We are excited to introduce you to our Junior League of Lafayette’s 2024-2025 President – Ayesha Martin. We proudly present our President’s Passion, Pledge, and Pursuit of the League.
Passion
Ayesha is a passionate community activist who loves to travel. Her community activism started when she was young with summertime adventures helping organizations including Volunteers for America, the Girl Scouts, Community Outreach, and the Lafayette Public Library.
When she is not volunteering and being a community activist, you can find her enjoying her guilty pleasures such as playing Dice Dreams and Monopoly games on her phone, watching “The First 48” and crime shows, and adding to her Pinterest boards.
Her downtime is spent with family and friends, attending sporting events and concerts. For relaxation, she turns to spa days, shopping, and indulging in ice cream. Her favorite po-boy is a BBQ hot link with cheese, or three pounds of spicy crawfish. Ayesha is passionate about all sports, cheering on the Who Dat Nation during football season and the Pelicans during basketball season.
Ayesha’s passion for the League began in an unexpected way. Encouraged by her mom and a friend, she volunteered as a mentor at a Girls on the Run 5K event. Despite challenges, she and her young mentee persevered and completed the race together. This experience, coupled with the Junior League of Lafayette’s sponsorship of the event, ignited her interest in the League. Because of her mom and friend, and that moment on race day, she is now our passionate leader.
Although her initial intention was simply to serve her community, Members of the League had a different perspective, which set her on a path of leadership adventures. When she received the call asking her to be President, she did not hesitate to say yes.
Pledge
Although Ayesha is new to this role, she has a clear vision for the League. Her goal is to keep spreading the word and sharing with our community what Junior League of Lafayette is all about. These values within the League will be upheld through League feedback and assurance.
If Ayesha could speak to her first-year self, she would encourage her to embrace every opportunity. But if Ayesha had a magic wand, there would be a few things she would change within the League. First, she would remove the budget constraints. Then, she would change the stigma people have about the League. Ayesha would love to have others see that diversity and inclusion are current pillars in our League. Lastly, she would change the views of what people think we represent to reflect what we do as a League.
One thing Ayesha wished she had known as a first year League Member was how impactful Junior League is to the community. The best advice given to her as a League Member is to be herself. One thing that makes her nervous or apprehensive is that she wants to make sure she fulfills the needs of the Members.
The biggest challenge Ayesha has had as a League Member came during Covid. She was Cookbook Chair, and they had to continue fulfilling cookbook orders. The dynamics changed due to the world shutting down because of Covid, and they had to get creative. Finding a way to move forward was challenging, but they managed to adapt by using videos, pictures, and recipes to connect with new customers.
Pursuit
As President, Ayesha began her role on June 1, treating it with the dedication of a full-time job. Her primary goal is to cultivate a culture of innovation by adhering to one core belief: listening to the Members and providing actionable feedback. She emphasizes the importance of balancing her professional and League responsibilities. Ayesha also expressed her desire to see Members engage in community service projects and take part in small group sessions with the Association of Junior Leagues International.
Ayesha advises prospective leaders to embrace leadership and committee roles to develop skills and gain experience. She recommends chairing a committee to build leadership abilities and discussing leadership interests with a Placement Advisor. Engaging with the Management Advisory Panel, Governance Advisory Panel, and Project Evaluation and Planning can also provide valuable insights into the League’s operations.
Ayesha’s final piece of advice came from her first Placement Advisor. “If you are nominated for something, don't be afraid to take it on. You may not think you can do it, but sometimes others see things you cannot see. The roles are titles, and you will have a dedicated support system.”
In closing, “DON’T BE AFRAID, YOU CAN DO IT!”
Author: Chicora James
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