The Junior League of Brooklyn (JLB) 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. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES:
BELLE OF THE BALL – JLB’s Belle of the Ball program is an annual clothing and accessory drive to collect formal attire for tee
nage girls preparing for senior prom and other events. The young women in attendance receive clothing, makeovers and tips from professional beauticians and hairstylists, as well as professional photographs of their new look. The goal of the program is to promote self-confidence and individual beauty and help each young woman in attendance feel like a princess on prom night. . BUSINESS ETIQUETTE WORKSHOPS – JLB’s Business Etiquette Workshops provide job skills training for Brooklyn’s young women and men. The workshops focus on creating resumes and cover letters, practicing job interview skills and providing tips on workplace etiquette, including dressing appropriately for the office. The JLB members and local professionals who facilitate the workshops train, build self-esteem, and serve as informal tutors and role models to those in attendance. Past workshops were provided to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz' Summer H.E.A.T. (Help Employ Ambitious Teens) Program and the Brooklyn troops of the Girl Scouts of America. KIDS IN THE KITCHEN – The goal of the Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen initiative is to empower youth and families to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. Our annual “Kids in the Kitchen Nutrition Fair” connects the community with groups providing advice or access to information about living a healthy lifestyle. These groups range from nutritionists who provide cooking demonstrations, community groups who look to curb the effects of food deserts, government agencies who provide access to healthy food for low income families and fitness programs aimed at getting kids moving. In 2013, JLB formalized the Kids in the Kitchen program as an annual project. To learn more about the AJLI Kids in the Kitchen initiative, visit http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org/
WOMEN’S SURVIVAL SPACE – The Women's Survival Space ("WSS") is a not-for-profit shelter operated by the Center Against Domestic Violence. WSS provides a 90-day living space for women and their families who have suffered domestic violence in their lives. JLB volunteers work with both the women and children to provide informal mentoring and recreational activities. The JLB provides the only source of non-essential programming available to the residents of the shelter during their stay, allowing them to see beyond their immediate circumstances. DONE IN A DAY EVENTS – The Junior League of Brooklyn provides volunteer support to various local community organizations in an effort to expand our reach in the Borough. We lend a hand at events throughout the year that build self-esteem for women and girls, provide a happy holiday for those in need and educate families about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
