and promotion to event-day execution, the provisional class embodied the Junior League mission of developing the potential of women and improving our community through the power of volunteer action.

A special thank you to Spruce Coffee for hosting and to everyone who stopped by and donated. Your support helped make this initiative a success!

Congratulations again to our Spring Provisional Class — we can’t wait to see how you continue to lead and serve!

This month, the Junior League of Greater New Haven kicked off the new year with a memorable January Recruitment Social at the Yale University Art Gallery.

Our small group of attendees enjoyed an exclusive, private tour of the museum, exploring the galleries and focusing on the theme of "community" through the lens of art. Guided by the museum’s knowledgeable Education Department, we engaged in active discussions about the artwork, deepening our appreciation for its cultural and historical significance.

The intimate setting provided a perfect opportunity for prospective and current JLGNH members to connect, share ideas, and reflect on what community means to us as individuals and as a League.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring event! We look forward to seeing you at future recruitment and social events as we continue to build connections and strengthen our impact in the Greater New Haven area.

#JLGNH #CommunityThroughArt #MembershipMatters

We helped Fill the Dwight Community Fridge for Thanksgiving!

Our November Done in a Day project was to help fill the Dwight Community Fridge just in time for Thanksgiving! This was a wonderful chance to give back and ensure that families in our community have access to essential food items for the holiday.

We invited members, friends, and the public to bring non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and other essentials to help fill the fridge with love and generosity. After stocking the fridge, we celebrated our impact with a well-deserved happy hour at Michelina’s on State Street—a fantastic, woman-owned spot known for its cozy vibes and great drinks.

DIAD Thanksgiving Turkey Drop!

This Thanksgiving season, the Junior League of Greater New Haven supported the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen’s annual Turkey Drop! 

We provided frozen turkeys, non-perishable holiday food items, and essentials (stuffing, canned vegetables, and more!) to make the holiday season brighter for families in need.

We celebrated a Festive Holiday at Decembers GMM& Holiday Party at Haven Beer Co. in their cozy and fun Penalty Box!

We celebrated a night filled with holiday cheer, great company, and delicious brews. 

During our celebration we collected new or gently used coats which we donated to Button Up Connecticut to keep our neighbors in need warm!

About Haven Beer Co:

Welcome to Haven Beer Company, where we go beyond just brewing the best beers. Our full bar offers craft cocktails and wine, while our full in-house menu serves up delicious food. Whether it's lunch, dinner, or just a cold one, everyone is welcome here! Our Tap Room open up to our outdoor Biergarten - the perfect spot for a sunny day Cheers to good times ahead at Haven Beer Co

JLGNH is incredibly grateful for our community of empowering women! Reflecting on our November GMM, we were honored to have Karen Scarfo Thomas as our keynote speaker. Karen, the ED of Friendly Hands Foodbank- the largest food bank in NWCT- and a certified etiquette educator, shared her inspiring story and valuable insights with us.

The evening was filled with connection, learning, sharing, and enjoying delicious food and drinks at @eastrockmarket! We also heard from the JLGNH Board, as each Director introduced themselves.

Our October GMM at the Arts Council Building featured an inspiring keynote, Teqoa Griffith, CEO of Blaq Pearl Photography! Teqoa shared her incredible journey as an entrepreneur, her experiences filming on HGTV’s House Hunters, photographing the WNBA and UFC, and her impactful role with I Love New Haven. Her wisdom and insight were truly unforgettable!

A huge thank you to everyone who attended in person and virtually! We also want to recognize The Arts Council of Greater New Haven for the beautiful venue, Ozzy’s Pizza of East Rock Market for the delicious pizza, and East Rock Brewing Company for the amazing beer.

By: Allison Gallaspy

Since its founding in 1923, the Junior League of Greater New Haven has sought to effect positive change in the Greater New Haven community by promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and supporting the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. As the League prepares for its Centennial Anniversary, we celebrate our members and share their incredible stories, recognizing how each individual story makes up that of the League as a whole.

Sherese Ward

Sherese Ward came to the Junior League of Greater New Haven as a native of the namesake city who currently lives and works in Austin, TX. She has a professional background in finance, but has transitioned to a role as Portfolio Director K12 Education Programs with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation in education philanthropy, for which she draws upon her passion for social justice.

Sherese joined the Junior League of Greater New Haven in 2008 and although she calls herself an over-committer who struggles with work-life balance, she says that JLGNH work felt different from her other passion projects because of the deep friendships she has developed through her Junior League membership with other service-oriented women. Per Sherese, “fitting in my JL responsibilities has never been an issue. My League was comprised of the most wonderful humans, who served as a source of constant energy. My JL work was always energizing.” Ms. Ward served on the committee to plan JLGNH’s signature fundraiser, the annual Winetasting and Auction, and counts that opportunity as one of her happiest memories.

While Sherese has transferred from the JLGNH, she is an integral part of the history of our League and we are proud to count a woman as resilient and curious as Sherese, who believes deeply in the collective power of women, among our lifelong members.