When someone asks me about Rosh Hashanah my first thought is always the pots of honey that I’ll serve to usher in a sweet year! The holiday is not about meals and honey though. It’s a time for deep introspection and reflection, with the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur being a time to ask forgiveness from those we may have hurt or slighted over the past year and re-commit to living a life of compassion and honesty.

This year, I am focusing on a passage in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:20, “Justice, Justice you shall pursue, that you may thrive…” and its many rabbinic interpretations. One of my favorite interpretations so appropriate to this season of reflection and forgiveness is from Torah commentator Ibn Ezra (early 12th century, present day Spain). Ezra conveys that the word Tzedek (justice) is repeated to emphasize that when pursuing justice there are often multiple arguments. He imagines two parties with seemingly opposite views, both pursuing justice. If while arguing for justice each side respects the opposing side as also intent on justice, they can argue not with the goal of winning but with the goal of understanding and finding common ground. I think that is particularly relevant today, where we often seem so polarized on big issues, but underneath, in the day-to-day, opposing sides have many of the same underlying goals. Because in reality, if we only fight to win, we sow resentment, but if we fight to build understanding and create change, then we all come out ahead.

BUT — on the lighter side, there’s sweet food!  It’s a struggle to balance all the sweetness in a Rosh Hashanah holiday meal — carrots cut like pieces of gold coins seasoned with honey and cinnamon, sweet potatoes, often served cooked with dried fruit and more honey, salads laced with pomegranate seeds or dressed with pomegranate and date syrup, apple cakes and honey cakes… it’s a lot!

My Rosh Hashanah tradition is to gift friends and family with special jars of honey for their holiday table.  Rosh Hashanah is not a gift giving holiday, but I love honey, and with the growing diversity of honey products, it’s a way for me to share unique honeys with others.  At our holiday tables, we set out an assortment of honey and from year to year. There’s often as much thought given to which honeys to serve as there is to which desserts to bake! All of my honeys are from small businesses, and most are local, though my family and I were introduced to Rango Honey while in Arizona last year. Their mesquite honey has a very distinct flavor, and their company’s mission to “create a brand centered around love, support and inclusivity” touches my heart.  They partner with other local organizations to provide job training to young adults on the spectrum and support an assisted living home for adults living with disabilities.

L’shanah tovah tikatevu!

(Happy new year and may you be inscribed [in the book of life] for a good year!)

The post JLW Blog: How I Celebrate Rosh Hashanah appeared first on Junior League of Washington, DC.

Rx Catering is one Black woman owned and operated business that we chose to showcase this August, National Black Business Month. Read more about owner and JLW member Cheron N. Reed, here:

Cheron Reed, a native from the Midwest moved to the DC Metro area after graduating from Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 1998. While at FAMU, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics.
In 2007, she established Rx Catering – DC Metro, a full-service catering company providing daily services to schools, embassies, churches, health care providers, the Federal, state and local governments and private events in the Washington, DC metro area and coined/implemented the phrase, “We Cook With Love!”

Rx Catering has had the pleasure of preparing and serving for many; some notable opportunities have been:

• Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi – 700 Vegetarian/Vegan guests
• House Committee on Homeland Security – Congressman Bennie G. Thompson
• Foreign Affairs Committee annual holiday party
• Department of Labor
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Department of Education / National PTA annual “Reflections Art Program”
• United Negro College Fund, Inc.
• United Way of the National Capital Area

In early March 2020, Cheron’s world, and the world at large, changed as COVID-19 was looming on the horizon. As a result of the pandemic, many of the businesses and schools that she serviced daily were temporarily closed.

Adept with the ability to reinvent herself and repurpose her business, Cheron created “Healthy Meals for Healthcare Workers.” The generosity of donations received allowed Rx Catering to prepare and deliver over 8,200 healthy meals to healthcare providers, homeless shelters, breast cancer survivors and their families and first responders.

Outside of work, Cheron is active in her sorority – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she has held numerous regional and local leadership positions. She also is a member of the Northern Virginia Alumni chapter of Florida A&M University, National Sales Network – DC chapter, the National Black MBA – Maryland chapter, and Junior League of Washington. Cheron has been recognized by the National Association for Black MBA as the Entrepreneur of the Year.

In addition to her accolades, Cheron is dedicated to supporting small businesses, mentoring emerging entrepreneurs and serving the community. She believes “through God all things are possible and always serve your community,” and her advice is to prepare, “write your vision and make it plain,” and “always have passion and dedication in whatever you do!”

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Ahead of this year’s National Book Festival that will be taking place on August 12, 2023, let’s take a look back at last year’s event and the Junior League of Washington (JLW)’s involvement in it. 

On September 3, 2022, authors, illustrators, and book lovers gathered at Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the first fully in-person National Book Festival since the pandemic. Volunteers from JLW were also in attendance to once again support the organization’s long standing partnership with the Library of Congress. 

The National Book Festival is an annual celebration of storytelling, readers, and authors in Washington, DC. Originally founded by Laura Bush and James H. Billington in 2001, it is organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and has become one of the most prominent literary events in the United States. JLW’s Literacy Events Planning Committee (LEP) has organized volunteer support for the event since 2003. 

For 20 years, JLW has provided an army of volunteers who research participating authors and  draft one-pagers in the months leading up to the event. On the day of, JLW volunteers work in shifts and are responsible for staffing book signing lines to help fans meet their favorite authors, helping readers find new books to enjoy, and encouraging children to learn how rich this country’s storytelling is by meeting librarians and authors from across the United States, territories, and commonwealths. 

“It’s truly an all-hands on deck affair the day of the Festival,” said Emily Ancinec, 2022-2023 Chair of the Literacy Events Planning Committee. “But it also involves several hours of planning and coordination leading up to the big day to make sure everything goes smoothly.” 

In fact, the LEP Committee spent 1050 hours planning for the 2022 Festival and the Junior League of Washington has provided nearly 40,000 hours of volunteer support over the course of the partnership to help make the event a success year after year.

The theme for the 2022 Festival was “Books Bring us Together” and the open-to-all ages event featured hundreds of authors, poets, and audiobook performers. The live readings, author talks and book signings are a big draw for any bibliophile including JLW volunteers who have had some notable encounters over the years. 

“This is a great event for anyone who loves learning, reading and meeting new people,” said Arcinec. “I had a chance to meet Leslie Jordan while staffing his bookseller’s line. It’s always inspiring to see how welcoming and accessible the authors are to meeting their fans, signing books, and taking pictures. We may be there to work and keep the lines moving, but everyone is there because we love stories and what the National Book Festival represents.”

To learn more about this historic partnership and how to volunteer for the 2023 National Book Festival in August, contact the Literacy Events Planning (LEP) Committee.

The post Books Bring us Together: The Junior League of Washington Celebrates 20 Years of Partnership with the Library of Congress National Book Festival appeared first on Junior League of Washington, DC.

Meet the Junior League of Washington’s 2022-2023 Shining Stars! JLW leadership has recognized these volunteers as having gone above and beyond in advancing JLW’s mission this League year. From meeting the needs of our community partners and their serviced populations, recruiting and welcoming new members, ensuring JLW’s smooth operation, sharing JLW’s priorities and efforts, and beyond, these members have exceeded expectations for voluntarism. This is especiallynotable in a year of transition, with both the League and community partners returning to substantial in-person support and events. Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Shining Stars, and thank you for all of your efforts!  

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Many residents of the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area have visited Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and – in between enjoying delicious food and drink, along with some shopping – daydreamed about what life must have been like hundreds of years ago while walking the quaint cobblestone streets. For the volunteers of the Historic Alexandria Docents Committee, who work to support the historic sites that span the historic district, Museum Day is a chance to help transform wondering into learning. 

A critical part of the tourism of the city of Alexandria, the JLW docents support well-known destinations such as the Carlyle House, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Lee-Fendall House, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, and Mount Vernon.   

Overall, the docents have helped to support a wide variety of programing over the decades they’ve been affiliated with JLW – seasonal candlelight tours, holiday events, Girl Scout activities – training volunteers to help visitors understand the unique history of each location while helping what can seem like a far distant past come to life. Spearheaded by Smithsonian Magazine, Museum Day “represents a national commitment to access, equality and inclusion” by providing  locals and tourists alike the ability to visit many of the area’s museums and cultural institutions free of charge. 

Including participation from museums, zoos, and cultural centers from across the country, Museum Day took place on September 17, 2022. The theme for the event was American Experience and certainly it doesn’t get any more American than the five Alexandria museums that participated: Freedom House Museum, The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. 

And, sure, exhibits such as the showcases on priceless gems or dinosaurs that can be viewed at the National History Museum are tremendous. But there is something special about actually being able to sit down in a place such as Gadsby’s Tavern after learning about the history of the building and having a meal. In operation since 1770, when you have a meal there, you can look to your left and right and know with certainty that just steps away from you – albeit hundreds of years as well – historic figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams were enjoying a meal in the same setting as you. 

That type of intimate experience with history is what can help connect our own reality with those from the past – and which makes volunteering with the Historic Alexandria Docents such a rewarding experience. 

The post A Day at the Museum: Alexandria Docents Bring Local History to Life appeared first on Junior League of Washington, DC.

Gretchen Ehle

While 7 years of service is the standard requirement to reach sustainer status, many active and sustainer members alike spend more years, if not decades, engaging with the Junior League of Washington. Everyone has their own individual reasons for why they find value in spending their limited free time and energy on volunteering – whether that’s making new friends or business connections, giving back to the community, growing new skills, or deepening existing interests.

As a new member, taking full advantage of one year of membership can often feel daunting, albeit achievable. However, as those years advance into the double digits, how can you ensure your relationship with JLW grows with you? What can you do to make the most of your time in the Junior League?

I sat down with Gretchen Ehle, 17-year Junior League member, and Sustainer Committee Chair, to get her advice on shaping a successful long-term membership path within JLW, how that’s changed for her and other members across League history, and what the past can teach us about having a fulfilling experience now.

1. If friendship or networking are part of your goals and you meet someone great, be brave– ask them for their contact information before you say goodbye.

For 111 years, JLW has supported its members by connecting them in mutually beneficial relationships with the DC community in which they serve— placing members with organizations and supporting causes that need them, all the while helping members develop skills and new relationships along the way. According to Ehle, some Sustainers joined JLW when not many members had careers outside the home. Many members could spend most of their weeks dedicating themselves to JLW causes. The League organized activities like a singing group and shifts at the League-owned Thrift Shop which benefited those in need. But as times changed and more League women explored other careers outside homemaker, volunteer shifts had to shorten or become less frequent to accommodate the pressure of full-time careers. Thus, the Thrift Shop evolved into our yearly Tossed & Found Event.

Although the work we do now as members is just as impactful than ever before, the relationships between members don’t have as much time to naturally develop. Ehle shared, “I thought at first it would be more natural but…you might not see that person ever again. Take down numbers/names, follow up with texts/emails because there are so many active members, the chances of seeing the same people over and over again are low.”

2. Support all the causes you care about—from home or in-person

Many members don’t have the time to volunteer for the mid-week lengthy shifts that past volunteers served, instead the League has expanded the frequency and types of opportunities. If the cause is close to your heart– like fighting poverty, increasing literacy, or creating community, you can find a committee or event that supports your passion. Ehle said that while it’s tempting to stick with one or two committees for many years, she recommends trying several. “I bounced around, I decided I’m going to learn new skills and do things I don’t do in my day job; I learned a lot about myself. It allowed me to think more broadly.” As a modern member, there’s never been a better time to try a bit of everything, especially now that we have many virtual and hybrid ways to engage.

3. Assess your priorities frequently

Although many of us know that the demands of modern life force us to spend our time wisely, and with all of the events that the League offers, it can be easy to overcommit yourself. While Ehle encourages members to try a little bit of everything the League has to offer, she reminds members the importance of knowing your personal boundaries. There was a point when Ehle pulled back on her volunteerism to focus on her love life.

“I was doing a ton of stuff and I didn’t have time to have a relationship. I made a decision in 2013 to prioritize where I was spending my personal time and pulled back to make time for things that were important to me. Think hard about what’s important to you at different times of your life because that will change,” explained Ehle. Remember few decisions are permanent and you can take on more or less with the League as you feel ready.

4. Try something you haven’t done before

The League offers many ways to engage as a leader, creative, strategist, and more. It’s important to remember that JLW doesn’t expect you to be an expert to fill these positions. While Ehle was recently promoted to CFO at her company, she cannot stress enough what an impact acting as  JLW Treasurer had on her ability to achieve her new role. The League allows us to try on new hats if we’re brave enough to put them on.

5. Celebrate each other’s success in all parts of life

The last thing I discussed with Ehle was her future with the League. . One of the things she spoke about was finding new ways to celebrate members for their achievements. Currently, the Sustainers Committee honors those who have served for 50 years with the League or reached the age of 80 every year. But, Ehle has asked herself, “how do we celebrate our members for more of their successes? For their promotions, advancement in careers and home life, sitting on other boards, helping other organizations be successful.” JLW is a place to both work towards goals but also to empower each other when we reach them. Whether that’s recognizing an outstanding committee member, congratulating a member on their new baby, or toasting a member’s promotion, The Junior League has evolved across the years to fit into and benefit the lives of modern women. We must celebrate all the realms of modern life.

The post 5 Tips for Shaping a Successful Membership Path appeared first on Junior League of Washington, DC.

$5,000 to Greater DC Diaper Bank for 300 diaper bags full of gear essential to safely caring for a baby 

$5,000 to Georgetown Ministry Center for a 30-day supply of snacks, coffee, paper, products, laundry supplies, PPE, and hygiene supplies for 300 individuals experiencing homelessness

$5,000 to Friends of Guest House for daily, fresh meals for 24 residential clients over one month, totaling over 2,160 meals for women re-entering the community following incarceration

$5,000 to Community of Hope to provide approximately 90 households with up to $50 quarterly to spend on basic needs including food, groceries, and transportation

$5,000 to Young Playwrights’ Theatre (YPT) to fund 68 play books, laptops, cables and batteries, enabling YPT to continue supporting 500 youth through artistic programming

$5,000 to Dress for Success to purchase clothing size 18 and above, which is the size of the majority of women served by the program, providing professional attire for approximately 50 women seeking employment or starting employment

$5,000 to City Kids Wilderness Project to repair the van used to take 130 youth on field trips, allowing the organization to continue with its spring programs as planned and reducing barriers to the outdoors

$5,000 to Friendship Place to support the AimHire Job Placement program, funding the purchase of cell phones and three month service plans for 30 AimHire participants, helping them overcome a huge barrier to employment by providing a means to communicate with potential employers

$5,000 to GALA Hispanic Theater, funding ongoing mandatory COVID-19 precautions, including 1,250 KN95 masks and 200 COVID test kits, and partially cover the cost of 50 MERV 14 air filters and the fee for a COVID safety officer, which is a requirement for working with artists who are members of a union

$5,000 to Horizons Greater Washington to provide 750 breakfasts, 750 lunches, and 1,500 snacks for 30 students from Ward 8 for 25 program days during the 2023 Summer Program, helping more students succeed by building academic and life skills

$4,945.80 to Salvation Army to fund a new commercial-sized refrigerator with freezer capacity and shelving to store fresh fruits and vegetables, increasing food distribution to approximately 1,000 people each month and 18,900 healthy meals

The post 2023 Community Assistance Fund Recipients appeared first on Junior League of Washington, DC.

Amount Raised

Percentage to Goal Complete

Number of Donations

Amount remaining to reach goal

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JLW Member and Captain of the Bad News Babes throws a pitch.

For its 12th year, the Women’s Congressional Softball game returned after its 2020 cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Though the softball game began as a match between congresswomen and staffers in 2009, it has evolved into a long-standing battle between female congress members and the women of the DC Press Corps, with proceeds going to the Young Survival Coalition. The Young Survival Coalition is a charity that benefits women under 40 as they battle breast cancer, as these women face a particular set of challenges when battling cancer. The Young Survival Coalition states “Unlike their older counterparts – who are overwhelmingly integrated into the design of clinical trials – young adults diagnosed with breast cancer face higher mortality rates, fertility issues, and the possibility and ramifications of early menopause.” 

For the 2021 game, the Press Corps’ Bad News Babes was captained by the Junior League of Washington’s (JLW) own Mikayla Bouchard, a managing editor at CNN and formerly a senior editor at The New York Times. As a captain and center fielder, Bouchard works with the organizing committee to plan the annual charity game that pits female members of Congress against women of the Washington Press Corps and raises money for the Young Survival Coalition. She has been participating in the softball game since 2015 in addition to volunteering with JLW since 2016. As an active JLW member, she has participated in Horton’s Kids, the Esprit Committee, and is now the Vice Chair of the Women’s Leadership Breakfast. Clearly, Bouchard has a heart not only for her community, but also for promoting and supporting women in the DC area.

Keep an eye out for the release of the 2022 dates and ticket sales, and for any other JLW members who take the field this year!

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The current focus of the Junior League of Washington (JLW) on improving literacy in the Washington, DC, area takes on many shapes beyond the image of teaching children to read that often comes to mind. The League’s work with Community Family Life Services (CFLS), a nonprofit that works to help low-income and homeless individuals and families navigate life post-incarceration, is one such example.

Twice a month, JLW volunteers plan Connection Night programs for both parents and children who reside at CFLS’s transitional housing center. For parents, these programs are focused on life skills training – with the goal of helping individuals achieve personal growth, social and economic self-sufficiency, and independence.

One of the more important events that JLW volunteers coordinate is an annual self defense class. This year’s class took place on Thursday, March 10. Alex Duncan, a licensed SASS Go self-defense instructor, joined an intimate group of JLW members and women from CFLS to teach a 30-minute class focused on setting healthy boundaries, enforcing them, and how to protect themselves – all topics vital to maintaining one’s safety.

CFLS’s integrated care approach ensures that individuals have the tools and resources they need to thrive after experiencing poverty, homelessness, or incarceration. JLW members can best support CFLS by learning about it, says CFLS Committee Chair Cierra Billings.

“By understanding the challenges of people within our community, we can be greater leaders and practice empathy in our various endeavors,” Billings said.

Learn more about CFLS and JLW’s supporting work here.

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