2021_League_Lines

is a hallmark of our organization and we provide continual
Voluntarism
for members to give of their time. The Clothes Horse, a thrift store
opportunities
in high-end second-hand clothing items, was operated by our member
specializing
for more than 45 years. The Show House, a Hartford staple since 1979,
volunteers
on our membership to organize our largest event-based fundraiser that
relies
in home design inspiration for local residents and tens of thousands of
results
for our community partners. Since 1986, we have offered Souper
dollars
2
Sustainers, an opportunity for Sustainers to serve food one Friday a month at
Loaves and Fishes. In addition, our Active members participate in Done In A Day
with our partners including The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford,Project
projects
Love 146, and many more. We highlight this work each November through
Linus,
through our mission based fundraiser, Volunteer-A-Thon, a 24 -hour volunteer
our
where we support local initiatives and community partners in one
bonanza
volunteer session.
continuous
the potential of women has always been a part of the Junior League
Developing
has emerged at the forefront of our community over the last decade. Our
and
0
projects which provide small, dedicated groups of intense support for specific
members gain skills that take them well beyond the Junior League to other nonprofit
organizations throughout greater Hartford and beyond. We are servant
strategic thinkers, capacity builders, community advocates, and
leaders,
fiscal managers because of what we learn through the training
responsible
program, Webinar Wednesdays, attendance at association conferences,
certificate
training, and our participation in Leadership Greater Hartford.
league-specific
collective skills allow us to foster a community vision and develop
These
partnerships.
meaningful
League continues to evolve and grow adapting to the needs of our community.
Our
Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 brought many challenges, but it did not stop our
The
2
work. We adapted, as we always do, by offering online programming for youth at
in virtual group trainings. We continue to plan new initiatives for 2021
participating
beyond. With deep appreciation for our past, and gratitude for our present, we
and
forward to what the Junior League of Hartford will accomplish over the next
look
years.
100
Y K I M B E R L Y M C N A L L Y
B
1
the Boys and Girls Club, conducting virtual meetings, and participating in
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 2

3 LEAGUE LINES
L E A G U E L I N E S 3
During its first decade of service, JLH focused on
women and infants. This led them to develop
Hartford’s first maternal milk station, which
provided access to milk for low income families
prior to the invention of baby formula. To support
low- income, working families, members funded
the Mitchell House Day Nursery in Hartford’s
South End by publishing and selling sections of
the Hartford Courant. League members made
healthcare more accessible by working in
community dispensary clinics and learned new
skills in the process.
The Great Depression shifted the League’s focus
to educational enrichment and JLH joined Leagues
across the country in producing educational plays
and puppet shows for children. Through the
creation of children’s theater workshop plays,
including sets, props, and costumes they were
able to raise funds and provide educational
opportunities for children. Members continued to
volunteer in settlement houses and day nurseries
throughout Hartford in support of working class
women.
The advent of WWII brought a central volunteer bureau
association, established by JLH in partnership with the
State Department, to coordinate home-front volunteers.
Members helped to establish a camp for crippled
children, funded by rummage sales which later became
the catalyst for The Clothes Horse, a thrift store for fine
clothes and the League’s signature fundraiser for more
than 70 years. Education continued to be a priority with
the League supporting live radio broadcasts of The Story
Lady on WTIC. Organizationally, the League began the
placement program, where members were trained and
placed according to interest and aptitudes.

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HARTFORD 4
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 4
Education continued to be a focus for JLH into
the 1950’s. A decade before Sesame Street, JLH
Puppeteers presented educational children’s
entertainment that was broadcast locally on
television and traveled across the country. The
League founded a film bureau and library at the
American School for the Deaf where volunteers
created some of the nation’s first film captioning,
a project that was adopted by the US Department
of Education.
Before the American’s with Disabilities Act was
signed into law in 1990, the Junior League of
Hartford was working to provide access for children
with physical challenges. They built a special
playground for blind and sight impaired students at
Oak Hill School. The League continued to focus on
education by supporting a job training program at
HARC and speech therapy at the Hartford
Rehablitation Center. A teacher shortage paved the
way for the League to develop a successful
recruitment program to identify and train future
educators.
Civil Rights was at the forefront of the 1970’s and
women needed support more than ever. After Civil
Rights riots left Hartford’s North End devastated,
the League partnered with Dr. Evan Daniels to
provide funds and volunteers to found Community
Health Services. JLH established a playroom at the
Women’s Correctional Institute in Niantic for
children of incarcerated women. Women began to
embark on career paths and volunteer work was
recongnized as the excellent training ground that it
is, JLH began to provide training for women in
volunteering and related careers.

With more women in the workforce, some children
spent the afternoons at home alone. According to
studies, these “latch-key” children were more prone
to drug abuse and academic challenges. The Junior
League of Hartford created GATE, a drug awareness
campaign; Phone A Friend, a homework help and
support line for children and teens; and developed
Friends of the Family, a resource and referral
center for teenage parents. These programs were so
successful they were transitioned to their
permanent home at The Village for Families and
Children. In support of those living with HIV and
Aids, the JLH cultivated hope with a therapeutic
gardening program at Peter’s Retreat.
JLH continued to focus on women and children with the
development of Take 5, a program that encouraged new
parents to get timely immunizations for their babies. Take
5 was nationally recognized by the Centers for Disease
Contral and Prevention and by the White House. The
League expanded its reach to support the elderly by
working to bring the non-profit Rebuilding Together to the
Hartford area. This program uses volunteers to repair and
rehabilitate homes of the elderly, low income, and
disabled. In 1986, JLH Souper Sustainers was created to
allow JLH Sustainers to be involved in the community by
serving a healthy mid-day meal to approximately 120
people at Loaves and Fishes. This program continues
today.
The new millennium brought new opportunities for the
League to focus on school-age children. Responding to the
governor’s “Stepping Up to 2000” report on the link between
school truancy and the rich of child abuse, JLH collaborated
on Family School Connection to strengthen families, and
reduce truancy and child abuse. In order to provide
nourishing food to children at risk of hunger, during critical
times of growth and development, JLH instituted a backpack
program to provide weekend meals. Science Saturday
Sampler exposed teen girls to the world of science through a
series of hands-on workshops.
L E A G U E L I N E S 5

The Great Recession of 2009 brought to light
continued food insecurity in our region.
Recognizing that food distribution was not
sufficient to end hunger, JLH collaborated with
Chrysalis Center and FoodShare on Fresh
Place, an innovative food pantry that tackled
the root causes of chronic hunger with wrap
around services.
To complement the mission of developing the
potential of young women, JLH partnered with
Junior Achievement of Southwest New England
on a joint endeavor called Career Connections
for Young Women (CCYW). Annually over the
course of the partnership, JLH and JA
mentored over twenty girls on college and
career preparation in a 10- after school
academy.
Today, the Junior League of Hartford
supports the SMART Girls Initiative at
the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford
through age-specific experiences that
enhance girls’ physical and emotional
health. This small-group program
helps girls build a strong foundation by
equipping them with critical knowledge
and skills in the areas of physical
health and wellness, mental health and
self-esteem, and relationships.
Encompassing the physical, emotional
and social changes a girl who will go
through between the ages of 8 and 18,
this holistic approach supports her
complete experience. League members
lead small group session that focus on
mind, body, and community.
B Y K I M B E R L Y M C N A L L Y
L E A G U E L I N E S 6

J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 7
B Y M A G G I E D E V I T O
CELEBRATING
The League kicked off the Centennial Celebration at the
January General Membership Meeting (GMM). The GMM was a
trip down memory lane. We had stories shared about what the
Junior League was like during different time periods in
history. It was great to hear about old traditions and events,
and what the league was like in times gone by. We heard
stories about the Clothes Horse and how Show House came to
be. Pictures were shared, stories told and links to the past
were made. It was a great way for new league members, as
well as long-time members to understand the workings of the
league throughout our 100-year history. We also unveiled our
new centennial logo and slogan that will be used throughout
2021. It was a great way to kick off 2021 and our Centennial
celebrations!
100 YEARS
In January, we held a card making session to reach out to
sustainer members at Duncaster, Seabury, and McAuley
senior homes. League members created beautiful, handmade
cards for members. Many of these members had no visitors
for months due to the pandemic, so it was a nice way of
showing them we care and are always thinking of them. The
league definitely has some artists among us! These cards
were thoughtful, beautiful and creative. The event was
hosted via zoom and was a great time for league members to
meet virtually and share stories and catch up.
In February we teamed up with Seed Bagel in Glastonbury for
OF SERVICE
a sock and hygiene product drive in honor of the Centennial.
The 43 packages of socks and 155 full-size hygiene products
collected benefited Interval House, Loaves & Fishes and
Immaculate Conception, all area programs. The generosity of
league members, as well as the community was
overwhelming. We were able to provide a plethora of toiletry
items, such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner and
body lotion. The many pairs of socks donated to the shelters
came in need during the cold winter. Thank you to everyone
who contributed to the centennial drive with Seed Bagel!

In 1921, seventy women organized the Junior League of Hartford under the leadership of our first president, Elinor
Ingersoll. At the end of that first year they wrote “Upon making a thorough survey, we found that not only were there
a sufficient number of organization to take care of the city’s needs, but that in some cases the work overlapped. We
decided, therefore, that our services would be of greater value assisting the organizations already in existence.”
While we have grown from those original seventy woman to an organization of three hundred and seventy (370)
member our ideals and mission have stayed the same to support other local area non-profits in their serving and
betterment of the community. We continue to do that through out countless community partnerships with
organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, Journey Home, My Sister’s Place, Interval House, Loaves and
Fishes, Project Linus, and many more.
Over this past year we may not have been able to serve our community partners in the ways we have in the past, but
we got creative and gave back in a big way in a year that was so hard for so many. We volunteered 276.4 hours over
the past league year with 120 hours coming from our annual Volunteer-A-Thon. During this year’s Volunteer-A-Thon
we collected 53 units of blood with the American Red Cross, made 40 blankets for Project Linus, assembled 24
thanksgiving baskets, collected 96 coats, helped deliver furniture to three families with Journey Home, and sorted
hundreds of pounds of food at Foodshare.
Talking about making an impact at Christmas time through the generosity of so many members and supporters the
Junior League of Hartford helped to raise $5,800 in gift cards that were donated to families of the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Hartford. That’s what Women Power is all about!
We have a lot to celebrate over the past 100 years of service and that is our members who are the heart and soul of
the league. Our Centennial Celebration kicked off in January at our GMM where we learned about the history of the
league and heard accounts from our Sustainers. Our Centennial has allowed us to celebrate our members and give
back to the community. During our February Centennial Drive we collected and donated 43 packages of socks and 155
full size hygiene products. We will continue to celebrate our Centennial with a Picnic in Elizabeth Park on June
8thand a Night to Celebrate on Saturday, September 18that Hartford Golf Club!
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as the President of the Junior League of Hartford this past year!
The league is full of intelligent, strong, supportive, and giving woman that I choose to surround myself with because
you all make me a better person. I look forward to continuing to serve the league and the community in whatever role
the future brings for me.
B Y J E S S I C A P I E R I , P R E S I D E N T
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 9

L E A G U E L I N E S 1 0

2
7
0
100 ACTIVES
170 SUSTAINERS
M
E
M
B
E
R
S
It was decided in the Fall of 2020 to move away from the old credit
structure and instead implement a new Compact Commitment structure.
This allows our members to determine how many hours they would like
to dedicate to the league each year. We understand that our members
are in different seasons of life and one year you may be able to volunteer
50+ hours and the next only 10 hours, and that is okay. Instead of setting
a required number for volunteer hours, we are asking members to fill
out a brief survey with the number of hours they can personally commit
to volunteering for JLH initiatives like Volunteer-A-Thon, Boys & Girls
Clubs of Hartford, and Done in a Day volunteer shifts. This number is
then used in planning to ensure we adequately meet the needs of our
members and make realistic commitments to our community partners.
In addition to the volunteer hour commitment, the member compact
asks the member to actively participate in their assigned committee,
leverage learning opportunities, stay informed of the League's work and
pay membership dues. As we come to a close of our first league year
with this new structure, while it hasn’t been a typical year, the feedback
on the new structure has been positive. Members can fill out their
member compact for the 2021-2022 league year.
B Y A M I E L U G O
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 1

FUNDRAISING
ANNUAL FUND
$ 8 , 7 0 9
$ 9 , 3 5 3
ENDOWMENT FUND
$ 6 , 2 7 5
During the 2020-2021 League year, the Junior League of Hartford (JLH) was hard at work
donating virtual volunteer hours and collecting clothing, gift cards and other donations for its
many community partners. League members participated in fundraising events to raise
money to financially support both community partner initiatives and leadership development
of members.
The 5th annual Volunteer-A-Thon in the fall and Bubbly and Bites in the spring brought in
donations of over $8,700 thanks to the fundraising efforts of JLH members. In addition, JLH
Endowment and Annual funds brought in $6,275 from 20 of our generous sponsors.
As a direct result of these efforts and contributions, the JLH was able to donate close to
$16,000 back to community partners and leveraged over $3,700 to benefit members through
trainings, conference attendance and participation in Leadership Greater Hartford’s Quest
Program.
In addition, the League hired a new CPA, Tessa Jordan of Lotus Accounting, LLC. Tessa
brings many years of experience and a fresh perspective. We are very excited for her to join
us!
The League also made the difficult decision to close the office at the end of the League
year. The office closing and the non-profit discount that Tessa is providing will result in over
$16,000 of annual savings that can be used to give back to our community partners as well as
invest in our members.
B Y J E N R I N G , T R E A S U R E R
L E A G U E L I N E S 1 2

Up to $99
$100 to $249
$1000 and Up
Heather Atkins
Anonymous - Network for Good
Ashley Born
Carle Mowell
Andrea Barton Reeves
Laura Cardillo
Jennifer Bell
Susan Chudwick
Michelle Creed
Melinda B. Bloodgood
Jennifer Byrne
Judith Day
Denise Callan
Ashley DePasqale
$500 to $999
Gina Detmar-Pines
Brie Campbell
Alexandra Carlson
Benevity
Ashley Donnelly
Bria Day
Katherine Cassen
Kyra Dorsey
Muriel & Karl Fleishmann
Karen Connal
Eileen Daly
Mary-Jane Foster
Ellen B. Franklin
Emily Deans
Jessica Gagnon
Karen Delaney
$250 to $499
Christiana N. Gianopulos
Shirley DeLong
Barbara Cambria
Patricia K. Hadlow
Ashley DePasquale
Ann F. Hare
Ashley Dubin
Lynne Carey
Elvira Duran
Fanjana Chawla
Paula Healey
Ellen Coco
Alyce F. Hild
Susan Eaccarino
Carolyn VanNewkirk Hoffman
Anna Eisen
Megan Collier*
Kathryn Ferguson
Elizabeth Fierman*
Jennyfer Holmes
Pamela Peaslee Hunter
Laura Hughes
Deirdre Green
Matthew & Valerie Jasinski
Karen Bliss Haberlin
Katie Hughes*
Katherine Ham
Kelly Jarvis
Evelyn Williams Johnson
Allison Schmitz
Lissa Johnson
Carolyn Hoffman
Kathryn Joerg
Dene Keithline
Ann H. Kramer
Jonathan Kaplan
Maura Keating
Nancy Urban La Perla
Julie Livingston
Susan King
Julie Krug
Peggy Lorence
Coreen Majka Sunde
Cindy Lahm
Allison Law
Jane B. Pfaff
Jessica Pieri
Carrie Leigh
Bobbie Lingard
Susan Redfield
Kalyn Redlowsk
Christina Lumbreras
Kelly Macchesney
Rescue Agency - Elle Trout
Sally M. Richter
Arielle Marlette
Mary Martin
Julie Runkle
Mary T. Sargent
Cristina Martinez
Patty McDonald
Kathleen Schuster
Susan Smith Rubin
LaRaine McGrath
Shannon McIntyre
Carol Terry
Ann E. Thomas
David McIntyre
Ellen Meinke
Sarah Thrall
Molly Towne
Kelly Miley
Ann Mittelmann
Jane White
Holly Wilson
Kimberly Moore
Debra Ortega
Julia Zweig
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 3

Y O U R G E N E R O S I T Y M A K E S I T P O S S I B L E
Up to $99 cont'd
Rosemarie Papa
Emily Deans
Bethany Pelletier
Elvira Duran
John Pendergraph
Cindy Lahm
Alison Perry
Patty McDonald
Julie Runkle
Wendy Estela Scaringe
John Schuster
Kelley Sellew
Cecilia Sheldon
Julie Simpliciov
Elizabeth Protzman Smith
Stephanie Carlson
Linda Smyth
Kara D'Angelos
Michelle Sok
Judith Day
Tiffany Spinella
Emily Deans
Coreen Sunde
Ashley DePasquale
Mark Wasielewski
Ashley Donnelly
Deborah White
Mary Dunn
Demetria Wright
Anna Eisen
Alexandra Young
Michelle Fucci
Casey Greer
Kelly Iuliano
Steven Joseph
Tali Kest
Anne Z. Malone
Devon Marlette
Arielle Marlette
Laura G. Amenta
Kristin Milano
Beverly Boyle
Carleton Mowell
Francine Christiansen
Morgan Murphy
Shirley B. DeLong
Lisa Preger
Gina L. Detmar-Pines
Timothy W. Protzman
Susan V. Fly
Jennifer Ring
Tiana Gianopulos
Mary M. Romano
Carolyn VanNewkirk Hoffman
Kathleen Schuster
Nina F. Jankowski
Kelly Sellew
Kelly Jarvis
Jason Smith
Kraus Family Foundation
Michele Sok
Peggy Lorence
Samantha J. Squires
Patricia M. Lorenson
Lauren G. Walker
Carle N. Mowell
Amanda Wusterbath
Susan Sappington
Allison Crockett Schmitz
Kathleen Bolduc Schuster
Jan Mason Tracy
Margery Chinn Warren
Maggie Wilard
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 4

GIRLS
SMART
themed programming
weekly
B G C H
DRIVE
COAT
coats provided
100
HOLIDAY
raised for BGCH families
$5,800
B o y s & G i r l s C l u b s P a r t n e r s h i p H i g h l i g h t s
Last year we said that the Junior League of Hartford started our signature
partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford because “there would be
plenty of opportunities to give back to the local community.” In an incredibly
difficult year “giving back locally” seemed more important than ever.
As the world changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so did the way we could
support the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, specifically the SMART Girls weekly
program, which was our signature project with the Club. Due to safety
measures, we were no longer allowed to be in-person at the clubs, which was a
key element to the relationship last year. Like the rest of the world, we had to
pivot.
First, our annual grant made even more of an impact at the clubs. We started
the year with a meeting with Club Directors ensuring the grant use was
extended to cover COVID-19 safety measures, such as masks, gloves, and
sanitizing products. The Clubs continued to be in-person for the kids, one of the
few bouts of normalcy in unprecedented times.
Next our weekly SMART Girls meetings needed to go virtual. We really felt
grateful to the club directors for easily changing direction with us, setting up
Zoom meetings several times a week so that the Junior League could interact
with the SMART Girls. Morgan Ferrarotti led a dance routine to Lizzo, Morgan
Murphy taught yoga virtually, and Nicole Morehart and Laura Capon created
Priyanka Chopra-inspired face and hand masks out of turmeric, yogurt, and
honey.
L E A G U E L I N E S 1 5

to Thanks
families
JLH,
waking
are
enjoying
up
gifts their
having
and
breakfast…
again
thanks
all that for
do! - you
Sophie,
Southwest
Club
Director
The girls squealed as the cold goop landed on their
faces and stuck their orange-painted masked faces into
the Zoom camera. It was super cute! Each activity had a
greater theme in mind such as: healthy body image,
hygiene, self-love, and mindfulness. We created vision
boards to help us vocalize why we’re individually special
and held a career panel with several Junior League
Volunteers. Watch out world, based on the career
questions, there’s a lot of future techies! We ended 2021
with special COVID-compliant mini cake bites baked by
our own Junior League star-baker and President Elect,
Bria Day of Disheveled Diva. We were really proud of
how much interaction we could facilitate despite being
virtual.
What was also equally important was the amount of other support we were able to
provide the clubs. During the Volunteer-A-Thon several Thanksgiving bags were
packed to provide a full Thanksgiving meal. The Clubs reported that the parents had
so much gratitude for the food during what has been a very difficult year. During the
Volunteer-A-Thon, Kelly Iuliano and Ashley DePasquale also organized a coat drive.
Again because of COVID-19 this proved more difficult as we had to dry clean each of
the coats before dropping them off at the Clubs. The girls were so excited when they
saw their new trendy coats for the winter, quickly trying them on in the mirror. We
couldn’t be there, but we got some cute photos!
As 2021 ended, we heard rumors from Club directors that some kids expressed that
they were not going to be celebrating the holidays this year due to parents losing their
jobs and income. We couldn’t stand by to hear this happen so the Junior League
quickly rushed to a grassroots fundraiser, raising over $5,800 in Walmart gift cards
for the parents. Special thanks to Whitney Sweeney who went to multiple Walmart
stores to obtain the physical gift cards, not an easy feat during the holiday rush amidst
a global pandemic. We also asked for wish lists for thirteen Club members who we
knew were not going to receive presents during the holidays. Each of those kids got
exactly what they asked for. What was humbling is a lot of the requests were not for
electronics or games, but rather for books, warm socks, and clothing. We were so
happy to see the videos of those children opening their gifts, receiving exactly what
they asked for. The Southwest Club Director, Sophie, texted us Christmas morning to
say: “Thanks to the JL, families are waking up enjoying their gifts and having
breakfast…thanks again for all that you do!”
The true unsung heroes this year are the Club directors, tirelessly trying to normalize
life for these kids while risking their own lives in the face of the pandemic. They are
primarily young and charismatic leaders, many of whom went through the program
themselves. We couldn’t let them go unnoticed, so we also provided them with Target
gift cards during the holiday season to thank them for their tireless hard work.
Needless to say: there were tears of happiness.
This project has really allowed the League to give back locally, especially during a
time of great need. Thank you to all those who have volunteered so far and we hope to
see many more volunteers as we close out the year.
B Y E S T A A M E D E O & M A G G I E J O H N D R O W
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 6

In November, the 5th annual Volunteer-a-thon
COAT DRIVE
was unlike any other! With the world in a
pandemic, creativity, community, and a strong
sense of togetherness as a league were of the
utmost importance. The Junior League of
Hartford was able to pull off a successful event
showing just what these women are made of.
Coming together with a mix of in-person and
virtual volunteer events, we fulfilled our
commitment of 26.2 continuous hours.
BLOOD DRIVE
During our 26.2 hours of Volunteering we:
Made 40 blankets for Project Linus to help
comfort children in local hospitals
Collected 53 units of blood donated to the
American Red Cross
Provided 22 families with Thanksgiving meal
baskets, feeding 100 people from the Boys and
Girls Clubs of Hartford
Collected 100 coats for families of the Boys and
Girls Clubs of Hartford
Delivered donated furniture to 3 families
through Journey Home
Sorted hundred of pounds of food for Foodshare
BGCH BASKETS
Without fundraising, we would not be able to do
the things we do in the Greater Hartford
community. The Volunteer-a-thon raised funds
to help us to continue to provide our annual
grant to support the Smart Girls program for
the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, as well as
other programs. These programs need us now
more than ever. It was a heart-warming
experience to know that even during a
pandemic, the women of the Junior League of
Hartford stand with their pledge of service to
those in need.
B Y K E L L Y I U L I A N O
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 7

L E A G U E L I N E S 1 8
B Y B R I E C A M P B E L L
This year’s Bubbly & Bites Friend-Raiser popped a cork with over 70+ online
participants, $4,500 in net revenue, and friendships reignited through our tiny
computer screen-squares. The generous donations received will benefit the JLH
Annual Fund, which helps provide funding for the programs and projects of the Junior
League of Hartford that address and strive to meet the needs of the Greater Hartford
community.
During the Bubbly & Bites event, attendees heard from JLH President-Elect Bria Day
about the impact JLH has on our greater community through our support of and
projects with other local non-profit organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of
Hartford, Love146, and Interval House. In addition to monetary donations, JLH support
included in-kind donations, access to resources, and lots of trained volunteer time
that many of you so generously gave.
The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford shared information about some of their after
school activities during this “new way of life”, as the children attend school virtually,
in-person, or in a hybrid mix. Also showcased was the BGCH SMART Girl of the Year
award recipient, Ma’Layasia Thompson. The presentation emphasized her strength in
overcoming physical challenges, the support system behind her, and her future
dreams to become Dr. Thompson.
The Bubbly & Bites attendees were then invited into the home of Jeanne Barber,
founder and owner of Camden Grace, Interior Designer. As Jeanne toured attendees
through her beautiful home, she shared helpful décor advice, including what size
carpets should be used based on room size and furniture placement, and how to
properly position a wall gallery. Her magnificent kitchen island was a real highlight!
2021 marks the Centennial year of the Junior League of Hartford. Current President,
Jessica Pieri, celebrated our league's history by reviewing some of the
accomplishments of the Junior League of Hartford over its rich, one-hundred-year
history.
Lastly, sustaining members Ann Louise Price, Kathleen Schuster, Allison Schmitz, and
Deb Ortega provided recorded vignettes of what the Junior League has meant to them,
including fond memories of Show Houses past, lifelong friendships made, and the long
standing sustainer community project, Souper Sustainers, which is a monthly
commitment to provide food and the volunteers to serve it at Loaves and Fishes
Ministry in Hartford.
It was an evening filled with laughter, fun prizes, memories, JLH history, bubbles and
drinks with sweet bites, and an abundance of generous donations from you and our
league friends. A special thank you to Cheyney Barrieau who emceed the event, a
gracious thank you to Disheveled Diva for being our Matching-Sponsor, and a huge
thank you to all the companies that donated to the event: Gillette Ridge Wines, Vivid
Hue Home, Max Downtown, Arethusa’s Farm, De Vars-Phillips Florist, Crystal Ridge
Winery, Disheveled Diva and Glastonbury Adult & Continuing Education.

2021 the D&I Task
In
Broadly Shared
Force
Message of the
Its
of
importance
Equity and
Diversity,
Inclusion
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Despite working in a virtual environment, the
Diversity & Inclusion Task Force had a very
productive league year. The task force focused on
two main goals for the year. One was to create a
D&I Statement for the JLH website and the second
was to host a diversity, equity and inclusion
training session. With the support of the board,
the Communications Committee and the
Membership and Training Committees, the task
force was able to successfully accomplish each of
these goals.
Our D&I Statement was posted on the website in
March 2021 and lets members, prospective
members and supporters know that our league
respects, values and celebrates diversity. The
statement also highlights our goal to be an
inclusive league that reflects all sociodemographic
aspects of our community. In the
statement, we also pledge to commit to working
on strategies and aligning with partners that
reflect our core values. The committee worked
very hard reviewing numerous D&I statements
from other leagues to create a statement that fits
with our strategic priorities.
On April 28, the task force hosted its first training
session on diversity, equity and inclusion. The
title of the training session was Courageous
Conversations: Challenging Our Thinking. In
preparation for the training session, the task force
shared two D&I videos to help guide the
discussion. Participants joined breakout groups
and discussed why the league has faced some
challenges when it comes to creating a more
diverse league. Participants also discussed ways
to proactively work on increasing diversity within
the league. The task force looks forward to
continuing these discussions and encourages each
member to take action to assist with our diversity
initiatives.
BY EVELYN JOHNSON
J U N I O R L E A G U E O F H A R T F O R D 1 9

DEVELOPING
“Developing the potential of women” is a core value of the Junior
League of Hartford, and we were so excited to launch the
Certificate Training Program to help enhance this mission within
the league. The program covers an array of trainings on the six
skill set topics of Leadership, Management, Diversity and
Inclusion, Communications, Personal Development and
Professional Development. By taking these trainings, the women
of our league are given the opportunity to grow and enhance their
knowledge and skill set, which will help make them more wellrounded
volunteers within the league and our community.
THE POTENTIAL
5 certificates make up the Certificate Training Program. Each
certificate has a set amount of trainings to take per category
within the six skill sets. Every certificate requires at minimum (1)
Diversity and Inclusion credit, which aligns with the league's
mission to increase D&I training and awareness amongst its
members. Each training a member takes counts towards the
certificate she is choosing to work towards. Each certificate is
designed to take over a year to complete, which allows members
to have a long term goal to work towards. Due to this timeframe
we have training trackers for members to keep up with the
trainings they’ve taken, and the training sessions they still need
to complete within each category. Once a certificate is completed,
members will be acknowledged at the May Annual Meeting with a
certificate.
OF WOMEN
In our first year offering the training certificate program, we
offered exclusively virtual trainings from a variety of different
trainers. Our first training was hosted by one of our community
partners, Leadership Greater Hartford, which covered the 5
practices of exemplary leadership. Near the holidays, we hosted
interactive trainings aimed at self-care to help members find
balance and deal with stressors that come around this time of
year. Next, we focused on communication styles, networking and
hosting engaging meetings virtually with partners like those from
Dale Carnegie.
BY CATHERINE CARROON & MAURA KEATING
L E A G U E L I N E S 2 0

is Show House? Every three years JLH spends many
What
searching for a notable home or estate in the
months
Hartford area, and selects designers, both
Greater
and local, to makeover the interior and
regional
grounds. During the months of April and
surrounding
the public is invited to view the grand home that has
May,
transformed inside and out. Show House is more
been
a home tour, it is an experience. In the past, guests
than
been able to shop at our boutique full of exclusive
have
items, or purchase designer furnishings featured in
gift
Show House. A percentage of these sales go directly
the
the Junior League of Hartford.
to
Show House anchors a season of social
Additionally,
for the Junior League and members of the public,
events
showcasing the home and grounds, and prominently
all
the Show House sponsors. Guests have the
recognizing
experience of attending the opening celebration to
unique
the house in its “Bare Bones” form, in addition to
view
House was first introduced to the Junior League
Show
Hartford by League member Mary Lynn Gorman,
of
had firsthand experience with a Junior League
who
House in Ohio. This introduction resulted in the
Show
House of 1979 and began a successful history of
Show
(and counting!) Show Houses.
fourteen
are raised through ticket sales to tour the
Funds
Show House, by special events associated
decorated
Show House, boutique and designer sales,
with
and corporate sponsorship, and program
individual
next Show House was scheduled to occur in the
The
of 2021 but due to the global pandemic the
Spring
made the decision to postpone the event until
League
Spring 2022. We look forward to celebrating the
the
in various other ways as we get ready for
League
2022.
Reach out to co-chairs Whitney Sweeney
Questions?
Molly Towne.
and
A T R A D I T I O N S I N C E 1 9 7 9
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HARTFORD (JLH) SHOW HOUSE IS THE
LEAGUE’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT, RAISING MORE THAN
$1.6 MILLION OF FUNDS THAT SUPPORT CHARITABLE PROJECTS
AND PROGRAMS IN THE GREATER HARTFORD COMMUNITY. THIS
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EVENT OCCURS EVERY THREE YEARS AND
THERE IS NO SIMILAR EVENT IN CENTRAL CONNECTICUT.
ads.
other social events throughout.
B Y W H I T N E Y S W E E N E Y & M O L L Y T O W N E
L E A G U E L I N E S 2 1

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HARTFORD, INC. IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN COMMITTED TO
PROMOTING VOLUNTARISM, DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN, AND IMPROVING
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP OF TRAINED
VOLUNTEERS. ITS PURPOSE IS EXCLUSIVELY EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE.
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HARTFORD
P.O. BOX 270956, WEST HARTFORD, CT 06127
P: 860.233.4300 | E: INFO@JLHARTFORD.ORG
WWW.JLHARTFORD.ORG