Meet the transfers

By: Cate Kellett

Elizabeth (Libby) Protzman was born in New Haven and grew up in Guilford. She currently works as a public relations, fund development, and marketing consultant. Her recent collaborations include New England Fashion Week, where she designed the official flier and walked as a runway model in the closing show, a celebrity brand and corporation in Los Angeles, and her town’s nonprofit Food Bank.

Libby is a survivor of domestic violence and recounted her story as a part of the viral “Women Talk” Virtual Conference 2021. This experience has shaped some of her philanthropic endeavors. She has worked for several domestic violence organizations in Connecticut and raised money for Interval House in Hartford. She is an advocate for trauma survivors in Connecticut, currently volunteering for the local anti-trafficking organization Love146 to help prevent other girls from the same fate.

Libby first joined the JLGNH in 2013 and is now transferring back from the Hartford Junior League. Welcome home, Libby!

...

Allison Gallaspy transferred to the Junior League of Greater New Haven early in 2022 from the Junior League of New Orleans. She was born and raised in Louisiana and is trying valiantly to adjust to NewEngland weather. Most days, she succeeds.

Allison is a Librarian for Business and Management at Yale University,working primarily with researchers from Yale's School of Management. In her spare time, she enjoys solving puzzles, doing karaoke (poorly), and playing pub trivia (pretty well most of the time).

She lives in New Haven with her husband, Michael, and their cat, Bubbles, whom many of you met when she crashed Allison's first General Membership Meeting on Zoom.

Five days, One dress

By: Naomie Baptiste and Caitlin Gallagher

On a single night, more than half a million Americans go homeless, which represents 0.2% of the US population.(1) According to the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project (https://yhhap.org/), the same number of Connecticut residents alone rely on SNAP assistance. The Junior League of Greater New Haven sought to address this problem with the implementation of the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) during the week of April 18-22, 2022. Founded in 2014 by the Junior League of London, the Little Black Dress Initiative is a week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that harnesses the power of social media to illustrate the restrictions poverty places on choices, opportunities, and access to resources. Advocates wear one black dress (or outfit) for five consecutive days, in an effort to spark conversations and awareness about poverty and related issues, including food insecurity. 

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to affordable, nutritious food, and impacts 13.9% of Connecticut residents; but in New Haven, the rate is 22%--twice the national average. Compassionate Greater New Haven members took action by wearing their little black dresses; posting on social media platforms; and contacting their networks to raise funds using data, imagery, and even signs reading "all children deserve access to 3 healthy meals everyday." The initiative gained attention of the local community and compelled the hearts of supporters, resulting in success for its inaugural year in New Haven. During the first Junior League of Greater New Haven Little Black Dress Initiative, the chapter raised an impressive $3,500 during the week of LBDI, reaching the set goal of $5,000 by the end of month. The Little Black Dress Initiative was spearheaded by the Finance Committee.

Meet the newest members of the Junior League of Greater New Haven.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

The founder of The Junior League, Mary Harriman, believed that we all bear the responsibility to learn about the world around us in order to be more effective in our desire to improve it. That we should really try to understand the “why” behind something, not just superficially give it lip service.

As we strive within our organization to live up to our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, we honor and celebrate the struggles, the history and the leaders of our multifaceted world.

The Junior League of Greater New Haven is part of a larger network of more than 125,000 women in over 295 Leagues in four countries. While each League is unique, we all share common mission, vision, and goals. This includes our commitment to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

Understanding the importance of this topic in our local community, the Junior League of Greater New Haven continues to utilize our capacity as a training organization to educate our members through topical book discussions, presentations from experts in the field, and purposefully interweaving diversity and inclusion in all we do.

In addition, our League has pledged to ensuring our recruitment practices; Done in a Day volunteer opportunities for members; and League communications, both internal and external, embody our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

AJLI's Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The Association of Junior Leagues International condemns discrimination, racism, and racial injustice in our communities and in our Junior Leagues. Black women and other women of color have been systemically denied equity and inclusion in our economy, education, civic privileges, and responsibilities in the voluntary sector, including in The Junior League. As affirmed by our member Junior Leagues, we are accelerating our efforts to take action and advance definitive, measurable policies and practices that eliminate racism in our countries, our communities, and our Junior Leagues. When we do this, we unlock tremendous power for our communities and realize our vision of women around the world as catalysts for lasting change.

To learn more about what the Junior League of Greater New Haven is doing to exemplify our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, visit https://www.jlgnh.org/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-and-Belonging/. 

Name: Haley Sabitus

Tell us a little about yourself: I am relatively new to the New Haven area, I moved here in December 2019 for a fundraising job at Yale. I now live in Westville with my fiance. The past decade, I was in State College, PA and earned both my bachelor's and master's degree at Penn State. I love reading, traveling, and watching Penn State football. 

What inspired you to join the Junior League of Greater New Haven? I was in a service sorority in college and enjoyed being able to serve the community while also meeting like-minded people. Being new to the area, I am really excited by the idea of being able to do the same here in New Haven. 

What are you looking forward to most about being a Junior League member? I am excited to learn more about the non-profit organizations here to find the ones that are the most meaningful to me. Additionally, I am looking forward to getting to know the ladies of  the JLGNH better! 

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the Junior League? Do it! It's been a great way to meet people and there are so many opportunities to get involved. 

What is something you want your fellow JLGNH members to know about you? I am a huge reader- I read 52 books last year and have already read 63 this year, so please send good book recommendations my way :)

In what city do you live? New Haven, CT 

Where is your hometown? Frederick, Maryland

Name: Amanda Lorenz

Tell us a little about yourself: I moved to CT just a little under a year ago from Memphis, TN, and I’ve loved being back on the East Coast! I’m a nurse with a primary background in pediatric oncology, but just started teaching nursing students this past spring. With so much recent change, it’s been nice to join the JLGNH and feel like I’m finally finding my own little community here in CT!

What inspired you to join the Junior League of Greater New Haven? Being new to the area and moving during the pandemic made it kind of difficult to meet people and find opportunities to get plugged in. I’ve always loved volunteering, so when I saw that the New Haven area had a Junior League, I knew I wanted to get involved!

What are you looking forward to most about being a Junior League member? I’m really looking forward to getting to know the New Haven area on a different level than I’d be able to without the JLGNH. I think it will be great to learn the different needs within the community itself, and then have the opportunity to actually help out and make a difference. 

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the Junior League? If someone I knew was thinking about joining the Junior League, I would say go for it! I truly have nothing but positive things to say about my experience so far - the women I’ve met have been so kind and made me feel so welcome. If there’s anyone looking for opportunities to learn and grow in volunteerism or leadership, I think that the Junior League would be a great fit!

In what city do you live? New Haven

Where is your hometown? Burke, VA

Name: Morgan Hayden

Tell us a little about yourself: My husband and I moved to New Haven, CT for his residency just this past summer after living in Kentucky our whole lives. Lately, I have been really enjoying exploring everything New Haven has to offer, especially the beaches and pizza. I love being outdoors, listening to podcasts, playing board/card games, traveling with my husband, and running. 

What inspired you to join the Junior League of Greater New Haven? I was inspired to join the JLGNH because I came from a community of close, strong, philanthropic, and inspiring women in Kentucky. I was excited to find the same in Connecticut.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Junior League member? I am looking forward to learning more about how I can serve my new community while building community.

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the Junior League? I would strongly encourage any woman to join the Junior League who has a desire to expand her own skill set, be around people who sharpen her, and who would like the opportunity to serve her community in ways she couldn't do alone.

What is something you want your fellow JLGNH members to know about you? A fun fact about me is I love helping others organize their homes!  

In what city do you live? New Haven

Where is your hometown? Louisville, KY

Name: Caitlin Gallagher

Tell us a little about yourself: As a Swamp Yankee from small-town Connecticut, I think it was my spell as a Brownie and Girl Scout that first kindled in me a civic spirit, although this admittedly fell by the wayside while pursuing a degree in English at Smith College and, later, an MA in Victorian Literature at the University of London. Ever the Anglophile, I'm now grateful that my work as a publicist at Yale University Press has me trumpeting biographies of the Bloomsbury Group and retrospectives of Regency dress, and hope to bring my bookish background to bear on various projects for the Junior League of Greater New Haven.

What inspired you to join the Junior League of Greater New Haven? It was shortly after moving to New Haven that the pandemic struck and I began working remotely. Not until being confined to my apartment, though, did I realize just how little I'd explored--let alone contributed--to my new community, and so went about researching volunteer opportunities in New Haven. While many seemed promising, I was immediately drawn to the Junior League's storied legacy and its commitment to actively training women to be effective volunteers. Seeking to make a genuine difference and to serve in the company of like-minded women, I joined the Junior League.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Junior League member? As hackneyed as it may sound, I'm most looking forward to meeting, getting to know, and learning from my fellow members in hopes of gaining greater insight into the League and becoming a successful member myself.

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the Junior League? Don't hesitate to get involved! Too often I'm in the habit of procrastinating or putting off worthy ventures for fear that I've nothing to bring to the table. While I've only been a member since this summer, I can say that such fear is unfounded as I've already found a wellspring of warmth and support in my fellow Provisionals.

What is something you want your fellow JLGNH members to know about you? Before taking the liberal arts path at college, I was an aspiring operatic soprano with an offer to study at the Hartt School in Hartford, although I've long since said goodbye to any dreams of La Scala.

In what city do you live? New Haven, CT, where I've yet to take a side in the city's pizza wars.

Where is your hometown? Old Saybrook, CT, where I once saw Katharine Hepburn at the post office and reflexively curtsied as if meeting the Queen!

Name: Nicole Thomas

Tell us a little about yourself: Nicole Thomas, a current resident of New Haven, CT has been with Wells Fargo and its predecessor banks (Including First Union and Wachovia) for nearly 20 years, currently working in the Connecticut Middle Market Banking Segment as a Relationship Manager. She completed her Bachelor’s in Finance with Honors at Charter Oak College. She is currently attending online classes at Cornell University to obtain a Commercial Real Estate Certificate. Active in community service, Nicole serves as an International Team Leader for both The Fuller Center and Habitat for Humanity. She has led over 10 teams across the globe to build houses, including Malawi, Chile, Peru, China, Armenia, and most recently to aid in the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Nicole’s passion for philanthropy also extends to her role as a Corporate Engagement Specialist for The American Red Cross to support fundraising and corporate participation in Connecticut. She is also serving her third year as a Market Analyst for Wells Fargo’s Global Fellows Program where she works with Bankers without Borders to improve financial literacy programs, develop financial modeling tools, and help companies expand in India. Nicole is an active member of the Pride, Generational, and Hispanic Wells Fargo Team Member Networks and has recently finished serving as the Administrative Chair for the National Women’s Network at Wells Fargo. She enjoys traveling (60+ countries and counting), remaining active, hiking, bicycling, crafts, movies, volunteering, and constantly improving.

What inspired you to join the Junior League of Greater New Haven? Heard great things about the organization through previous/ current members across the country. Also, wanted to develop a consistent network within the community to engage in community service together, advance leadership skills, and develop connections.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Junior League member? Developing connections with similar like minded women in the local community.

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the Junior League? Great opportunities to connect, help, engage, and develop.

What is something you want your fellow JLGNH members to know about you? Very straight forward, honest, transparent, personality. I’m easy going, love to continually devote time for personal and professional growth. Try to surround myself with people who are similar.

In what city do you live? New Haven, CT

Where is your hometown? Shelton, CT