Letter from the President

The past six months have been so tumultuous, it is hard to know where to begin. The COVID-19 pandemic isolated us at a time when many people lost family members and loved ones and faced loss of jobs and income. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor forced the realization on many in our country that the American ideal of equality is still not realized for Black Americans. And, most recently, we saw our fellow Louisianians battered by a hurricane bringing back traumatic memories for so many in New Orleans. Despite all of this, the resilient women of the Junior League of New Orleans have forged ahead continuing to be leaders in improving our community and I could not be prouder to be a part of this organization.

In this issue, our “Women Leading” series highlights members who champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in their personal and professional lives and within JLNO. JLNO’s DEI journey officially began in 2014 with the formation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. I am proud of the strides JLNO has made in this space and look forward to seeing us further evolve as an organization.

Our cover story on the Women’s Leadership Summit gives a preview of what I know will grow into the premier training event for women in New Orleans. The summit would not be possible without the hard-work, dedication, and flexibility of the remarkable WLS team! I would also like to draw your attention to the features on our Safe Sitter program and Nonprofit Partner Fair which went on as scheduled despite the highly unusual circumstances we find ourselves in this year. As this is Diaper Need Awareness month, we would be remiss if we did not spotlight the impact the Diaper Bank has on our community. Now in its seventh year, JLNO’s signature project continues to expand its reach.

Thank you for your support of the Junior League of New Orleans. I am excited to see what our amazing members accomplish this year!

Gratefully, Kristin Van Hook Moore 2020-2021 President

Photo by: Jessica Bachmann