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Women Building Community Through The Junior League Of Syracuse

• Skip Clark

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SPEAKER_02:

beginning part so and then like where I'm talking right now. Okay. We are ready. You ready?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm ready.

SPEAKER_02:

Victoria, you ready? Or I call you a Vicky? I don't know. Whatever. Okay. I saw Victoria on the board and I was like, okay, that's pretty formal, but that's okay. All right, here we go. Coming to you in three, two, one. Hey everybody, and once again, good morning and welcome to another episode of the Inner Harbor Cast. My name is Skip Clark. Again today your host and we're talking about community connection and making a difference right here in central New York. Joining me is Rachel Nelson, the president of the Junior League of Syracuse, an incredible organization, women volunteers who have been shaping and strengthening our community for generations. And we'll talk about their mission. We're going to talk about their impact uh they're making across Syracuse and how you can get involved. Plus uh we want to get to know Rachel a little bit better too because uh being the president of this great organization, I'm sure it takes a very special person. So um Rachel, big thanks for being here this morning and welcome to the Inner Harbor cast. So good to see you.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you. Happy to be here.

SPEAKER_02:

It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Rachel um what's we're gonna we'll start it over.

SPEAKER_00:

Excuse me I'm gonna shut that off real life I know I left my phone in the other room because I can tell you how it's all oh that's not what's on my list.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Sorry about that.

SPEAKER_01:

That's okay.

SPEAKER_02:

It's very unprofessional and I do do this for a living so because I'm a geek. All right we're starting over coming to you in three two one good morning everybody and welcome to another episode of the Inner Harborcast my name is Skip Clark and I'm your host again this week uh talking about community connection and making a difference right here in central New York uh joining me today is Rachel Nelson who is the president of the Junior League of Syracuse. They are an incredible organization women volunteers they've been shaping and uh strengthening our community for generations we're going to talk about their mission we're gonna talk about their impact uh that they are making across Syracuse and how you can get involved plus we'll get to know Rachel a little bit better as well being the president of this great organization I'm I'm sure it takes a very special person. And good morning Rachel welcome to the Inner Harborcast so good to see you so so happy to finally meet you.

SPEAKER_01:

It's good to be here thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely Rachel um you know you're the president that's a big role and uh let's start right from the beginning. What is the Junior League of Syracuse?

SPEAKER_01:

You know we are an organization that's been around the Syracuse area for over a hundred years and we are women led and we're really about leadership development and we do that through several different ways. We do that through our community impact we do it through volunteering and through you know just board work and committee work in the league.

SPEAKER_02:

What is the actual mission of the junior thank you for asking so our ready is to advance women's leadership um for meaningful community impact through volunteer action collaboration and training you know I mentioned uh you know being the president of this great organization takes a very special person that's a very big role as well what inspired you to join the junior league and how did that uh journey lead to becoming its leader so to speak well I've been part of the junior league for 12 years.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh wow and really as you do work in the community and it's an advancement kind of program where they develop you as a leader. So this was kind of a natural next step for me having been in the league a long time you know every nonprofit organization has had challenges since COVID and member turnover and this was just a great opportunity to have some of that um longevity and work with the newer members and help continue to develop leaders.

SPEAKER_02:

Love that uh they uh the junior league you know you get such deep roots right here in Syracuse uh how long has the local chapter been active and how has it evolved over the years?

SPEAKER_01:

Sure 105 years. Wow many of the nonprofit organizations that you are familiar with, we have helped them either found or we have been instrumental in their organization growing and doing the good work that they do through um volunteers. We provide those we partner with them and it's really beautiful what has taken place. You know um Rachel can you share some of the projects or the partnerships that make you uh most proud my favorite is the Steam event we put on every year with Brighton Academy the sixth grade girls and just to see their faces light up at the possibilities for their future when they learn about different careers and opportunities in the Steam categories. So I love going it's a full day event we bring in different community partners to teach them about STEAM and um it's just really rewarding. Wow that's only one of many it is what what are some of the others you know we partner with the uh food bank the diaper bank we have little free libraries around the town uh the boys and girls clubs so lots of different partnerships that we take and how how does the league decide uh which community issues or organizations to touch uh and to focus on each and every year that's a great question uh we've worked with over 80 organizations throughout the years and so it evolves it changes depending on the desires of our members what they want to get involved in and so we kind of change here and there and you know we're always open to working with a new partner if they want to work with us all they got to do is reach out.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah essentially and then you will take it into consideration and more than likely um do what you can to help them.

SPEAKER_01:

Sure.

SPEAKER_02:

You gotta love that can you share a story that really captures the heart of what the junior league stands for maybe a moment that reminded you why why you do this work.

SPEAKER_01:

Sure. Years ago probably I don't know at least 10 years ago I went to my first um back then it was STEM event at the Trighton Academy and we went around and we asked the young girls uh what do you want to be when you grow up and we heard movie star, model um you know actress, you know, different things like that. But no one actually was talking about a legitimate career that a woman would have um that wasn't just up, you know, pie in the sky kind of thing. And my heart broke a little because I thought these are such capable girls and they have no idea what their potential is. But then seeing them light up when we went around and did different activities and they found that they can actually use math and science and technology and go into a field of work that isn't just for men, that women can actually make a big difference in the world and that we're not boxed into something based on our looks or you know stereotype.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly that's that's great. The junior league is known for empowering women to lead as you you talked about how do you um help develop the leadership skills among the members the young ladies oh that is a really great question.

SPEAKER_01:

You know we have committees people come in and they get put in roles that they are not comfortable necessarily with they've never done it before but you always have somebody there to help you who has done it before. And so throughout the years I have done so many different types of committee work I had no clue what I was doing. But it's an opportunity it to learn something new to be mentored and to develop skills without being in a corporate setting where maybe your job would be on the line if you didn't do something perfect.

SPEAKER_02:

No well you know nobody's perfect though. So you know you do the best you can and I think if you show that you're doing the best that you can everything's gonna be fine then they know you're giving it all you got oh yeah which is good.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah and we just do good in the world if we can do a little more good great if we you know do a little less good because we're learning that's great too.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah and to be thrown into something maybe you haven't done before you learn from that as you mentioned you learn from that it's it's like me in the broadcasting side of things there's a lot of things I haven't done. Doing this until recently I I wasn't doing uh but now I'm learning how to do it and I'm learning that I really enjoy it. So it's pretty much almost the same thing. Uh what are some of the unique challenges that uh women leaders face in volunteer driven organizations and how do you help members uh overcome them you know there there's actually a new initiative put on by the Junior League International it's called Every Woman All Things.

SPEAKER_01:

And this is an opportunity to really evaluate all the roles and responsibilities that women carry, which is unique to women. And so as an organization we're really looking to support the mental health of women in our community and women in the junior league because they're moms and they're wives and they work full-time jobs and they take care of their homes and they volunteer and it is amazing what women do. But with that sometimes comes mental health burnout different things and we are tackling it head on as a league and really want to help women you know grow their capacity and be encouraged and um learn that they can do more than maybe they think they can do you think um the world is going through so many different changes for sure feach their own opinions are everybody's opinion but the mental health state right now is a big situation.

SPEAKER_02:

It's a it's a big problem. Oh yeah you know so how do you how do you tackle that how do you you tell them you know you just need to relax a little bit how does all that work and how do you do that?

SPEAKER_01:

That that is a large you know it's a big answer. Yeah it is it is but we all go more than I can you know tackle today but we do our best we we bring in speakers to help people understand um how to deal with different mental challenges um we give them opportunity for support and collaboration with other women who are doing the same things that they are and just that community to be able to have other women around you powerhouse women doing so many amazing things but they're also vulnerable and real and they're gonna you know share those experiences together.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely you know on a personal note I said we were going to try to get to know you a little bit better because you are the president and you're leading all these women and you're doing a great job at that uh what has leading this organization taught you about yourself oh so I think other women could also you know get something out of this answer.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. You know I like to do things well and perfectionism at times is a thing right would you say you're very organized? I try to be but you know I think it's allowed me to give myself grace that there's a lot on my plate and I don't have to do everything perfectly and there's a lot of amazing women around me that I can also lean on that have strengths that are different than my own. And that's the beauty of having an organization where we collaborate together.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that now let's talk about some of these events you have coming up. Yes for sure um what are some of the big things happening this season with the junior league of Syracuse excuse me.

SPEAKER_01:

All right well we have our premier holiday shopping event that is our largest fundraising my wife loves so the holiday shops um we're having our 30th anniversary year can you believe that 30 years I've been talking about this on the radio for probably 30 years but it's hard to believe I know wow 30 already okay so we have a three-day holiday shopping event and we have almost a hundred different artisans merchants that are going to come in and have tables and you're gonna be able to shop and find really something for everyone on your list and this year we have some unique offerings you can come do a Matt Pilates class and then go shop. You can I love that VIP night um on Friday night and that ticket gets you um reserved parking two complimentary drinks or d'oeuvres by copper top live music and you get to hold puppies from helping hands and helping hounds yes they do a lot of that and you're talking about these organizations but to bring the puppies to an event like that and it goes back to when we were talking about some of the stress I mean puppies take that away they do they do you'll see them in a lot of different conferences I've seen them quite often so yeah so we're actually doing something um we just secured a partnership with the food bank of CNY beautiful and if you bring with you some non-perishable items you are gonna get a discount on your tickets at the door so if you bring two non-perishable food items you know things that people would use at Thanksgiving time cranberry sauce. Yeah they're canned they're not gonna go bad um stuffing mix things like that yeah then you'll get two dollars off your admission at the door and that's just because you know what's going on in the world right now people need help with the food insecurity situation and it's one of our top um focuses as a listener.

SPEAKER_02:

So that's one way that listeners can get involved by if they want to go to the event that you know bring the non-perishable food items things like that they get a discount but what if somebody actually wanted to get involved with the event itself is there still time for somebody's to say you know what I'm a crafter and I want to have a booth.

SPEAKER_01:

I want to sell my items can somebody do that you know we love for people to reserve early but I'm sure we wouldn't turn them away um with you know what nine eight eight nine days left until the event yeah it's coming up pretty quick isn't it can uh reach out go to jlciracuse.org that's where you can get your tickets but that's also where they can get information of how to sign up as a merchant um I can't promise you a premiere spot but we definitely can squeeze you in probably let's a great cause for sure is what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_02:

So regardless where you are in the building I think um it's all going to work out fine and you're giving to a great cause uh what about sponsorships? I would assume if somebody maybe they can't do it this year but they they they hear this, they watch this and they say, you know what, I'd love to sponsor that.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah we have we actually have year-round sponsors for the Junior League of Syracuse that helps us do the work that we do in the community. So we also can accept those at any time and if they you know want to be featured in different ways we can talk about what that would look like in the future. So this is the like the one big event that you have every largest fund we look forward to every money that comes in from this event is how we're able to do the good work that we do in the community.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that and uh give us the dates of the event again.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh thank you the seventh Friday night the seventh okay 12 to 8 p.m okay saturday the eighth 10 to 6 and Sunday the ninth 10 to 4.

SPEAKER_02:

And where? Horticulture building at the fairgrounds New York State fairgrounds great place because parking's never a problem.

SPEAKER_01:

That's true. Except that there is a Veterans Day event and when there's a parking issue there you want to make sure to park in the midway area.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh that's good to know that's good to know and I know they're they're very good about putting up signs. Yes they are you know you go through that one gate and it tells you which direction you need to go just look for the sign and I'm sure it's gonna point you in the right direction. Yes so that that that's cool. So that's the big event. Uh what about some of the smaller events?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay you know um throughout the year maybe we do pop-up types of things I know this Saturday we're gonna be refilling all of our little free libraries around the community um and our members will come and volunteer their time to do that. We'll be bacon pies for the Samaritan Center. There's all sorts of things and if you want to come and just check out what we're all about um women can come join us as a volunteer at any time. You don't have to be a member you just you know come to one of our events and we'd love to have you help with our community efforts.

SPEAKER_02:

I'd love that and all that uh goes back to helping Syracuse what you do as the at the JL the junior league. Uh what are some of the biggest needs in the area right now and where you really help out I know you we mentioned the food bank but uh are there any others yeah you know the food bank and the diaper bank we all the diaper bank yes so we will be doing a diaper drive we actually do them multiple times a year so you can contact us and drop off diapers if you want to and we'll make sure they get to the right place. I love that that's it's it's an organization I think people don't really think a lot about no you know they all take it for granted but uh if you're a young mom you know the cost of diapers and what's going on and it's not easy in the food bank for obvious reasons too you gotta love that.

SPEAKER_01:

If you uh Rachel uh we're talking to Rachel uh this morning um Rachel is the president of the junior league and uh if you could dream big what would you love to see the junior league accomplish in the next five to ten years I would love to see our membership double or quadruple uh because I'd really think it is an amazing opportunity to grow as a woman and so to see women come in and to do good in the community but also develop those leadership skills so that they can also go out and do even more good in the community you know many of our members go and serve on other boards of nonprofits as they are trained and gain that confidence in the nonprofit world and so I would just love to see it explode and we can do more good when we have more members.

SPEAKER_02:

What if somebody, yeah, does somebody go online? Do they just sign up online? How do they volunteer to help?

SPEAKER_01:

Um explain all that there is um a form on our website jlciracuse.org okay and you can just enter and you know submit that form of interest and then we can be in touch with you and let you know the the different events that we have coming up that you can come see what we're about, meet our members, mingle and help us maybe even with some of our projects that we're I love that.

SPEAKER_02:

Now finally if how can people connect with you? Uh follow the Junior League of Syracuse online and uh learn more to get involved it's all on the website.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes I would assume but and then we are really active on our socials. So you can find us on Facebook you can find us on Instagram and look for the Junior League of Syracuse. I'm sure if you type that in the search bar you'll find us and follow us and you'll be able to see what we're doing um throughout the whole year.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that um I'm gonna ask you a crazy question and and I ask everybody that comes in to do one of these interviews I will always ask them as we wrap it up for example with you if the junior league had a theme song what would it be? Oh I know do you do you use different music when you do your promos and things like that is there a song that when they I guess maybe this will make it a little bit easier that when they hear it they think of the junior league.

SPEAKER_01:

Maybe not I know it's a tough one that is a tough question. I don't know I think um maybe don't stop believing you know because there's a lot that we can do in our community and in the world and um you know just exactly no that's perfect.

SPEAKER_02:

See you answered it don't stop believing that's right with the Junior League of Syracuse uh Rachel Nelson has been our guest here this morning she is the president of the junior league uh just a fantastic women's organization putting the spotlight on a lot of the needs right here in central New York got the big event coming up like in just a matter of days and again that is the the holiday shops shops at the fairgrounds in the horticulture building yes Friday through Sunday next week you know I love the crafts I love all that stuff the homemade things and things along those lines it's so good so good plus you said you're gonna have some live music too oh yeah there's gonna be music Santa's gonna be there no yep how'd you get Santa so early oh we have connections oh my goodness I'm very excited about that my son will be glad to hear that too yes and children 12 and under are free so bring them along and they're gonna enjoy the event i i love what you're doing Rachel thank you i love your whole staff i know victoria stepped in here um thank you for the hookup and uh you know what we're here for here for you uh you're local we are local and we cannot emphasize that enough that local radio is alive and it's well and we're supporting the organizations such as the junior league and we loved if anybody else is watching this and you want to come in uh do an interview get on our inner harbor cast you are more than welcome to um it's just like I say we've been chatting with Rachel Nelson the president of the junior league of Syracuse thank you for joining me on the inner harbor cast today what just what an amazing conversation so well spoken and definitely got your facts there and uh what an amazing group of women doing uh real good right here at home uh if you'd like to learn more like to volunteer or support their work just uh it's JL JL Syracuse Syracuse okay I did a search it came up J uh junior league Syracuse dot org but if you do that will it automatically yeah I think it will redirect you're Google's pretty smart very smart that's scary too but uh and follow them on their social media again I'm Skip Clark thanks for watching thank you for listening uh it is the Inner Harbor cast we do it each and every week at this time uh make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel not to miss any of these if you want to go back and maybe listen again we highly recommend that uh all these great organizations that make Syracuse work it it comes to it comes together as a team effort um Rachel thank you for being here today thank you for having me yay I'll cut that out you ask a lot of questions a little does

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