JUNIOR LEAGUE OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Beatriz Duque Long
For Novinian of the Year Beatriz Duque Long, a passion for volunteering is all in the family. “My grandma was a dedicated volunteer … From a young age, she instilled in me the importance of helping others.”
Duque Long, originally from Colombia, brought this dedication to our area while serving as president of the Junior League of Northern Virginia. Duque Long initially joined the Junior League after moving to Long Beach, California, because she wanted to learn more about the community and meet other women who shared her passion for volunteerism. “What sets the Junior League apart is our commitment to developing the potential of our members to be leaders through hands-on experience … anyone can volunteer, but the Junior League prepares you to bring your leadership skills to serve on boards, run fundraisers or even launch new initiatives.” Duque Long took the new leadership skills she gained while in California and brought them to NoVA, moving here in 2008 for her career. “If you want to be a movie star, you move to Hollywood; if you want to be a lobbyist, you move to D.C.,” she jokes. Duque Long’s career landed her at the Epilepsy Foundation, where she now works as senior director for government relations.
After arriving in NoVA, Duque Long was able to transfer her Junior League membership to the Junior League of Northern Virginia and quickly became a leader in the organization, serving on the board prior to becoming president. Long finds that her day job and her JLNV position work well together, as she spends most of her time helping others: “In my day job, I spend my days advocating for federal and state policies that impact the lives of people living with epilepsy. It is challenging and rewarding … my volunteer work with the Junior League allows me to have an impact closer to home and in the lives of children in my community.”
Duque’s term as Junior League president comes to an end on May 31, but she looks forward to continuing in a leadership role on JLNV’s nominating and placements committee, as well as getting the chance to expand her outreach efforts: “True to our mission, I want to take the leadership skills I’ve learned at the Junior League to other organizations in our community.”