My name is Taylor Wall and I’m a second year active member in the Junior League of Minneapolis. With this being an election year, I think it’s important to discuss how we as voters and members of Junior League are engaging members of our community about this election.

Everyday on the news and online, I keep hearing and reading that our country is more divided than ever on this election. Let me preface this by saying 2020 will only be the third election I’m able to vote in, so my pool of comparison on this topic is limited at best. That being said, it doesn’t feel like an outrageous thought to me that maybe we are incredibly split, and I have to imagine that at least part of that can be attributed to the way we digest and discuss politics on social media.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of social media. You can find me scrolling Tik Tok when I can’t sleep and, of course, I’ve fallen for the occasional targeted ad on Instagram. But I also see the downside of these apps when I scroll through the comment section of any political post and see as strangers or even worse, friends, unleash on each other. Yes, social media is great for catching up with friends and sharing a funny meme, but do these platforms allow for the nuanced and complex arguments that political discussions require? I can say confidently after having seen these discussions play out online and even participated in them on occasion that no, they do not. No one feels better afterwards, no one changes their mind, and no one better understands the other side. So really, what’s the point in them?

Rather than spin my wheels in those discussions and drive myself crazy, I’ve spent much of my time trying to gain a deeper understanding of how the other half thinks and how to convey what I believe without attacking someone. Admittedly, this is no easy feat because these are not just political topics for me, they are issues that are a direct reflection of my core values. Knowing that, I hope to never be apathetic enough to not feel personally about them. 

That being said, if I want someone to understand why I feel so passionate in my beliefs, I have to first understand why they feel equally as passionate about theirs; I have to reach across the aisle and understand the perspective that differs from my own. In short, I have to practice empathy if I’m ever going to have meaningful political discourse with people whose values I don’t share. For me, shifting these conversations from social media to in person dialogue has been a huge asset when approaching these difficult discussions, and it has helped me practice the patience and empathy they often require. 

Part of what has helped me become so impassioned in my beliefs and empathetic in my approach is by seeing how the policies of our leaders impact the communities around me. Being a member of Junior League has helped in that regard with the vast volunteer opportunities with the League. These have given me the chance to immerse myself in Minneapolis’ communities that are directly impacted by the opportunity gap our organization works to bridge. While I work every day to be more understanding of other viewpoints, I will be voting on November 3rd with these communities in mind, and I urge everyone to consider doing the same.

My name is Kavisha Shah and I am a second year active who joined to help close the opportunity gap and provide our community with great, strong women. This is close to my heart as I am a pediatrician and believe that each child should have an equal opportunity to succeed.

The Junior League of Minneapolis has made it our mission to combat the Opportunity Gap, and 2020 has given us a chance to put our ideas into action. The Opportunity Gap is the disparity of opportunities, experiences, and resources across various socioeconomic statuses as well as an inequality between different races and ethnicities. The year 2020 has been a challenging year full of social injustices, the loss of influential leaders, and of course, COVID-19 (or “Coronavirus”). COVID-19 has significantly changed every aspect of our lives and in turn has made us adaptive to our ever-changing world. 

Our League has many opportunities to be a pillar for our city and help provide resources for families. Our September kick-off General Membership Meeting (our monthly meetings where our membership gets together for training, League updates, and socializing) shed light on many of our community’s issues. The center of the meeting was a panel discussion surrounding the Opportunity Gap featuring Jazlynn Paige, a School Psychologist and Special Education Consultant and Keisha Davis, Vice Principal at Birch Grove Elementary. Our membership learned about working to create more equitable environments and systems in education, our community’s educational disparities and how to advocate for and support educational equity, and how to become more racially conscious.

Throughout this pandemic, it is impossible to ignore that the low-income community within our country has been impacted the most by this virus. This is most likely due to multi-generational living, small spaces, lack of protective gear, being classified as essential workers, limited access to health care, and high-risk categories/factors for COVID-19. Virtual learning will create greater disadvantages for children who have working parents, lack reliable internet and/or technology, rely on school lunches for their meals, or need extra learning assistance. This opportunity gap will lead to long-term effects on children’s education and development as distance and virtual learning will negatively impact this community at disproportionate rates. 

As a physician, I strongly believe that each of us must take personal responsibility to protect our community by social distancing, limiting large gatherings, and wearing protective gear when in public. As the fall and winter season comes along, the spread of Coronavirus may worsen as we also battle the flu. We can be representatives of science and protect our community by continuing to wear masks when in public spaces and socially distancing. By taking these measures, we can protect the most vulnerable members of our society. 

Written by Katie Caffrey

Every year, the Junior League of Minneapolis holds a Community Partner Salon Series. This year it will be during the month of February in place of a General Membership Meeting. These small group meetings are hosted in partnership with community partners and non-profit agencies. The goal of this series is to provide hands on training experience for members to supplement their League experience. Each meeting is designed for attendees to take something away from the training – knowledge about the organization, its mission, how to be an effective volunteer, and how to take your JLM experience and share your talents with others! Additionally, this series exposes members to other organizations in Minneapolis, and the impact these organizations have on our community. These meetings are on the calendar and most are still available for registration. Here’s an overview of the partners you can learn about during this year’s salon series:

Minneapolis Foundation:

The Minneapolis Foundation works on numerous projects to create positive change in the community. Located in downtown Minneapolis, the foundation administers more than 1,400 charitable funds that enable individuals, families, and businesses to support causes they are passionate about. They invest their unrestricted grant making resources in programs and initiatives that are aligned with their vision: a greater Minneapolis that is vibrant, inclusive, and positioned to thrive locally and compete globally. The Minneapolis Foundation researches, convenes, advocates, and helps shape public policy around issues critical to the current and future vitality of our community. Last year, the Foundation and its donors invested nearly $70 million in programs and services that change lives and strengthen the community. Make sure to sign up for this salon series event on February 26^th to hear from two members of The Minneapolis Foundation’s Philanthropic Services team, including Steph Donley, a current JLM member! You can also visit the foundation’s website for more information on their current projects: https://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/

The Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

The mission of the Nursery is to end child abuse and neglect and create strong, healthy families. In 1978, the United Way conducted research on child abuse and neglect in the Minneapolis area and found there was nowhere for parents in crisis to turn when they needed counseling and help caring for their children. To fill this need, the Junior League of Minneapolis partnered with the National Council of Jewish Women, B’nai B’rith Women, Southside Nurturing Center, and several other organizations to establish the first crisis nursery in the state. It was a unique collaboration that focused on something the community desperately needed. For more than 35 years, the Nursery has been committed to ending child abuse and neglect and creating strong, healthy families. Today, they answer approximately 4,000 crisis calls annually and shelter up to 20 children per day, providing over 5,000 nights of care during the course of the year to children aged newborn through six. The Nursery remains committed to strengthening families in our community in order to end child abuse and neglect. JLM currently partners with the Nursery through Helping Hands snack and dinner shifts. To learn more about the Nursery, visit their website at https://www.crisisnursery.org/, and sign up for the salon series event on February 19^th! 

Incorporating JLM/Volunteer Experience into Your Resume

Do you ever think about how valuable your JLM volunteer experience could be in your professional resume, but aren’t sure of the best way to incorporate it? You’re in luck! Kelly Leiker, JLM Sustainer & Board of Directors Sustainer Member at Large, will be holding a hands-on-workshop on February 12^th, focused on Incorporating Your JLM/ Volunteer Experience into Your Resume. Kelly is a Professional Speaker and Executive Coach and is bringing her valuable experience and knowledge to our salon series. Don’t forget to bring your resume, as well as a laptop or notebook for brainstorming! Visit Kelly’s website at https://leikerdevelopment.com/ for more information about her experience and services.

LeagueAires

The mission of the LeagueAires is to bring the joy of music to older adults and those with special needs. The idea for LeagueAires was born in the early 1960s, when four young women- Ruthy Frenzel, Mandy Johnson, Mary Kunz, and Patty Strong- sang together at an alumnae meeting for Skidmore College. They enjoyed singing together so much, they expressed interest in forming a regular singing group. A few months later, they performed in a talent show for the Junior League of Minneapolis. It was then that they decided to turn their love for music into a community mission. The women presented a new idea to the JLM Board to foster artistic involvement between JLM and the community by using music as a way to serve. The LeagueAires is currently in its 54^th year and is the longest project of the JLM. They continue to have an annual performance that all members are invited and encouraged to attend. This year’s performance will be at the Minikahda Club as part of the General Membership Meeting on April 14^th! To view their full performance schedule, visit: https://leagueaires.org/

Wallin Education Partners

Wallin Education Partners is more than just a scholarship. It is a proven college-completion program for high-potential students with financial need. JLM has partnered with WEP to provide a scholarship for 16 local female scholarship recipients. Join us on February 24^th, to learn from Stela Center, WEP’s Director of Advancement, about the scholarship program and how the organization is working to close the opportunity gap at the higher education level. https://www.wallinpartners.org/

For more information about these partner organizations, come to one, multiple, or all of this month’s salon series events! Visit the calendar on the JLM website to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there!