The Association
ABOUT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE MOVEMENT AND ASSOCIATION
For more than 125 years, the Junior League movement has been Developing Women to Do a World of Good™. Founded in 1901 in New York City by social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the movement has grown into one of the world’s most enduring volunteer leadership organizations.
Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) connects more than 112,000 women across 296 communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Kenya, and France. Formed in 1921, the Association strengthens and supports individual Leagues through shared learning, leadership development, and collective action.
Our Mission
The Junior League is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
Our Vision
The Junior League: Women Around the World as Catalysts for Lasting Community Change.
Our Values
The Junior League is grounded in core values that guide our purpose, our partnerships, and our work in communities:
- Collaboration: We believe lasting societal change is achieved through both collaboration and meaningful disagreement. Living the value of collaboration inspires us to accomplish more together.
- Community: We believe a strong sense of community is essential to human well-being. Living the value of community provides a foundation of inclusion, which allows us to make a greater impact on the world around us.
- Diversity: We believe that creating and sustaining a diverse Membership is critical to our Mission. Living the value of diversity means we are committed to centering equity, inclusion, and belonging in our individual, organizational, and community relationships.
- Empowerment: We believe that the empowerment of women is a necessary requirement to create positive, lasting societal change. Living the value of empowerment fosters trust and confidence in each other.
- Leadership: We believe in the unique power of women’s leadership abilities to transform communities for the better. Living the value of leadership allows us to make a collective difference.
- Respect: We believe respect is a fundamental human right. Living the value of respect instills in us an unconditional positive regard for others.
- Service: We believe it is through service that we build core relationships with others. Service is the lens through which we decide how we will invest our time and resources. Living the value of service empowers us as catalysts for lasting community change.
Our 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.
Our History
From its earliest days, The Junior League has been a catalyst for community-driven change. Rooted in the belief that trained volunteer action can address complex social challenges, the movement has continually evolved to meet the needs of the moment.
Watch the video below to learn more about our history and legacy.
To explore our full historical timeline, click here.
Explore More
Learn more about our history → Click here
Explore Junior Leagues near you → Click here
Review our historical timeline → Click here
Read The League Life Magazine → Click here
Learn more about International Find the Good Day → Click here
Explore our signature initiative: Every Woman. All Things. → Click here
Ways to Support → Click here
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