Spring 2019

The Rankin File

Beloved Community Dialogue

On May 2nd, 2019, JRF

partnered with the

Athens Regional Library

System to host our first

Beloved Community

Dialogue as a

complimentary follow-up

to It’s Time to Talk:

Forums on Race. We

had 40 attendees representing many community stakeholders

from Athens, GA. This was our first installment of dialogues to

continue the work of advancing equity in Athens. Many thanks

to Valerie Bell, Executive Director of the Athens Regional

Library System for her excitement in planning this event and

commitment to supporting the Athens community. We look

forward to our next Beloved Community Dialogue this fall! Stay

tuned for details on how to RSVP.

Do you want to transform lives through education?

Consider a gift to JRF to provide scholarships and support to

low-income women. You can sponsor a one-year

scholarship at $2,500, or one semester at $1,250. Donate

online at rankinfoundation.org , send a check to our office, or

contact Karen Sterk at Karen@rankinfoundation.org or

706.540.9154 to learn more.

Scholar Spotlight - Dung N., Accounting

Dung received her Associate’s Degree in Business and is now

working towards her Bachelor’s in Accounting. After moving to

America with her family in 2015, Dung decided to go back to

school to ensure her family’s financial security. Although it was

difficult to go back to school after 31 years off, and learning a new

language, Dung succeeded! After finishing her bachelor's degree,

Dung plans to obtain her CPA Certification and go to work for a

professional accounting firm. It is a major priority for her to serve

the community, and she volunteers every weekend. She says, "life

is a circle of giving and receiving. I have always tried to

contribute to the communities around me whenever I can.

After I graduate, I plan to continue doing this by giving back

to JRF!"

Scholar Spotlight - Jennifer B., Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation

Jennifer is working toward her Bachelor's in Wildlife, Fisheries, and

Conservation with an emphasis on wildlife. Jennifer, a recipient of a

biodiversity scholarship and a chancellor's list scholar, wants to use

her degree to conduct research to support conservation efforts of

species like the Northern Spotted Owl and the Coastal Redwood.

Though her academic record speaks for itself, she is most proud of her

children and being a good mother to them. Her ultimate dream is for

her work to benefit humanity through saving species that face the

threat of extinction. Despite the hardships she has faced due to

sickness, Jennifer continues to work hard to pursue her degree. She

says "I hope that my research will benefit all of humanity and show my

children that in pursuing your dreams you can make the world a

better place."

Greetings Jeannette Rankin Foundation (JRF) Friends-

We are celebrating 43 years of graduates this semester! Congratulations to our Spring Semester Grads and Thank You to each and every one of our friends, supporters and volunteers. With you, we continue to move our mighty

mission of empowering women through education forward.

One of the data points that we have been working on identifying for the past three years is our overall graduation rate. With our improved technology, we now know that at least 65% of our JRF Scholars have completed their degree, compared to the national average for this demographic which is 31%. And17% of our Scholars have continued on to receive graduate degrees!

Our Scholar Alumnae are doing amazing things, including running their own nonprofits that support women, teaching the next generation, providing healthcare as doctors and nurses, leading life-saving research, and financial management.

We are impressed with the accomplishments of our Alumnae and are excited to see where our Spring Grads go from here.

Again, Congrats to the Graduates and Thanks to our Supporters!

Karen Sterk, Executive Director

Tiffany is a woman of persistence, passion, and dedication. She is working to earn her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education so she can channel her love of supporting young inquisitive minds each and every day. Tiffany believes in embracing the unique strengths of each child in a classroom, although she did not experience that kind of childhood herself, as she endured homelessness, abuse, neglect, and hunger. One day, Tiffany had a realization about how to change her life for the better. “I decided I could no longer live as a victim of my childhood. I wanted to be FREE. Going to school and getting my teaching degree had always tugged on my heart. In 2017 at age 35 I decided to step out on faith, leave my job, and go back to school. Even though it hasn’t been the easiest journey so far, it has definitely been the most rewarding decision of my life.”

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race

On March 28th, 2019 JRF hosted the third annual It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race, presented by Piedmont Athens Regional, Public Education Matters Georgia, and Lorraine Hart. This year more than 230 community stakeholders were in attendance, including Mayor Kelley Girtz, Chamber of Commerce President David Bradley, and Clarke County School District Superintendent Dr. Demond Means. We were proud to host a diverse group of attendees this year including UGA students and faculty, Clarke County School District students and faculty, local businesses, local faith group leaders, Piedmont Athens Regional Healthcare staff, the ACC Fire Department, and ACC Police Department.

Dr. Bettina Love gave a compelling keynote speech on the importance of White people working alongside Black and Brown people as co-conspirators, more than allies. Her inspiring speech launched deep and truthful Reflective Structured Dialogues at each table, led by facilitators trained by Raye Rawls of the Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at UGA. Thank you to honorary co-chairs Dr. Charles Peck and Dr. Michelle Cook, co-chairs Dr. Dawn Meyers and Rose Dennis, our sponsors, steering committee, and attendees.

Thank you to all who are committed to advancing equity in Athens in honor and memory of our namesake, Jeannette Rankin.

Donor Spotlight - Assurant Foundation

Assurant Foundation has been an amazing partner to JRF for the last four years, and they have continued that support in 2019 with a generous donation of $25,000 as Presenting Sponsor for our SMART Party

Atlanta. Assurant has provided us with more than 30 Volunteer Application Readers for 2019, many SMART Party planning committee members, and Board of Directors members. Ginormous Thank You to Shawn Kahle, Executive Director of the Assurant Foundation. Assurant provides wrap-around support for JRF! Your commitment to this organization makes an incredible impact on our Scholars.

April was Volunteer Appreciation Month and JRF is over the moon grateful for our incredible Volunteers! We had 300+

Volunteers this year. From the Board of Directors, to event planning committees, to volunteer application readers, our Volunteers

are involved in every aspect of our mission. Thank You to each and every one of our Volunteers for giving of your time and

talent to JRF. Your good work is what makes our mission of empowering women through education possible.

Scholar Spotlight - Tiffany B., Early Childhood Education

Adeline Holt Adrien Helm Alena Eckert Alice Hunt Alicia Davis Amy Sterling Andrea Wellnitz Angela Dyb Angela Boss Angela Roffle* Angela Jackson* Anita Williams Annmarie Cross Arshima Rieara Ashley Waterfill Ashley Waterfill Barbara Benson Bernadette Wheeler Berteena Rollins Beth Conrad Betsy Bach Cara Benfield Catherine Hollingsworth Chelsea Sernett Cheryl Coleman Chimoma Orakwue Christa Roberts* Christi Bell Cindy Blair Colleen Miller Courtney Davis Cynthia Sturchio Dana Zelman Danielle Bostick Darlene Abney Darlene Martin David O'Neal Debbie Fung-A-Wing Denise Adams Dion Walden Diping Huang Donna Brumby Donna Zenor ELise Chard Elissa Perry Elizabeth Etheridge Elizabeth Aley* Ellen Bushway Erin Hogan Ernesta Jean Evelyn Conway Fabiana Hayden Gloria Andino Gwendolyn Bradshaw Hannah Kelley Heather Johnson Heather Henriksen* Herb West Hilary Blitzen Holly VanHouten Irma Valdez* Jamie Woodruff Jamie Murphy Jan Johnstone Jan Edler* Jane Nute Janet Johnstone Janice Fowler Janine McVay

Jenna Andrews-Swann Jennie Wenger Jennifer Finney Jessie Kasynski Jewell Stone Jill Heibult Jim Schuster Jocelyn Watson Johnathan Telin Johnna Hargens-Brown Joseph Hicks Julie Cosio Karen Njenga Karen Ritchie Karen Stark Karen Howard Karon McDonald* Kate Featherston Kate Wray Katherine Kennon Kathleen Cason Kathryn Hall Kathryn Hall Katie Davis Katrina White Kaye Allen Keiannaalannah Steele Kelley Green Kelli Wofford Kelly Ardoin Kim Keegan Kimberly Redd Kristen Thorson Laura French Laura Faraone Laura Wilkerson Lauren Williams Lauren Carney Lauren Kate Scott Leslie Petre* Linda Keller Lindsey Emerson Lisa Nunez Lisa Walker Liz Pavey Raw Lori Tingley Lori Power* Lorraine Doherty Lucy Martin Lynda Sessoms Lynn Knasel MacKenzie Smith Madeline Copeland Madhuri Javiya Madison Wonn Margaret Ryder Maria Mandel Maria B Galantine Marilynn Smith Marjanne Gooze Marsha Allen Mary Wolf Mary Preston Matthew Darby Meghan Armstrong Melissa Singleton Melissa Jones Melissa Costello* Michelle Bardgett

Mimi Sodhi Mirandi Kahle Molly Jones Molly Dunn Monica Nixon Myrna Adams Nancy Altemus Neelam Kane Nichelle Evans Nicole Chambliss Nicole Miller Pam Davis Patrice Pugh Patty Lopez-Garriga Paula Halbert Phil Feller Rachael Bird Rachel Ensing Rachel Mangan Rachel Allen Rebecca Chan Regina Smith Regina Schofield Rhonda Frasier Rhonda Suka* Rita Houser-Jones Robin Cannon Roland Adams Rosamond White Rose Walker Ruth Bettandorff Ruth Hernandez RuthElizabeth Conine Ryan Wong Said Mirpour Sandra Langlois Shantee El Sharon Bradley Simona Alexander Sivakumar Tottikalai Stacey Thomas Stephanie Richardson Sue Lawrence Sulean Carruthers-Norris Susan Schaffer Susan Larry Susan Fierro-Baig* Susan M Smith Tamara Burke Tanya Dowdy Terra Davis Theresa Duggar Tiffany Davis Tracy Wilson Tracy Cosgrove Tracy White Tracy Vaden* Triniti Levy Trisha Sheahan Valerie Kimbrough Vicki Connell Vickie Rickards* Yadira Rivera-Cintron Yolonda Patterson* Yulonda Martin Zaheerah Biggers Zorica Jovanoska

2019 Volunteer Application Readers

L: It’s Time to Talk Steering

Committee Members smile

after a successful event.

R: Dr. Bettina Love, keynote

(center), smiles with Karen Sterk,

Executive Director, and Dr.

Michelle Cook, Board Chair.

L: Attendees engage in

thoughtful dialogue

surrounding advancing equity

in Athens, GA.

Amber Stewart

Amy Stroup

Andrea Wellnitz

Annette McArthur

Becki Nelson

Bobbie Epting

Brandy Walker

Collisa Lankford

Danielle Bostick

Deborah Gonzales

Elizabeth Dubberly

George Lord

Hilda Kurtz

Jane Russell

Jessica Taylor

Joyce Butler

Julie Renee Willis

Katie Davis

Katie Schank

Latasha Sheats

Llewellyn Cornelius

Martha Kapelewski

Mary Miller

Michael Robinson

Molly Dunn

Rachael Jackson

Sam Preston

Simone

Moonsammy

Stacey Seldon

Tamara Haag

Terrance Johnson

2019 Racial Justice Facilitators

2019 Board of Directors

Afshan Ali

Betsy Bach

Genie Chamberlin

Michelle Cook

Courtney Davis

Susan Elkins

Robin Hatcher

Danine Hodge

Nelson Holland

Steve Hollis

Jane Hale Hopkins

Rob Larsen

Michele Ozumba

Frank Pasztor

Libby Pollock

Kimberly Reeve

Angela Roffle

Maxine Thomas

Charmaine Wilson

Valerie Bell

Dr. Michelle Cook

Rose Dennis

Denise Farmer

Michele Howard

Dawn Meyers

Jinx Patel

Dr. Charles Peck

Dominique Quarles

Raye Rawls

2019 It’s Time to Talk Steering Committee

2019 Executive Leadership Committees

Betsy Bach

Ruth Bettandorff

Michelle Cook

Genie Chamberlin

Courtney Davis

Susan Elkins

Tom Gould

Lorraine Hart

Jane Hale Hopkins

Danine Hodge

Robin Hatcher

Robert Larsen

Sue Lawrence

Bob McArthur

Kathy Purcell

Libby Pollock

Jinx Patel

Kimberly Reeve

Abigail Pierce

Andrea Parris

Ashley Holland

Catherine Hol-

lingsworth

Chris McCommons

Cynthea Wilson

Genie Chamberlin

Jennifer Givan

Kathy Bangle

Kendra Henson

Michelle Cook

Nicole White

Rhiannon Eades

Robin Hatcher

September Hoeler

Shirley Reyes

Sue Lawrence

2018 Athens SMART Party Planning Committee

Afshan Ali

Alecia Bailey

Allison Kopp

Brynelle Lockhart

Cathy Williams

Cyndy Gay

Elizabeth Craymer

Jacqueline Smalley

Jane Hale Hopkins

Jennifer Stevens

Kali Gatlin

Kate Hausmann

Kristen Hazen

Laura O’Brien

Lauren Clements

LeChanda Harper

Libby Pollock

Lindsey Emerson

Liz Pavey

Malinda Belbutowski

Michelle Tapia

Monica Nixon

Nana Boone

Rob Larsen

Stacy Sollenberger

Susan Berrong

Terrell Dinkins

Vashti Canty

Whitney Barr

2018 SMART Party Atlanta Planning Committee

Afshan Ali

Ann McDonald

Jane Hale Hopkins

Jill Ratliff

Latasha Smith-Emeri

Stacy Sollenberger

Susan Winters

2019 Emerge Advisory Board

A special thanks to all volunteers serving in leadership roles, listed in bold above,

and thank you to all former JRF Scholarship Recipients who served as volunteer

application readers, listed in bold* to the right.