Lagniappe Summer 2021 by Renaissance Publishing

jlno.org

Contents

Summer 2021

3 Letters from the Incoming President

LAGNIAPPE STAFF

and Incoming Editor

Editor: Sonia Godfrey

4 Meet the 2021-2022 Board of Directors

Assistant Editor: Shanelle Joseph Photography Editor: Ann Gray Conger

8 Ending the Pink Tax in Louisiana

Assistant Photo Editor: Jennifer Knecht Writers: Allison Gallaspy, Shanelle Joseph, Courtney Nalty Photographers: Jessica Bachmann, Jennifer Knecht

JLNO BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Kristin Van Hook Moore President-Elect: Shannon Brice Secretary: Emily Booth Treasurer: Jaimee Landry Boyd Assistant Treasurer: Nene Glenn Gianfala Business Council Director: Sophie Martinez Communications Council Director: Lacy McManus Community Council Director: Rachel Stickney Membership Council Director: Casey Zainey Planning & Development Council Director: Leigh Thorpe Ways & Means Councils Director: Sarah Peltier Nominating Committee Chair: Jane Dufour Sustaining Advisor to the Board: Blanche "Dee" McCloskey

PUBLISHER STAFF Editor: Topher Balfer Art Director: Ali Sullivan Production Designers: Rosa Balaguer, Meghan Rooney Chief Executive Officer: Todd Matherne Sales Account Executive: Meghan Sumrall Meghan@myneworleans.com

Photo by Ann Conger

Windowsill Pies, JLNO's first ever WE Fellowship winner from 2016, has opened a brick and mortar shop located at 4714 Freret Street. The shop, which opened in October 2020, is New Orleans' only stand-alone bakery specializing in pies.

Lagniappe | Summer 2021

Letter from the Incoming President

t is my honor to welcome you the 2021-2022 League year. I am excited to transition into the role as the 98th President of Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO). I would like to thank our immediate past President Kristin Moore and the 2020-2021 Board of Directors for leading the organization through such a chaotic and uncertain time with a clear vison and effective communication. As we reflect on the League’s history in New Orleans, we have to celebrate our accomplishments and continue to be a catalyst for change in our community. We will continue to build awareness and work toward ensuring access to diaper need and period products. We will build greater relationships with our Bloomin’ Deals legacy partners such as Dress for Success. We will also grow our scholarship program to allow nontraditional students more opportunities to continue their education. Our diverse membership base is one of our greatest assets. Our members' passion and purpose is what allows the League to continue to make an impact, and I would like to thank you for allowing me to serve. I look forward to all the exciting work we will continue to do to expand JLNO’s reach in our New Orleans community. Gratefully,

Photo by: Jessica Bachmann

Shannon Brice 2021-2022 President

Letter from the Incoming Editor

s a member of the Junior League, I have encountered many experiences that have allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. When discussing my decision to become a member, I never hesitate to mention the opportunities made possible for me through my membership with the League. I began my tenure in 2014 with the Junior League of Dallas. There, in such a big city, I was exposed to a cornucopia of volunteer experiences and met many wonderful people. Nevertheless, I missed the culture of home. I returned to Louisiana in 2016 and eventually transferred into the Junior League of New Orleans. It was with JLNO that I was able to fulfill my dream of becoming a published writer. I began writing as a hobby fifteen years ago but was uncertain of how I would have the opportunity to really succeed. While viewing placement opportunities, I saw the role of ‘Lagniappe Writer’ and immediately signed up. Through JLNO and its Lagniappe magazine, I met with yet another fulfilling opportunity. Lagniappe has served as an outlet for me to not only share the amazing facts I have learned about JLNO, but it has also become an outlet for me to hone my skills and gain experience as a writer. At this juncture, I am overwhelmed with gratitude of being able to serve the community in which I live as well as continue on my path of personal growth. When Lagniappe’s outgoing editor presented me with the offer of becoming the editor for the 2021-2022 League year, I was overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions ranging from excitement to fear. As is typical for me, I eventually embraced the opportunity including each of those emotions. A quote from Paulo Coelho came to mind: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” I am both delighted and honored to serve as the incoming editor and look forward to contributing to the growth and continued success of Lagniappe. Warmest Regards,

Shanelle Joseph 2021-2022 Lagniappe Editor

jlno.org

2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shannon Brice PRESIDENT

s the organization’s President, Shannon Brice leads the 2021-2022 League year for the Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO), providing strong guidance for the Board of Directors and JLNO staff. She will preside over meetings of the Board, Joint Council and General Membership while also acting as the organization’s official spokesperson. Since joining in 2012, Shannon has been instrumental in developing and implementing League fundraising activities by chairing JLNO’s Touch a Truck, Freret 5K fundraising events and Strategic Partnerships. Shannon came to the Junior League to partner with women who wanted to develop a stronger community. That volunteer commitment is what she likes most about JLNO, and she appreciates how all its members work together to learn from one another. This collaboration creates thoughtful initiatives and robust goals. Through her JLNO service, Shannon has learned that, despite coming from diverse backgrounds, women share the same ultimate goals of being happy, residing in safe communities and making New Orleans a wonderful place to live and work. Shannon is the Chief Financial Officer for Richard’s Disposal Inc and the Chief Executive Officer of Brice Consulting, LLC. At Richard’s Disposal, she is responsible for managing the financial risk of the corporation, as well as financial planning and market data analysis. Prior to joining the company, Shannon was the Program and Commodities Supervisor at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). In that position, she was responsible for several Supply Chain programs. Prior to joining PG&E, she held several different positions at Entergy Corporation, including Supplier Diversity Specialist, Lead Analyst in Supply Chain and Financial Analyst including Supplier Diversity Specialist, Analyst in Supply Chain and Financial Analyst Treasury/Cash Management. Some of her key responsibilities included administering statewide diversity initiatives for Louisiana and Mississippi, analyzing contracts and maintaining domestic bank relations and cash forecasts. Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts from Dillard University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Her commitment to her alma mater continues through her involvement as a volunteer member of the Tulane Business Alumni Association. Additional communitybased endeavors include serving as board Vice-President Dress for Success New Orleans and Friends of City Park Treasurer. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Awards and accolades range from Diversity MBA magazine’s Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders to the LADC Leader Award. A proud native New Orleanian, Shannon resides in the Warehouse District. She loves the energy of the city and looks forward to the continued inspiration and education she’ll receive as a Junior League of New Orleans Board member.

Lagniappe | Summer 2021

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - ALAN KAY

2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Holly Paczak PRESIDENT - ELECT

olly Paczak begins a two-year period on the Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) Board of Directors as the President-Elect. During the 2021-2022 League year, she will assist the President in her duties as Chief Executive Officer and will assume those responsibilities if the President is unable to serve during her term. Holly will become JLNO's President for the 2022-2023 League year beginning June 1, 2022. This two-year term exemplifies JLNO’s emphasis on training and learning. Her experiences in this role provide opportunities for Holly to thoughtfully prepare for the years ahead, ensuring her tenure maximizes community impact. During the President-Elect year, she will study JLNO's governance documents, policies, procedures and best practices, thus allowing her to emulate previous leaders by ensuring a

sustainable and impactful future. As President-Elect, she hopes “to have the opportunity to continue to learn about the organization, understand the needs and wants of the membership, and remain true to the mission of JLNO, so that we can begin the planning for another 100 years.” Holly joined JLNO in 2008 and has chaired Period Supplies, Community Council Strategic Planning, Rebuilding Together, Educare and Judgment Call. She also was the Community Council Director in 2017-2018. “I love that the League is a training organization. From my experiences with the league, I have learned skills that I wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. From technology to planning, finances and budgets to managing teams and resources, there is always some nugget of knowledge I can glean from any League interaction. Community shifts,

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” – JOHN WESLEY

committee meetings, joint council and GMM all provide opportunities to connect with talented, creative, and determined women.” Born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi, Holly attended Mississippi State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education Psychology, a Master of Science in Education Psychology and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology. She also interned with the Louisiana School Psychology Internship Consortium, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association. In her almost 15-year career, she has worked for two national technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs— the National Center on Special Education Accountability Monitoring and the Data Accountability Center. Holly has served as the Project Coordinator for the TIERS (Teams Intervening Early to Reach all Students) Group at the LSU Human Development Center leading technical assistance, where she coached and directed support to Local Education Agencies and State Education Agencies to improve academic and behavioral systems of support. She even worked for some time at the Bering Strait School District in Unalakleet, Alaska. As a school psychologist and the NOLA Public Schools Director of School Support and Improvement, Holly provides technical assistance to schools in NOLAPS with implementation of special education compliance and programming, Section 504 and multi-tiered systems of support. A resident of Uptown, Holly and her husband, Brad, have two daughters, Helena (7) and Mary Katherine (2). In her spare time, she loves to read anything and everything from fiction to biographies, industrial organization to technology, education to social science. “I enjoy it all!”

jlno.org

2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kimberly Allen

MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL DIRECTOR “…Find the good, and praise it.

Nene Glenn Gianfala TREASURER

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” – WAYNE GRETZKY

– ALEX HALEY

Nancy Kirkbeya

ASSISTANT TREASURER “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

Elizabeth Dalferes Hubbard SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time" – RUTH BADER GINSBURG

– MAYA ANGELOU

Emily Liuzza

BUSINESS COUNCIL DIRECTOR “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” – SAM KEEN

Lagniappe | Summer 2021

Alyse Mouledoux COMMUNITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL

2021-2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ashley Cangelosi Llewellyn

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR “Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”

Ashley Millet LeBlanc COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL DIRECTOR

“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” – SUE PREMO

– LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

Susan Kliebert WAYS & MEANS COUNCIL DIRECTOR

“Where there is a will, there is a way, and a strong will can move a mountain.” – UNKNOWN

Katherine Kleinpeter Raymond, Ph.D. SUSTAINING ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – MAYA ANGELOU

Ty Salvant

NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – MAYA ANGELOU

Want to learn more about the Junior League of New Orleans 2021-2022 Board of Directors? Scan the code to access full profiles on each incoming Board member, where they discuss their careers, inspirations and goals for the upcoming League year.

Aim your smartphone camera at the code to access this exclusive online material.

jlno.org

Ending the Pink Tax in Louisiana By: Allison Gallaspy

unior League of New Orleans (JLNO) 2021 Legislative Session Overview on March 24th brought together three panelists who illuminated how alleviating diaper need and period poverty could improve the wellbeing of women and girls by discussing the currently observable ways that lack of access to diapers and period products are causing harm to low-income households. Philip Vander Klay, Director of Policy and Governmental Relations at the National Diaper Bank Network and Alliance for period supplies, began the program by describing how diaper need is itself a specific kind of cyclic poverty, where diapers are a resource that 60% of families are consistently struggling to adequately access. Parents end up missing work because they do not have enough diapers to send their child to school or childcare, which often leads to a further reduction in wages, making it difficult to afford the next month’s $80-$100 worth of diapers. Or, in the worst case scenario, they have to seek expensive emergency medical services to diagnose and treat infections caused by diaper shortages, which further reduces their ability to furnish enough diapers when needed. Charmaine Caccioppi, United Way of South Louisiana’s Executive Vice President and C.E.O., added that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 33% of families in the region were not able to afford household basics. “They’re on edge and unable to save for emergencies and crises, and we know the pandemic has only worsened this situation.” She also spoke to the known negative developmental impacts adolescent women experience when they have inadequate access to period products, such as missing school or extracurriculars, increased incidents of reproductive and urinary tract infections, and lower levels of self-confidence. What is clear is that women and girls suffer financially, psychologically and medically when they are stuck in this specific cycle of diaper

Lagniappe | Summer 2021

and period product poverty. What is also clear: this cycle can be interrupted, and women and girls can be elevated out of it. JLNO’s Diaper Bank and its distribution partners have had an immediate, hugely positive impact by giving out 1 million diapers in the 2019-2020 League year. That large number of diapers indicates an impressive mobilization of will into action—and also that diaper need is a large-scale problem that requires long-term change. That is where the third panelist comes in. Representative Aimee Freeman, a JLNO Sustainer, has sponsored legislation that proposes to reduce the cost of diapers and period products for all Louisiana residents by exempting these items from state sales tax. “Louisiana already exempts groceries and prescriptions. Taxing period products places an extra burden on lowincome women,” says Representative Freeman. Eliminating the so-called “pink tax?” According to her, “It’s just the right thing to do.” Last session, Representative Freeman introduced Act 138, which passed in the legislature and allowed municipalities throughout the state the option of exempting diapers and period products from sales tax. Major cities including New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport have implemented that option. This year’s House Bill 7 (HB7) seeks to expand the tax exemption to the entire state. So far, the bill has passed through Ways and Means and will soon be heard on the House floor. Representative Freeman says we can help the bill pass by encouraging family and friends who live in other areas of the state to contact their local officials expressing support for HB7. “It’s critical for people in places like Alexandria, Monroe, Thibodaux and Houma to contact their legislators,” she says. “Make it personal so they become champions for the legislation they’re putting forward.” The 5-7% of sales tax that parents will save over their lifetime can add up to a big benefit. “Low income families know where every part of their dollar goes, and

Louisiana State Representative and JLNO Sustainer Aimee Freeman

they miss that income,” adds Philip. Supporting the statewide passage of HB7 is just one way the Louisiana Legislature could help improve the wellbeing of women and girls this session. Charmaine says local efforts are ongoing to win equal pay for women and to raise the current minimum wage to “help people find dignity in work and meet a survival budget.” These efforts to raise minimum wage and eliminate the gender wage gap work together with the tax exemption to allow families to afford household basics, like diapers and period products. •