Laureen Pellegrino

From founding the JLLV STEM scholarship program to combat educational disparity, League’s community issue, to being the first African- American President of the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley (2019 -2020), Laureen Aisha Hobbs Pellegrino continues to leave her mark in history. This past summer, she received the title of first African –American councilperson of the Nazareth Borough Council. The skills of communication, delegation, strategic planning and governance, which she honed as League President, gave her the confidence and courage to pursue the political appointment.

Her “someone has to be first, why not me? “Spirit resonates in her final speech to members. “At some point you will be the first to do something, such as be the first to go to college, or get a job, be the first to start your own business and become a CEO, be the first woman in a role previously held only by men… sometimes being the first will be smooth and effortless, sometimes it will be hard and you might be told no… But when you get that chance or accomplish that task, bottle up that feeling. There is nothing like it in the world. League members are leaders and will often be the first at many things. Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence,” she declared.

Laureen Pellegrino currently serves as the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley New Member Committee Chair (2020 -2021).