Our 2,334 members are the force that makes change happen. The
Junior League of Washington is proud to be an organization of women celebrating
and honoring diversity while focusing on shared values. Ahead of our Applicant Interest Form deadline on Friday, December 9, we
wanted to take some time to introduce you to just a few of our members so you
can learn a little more about them and why they joined JLW.
Meet Abigail:
Today, we’re introducing you to
Abigail, a JLW New Member. Abigail joined JLW this year after one of her
personal and professional mentors, Amy, helped her realize that the League
would help her grow and feel empowered as a female leader and volunteer.
Abigail also saw how much Amy loved JLW and is so excited to be a part of the
League this year. When she’s not completing her New Member opportunities, she’s
attending a Pi Phi Alumnae club event, happy hour with friends, or cooking
dinner! On the weekends, she likes to explore the city and try out new brunch
spots. Abigail’s favorite restaurant is the Hamilton, near the White House.
Meet Anne:
Public Relations and Digital Media
Committee Chair Anne is in her fifth year as an active member in JLW. Anne
transferred from the New York Junior League, which she joined in 2000. Anne
joined the League because she believes it is important to volunteer in her
community and to give time to helping others. As Chair, Anne manages the
League’s social media and PR initiatives, handles live coverage of many of our
events, and meets with other leaders to think of new opportunities for sharing
JLW’s story. Outside of JLW, she loves yoga and is a competitive runner. She’s
completed two 10-milers and two half-marathons to name a few.
Meet Jackie:
Jackie is the Vice Chair of the
Esprit Committee, which plans social events throughout the city. Jackie joined
JLW to volunteer in the community and make new friends. She grew up
volunteering with her family and friends, and realized how difficult it was to
get involved in the community when she moved to DC 10 years ago. Jackie’s
favorite JLW memory was meeting her friend Stacey at the National Book Festival
training during her new member year. She and Jackie have remained close friends
throughout her JLW experience. Jackie’s favorite DC activity is attending free
concerts held at the Society of Cincinnati’s Anderson House in Dupont Circle.
Meet Sarah:
Sarah serves as chair for the
National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) Committee. Sarah was looking to
volunteer in the Washington, DC, community, and found it difficult to find the
right opportunity. Sarah has been in the JLW for four years, and has served on
both the Member Recruitment Committee and NMWA. Sarah’s favorite JLW memory was
in her first active year, on Member Recruitment, when she planned a brunch for
the committee after an orientation session. She’s still very close with many of
the woman on the committee!
We asked Sarah the question, “If
you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be?”
- Laura Bush: to discuss
literacy and founding the National Book Festival
- Anna Wintour: to discuss
fashion and how she runs a world renowned magazine
- Emma Watson: to discuss her
work on women’s rights and hear about playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast
Finally, when Sarah is not
volunteering or at work, you can find her taking barre classes at Bar Method
DC. It’s a great way to get an hour to herself, where she can focus and reset!
Meet Shunda: Today in our #JoinJLW series, meet
JLW member Shunda. A Dallas native and DC resident for over 18 years, Shunda
has been a member of JLW for four years. After being introduced to the League
by a former colleague and attending a JLW event, she said, “I knew that the women
I would be surrounded by would inspire me to be an inspiration to other women.”
One of Shunda’s favorite JLW memories is seeing the League’s direct community
impact on the Washington School for Girls after helping guide the school
through JLW’s grant process the year WSG won JLW’s three-year grant. Shunda
also loves JLW’s spring fundraiser, Tossed & Found – “shopping + charity
always equals a great time for me.” Outside of JLW, Shunda is mother to two
sons, a seventh grader and a third grader; a Dallas Cowboys fan; active in her
sorority, Delta Sigma Theta; and an avid reader and Pinterest addict.
Meet Sara:
Sara. By day, she is a venture
capital investor at New Enterprise Associates, focusing on biotech, and a
mother to three beautiful boys under four, but she is also a seven-year member
of the Junior League of Washington. She said: "My work with JLW reminds me
of how blessed I am, broadens my perspective, introduces me to fun, new people,
and gives me a break from focusing on 'me and mine.'" Sara loves that in
JLW, "everyone is committed, every one cares, and everyone does the job
well." She also loves the diversity of volunteer opportunities with JLW:
Currently she is a member of our 3039M Magazine Committee, and she has
also volunteered with @higherachievement (where she got to team up with her
husband one year!).
Meet Leanna:
We asked Leanna, Chair of our
Done-In-a-Day Committee, to tell us about her League experience. Leanna joined
JLW in 2012 to find a way to give back to the community, as well as branch out
and meet new people. JLW has given her a chance to meet a new group of
like-minded women, including her current roommate! Leanna spent three years on
the Literacy Lab Committee, serving as chair last year. She loved meeting with
the kids who attended their weekly reading sessions. She worked with one little
boy who started with no interest in books, who just wanted to play during game
time. By the end of the year, he would race over to pick up a book and would
regularly skip game time to read books! When Leanna is not volunteering with
the League, she loves to travel, and has been to more than five countries just
this year! She also loves to take spin and barre classes, and enjoys attending
concerts at the 9:30 Club.
Meet Lee:
Lee Murphy, a Sustainer, joined JLW
in 2006, and has worked with a number of different community partners. She
initially joined so she could be a part of a group of women who are dedicated
to improving the lives around them. She’s stayed a member because she has
benefited greatly from being around and learning from such impressive women.
Before Lee became a Sustainer, Lee volunteered with a number of different
committees and placements in her eight years of service. She served with
Holiday Shops, Folger Shakespeare Library, Done-in-a-Day, and National Museum
of Women in the Arts. This year, she’s serving as a Sustainer Ambassador.
Meet Catharine:
Did you know if you move, you may
transfer your League membership from one city to the
next? Catharine transferred to JLW from the Junior League of Atlanta
after moving to DC three years ago. Already, she's risen in the ranks to become
vice chair of communications for the Transfer Committee. Catharine said, "I had such an amazing experience as
a Transfer that I wanted to pay it forward and help other JLW Transfers also
have a great experience." She joined JLW because of the women: "I'm
impressed at how much everyone is able to juggle - jobs, family, hobbies, and
volunteering. Since joining, I've only grown and learned how to be a better
friend and citizen." Outside of JLW, Catharine
loves to explore the city - she has a personal rule to try something different
every week. From concerts, museums, and dining out, to horseback riding and
hiking, she's up for anything.
Meet Angie:
Today, we’re spotlighting Angie
Landenburger, the chair of our N Street Village Committee. Angie joined JLW in
2011 to volunteer with an organization where she knew she would be held
accountable. Angie has been able to learn a lot about how to manage and lead a
committee while serving as chair, and noted that this experience has helped her
both personally and professionally. Angie’s favorite JLW memory is from her
first year on N Street Village. She had planned a lunch and craft for the
residents, and was in a table where one woman was in a bad mood. She said that
painting made her feel so much better, and was thankful that we had come. This
has kept Angie volunteering with N Street Village for the past few years. When
Angie isn’t volunteering with the League or at work, she loves to visit
museums, go to new restaurants, catch up on the latest Netflix show, or attend
concerts in the city. Angie’s lived in the DC area her whole life, but loves
that it never gets boring. There is always a new museum, pop-up, or must-see
event going on.
Meet Darla:
Darla Bunting, a member of the
Member Recruitment Committee, joined JLW in 2013. She learned about the League
and its mission from a fellow member of the First Book-DC board, which she
presently chairs. "As a former elementary school literacy teacher who
understands the importance of literacy in the lives of all children, and
especially our most vulnerable children in the District, I had to learn more
(about JLW)," she explains. Darla has served on the Community Family Life
Services, Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources, and now Member Recruitment
Committees. "One of my fondest League memories includes my new member
advisory group led by Jennifer Pierotti Lim. She planned the most fun social events
that helped each new member shake our jitters and become acclimated to how the
Junior League operates and how we can each have the most enjoyable
experience." In her free time, you can find Darla leading Enriched Schools
in DC, exploring new restaurants, or making sweet confections for bridal and
baby showers through her Etsy store Darling Chic Eats.
If you are interested in joining us in our
mission to transform the Washington, DC, community, we welcome you to fill out
an Applicant Interest form by Friday, December 9, at 11:59 p.m. ET at bit.ly/JoinJLW.
TGVR
members selected 10 out of 23 total applicants to submit full applications. I
volunteered to organize the site visit for the Washington School for Girls
(WSG) primarily because it was close to my home. I’d driven by the school many
times and often saw the students walking in the neighborhood, but had no idea
how big the impact was that the teachers and staff at this school were driving
to bring not only hope, but real change in the Anacostia neighborhood in DC.
WSG is a tuition-free, independent, all-girls school located in the heart of
DC’s Ward 8. The school offers students in grades 3-8 the opportunity learn in
an environment steeped in the rich Catholic-based education tradition. At the
time of my experience, the school started in the fourth grade and had plans to
expand to a year-round program for third graders for the 2015-2016 school year.
The grant funds would be used to help the WSG develop the curriculum for the third
grade, acquire reading materials and expand their literacy team. 
Currently,
JLW and WSG are in the second year of the grant. Jennie Kronthal, who was a
part of the five-person team that participated in the WSG site visit, is the
JLW liaison with the school. She worked with WSG to establish ongoing volunteer
opportunities during the WSG Saturday School where volunteers participate in
fun activities designed by the WSG's Reading Specialist. The activities range
from reading aloud, providing homework help and other literacy-based support.
JLW volunteers have also supported the school’s popular Variety Show where the
students perform original poetry, dramatic skits and dance routines.
