Welcome!

Welcome!  Throughout the year you’ll be getting updates from this blog on activities and on our community impact.  If there are topics that you're interested in learning more about, please let me know.

After summer days of relaxation and fun, and two acts of nature in one week, we’re surely ready for a change of pace. While our Junior League has been enjoying this summer, we've also been hard at work.  I want to fill you in on the progress of three of our initiatives. And it is hard to limit to three.

For starters, the Centennial and Centennial Celebrations Committees have begun planning and preparations to be ready for next year's League-wide events to celebrate our 100th year. And in this the JLW’s 99th year, we’re reflecting on the achievements of the remarkable women who have served the Washington community before us. Watch out for highlights in the Hotline of the many firsts, the lasting legacies, and the things to which we can proudly point to that demonstrate that the Junior League has had a meaningful impact in our Nation’s Capitol.

Next up: furthering our efforts in the complex issues around literacy. Last year the Literacy Impact Task Force sought answers to the key questions of what are the greatest literacy needs in the Washington, DC community. Tapping the expertise of women inside and outside the League, they concluded that our organization is well suited to supporting the building of reading skills of children in Washington.  The second phase of the Task Force helped to narrow the focus in ways that exploit our own special talents into three needs areas:

1.      Lack of reading materials in the home,
2.      Lack of school and classroom libraries, and
3.      Lack of awareness in the importance of reading aloud to young children.

This year, phase three of the Literacy Impact Task Force, led by Erica Anaya and Anne Riser, is identifying partners and piloting projects to meet one or more of these needs areas. Be on the lookout for more information.

And third, telling our story. The Junior League of Washington has an incredible story to tell, and you add to it every time you get together with your fellow members to make a difference. We’re looking for better ways to tell our story – so that all of us in the League, and our neighbors, friends and others can share the pride. The board authorized a special committee to explore future options for the Hotline and other communications tools. This special committee is being chaired by Angela Peluso and Stephanie See, and benefits from the added insights of actives, sustainers, new members.

As we move through our 99th year, please take the opportunity to reflect on our proven history of impact, to support efforts to raise the reading skills of Washington children, and to help us tell our story – the story of making a difference in the lives of our community – every day.