​The reunion luncheon turned out to be an opportunity to not just renew friendships and bring each other up to date on their lives post-college or whenever the last time was that they’d been in touch. Much more important and, as it turned out, most relevant to each of the women who attended was the sense that they had once all belonged to each other based on a unique set of circumstances—and felt they still did. 

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Plouché wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to accomplish by having the lunch except that she wanted to ignite a sense of community among her classmates, give herself an even greater sense of belonging, and perhaps even lay the groundwork for something in the future…something or some way to bring more value to people’s lives. She partnered with Byron Hunter, a documentarian and childhood friend, who created a short video of the luncheon featuring the attendees who were happy to record heartfelt comments on their Harvard experience and the impact of those years together—and on that important sense of belonging to each other they were experiencing. He knew of her interest in “doing something” that—at the time—amorphous desire to bring together her interests in diversity, equity, and inclusion with the concept of belonging. As she puts it, that luncheon, with its small video “was like a step into the unknown.” 

 

Then, in 2021, Hunter got back in touch with Plouché; he thought the time was right to suggest they expand on her reunion video to a full-fledged podcast or documentary. And that’s the future that emerged: a podcast series they named The Sisterhood of Radcliffe ’79, which features eight classmates and their inspiring stories that extend beyond and transcend the more than 40 years following their arrival on Harvard’s campus in 1975. 

 

Full circle, the net proceeds from the podcast series are now helping fund The Alzenia Project, the not-for-profit organization Plouché established in 2021. Its mission reflects Plouché’s vision: to be a valued resource with a goal of raising, targeting, and allocating funds to leverage the impact of non-profits committed to helping young women—particularly women of color—achieve personal and professional growth and satisfaction through mentoring, and inclusive and empowering opportunities for increased educational access and career readiness.

 

It’s early days for the Project, but as Plouché says, “The future is now.”