ROANOKE, Va. – Update:
This weekend, the Junior League of Roanoke Valley hosted the “Amplify Women: Voices in Community Leadership” conference, emphasizing the importance of volunteerism and leadership in addressing community challenges.
Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb and City Manager Valmarie Turner served as keynote speakers, highlighting the necessity of community collaboration in tackling issues such as poverty and homelessness.
“The government can’t do it by ourselves, we can’t,” Turner said. “The nonprofits, they can’t do it by themselves. It’s going to take a community effort.”
Lydia Higgs, president of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley, expressed hope that the conference would inspire women to engage in their communities.
“We are hoping by bringing all these people to the table together, women can see places where they can get involved and places where they can make a difference,” Higgs said. “There are so many evolving needs.”
Attendees also heard from women leading local nonprofits, including Ahoo Salem, executive director of Blue Ridge Literacy.
“We are really proud of the way our organization over the years has transformed and adapted our services to meet the literacy needs of adults in our community, and the pressing needs of our times,” Salem said.
Current volunteers encouraged others to join their efforts. Olivia MacCluen, a member of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley, shared her personal journey.
“As a young person, just finding my path in the world, I found that I’m not just helping my community; I’m growing personally,” MacCluen said.
Looking ahead, the Junior League is already planning next year’s leadership conference, which will feature a new focus
Original:
Spotlighting the impact of volunteerism and the transformative power of leadership through service was the mission of a conference Saturday hosted by the Junior League of Roanoke Valley.
A powerful gathering took place as the Junior League hosted the “Amplify Women – Voices in Community Leadership” conference. Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb and City Manager Valmarie Turner were among the speakers, joining a panel of influential women leading local nonprofits.
“We are hoping by bringing all these people to the table together, women can see places where they can get involved and places where they can make a difference,” said Lydia Higgs, president of the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley. “There are so many evolving needs in our world right now, so we are hoping to inspire someone to pick something new.”
Panelists included leaders from the Ronald McDonald House, Blue Ridge Literacy and Huddle Up Moms — each sharing how their missions are addressing vital community needs and how leadership through service is creating real change.