Dear Reader,

While the 2021-2022 League year continued to pose challenges in creating deep and engaging connections with the community, our members never faltered on their focus of providing support to women and children, specifically around literacy, health and food insecurity.

We accomplished what we set out to do! Our League members donated diapers and we both collected and read books to children in need. We continued to show that we care about children's well-being when we participated in Cardz for Kids, and we showed compassion with our Hearts of Hope.

We addressed women's health issues when we walked to bring awareness and raise funds for cancer and heart disease research, the two leading causes of death for women in the United States (1). In addition, we have acknowledged that the mental health crisis has heightened during the past few years and observed Mental Health Awareness Month in May and offering Mental Health First Aid training to our members to address what mental distress looks like and how to help someone in need.

Throughout the year we’ve continued to make Diversity, Equity & Inclusion a critical part of how we lead. Dr. TLC shared insights on racism and reminded us that we all share in the responsibility to be the change today that we want to see tomorrow. And we continued to honor those that came before us by participating in the MLK virtual series in January, as well as the Women United Celebration in February.

In addition to the work done with our DIAD programming, the League awarded two deserving women with the annual High School Voluntarism Award. All four finalists were exceptional candidates, and we were pleased to recognize two deserving students. 

Lastly, we connected our focus areas to the inaugural Little Black Dress Initiative. This campaign raised awareness about poverty and food insecurity in our community via social media and more than $5,000 for League programming through peer-to-peer fundraising efforts. All in all, we had a successful year providing our League members with a mixture of DIADs that aligned with our focus areas and mission, supporting the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Sincerely,

Gerri Lyons Bell

(1) CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2017/all-races-origins/index.htm

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.

Maeghan Beahm

Maeghan Beahm has a passion for the Junior League that is immediately apparent when she talks about her experience. A member of the Junior League since 2015, she has held leadership positions in the Junior League of Charlotte and is currently pulling double duty as the Director of Junior League of Greater New Haven’s Membership Council and Communications Council. She is well on her way to achieving her goal of, “working to always make us a stronger organization of women working toward fulfilling our mission.”

Ms. Beahm points to the JLC Wearhouse in Charlotte as a highlight of her League experience and one where she could directly worked in the community. All her other League placements have been in-league, working to strengthen the League itself. She says, “I also enjoy contradicting the stereotypes many people have about the League. The Junior League as a whole has done so many wonderful things for our communities across the globe, and I am proud to be part of such an important group of women…I hope that all my time and efforts helps us to grow and develop as women leaders in the League and in our community.”

Maeghan transferred to the JLGNH where she was recognized for her contributions to the provisional training program with the 2020-2021’s In-League Award. Ms. Beahm was attracted to membership in the Junior League as an opportunity to develop personal leadership skills while also giving back to her local community. As a stay at home mom who relocates often as a military spouse, Maeghan continues to value the Junior League for the opportunity to keep her career skills in education and nonprofit management sharp serving the League and a reliable instant community in new locales. “Moving to a new area, one thing I knew for certain was that I could transfer my membership with the Junior League and I would have 1) a built-in group of women with whom I could become friends and 2) an immediate opportunity to learn about my new home/community.”

Amber found her calling in the Junior League working with the Junior League of Boston’s Kids in the Kitchen community project. She is this year’s Junior League of Greater New Haven League Development Chair and says that meeting the incredible women of JLGNH brings her joy. She keeps her Junior League responsibilities balanced with her job as a Development Manager at the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation by “leav[ing] a lot of sticky notes on my desk reminding me to check my League email!”

Ms. Anthony values the League for the many opportunities it provides for her to grow and give back to the community. She also appreciates the training it provides members as a professional in a nonprofit. Says Amber, “the League offers opportunities to see how nonprofits work in the communities we live…[and to] engage in leadership board training… [that can make] more woman nonprofit board members.”

Amber hopes her League Legacy will be, “that I showed up and gave my all.” We JLGNHers don’t see how anyone could possibly think otherwise of Ms. Anthony.

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.

Ashley Ahearn

We’ll let Ashley Ahearn introduce herself. She says, “I’m a kombucha-drinking, mountain peak explorer, needlepoint loving, crazy cat & dog person who loves to travel the world.” Ashley is active, working 

movement into the beginning, middle, and end of her typical day. She also moves often around the country, helping franchise owners develop their sales staff in her career.

She’s inspired by the people she works with at her job, motivated by her family and her goals, and also by contributing to the League’s success. She, “want[s] more than anything for our League to succeed in every venture we do and that keeps me motivated to stay on track.”

Ashley joined the Junior League of Greater New Haven in 2018 because she, “wanted to to align [her]self with an organization that truly makes a difference to the population we serve.”

She also values the League’s leadership learning and community impact. But there was one more thing that attracted Ashley to become a League member, “let’s be honest! I wanted to make some life-long friendships!”