Volume 3|June, 2020
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
This isn’t what I expected.

You may be a new member or you may have joined JWN during its first decade. Whenever you joined, you probably expected to attend an interesting Speaker’s forum, enjoy a lively lunch with a handful of other members each month, and participate in regular program meetings. 

Nope, not this year. This isn’t what I expected.

Of course, Covid19 threatens our health and disrupted the luncheon ladder and the program calendar. Because of Covid19, it’s likely our traditions in gathering may be changed for a good long time. I can’t wait for things to return to normal. I long for the camaraderie of our gatherings and the return to times past.

This isn’t what I expected.

I’ve been dismayed and my eyes have been opened by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. One of my fundamental beliefs, that fairness and equality progresses with each generation, has been proven wrong. Like Covid19, this will be affecting our thoughts, conversations and priorities for a good long time. In fact, I can’t say that I hope for things to return to “normal.”

This isn’t what I expected.

I anticipated this year as JWN’s president with excitement. And I still am filled with excitement. However, how I serve as JWN’s president will look different.

I had imagined frequent ad hoc gatherings during the year as we fostered each other’s professional and personal aspirations, sometimes reminiscing, but always imagining what should be and pushing each other to higher aspirations.

So, we’re going to do that.

On Thursday, July 16 at 4 p.m, please join me for a conversation led by fellow board member Helen Jackson. After a long career in public health, Helen now leads the Women of Color Cultural Foundation where she aims to foster egalitarianism for people of color in health, education, economic development and cultural humility by bringing communities together to serve the common good. The focus of this conversation will be the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and how our own members and their families have been affected. This is the first of many conversation topics JWN tackle this year.

This isn’t what I imagined, so let’s make it even better than I imagined. Please join me on July 16.
WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
Kristin Keen
Founder and CEO, ReThreaded
"My vision is to never say no to a woman who is ready for work and ready to change her life."

Click on the YouTube link below to watch Ann's interview with Kristin.
https://youtu.be/Ug9W9FMeB8s
Mary Kelli Palka
Editor and Market Leader, Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
"when you see the power of journalism...and the impact it can have on a community, that's incredibly rewarding."

Click on the YouTube link below to watch Ann's interview with Mary.
https://youtu.be/2FbtrQ6LtkQ
MEMBERSHIP
Nominate ALL your favorite women of influence in Jacksonville by completing a BRIEF one-page form and return it via email with a bio, resume or information sheet on your nominee.

Click here to access the nomination form. SUBMIT WITH ANY ATTACHMENT(S) TO:  membership@jaxwomensnetwork.com.  FINAL DEADLINE IS 5:00 p.m., July 31 .
CONVERSATIONS
Don’t you miss the luncheon ladder and the intimate, thought-provoking conversations that are often shared? The option to participate in the traditional luncheon ladder will be offered in July. Many of us won’t be dining out for a while and Conversations will be an alternative opportunity to listen, learn and express our own thoughts. The first Conversation will take place via ZOOM at 4:00 p.m. on July 16th. The focus of this Conversation will be the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and how our own members and their families have been affected. It will be led by board member Helen Jackson . This will be the first of many topics that will be discussed in this year’s Conversations . This will be our first Conversation , an experiment. No doubt we’ll improve our abilities to have meaningful virtual exchanges as have more and more of these Conversations . Please join Helen and Ann on July 16.
NEWSMAKERS
Please send your news to JWN’s administrator, Laurrie Campbell.

Did we forget someone? Please let us know and we’ll include it in the next newsletter.


Zelda Greenberg was featured on the front page of The Daily Record , “I’m Not Stopping My Business.” Click here to read the article.

JWN’s newly created special committee on Community Awareness will be chaired by Meg Folds.  The Member Experience special committee will be chaired by Connie Hodges .

The Florida Times Union featured Rethreaded’s shift from producing upcycled clothing and jewelry to creating protective masks, providing more work hours for the human trafficking survivors they employ. Read more   here

This news was also reported in the Jacksonville Business Journal.   Kristin Keen is founder and CEO of ReThreaded. In yet more news, ReThreaded received a $110,000 grant from The Women’s Giving Alliance. The grant will fund a new peer-support model and individualized case management for Rethreaded’s Survivor Development Program, which gives survivors access to trauma-specific counseling, weekly life skills classes and other career development opportunities.

Pixie Larizza has opened ArtYouWear60 on Etsy.

Florida Times-Union Editor Mary Kelli Palka has also been named the newspaper’s market leader.

Void Magazine highlighted Melissa Ross response to the pandemic, “keeping calm and carrying on.” Click here to read the article.
  • July 16 Virtual Conversation led by Helen Jackson.

  • July 27, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner Program: Title IX and its Positive Impact on U.S. Women, Speakers Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Donna Orender (Jacksonville Doubletree).

  • July 31 Last day to submit new member nominations.

  • October 16, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Annual Meeting: State Attorney Melissa Nelson.

  • December 7, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Holiday Gathering and New Member Induction.
REMEMBER WHEN
JWN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2020 JWN Board Officers

  • Ann Mackey, President
  • Susan Mack, Vice President and Program Chair
  • Pixie Larizza, Secretary
  • Penny Zuber, Treasurer

2020 Directors

  • Nancy Dreicer
  • Meg Phillips Folds
  • Mindy Gillis
  • Maribel Hernandez, Immediate Past President
  • Connie Hodges
  • Jennifer Holland
  • Helen Jackson
  • Paula Shields
  • Robin Wahby