About
The Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
As one of the largest volunteer service organizations in Alabama, the JLB has nearly 1,000 active volunteers who contribute more than 55,000 hours of service annually. Its purpose is to improve the lives in our community by working with community agencies to deliver services and assistance to those in need. To ensure consistency and a concentrated level of service, JLB community placements focus on four areas (Education & Culture, Economic Security & Financial Stability, Health & Wellness, Safety and Crisis) and address one or more of the critical issues identified within each of these Impact Areas.
Education & Culture
The Junior League of Birmingham believes that education is the foundation to achieve one’s full potential and all children should have access to a quality education that sparks and unlocks that potential. We also believe all individuals should have the opportunity to develop cultural competence by learning history, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different backgrounds. We are currently supporting initiatives that promote literacy, success in schools, and school readiness.
Health & Wellness
The Junior League of Birmingham recognizes improving health outcomes and overall well-being is fundamental to creating a vibrant community to live, learn, work, worship and play. Healthy children and adults are better able to learn and work productively. We believe preventative health care and healthy lifestyle choices are critical components of an individual’s overall health. We are currently supporting initiatives in mental and physical health care education, access, and delivery.
Economic Security & Financial Stability
The Junior League of Birmingham believes that every individual should have the training, support services, and employment opportunities necessary to be economically secure. We believe these resources are necessary to strengthen our economy and to the well-being of our community as a whole. We are currently supporting initiatives that address financial and economic security through personal finance skills training and workforce development.
Safety and Crisis
The Junior League of Birmingham recognizes safety and crisis intervention as an integral factor to the well-being of our community. We believe prevention, preparedness, and readiness are critical to ensuring successful response and intervention. We are currently supporting safety and crisis intervention initiatives that address domestic violence, juvenile crime and emergency and disaster relief.
The JLB strives, through issue-based voluntarism, to build better partnerships between the agencies it serves, better train JLB members to become experts on the critical issues and provide more meaningful experiences for JLB volunteers. The JLB’s goal is to eradicate pressing issues within the community, create advocates and community trustees (trained League members) who are passionate about issues, and make a positive impact on the community through systemic change.
All volunteers are required to complete an intensive Provisional course and thereafter choose from a wide range of community projects each year. Through these projects, volunteers acquire the skills, knowledge and empowerment to effectively serve the community. Community projects are staffed with JLB volunteers who work in partnership with nonprofit, public and community-based organizations.
Click on the links below to find out more about the Junior League of Birmingham.