AJLI MISSION

The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

AJLI VISION

The Junior League: Women Around the World as Catalysts for Lasting Community Change.

AJLI COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

AJLI PURPOSE

The purpose of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is to add value to its member Leagues in their fulfillment of The Junior League Mission.

THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, making a demonstrable impact on their communities. In 1921 the Leagues joined forces as an association, which is today known as The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., in order to bolster their power and amplify their voice through shared knowledge and common causes.

True to their mission, today’s League members work at the forefront of social reform, tackling the toughest and most critical issues of the day—including childhood nutrition and obesity, human trafficking, foster care, juvenile justice, teen self-esteem, cybercrimes, literacy and the environment, among others—for the purpose of enhancing the social, cultural and political fabric of civil society.

As a result of this work, The Junior League—and the more than 150,000 women in 291 communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico who comprise its ranks—has amassed an archive of tangible results and a reputation as thoughtful and influential change agents dedicated to the public good.

Today AJLI is a charitable nonprofit organization that provides continuity and support, guidance, and leadership development opportunities to its member Leagues. Through regional, national and international meetings, comprehensive resources, customized consultations, and League and member benefits, it supports its member Leagues in the fulfillment of The Junior League’s Mission. AJLI is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors, which is accountable to the Leagues and comprised of women who are members of the Junior Leagues in their communities. The Association’s New York City-based staff, under the leadership of the Executive Director, provides services to Leagues that support the established goals.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO JLLC

A portion of our yearly dues goes toward our membership with AJLI. So, every member of the JLLC—not just the Board—has access to these networking tools. We have direct access to the information on their website, but have also received valuable training with guest speakers. For example, in 2010 and 2011, the Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. hosted national and regional AJLI representatives to provide personal training to the members of the JLLC.

In addition, we are eligible to apply for AJLI awards that grant the winning Leagues cash. If we are a recipient, then we return the money to Southwest Louisiana through our meaningful projects and grants. Finally, our membership in AJLI comes with a great perks program. We receive discounts on car rentals and other services just for being a committed Junior League member!

Message from AJLI

The Road to Transformation…..

As the leaders of any large organization know, change is inevitable. Market forces, cultural norms, the health of the economy, the political climate and industrial innovation all exert a profound influence on an organization’s will to thrive. In this complex ecosystem, the survival of the organization pivots on its ability to adapt quickly—and in a way that intuitively ensures its relevance for years to come.

Among the diminishing number of organizations with lifespans of a century or more, the stakes are even higher. Whole generations have lived their lives in the time the organization has been around, and with those generations have come breathtaking alterations of the cultural, political, economic, and philanthropic landscape.

Today, the pace of change has accelerated to an exponential degree, thanks in part to innovations in communications and technology. At a time when many organizations are retrenching, The Junior League is taking bold steps to ensure its legacy as an organization that has cultivated countless women to serve as civic leaders and improved many a community in the time since it was founded more than a century ago.

This is not the first time The Junior League has undertaken so ambitious an endeavor. Consistently throughout its history it has proven to be a nimble and thoughtful organization fluent in the context of its time. In 1921, the Leagues came together to form The Association of Junior Leagues of America (which became The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. in 1988) as a way of consolidating their power for social change. In the 1940s, recognizing their potential for legislative reform, Leagues began to establish the first Public Affairs Committees, actively using a collective voice to put forth meaningful initiatives that improved lives in their communities. In 1979, in an effort to embrace diversity and inclusion in the post-Civil Rights era, the Leagues adopted a Reaching Out Statement that explicitly welcomes women of all races, religions, and national origins. And in 2006, Leagues adopted the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiative to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity in four countries.

In other words, the transformative process in which The Junior League is engaged in 2014 is an intrinsic part of its heritage. Stay tuned.

CONTACT AJLI

132 West 31st Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10001-3406
Tel: 212.951.8300
Fax: 212.481.7196
E-mail: info@ajli.org
Web: http://www.ajli.org