One is not the loneliest #:
Voluntarism + The Junior League
No man is an island, but it only takes one man or WO(man)to start a movement. At Black Sheep, this is a concept we’re familiar with and embrace on a daily basis.
As the newest member of the flock, I’d like to celebrate a rebellious woman who has been the source of my inspiration and voluntarism for nearly ten years and who most definitely inspired me to eventually find my sheeple: Mary Harriman, founder of The Junior League.
I know what you’re thinking. The Junior League is a bunch of tea-sipping, pearl-wearing ladies who lunch. Forget what you saw or read in The Help. Here’s what you probably didn’t know about The Junior League:
- Founded in 1901, it is 116 years old
- Inspired by the Settlement Movement, a reformist social movement pioneered by female activists, such as Jane Addams, that sought to co-mingle the affluent and less fortunate for the betterment of both groups
- Over 150,000 members in 291 Leagues in four countries
- Millions of dollars in volunteer time and direct financial support to solve local and national community problems
- Notable members include Sandra Day O’Connor, Julia Child, Katharine Hepburn, Eleanor Roosevelt and Eudora Welty
To further illustrate the impact the Junior League has on its members and society, I leave you with this short video, “It Starts With a Woman”, from our 2013 conference.