JLEP Names First African-American President

CRANFORD, NJ – May 19, 2021 - The Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield (JLEP) is proud to welcome its first African-American President, Kalshelia Lloyd. Lloyd, along with the rest of the 2021-2022 Board of Directors, will lead the charitable educational organization in its 99th anniversary year. Founded in 1923, the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield has a rich tradition of community service in the surrounding Union County area.

Kalshelia Lloyd has been a member of JLEP for over 10 years and has held several leadership roles prior to taking on the role of President. She will be one of only a few women of color to have ever served in this role for a Junior League in the country.

The 2021-2022 Board of Directors includes:

President – Kalshelia Lloyd

President-Elect – Marie Weitzman

Treasurer – Valerie Glinn

Member Resources Council Director – Rohini Singh

Community Service Director – Tara Tepp

Sustainer Representatives – Terri DiFrancesco and Pat Colbert

The 2021-2022 Board of Directors is composed of extraordinary women leaders whose personal, professional, and volunteer experience will be pivotal to guiding the organization to continued success and impact in the surrounding communities. With pivotal projects such as Career Closet and Teen Closet, the new board will continue to shape and elevate the philanthropic endeavors of the league for years to come. Lloyd said, “I am looking forward to leading as President, seeing the power and impact of the Board and our League members can make on the community.”

She also said “It is not lost on me the historic nature of this moment and how ground-breaking it is for me to be President. When JLEP was founded, women such as myself didn’t have the rights that we do today, and definitely were not members of the League. This year, when social justice and inequality are a central part of the national narrative, I am proud that the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield continues to demonstrate what it means to be inclusive and reshape what the Junior League not only means for me but also future generations like my 7-year-old daughter. This is an organization that embraces diversity whether it be race, religion, national origin, sexuality or otherwise. I am honored to serve as JLEP’s President and to leverage the strength of our diversity to address the problems of the community in meaningful and innovative ways."

Lloyd, the 2021-2022 President, is the Marketing Director for Group Benefits at MetLife. She resides in Rahway, NJ with her husband, Malcolm and their three children. Prior to taking on the role of President, Kalshelia has served in several roles in JLEP including President-Elect, Membership Resource Director, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Teen Closet Chair along with being active with other charitable organizations in the area.

About the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield

Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield (JLEP), headquartered in Cranford, NJ, is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. It is affiliated with the Association of Junior Leagues International®. JLEP is designated as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. For additional information visit www.jlepnj.org. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.