Dear Members, Partners, and Friends,

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends,

There is a small but powerful shift in perspective that I want to set the tone for this year: the difference between I have to and I get to.

We get to be members of this League. We get to serve this community. We get to spend our time alongside women who are smart, kind, and genuinely fun to be around. We are volunteers, and that means every hour we give is a choice. A choice rooted in something bigger than a to-do list. A choice to be a part of an organization that continues to make a meaningful impact for women and children at risk. That mindset changes everything about how we show up.

This year, I want every woman in the Junior League of Monroe to feel developed, empowered, welcomed, and respected. I want us to tackle big, meaningful things for our community, and I want us to have a whole lot of fun doing it. Because when you love what you do and who you do it with, that’s when the real magic happens.

None of what we do happens alone. Our community partners make our work possible, and we are deeply grateful for the organizations and individuals who believe in our mission and show up alongside us year after year. Those relationships are not just transactional; they are the foundation of real, lasting impact for the women and children we serve.

We dwell in possibility. Northeast Louisiana is better because of the women in this League and the partners who stand with us, and I cannot wait to show you what we get to do next.

Lauren Hassell-Smith

JLM President

2026–2027