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🧠 June is National Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Every Friday in June, advocates across the country are making one call for #ALZ to help advance early detection, treatment, and support for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 7 million Americans—and its impact extends far beyond the individual diagnosis. Families often become caregivers, advocates, and support systems as they navigate the challenges of memory loss and cognitive decline. Women are especially affected. Nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women, and women are also more likely to serve as caregivers for loved ones with the disease. We invite you to join us by contacting your federal representatives and encouraging support for the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act sponsored by FL Representative Buchanan. Your voice matters. Advocacy matters. Together, we can help improve access to screening, treatment, and care for millions of families. 📞 Make one call. 💜 Share your ALZ story. 🗣️ Let your voice be heard. Scan the QR code to take action. #ENDALZ #AlzheimersAwareness #BrainAwarenessMonth #juniorleague

Board Member Spotlight: We are pleased to recognize Dr. Teena White, our 2025-2026 Treasurer & our 2026-2027 Sustaining Advisor. Teena has 25 years of dedicated practice as a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Professor of Nursing. She has also held a variety of local and state leadership roles, including current President of the Nurse Practitioner Council of the Treasure Coast, President of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)-IRSC Chapter, current Chair of the Martin County Health Facilities Authority, current Chair of the Martin County Library Board of Trustees, current board member of the Southeast Health Council of the Treasure Coast, University of Florida Nursing Alumni Advisory Board, former President of Martin County Healthy Start and the Martin County Gator Club. Go Gators! Dr. White holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Florida, where her focus of study was on Prenatal Care in Martin County. She has been a member of the Junior League of Martin County for the past 13 years, where she served as President and is currently a Sustainer. She has been a member of SPAC for the past 8 years and has held several board positions, including Human Trafficking Chair and Treasurer.

The Junior League Florida State Public Affairs Committee would like to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day Weekend and take a moment to remember and honor those who have served. 🇺🇸 Memorial Day is a solemn U.S. federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May. It is dedicated to mourning and honoring the American military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance was first widely established on May 30, 1868, by General John A. Logan to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Following World War I, the holiday was expanded to commemorate all American military personnel who have died in any conflict or war. Congress officially declared it a federal holiday in 1971. Florida State Tributes 🤍 Statewide Proclamation: Florida honors its 1.4 million veterans and Gold Star Families. Residents are encouraged to pause at 3:00 p.m. for the National Moment of Remembrance, and flags are lowered to half-staff from sunrise until noon. Local Ceremonies: Cities across the state host memorial services. For instance, Southwest Florida hosts events like the Bonita Springs service on the Liles Hotel Lawn and the 45th ceremony at Cape Coral's Coral Ridge Cemetery. Brevard County features events at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery and the Veterans Memorial Center. State Parks Free Entry: To encourage both outdoor recreation and historical reflection, Florida State Parks offer free day-use admission for the entire weekend. (Note: This excludes Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs, Skyway Fishing Pier, Stephen Foster, and Weeki Wachee Springs state parks). Special Events: Major military-focused events, like the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, take over Miami Beach, featuring air shows and powerboat racing. Thank you for taking a moment to celebrate with us! #JuniorLeague #MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #iloveflorida #MemorialDayWeekend

Board Member Spotlight: We are pleased to recognize Amber Smith, our 2025-2026 State Public Affairs Committee Board Advisor & our 2026-2027 Co-Chair President. Amber E. Smith is a public affairs professional with 19 years of experience. She is currently the Senior Government Affairs Regional Manager at the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) for the Tampa Bay Region including the counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco, as well as the 33 cities in our region. She previously worked on federal and state issues at BayCare Health System, as well as working for 4 different Members in the Florida House of Representatives for nearly 12 years where she worked on a variety of issues while working for the Legislature. Amber attended Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, where she received one BA degree in History and one BA degree in International Relations, with a minor in Political Science. As a native Floridian born in Brandon, FL, however, Amber relished the opportunity to return to Florida to serve in her state following her college graduation. Amber continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee (also known as SPAC), and finished her term as the statewide chair in 2024-2025 of the organization representing 24 Leagues and 11,000 women in the state. She also volunteers on the Public Affairs Committee for the Junior League of Tampa as well as with her church. Amber enjoys exploring Florida on the weekend with her fiancé, Mario, and their 13 year old Dog, “Archie”, and their 1.5 year old cat, “Millie”, whom she rescued as a 6 week old kitten in the City of Zephyrhills following Hurricane Milton.

Board Member Spotlight: We are pleased to recognize Melissa McKinlay, one of our 2025-2026 State Public Affairs Committee Sustaining Advisors. Melissa is a former Palm Beach County, FL Commissioner and current V.P. of Government Relations for WGI. She was first elected in 2014, re-elected without opposition in 2018 and served as Mayor of Palm Beach County in 2017/2018 before being term-limited in 2022. Prior to elected office, Melissa spent twenty years serving in local government, the United States Senate, and Congress. Melissa is a past President of the Florida Association of Counties. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties and is a former Chair of the National Association’s Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, the only woman and Floridian to ever do so. Melissa was also a Presidential Appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee, a Florida Supreme Court appointee on the Court’s Task Force on Mental Health & Substance Abuse in the Courts, and a former Secretarial Appointee on the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice 15th Circuit Advisory Board. Melissa currently serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Florida, as the President of the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, a Trustee of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, a Director on the Board of the South Florida Fair, a member of the Florida Bar’s 15th Circuit Grievance Committee, and as Chair of the Leadership Florida Gulfstream Council. She has also recently been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Junior Leagues of Florida. In her free time, Melissa has spent more than 25 years as a member of the Junior League and served two terms as the State Chairwoman of the Junior Leagues of Florida, the statewide advocacy arm of the League. She also served as President of the Palm Beach County Division of ChildNet and the Girls Advocacy Project. Other board service includes Voices for Children, the Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton, HCA Florida PalmsWest Hospital Board of Trustees and several public school PTOs, School Advisory Committees and as Class Mom.

Board Member Spotlight: We are pleased to introduce Kadie Black - one of our 2025-2026 State Public Affairs Committee Task Force Leaders. Kadie is an experienced child welfare advocate with over 20 years of service in the field. She currently serves as President and Chief Joy Officer of Voices For Children Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children in foster care throughout Miami-Dade County. Kadie’s extensive background includes leadership and advocacy roles at organizations such as Casa Valentina, Foster Care Review, Our Kids, and Kristi House. Her commitment to advancing the well-being of children is reflected in her ongoing efforts to further the mission of Voices For Children Foundation. Kadie is also an active member of the Junior League of Miami and is honored to serve as a Task Force Leader on the Junior League State Public Affairs Committee this year.