Mission & History

Mission
The Junior League of Cincinnati is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

Vision Statement
The Junior League of Cincinnati is committed to improving our community by stimulating change and empowering people through the direct efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Our members are global in complexion and perspective. Partnerships with the community strengthen our ability to make an impact on the lives of those we serve.

JLC Values

Service: We are in service to our community and one another.
Women’s Empowerment: We train and empower women to be leaders in our community.
Meaningful Connections: We build intentional connections and relationships across membership and make meaningful connections to and within our community.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment Statement

Diversity Standard: 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.

JLC Belief Statements:

  • We believe that the visible and invisible qualities of our members should be valued and respected.
  • We believe in a diverse membership that is reflective of and in support of our ever-changing greater Cincinnati population.
  • We believe in an equitable and inclusive culture and will embrace it by living our core values, abiding by our code of conduct (policies), and following our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategic plan.
  • We believe all members are accountable to DEIB and that our leadership must be committed to and set the example of our DEIB principles.

Focus Area
Strengthening Women and Children’s Environments

Current Project
Family Nurturing Center

History
Founded in 1920, the Junior League of Cincinnati is part of a network of more than 292 Junior League Organizations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Great Britain. The Association of Junior League International, founded in 1901, has more than 160,000 members.  The Junior League of Cincinnati is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, whose 1,000 members are  dedicated to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League of Cincinnati commits financial and volunteer resources to community projects that further its focus area, Strengthening Childhood Environments.

Since its founding in 1901 by social activist Mary Harriman, The Junior League has evolved into one of the oldest, largest and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, encompassing 150,000 women in 292 Leagues in four countries.

Our mandate has not wavered: to develop exceptionally qualified civic leaders who collaborate with community partners to identify a community’s most urgent needs and address them with meaningful and relevant programs and initiatives that not only improve lives, but also change the way people think. This important work has won us dedicated community and corporate partners and loyal supporters for more than 112 years as well as an enduring legacy as the foremost provider of civic leadership training for women.

They don’t call us the Volunteer Powerhouse for nothing.

A Brief History of the Junior League of Cincinnati.