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02/25/2020 02:45 PMTo honor Janet Poss, remembered as one of Guilford’s most dynamic, influential citizens and politicians, the Guilford Foundation is planning to commemorate her legacy with the creation of a permanent fund, empowering women and girls in Guilford the way Poss did over her storied career.
“Janet has been sort of this mythical legend in Guilford for forever,” said Guilford Foundation Executive Director Liza Petra, “and I think she hit a special chord for women- she was a mentor to many professional women and women in politics in particular...She was funny and kind, and made it really clear she had your back.”
Petra said she is hoping the fund, with an initial goal of raising $10,000, can carry on the work Poss did over several decades in Guilford and enable future generations to feel the long-reaching effects of her spirit and advocacy.
Poss spent many decades at the forefront of Guilford politics, as both a selectman and as a state representative. She is also remembered as someone who was tough, personable, and deeply committed to her work and her community.
Petra said that in the 12 months since Poss passed away of a heart attack, many of the people and organizations that were affected by her have been speaking about the best way to honor her.
She said that the idea for a permanent legacy fund came from Women & Family Life Center (WFLC) Director Meghan Scanlon and Women Recreating Retirement founder Jennifer Cruet. There has already been an outpouring of support from all across the town, Petra said, and that the fund could grow and evolve past the initial $10,000.
“We think we can raise that pretty easily, with the number of people who have supported and loved her,” Petra said.
Petra, Cruet, and Scanlon also timed the announcement to coincide with Women’s History Month in March. This year also happens to mark the 45th anniversary of the Guilford Foundation, as well as 100 years since women’s right to vote was acknowledged in the United States. Cruet and Petra said both are things with which Poss would be proud to be associated.
The fund, Petra said, will support “any organization serving the Guilford population that promotes and enhances the wellbeing of women and girls.” Both Cruet and Petra said that Poss’s ability to mentor and raise up women around her was a large part of her life’s influence that they hoped to see carried out in her memory.
“She noticed when a woman had talent, when a woman was dedicated to the community, when a woman would give back to the community,” Cruet said. “And she would nurture them.”
Political affiliation, age, job title, or any other characteristic didn’t matter to Poss, Cruet said; she was always working with people who had good ideas across the aisle, and always willing to get involved in some new initiative or organization—something the fund hopes to carry on after her passing.
“The idea of fostering not just political movements, but something like social and environmental advancements,” Petra said. “I do think this generation is supercharged because of just the political environment they’ve grown up in to really make and enact changes...I would envision this fund could do a number of different things.”
Everything from leadership programs to help women get into politics to initiatives against homelessness or affecting women’s health could end up powered by the fund, Petra said. She said that while Poss worked in a different era as far as women and girls’ rights and representation, this current generation is still facing many of the same obstacles she did, and can learn from her example.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Petra said.
A lot of things going on around the country that have affected women might seem scary and out of reach for someone living in Guilford, but Petra and Cruet said that Poss’ ability to start in her own town and affect change here is something invaluable that can certainly grow and bring larger transformations.
“She reached across the aisle, she reached across generations,” Cruet said.
Petra said they have been reaching out to the people who may have been affected by Poss and who might want to be a part of the fund, which is a difficult task because of how long that list is.
Petra said they are planning an official announcement in early March. For more information, call the Guilford Foundation at 203-640-4049.