photography by altf.com ©2023 altf,inc.

Our community outreach has left a meaningful impact, from “Find the Good Day” to teacher grants and partnerships like Three Square and SWHYC. Events like our 5k, Fashion Forward and fundraisers like the Paint the Town Red Gala have raised both awareness and funds for our programs. We welcomed a new Office manager and are pleased to continue to enhance our communication efforts. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our members, partners, and supporters.

As we officially close out the 2023-2024 year, I want to extend my deep gratitude to each and every one of you. Together, we’ve achieved success, implementing our new focus area and forming two vital partnerships with Be A Shero Foundation and St.Jude’s Ranch for Children to combat human trafficking in Southern Nevada. It starts with a woman and this year proved that when we come together with a common goal and support one another, anything is possible. I’m immensely proud of all we’ve accomplished. As I hand over the reins to our incoming President, Tya Mathis-Coleman, I’m confident both she and President-Elect Kristina Villardi will continue our mission and lead our League to even greater heights.

Serving as your President has been my greatest honor, and I’ll always cherish the leadership journey and most importantly friendships made. The Junior League of Las Vegas is a phenomenal organization and will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m excited to witness the incredible future ahead.

With Deep Gratitude,

Chekesha Van Putten
2023-2024 President

As I reflect back on this life-altering year, I have so many emotions. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization during the most trying of times. Mostly, I am humbled and in awe of all that we’ve accomplished together, as we’ve overcome the most challenging of circumstances, found new ways to collaborate, and continued to support our community. While the last twelve months were anything but routine, we also found opportunities to learn, lead and grow.

Here are just a few of the lessons I’ll take with me from my role as President of the Junior League of Las Vegas during COVID:

The Junior League of Las Vegas and our members are so resilient. It didn’t take much time for League members to jump into action, connecting with members and community partners and figuring out how we can continue to make an impact in new ways. The majority of our programs continued, and collectively, we donated approximately 17K in volunteer hours to our community projects and toward developing our members.
Our value and impact are sustainable. Though we couldn’t fundraise using many of our traditional events, we were able to translate our value to the community to raise donations in new ways virtually. We held our first Little Black Dress Initiative campaign 27K and our first Annual Appeal 25K. We also held our first virtual Gala that raised over 90K! Our mission and our members are worth investing in as demonstrated by our generous donors and we’ll be in a great position for next year with our forward funding model.
Junior League members find a way to get things done, against all odds. We celebrated our Bear donations and reinvented Holiday Coffee in a drive-thru event. We did the same for our Education Grants. Committees didn’t give up, instead, they found a way to make it happen.
Training and development are lifetime endeavors. We never stopped learning this year. We learned about how connected we all are. We were reminded how being disconnected feels. We learned how to connect via technology. We deepened our understanding about supporting our BIPOC community, and that learning will continue. Mostly, we learned how important it is to listen and be there for each other.
Our history and legacy are important and worth celebrating. 75 years is a lifetime. We have come a long way since our founding members started the Service League in 1946. As our community needs evolve, JLLV will remain at the forefront of identifying areas of opportunities and working towards lasting change. There is still much work to be done under JLLV’s mission to develop the potential of women through volunteerism in our city.

While we aren’t back to “normal” yet, we are getting there, and I’m very optimistic about our trajectory and the momentum we have going into the new League year.

I am honored to have been selected and served as your “Pandemic President”. You all have taught me way more than I was able to teach you, and I’ll continue to be a student for the rest of my life. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve.

Best Wishes and Many Thanks,

Phoebe Cooper
president@jllv.org
Junior League of Las Vegas President
2020-2021

Despite our own Junior League end-of-the-year celebration, the events of the past week have once again underscored the severity and violence of racism that our communities experience in the United States and across the world every day.

This has been a tragic week, where we’ve all watched the hurt and anger on display at the death of an unarmed and restrained Black man. And now we see cities across our country have erupted in response to racial injustice.

As Junior League Leaders, we cannot stay silent and sit on the sidelines watching as our community feels the heaviness of grief.

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this week has again raised the veil of racial inequities that are pervasive in our cities and in our countries, seeing racial turmoil unfold in our communities is particularly painful and difficult to witness.

As an organization that believes in building better communities and strives for leadership excellence, many of us have asked what we can do.

We as Junior League women strive to be civic leaders in our communities. As such we should hold ourselves accountable for our own racism. We must do the work. We must be willing to be humiliated and vulnerable. We must speak out and we must be visible. We have to know when to be quiet and listen. And equally important, when to speak up.

“…the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action.”

16 April 1963
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail

We must give support to our Black members – and all members of color—neighbors, friends, coworkers, partners…and as an organization be an authentic ally in this fight for justice.

Our commitment to equity and inclusion is as important as ever.

If you have questions or comments, please reach out to Phoebe Cooper, 20-21 President or our Diversity and Inclusivity Committee at DandI@jllv.org.

The Junior League of Las Vegas

Civic leadership, community, service, empowerment, diversity, collaboration and respect are our values and each is reflected in the efforts of JLLV volunteers every day even in the most challenging circumstances.  I am uplifted by the

brave and selfless work of JLLV members whose civic-minded efforts are making real change. They also continue to do this even when t

hey feel overwhelmed by everything going on right now because no one is alone in that feeling.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to shake our lives, our community, and our neighbors around the world.  Our daily life is anything but smooth sailing, but the truth is that we are all in this together.  We want to help as well as protect ourselves, our loved ones, and the Southern Nevada community where we live and work. We have seen that a single act of compassion, a good deed, or an effort to help our neighbors can have

an outstanding ripple effect.

Engaged but Safe and Socially Distant

In the wake of stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines, our typical means of engagement and connection have changed.  The issues and challenges plaguing our communities have not slowed. Hard work, generosity, and the spirit of voluntarism are needed more than ever as we navigate these fluid circumstances and the uncharted waters ahead.

With adjustments made for the safety of our members, JLLV is continuing to support the importance of voluntarism in times of unrest. We continue to support our community’s basic needs, provide valuable community resources and partnerships, promote education, and boost member and community morale.

Inspired By JLLV Members Working to Meet the Community’s Needs

Our work has not stopped. Our community is still struggling to access essential resources, including food, personal protective equipment, and feminine hygiene products. Our committees are working hard to help collect and distribute these important and lifesaving basic necessities with and to our community partners. In this challenging time, we will continue to support the food drives and distribution in partnership with JustOne and Three Square Food Pantry, as well numerous other partners.  Now more than ever, food isn’t the only scarce resource, and our members have held drives for feminine hygiene products, student resources, and have even sewed face coverings to share with those that need them. I am amazed by everything they are doing to support our neighbors, our community and our partners.

Please note that if and when our JLLV members contribute their time to local volunteering opportunities, we encourage them to take all precautions to protect themselves, and whenever possible, to take part in virtual fundraisers and other contact-free community support and advocacy events. 

Supporting our Educators

The end of this school year has changed every student, parent and teacher’s daily life.  Because of the twists and turns of this year’s school closures, we understand that our educators may need more resources than ever as they prepare for next school year.  We want to support the teachers and students that need it the most when much-needed resources may be stripped away in the coming year.  One grant to one teacher doesn’t just help one individual, but classrooms overflowing with students. We have seen first hand that our educators are invaluable and do amazing things for the children that shape our future.  In response to the crisis, we are getting our Education Grants application out to teachers by May 1 so they can prepare for the upcoming year.  We want to support as many teachers and programs as possible and give them the time they need to participate.

Our Altruistic Members

The hard work of JLLV simply wouldn’t be possible without the passion of our members that commit their time and energy to bettering our community.  Without the strength, effort and unwavering commitment to voluntarism, the inspiring and impactful work done by JLLV Members would come to a halt.  For that reason, our members are a top priority, especially as we are rocked by COVID-19. Our members have been emotionally, financially, and physically impacted.  Some have lost jobs – temporarily and permanently.  Some have taken pay cuts.  Some are working non-stop exhausting hours as healthcare and other essential workers.  Some work from home while teaching and caring for their children.  Each member has her own challenges in this time of isolation and it can be overwhelming.  However, we are also taking important measures to build and maintain morale by being creative in how we connect, support and empower each other.  It is both heartening and inspiring to know that our members are not only caring for the community, but caring for each other on a daily basis.

The impact of our members and their volunteer work can never truly be summarized, but it deserves to be celebrated.  During this National Volunteer Week – but also in each and every week – JLLV honors our members and the work they continue to do!

JLLV Members are unstoppable!!

Erica Chee
2019 – 2020 President

With the ongoing concerns about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it affects the Southern Nevada community, Junior League of Las Vegas wants you to know that we value the safety and well-being of our members and the community above all else.

The Junior League of Las Vegas will continue to provide services for our community partners and members during this time to the extent we are able to keep members safe. Our community impact programs continue to serve a valuable purpose in Southern Nevada and those in our focus area may need us more than ever in the coming weeks.

We are continuing to evaluate the postponement or cancellation of any current volunteer shifts, fundraising events, training opportunities, and membership meetings on an ongoing basis. We are striving to continue certain programming through remote methods, so we can serve our members and community when they need us the most.

We remain dedicated to developing the potential of our members and serving the community with the help of trained volunteers like you. Thank you for your patience and diligence during this unprecedented time, and thank you for your continued support of the Junior League of Las Vegas.

Be well.

Erica Chee
2019-2020 President

The beginning of the New Year gives me an incentive to reflect on the year. I am so amazed at everything our members did in 2019. We started a new project and currently serve hundreds of families through our pop-up food pantries every month. We continue to serve the residents of Shannon West Homeless Youth Center through meal preparation and life skills and wellness programming. We support our teachers through educational grants and support the students by providing additional educational resources. And that is just a small fraction of what our members have done this year.

Unfortunately, the Southern Nevada community is all too familiar with senseless violence and the past years have seen a continued increase. It is heartbreaking to see the rise of hateful, racist and religiously discriminatory acts in our country and JLLV continues to condemn this sort of hatred.

We may not always say it with words, but JLLV always has and always will support our community through service. Our members do everything they can to build a better and more inclusive community not tear it down.

I am proud that our members continuously find the means to serve our neighbors and each other. They provided over 15,000 volunteer hours to our community in 2019, and I look forward to serving alongside all of our 520 JLLV members in 2020 as we continue to serve.

As we enter a new decade, JLLV wants to let our supporters, our community partners and each of our members know how grateful we are for you. Thank you for supporting the empowerment of women. Thank you for supporting us as we train our members and the women of the community to become civic leaders. Thank you for supporting us as we build a better Southern Nevada community.

Happy New Year!!

Erica Chee
2019 – 2020 President

It is hard to move forward into September without acknowledging that August was a rough month for our country and it ended with a tough Labor Day weekend – another mass shooting, an encroaching hurricane, and a deadly boat fire. With all of that, let me step away from the heart-wrenching tragedies and focus on a great moment in professional sportsmanship at the U.S. Open that can inspire us all as we move towards a new season.

Naomi Osaka – Photographed by Mikhail Whale
Instagram.com/MikhailWhale

Naomi Osaka, last year’s U.S. Open champion, faced off with Coco Gauff, the 15-year-old phenom, on Saturday night in a short and decisive match. Osaka defeated the young rival, but the score isn’t what caught the world’s attention. The real can’t-look-away moment came when Osaka approached an emotional Gauff to ask her to join the post-match interview. Osaka offered Gauff a chance to share her disappointment with the support of the crowd rather than tackling her disappointment alone, and Gauff demonstrated vulnerability when she agreed.

Osaka, who is only 21, tapped into her athletic and life experiences to offer guidance and encouragement in that small moment. Of course, it was just that — a moment. The tournament went on, and Osaka ultimately lost her fourth-round match. Yet the wins and losses are just another piece of a much larger picture. That one small moment in a competitive whirlwind is what truly inspired me.

It’s my hope that we can go into the rest of this year inspired by Osaka and Gauff. Despite being tough competitors, the women on the court did not show hatred or violence. Instead, they embraced something else. Osaka, specifically, embraced something similar to our Junior League values: Diversity, Collaboration, Community, Empowerment, Leadership, Service, and Respect.

(RT) Naomi Osaka & Coco Gauff (LT)- Photographed by Jimme
Instagram.com/Jimmie48Tennis
www.j48tennis.net

The women of the Junior League of Las Vegas are constantly embracing these values. They are empowering women, strengthening our community, and improving the lives of those around us through service and leadership. I hope to show you more of what we are doing to demonstrate our values through our new website as the year continues.

One question before you move into this new season – Is there a moment when another woman could use your support, leadership, respect, or empathy? Be like Naomi Osaka — grasp it. You won’t regret it.

Erica Chee
2019 – 2020 President

A note from our outgoing President, Dalisa Cooper.

Junior League is a training organization for women.  “Training” may be an understatement in my opinion… I’ve grown personally, developed new skills both socially and academically, and developed some of the closest friendships I’ve known all because of the wonderful women around me.

I’m not necessarily a “conventional” person and often do not follow normal rules of society or fit into most expectations. I like this about myself and have no desire to change it; but because of this, I never considered myself a likely candidate for leadership – especially for such an incredible organization. Yet I was completely embraced by those around me. I was accepted just as I am, and because of that, I was able to lead successfully. It goes to show that although we are all different in a variety of ways, we are all like minded in the area of improving our community.  We are all here because we want to be, not because we have to be. We sacrifice our time and energy for others. It’s a true honor to be a part of such a magnificent force.

This past year has been incredible – but collectively, the entire experience of all of my years in League has shaped me into the person that I am today.  I have had the opportunity to do great things with the help of so many talented, strong women. I was told three years ago when this Presidential journey began for me that it would go by so quickly, and trust me when I say, there were certainly times when I wished it had gone a little quicker. But overall, it certainly has flown by. We are constantly going, moving, forging on – which is why we are so progressive and dynamic. With that, I rest assured that the time that I put in is absolutely satisfied. The sacrifice is less on me and more on my friends and family. They too, committed to this organization by allowing me to grow with it and spend the time and training that I needed to make it happen.

The measurement of success from the past few years can be found in the annual report and with numbers and celebrations that our events and projects present, but the true measure of success is through the memories that we have built, the lives we have touched, the time that we have put in. It all comes down to one thing for me – the women in this organization wanted to be here.  They wanted to work and make an impact and they continued to show up.  I maintain that I do not know it all, I do not always have the answers and that’s OK because the work was still done by the overwhelming love and compassion of the Women of the Junior League of Las Vegas.  My love for this league runs deep. It’s amazing what we can do when we come together as a collective force. It’s empowering and it’s impressive. We all have a role which changes each year. And with each role change, we are determined to learn a few new things and develop our potential.  I thank our predecessors who paved this way for us. It’s been a wonderful ride, JLLV. And although my job here is not yet done, it may never be, I will always hold you close to my heart.

Signing off,

Dalisa Cooper

2018 – 2019 President