Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

The founder of The Junior League, Mary Harriman, believed that we all bear the responsibility to learn about the world around us in order to be more effective in our desire to improve it. That we should really try to understand the “why” behind something, not just superficially give it lip service.

As we strive within our organization to live up to our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, we honor and celebrate the struggles, the history and the leaders of our multifaceted world.

Progress Is Plural

Diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging is one of the most critical issues of our time, so we invited others to join us in this important conversation. We assembled an impressive array of internal and external voices to help us explore the landscape of DEIB today. We invite you to listen in on this conversation and the Annual Review that grew out of it.

Articles of Interest

Voices of Change

As an organization, we are not alone in facing these big questions, and as we move through our diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging journey, we look to other voices of change who also blaze this trail in the important work of diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging. Here are some of our favorites:

The Racial Equity Institute

Undoing Racism workshop by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond

Anti Racist Alliance

Cook Ross: Partnering with the world's most influential organizations to create inclusive leadership & cultures.

BoardSource on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity

National Diversity Council

Resources

We recognize that a major part of our diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging journey is personal education and reflection. These are some of our favorite resources that help frame this work:

Verna Myers TED talk on "How To Overcome Our Biases"

lookdifferent.org

Harvard's Project Implicit

Facebook: Managing Unconscious Bias

Unconscious Bias @ Work Google Ventures

Women in the Civil Rights Movement Timeline

Books that can help you tackle the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging discussion:

Podcasts that can help you tackle the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion discussion:







League Spotlights

  • Junior League of Baton Rouge

    POWER OF AN OPEN MIND DIVERSITY SUMMIT

    Junior League of Baton Rouge

    The Junior League of Baton Rouge hosts the "Power of An Open Mind" diversity summit to bring the Baton Rouge community together to promote positive and progressive conversations on the issues that divide us. They hope to enlighten citizens to the fact that we are more alike than different and all it takes is an open mind to bring about unity and change.

    Read more about the summit >

  • Junior League of Battle Creek

    Junior League Women of Color Affinity Group

    Junior League of Battle Creek

    Tiffany Blackman started the Women of Color Affinity Group. The mission of the Junior League Women of Color affinity group is to create an opportunity for historically underrepresented women of the Junior League to connect and build capacity. We aim to enhance member experience and offer strength in our shared experiences. Our goal is to empower women by offering member support and leadership opportunities. The activities of the group will enhance ongoing efforts within Junior League to develop the potential of a diverse group of women leaders in our communities. Woman of color is defined as any group of women historically underrepresented in Junior League and typically includes, but is not limited to, women of African, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Middle-Eastern, Native American or Pacific Island descent.
  • Junior League of Boston

    FROM DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TO BELONGING: DISCOVERING BIAS WITH MALIA LAZU

    Junior League of Boston

    Malia Lazu of The Urban Labs presented a three-session training on moving from diversity and inclusion to belonging to help the Junior League of Boston understand bias and explore belonging to create authentic diversity. In the first session, the League worked through the definition of bias and introduced concepts of diversity and inclusion belonging to begin to answer the question, “What does change for the Junior League look like?”

    Read more about the work of the League's Diversity Task Force and their ongoing member training sessions >

  • Junior League of Buffalo

    Community Discussions

    Junior League of Buffalo

    The Junior League of Buffalo hosts Community Discussions such as “Women in Policy,” which included elected officials and transit authority representatives, in partnership with a local college and civic organization.

    Read more about their Community Discussions >

  • Junior League of Dallas

    Diversity and Inclusion

    Junior League of Dallas

    A veteran in this mission, the Junior League of Dallas began their diversity and inclusion efforts over ten years ago. What began as a task force has evolved into the topic of Diversity and Inclusion as a main benchmark in their strategic plan. Their end goal is to showcase and celebrate diversity within the organization’s leadership and recruitment efforts. Great work Junior League of Dallas.

  • Junior Leagues Los Angeles

    Civic Leadership Forum

    Junior League Los Angeles

    Annually hosts a Civic Leadership Forum to bring members of the community together to focus on an issue impacting Los Angeles.

    Learn more about their Civic Leadership Forum >

  • Junior League of Lufkin

    Diversity and Inclusion Campaign

    Junior League of Lufkin

    Becoming more and more diverse is a natural process in many communities, although sometimes the organizations that serve them don’t diversify at the same pace.

    Read more about their award-winning Diversity and Inclusion Campaign >

  • Junior League Memphis

    Social Justice Affinity Group (SJAG)

    Junior League of Memphis

    The Junior League of Memphis' social justice affinity group (SJAG) is working to equip Junior League of Memphis members with the skills to attack the root causes of social injustices in Memphis, as well as provide social opportunities for members interested in social justice initiatives.  In partnership with the JLM's Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, the group offered a training to JLM members about poverty and economic inequalities in Memphis, presented by Dr. Elena Delavega of the University of Memphis. The training about poverty and economic inequalities in Memphis' is one of several trainings that we plan to offer to our members.
  • D&I Task Force

    Junior League of Richmond

    To ensure that diversity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of their League, this past spring the Junior League of Richmond created a formal task force which broadens their Members' understanding of diversity and inclusion. This helps externally expand their League’s presence and visibility in the Richmond community and internally their unique nomination process has helped advance their diversified leadership!

  • Junior League of Tallahassee

    LGBTQIA+ Ally Training

    Junior League of Tallahassee

    The Junior League of Tallahassee knew they wanted to be more inclusive and involved by working with LGBTQIA+ organizations, so they hosted a LGBTQIA Ally Training on May 14.

    At the training, attendees completed a Cisgender and Heterosexual Privilege Checklist and partook in a role-playing activity called "Other Side of the Fence", which allowed for them to assume the role of a person who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a result, Members learned to be better allies by shifting perspectives and understanding what individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community go through on a daily basis. One member described it as “breathtaking, informative and [a] necessary platform for education and action.”

    Following the training, the JLT has been discussing how they can apply what they’ve learned and put it to action. In the upcoming League year, JL Tallahassee will work to cultivate relationships with local LGBTQIA+ organizations by offering volunteer support through their Done in a Day Committee for any upcoming projects, events, initiatives. JLT’s Public Affairs Committee will also work as an ally in banning conversion therapy in Leon County, an issue that resonates closely with the LGBTQIA+ community.

    With this fresh perspective and new initiatives underway, the Junior League of Tallahassee will work internally to be more inclusive and seek to recruit women from the LGBTQIA+ community to join the League. Great work JLT!

  • Junior League Wichita

    Participant in Advance Kansas

    Junior League of Wichita

    The Junior League of Wichita sends a representative annually to Advance Kansas, a forum that brings together people who are already leaders from across the community to create and strengthen relationships and acquire skills for addressing diversity challenges and opportunities.

JL Award for Diversity and Inclusion

The JL Award for Diversity and Inclusion recognizes Junior Leagues that have developed truly innovative strategies and practices toward fulfillment of The Junior League's commitment to diversity and inclusion. This award honors Leagues that have taken meaningful strides toward building diversity and promoting inclusion within the League and, through those efforts, improved the League. 

Learn more about the recipients >