In honor of Women's History Month, we asked neighbors to nominate some women making a difference in our Lake Highlands community. We hope you enjoy getting to know these ladies this March!

 

 

Through my involvement with LHJWL, I have grown to understand the importance of beautifying your community. It is more than just "making things pretty" - beautifying parks, neighborhoods, and beyond is important because it ultimately provides a sense of safety and belonging. I aspire to help our community have safe spots to gather where they can enjoy their neighbors and living in Lake Highlands. Everyone should be proud of where they call home!

 

What women have inspired you in your life? 

My mom has always been an inspiration in my life - she is a constant source of grace and wisdom for me. Over the past two years, I have constantly been inspired by all of the fellow moms out there! Through school and daycare closures, working from home, trying to stay safe and healthy - parenting during a pandemic has been incredibly hard. It has been inspiring to see women and mothers come together to support each other during this time, whether it be lending a hand with childcare or sharing encouragement about parenting or careers. Knowing none of us are doing this alone is an inspiration in itself.

 

 

 

“Making a difference in our community” means different things to different people. For me, personally, it’s in the everyday actions and conversations. I believe our community benefits most when we all do the small things like help our neighbors – not just those next door -  and support our schools – not just to one our child goes to - and do so in a humble manner. We have so many giving people in Lake Highlands and so many in need. I aspire to help where I can and connect others when I can’t.

 

I’ve been surrounded by strong women my whole life from my grandmother to my mother to my friends. Just thinking about my grandmother being who she was in the 1940s and who my mom was in the 1960s, I’m amazed at how they turned out considering how society tried to raise women back then. It makes me grateful for the men in my family who were comfortable enough to be with these strong independent women. Finally, Quinn (my daughter) inspires me! She's so brave and strong and kind and compassionate. I always say I want to be her when I grow up. 

 

 

 

How do you aspire to make a difference in our community? 

Lake Highlands feels like its own small town. I want to make a difference by supporting and serving this unique place. I especially love supporting the small businesses and organizations here. Through my film nonprofit Fotolanthropy, I have also been able to highlight many of the incredible families who call Lake Highlands home. Fotolanthropy produces stories of hope and strength, and we have documented the powerful journeys of the Shaw, Kampfschulte, Householder, and Paine families. They are incredible people to have in our community and it was an honor to share their stories.

 

What women have inspired you in your life? 

As a mom of young children, I find inspiration from those who have gone before me and given motherhood all they could. I am so lucky to have so many of these inspirational women as family and neighbors! My greatest inspiration is my mom, Donna Jenkins. Her unconditional love and unwavering belief in her children have guided us all to find our unique calling in life. My sister, Sarah Marr, is one of the kindest and most talented people I know, and my sisters-in-law Melissa and Jennifer Jenkins, have also been incredible examples in my life. They are all strong mothers who live authentically. Lake Highlands is lucky to have them!

 

Working with so many children and families in Lake Highlands has been a gift because I’ve been able to build relationships with many students and stay connected as they grow up in our community. I love to stay involved with our former FMJH students so that I can see them shine in their athletics, extracurricular, and academic activities! One thing I try to impart to anyone I work with is the importance of building relationships with students. As Rita Pierson said, every child needs a champion! Each child should feel connected and empowered while they are with us as Chargers. We want our students to be positive contributors to Lake Highlands and beyond. I want to inspire them to believe that they can dream big and change the world.

 

I am incredibly blessed to have been inspired by so many women throughout my life and career. I have to first brag on my mom because I really did get lucky with the most supportive and loving mother! My mom has such a servant heart and has inspired me to keep that at the center of my core values throughout my whole life.  From a professional standpoint, I am especially inspired by Peggy Dillon, my former principal at Lake Highlands High School principal and current RISD Executive Director, Dr. Kristin Byno, who served as my executive director while an AP at FMJH, and Jennie Bates, Executive Director of the Lake Highlands Learning Community.

 

 

 

 

How do you aspire to make a difference in our community? 

My desire for our community is to make it a better place for ALL who live here. We have such a diverse community so seeing that everyone has equal opportunities is important to me. I also wanted it to be a place where my kids could thrive and learn to make a difference as well. 

 

What women have inspired you in your life? 

I would have to say my mom is #1. I just lost her last month but she taught me so much like how to be the best mom, how to be a great friend and care for others, and what a Godly woman is. Also, so many MOPS moms taught me how to step out of my comfort zone because they believed I could be an effective leader. 

 

 

 

As an educator in Lake Highlands, I want our kids to have a memorable experience at all grade levels.  Since I am at the high school, I am able to work with those kids, and I also love making an impact with our younger kids who visit LHHS for academic and extracurricular events.  I hope to make a difference by welcoming everyone and getting to know the stories of our community members.  Doing so will allow me to cater to the different needs in the community.

 

I will start with my mom, a former junior high math teacher and current math professor. She was the perfect model of a working mom and wife and taught me that I can do whatever I want to do by always reminding me of that and modeling that for me.  My grandmothers are inspirations to me. One was a seamstress and the other worked in various school cafeterias and restaurants. They both worked hard and kept their children focused, and they sacrificed so their children could graduate from high school and attend college, which was something that they were not able to do. I am also inspired by so many of my friends and people I work with! I people watch a lot and enjoy observing what makes others so great.

 

 

 

I hope our community keeps that small-town charm where people take care of each other, look out for each other, and love each other. I want my children to see their mama doing good and to carry that torch throughout their own lives of a feeling of personal responsibility to give back where they live. As a realtor, I LOVE introducing people to Lake Highlands. Sharing all the special pockets and history of our neighborhood and also connecting them with local nonprofits that they might get involved with has been another way I feel I can give back to our community.

 

Above all, my Auntie Doris was my person. I wanted to be her, I emulated her as a child, I wanted hair like hers (down past her hips) and still want to be more like her every day. She never passed a homeless person without giving them something - even when she had nothing to give, she gave. She never asked questions of where it was going or how it would be used, but just felt like they must need it more than her. Her twinkle in her eye and love for my sister and me is something I'll never forget.

As a young child, I was obsessed with the female tennis greats of the 80s and 90s. They were physically strong, mentally tough, and always smiled after a match. They seemed to have it all - Chris Everett, Steffi Graph, Monica Celes, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Lindsay Davenport, etc. They were amazing in my eyes and I wanted their drive, their outfits, their cool headbands, and their strong female independence. 

 

 

 

 

I aspire to make a difference in our community by continuing to always invest my time, money and talents into Lake Highlands through the incredible organizations, nonprofits, and public school system that are making a difference in our community. Lake Highlands is an amazing community that comes together to help, love, and support each other and I always want to be a part of that and pass that legacy onto my children. 

 

My mom is a huge inspiration in my life. She has lived her life always selflessly serving others in her community and neighborhood. I am thankful that I had the privilege to see growing up firsthand what it means to truly love your neighbors and community. 

 

 

 

 

Involvement In Lake Highlands: Women's Social Club Chair, LHSA Soccer Coach, MPE PTA Board – Auction Co-Chair 2 years, Community  Partners, Reflections, Secretary, Library Link

FMJH PTA – Celebrate 7th Grade, Market in the Meadow Co-Chair, President this year and next

Merriman Park Estates Neighborhood Club President 2 years, National Charity League White Rock Chapter

 

One small step at a time. I volunteer where there is a need – at my children’s school, at church, in my neighborhood, in my kids’ activities, or anywhere else in the community. I truly love where I live and want to support all things Lake Highlands. Whatever it looks like, we can all do our own small part to make Lake Highlands a great place to live. For me, it’s by volunteering as much as my time allows, working to support growth in the real estate industry and by supporting Lake Highlands as a whole throughout the community….one small step at a time adds up to make a big difference.

 

My Grandma, she experienced a lot, good and bad, and she never gave up and was one of the most positive and delightful women I’ve known. My mom, her faith is rock solid and has given her unparalleled joy, peace, and grace. My Mother-in-Law, her grit and determination are contagious and her fierce loyalty to her family is heart-warming.

 

 

 

I feel it is a very important attempt to get young people's attention on a subject that should be truly second nature by the time they start driving. Almost 50% of teens killed in motor vehicles are not buckled in. ClickIt4Life's goal is to grab their attention where they are, in the car, with faces that look like them, with a message that will hopefully catch their attention - on Billboards. We raise money for the billboards through selling art, jewelry, a Dip Jar at Artistik Edge, North Texas Giving Day, and through our website ClickIt4Life.net.

 

There are so many great businesswomen here in Lake Highlands but my favorite is my partner Rebecca Roberts. She works tirelessly to train, motivate, beautify, clean, merchandise and keep me in line! She is the picture of grace and professionalism and I can count on her for anything. When my son was killed 16 years ago and I couldn't make myself come to work for months, she ran the salon as she owned it so the natural thing to do was make her a partner.

 

 

 

 

By reaching out and making sure all feel included and equal…right now, my goal is to promote LH businesses post COVID which affected all of us in the business world.  LH is known but I want LH to be KNOWN!

 

My mom, lost her to cancer when I was 13, she is the bravest soul I have ever known; my children’s grandmother (my ex mom in law who was always my mom); my best friend Taffie Lynn Butters and SO many teachers throughout my life!