Junior League of the City of New York

Volunteer training and leadership development programs for nyjl volunteers and New yorkers train women across New York with an emphasis on philanthropic values, board governance skills, and current nonprofit and community issues. the nyjl builds on volunteers' skills by offering hands-on workshops, expert panels, committee assignments, and leadership positions that train women on timely community issues and instill practical skills for managing a nonprofit organization. Additionally, nyjl's leadership development program prepares nyjl volunteers for future leadership positions at the nyjl, at other nonprofit organizations, and in the community, creating a ripple effect in female leadership across the City.

During 2022 - 2023, the nyjl served thousands of individuals through its community programs. Volunteers designed and led lessons, workshops, field trips and support shifts with approximately 60 community-based organizations. Bringing their diverse experiences and talents, trained nyjl volunteers work to advance children's social-emotional learning and to provide life skills programs to youth and adults who are navigating periods of difficult transition. Continued on schedule oadult education and mentoring: in partnership with organizations including avenues for justice, New york-presbyterian hospital, the New jewish home, share cancer support, the manhattan family justice center, and the english speaking union, nyjl volunteers lead life skills and job readiness workshops, provide emotional support and companionship, help clients forge a path to self-sufficiency, and raise awareness of issues that affect adults in the New York City community. Nyjl volunteers support clients from young adults to seniors as they face health challenges, combat loneliness, recover from traumatic events, navigate the criminal justice system, and prepare for their futures. For example, during 2022-2023, nyjl volunteers hosted 2 cpr certification classes and 21 avenues for justice clients received american red cross cpr certification. Senior friends hosted 16 events at the New jewish home, including two doggie therapy nights, two bingo nights, several crafts, two performance nights, a music therapy night, a wellness night, and two "bazaars," which are shopping events that allow the residents to shop for free for themselves and their families. And in december 2022, nyjl volunteers on the crisis intervention committee provided 50 holiday, self-care gift bags for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and their children through their partnership with New york-presbyterian's columbia campus.children's education, culture and the arts: nyjl volunteers create programs and tools to enhance the socioeconomic learning of children from communities that grapple with under-resourced schools and socioeconomic challenges. Partnering with community-based organizations such as the stanley m. isaacs neighborhood center, scan-harbor and the New York state mentoring program, nyjl volunteers work with children of all ages to inspire curiosity and investigation and foster educational aspirations through hands-on science and art activities, reading workshops, mentoring, and leadership development. Volunteers craft a curriculum that promotes children's self-expression through arts education, an undervalued and underfunded area of the public education system; visit cultural institutions and museums; and attend live musical and theatrical performances. During 2022-23, nyjl volunteers held over 25 workshops for kids 6 - 12 to help kids have positive interactions with literacy. Child health and welfare: working with community partners including scan-harbor and good shepherd services, nyjl volunteers mentor children as they build healthy self-esteem and deeper self-awareness, develop positive relationships, and strengthen their physical and mental health. Volunteers use a positive approach that emphasizes individual strengths to practice responsibility, solve problems, and demonstrate agency. These programs also create multiple layers of support by involving families and caretakers in workshops and events. Child health and welfare programs promote the idea that everyone should have the resources and opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. During 2022-2023, the nyjl host over 65 participants from three community organization, over 20 speakers and over 45 nyjl volunteers for our 6th annual career day.city impact: always prepared to respond to community partner's urgent request for volunteers, the New York Junior League mobilizes volunteers for immediate, short-term community service that helps community partners carry out their missions and respond to their clients' needs.during 2022 - 2023, the nyjl held over 175 events to address community needs such as food insecurity, voting education and family support. In addition, nyjl volunteers led 500 volunteers in dedicating over 2,250 hours to restore marcus garvey park, helping create a butterfly garden for the endangered monarch butterfly and greenhouse sustainability program for nyc parks. Nyjl volunteers also completed 2 renovations of community partner spaces, which involved over 500 hours of volunteer work to design, develop and execute site restorations. Advocacy: the advocates for public policy committee advocates for legislation and policy on behalf of the New York Junior League, prioritizing issues impacting New York City constituents consistent with the New York Junior League's mission. Through membership in the New York state public affairs committee of the Junior League, we partner with Junior leagues from across New York state, representing more than 7,500 women, to shape New York state public policy impacting women, children, and families. In fiscal year 2023, advocates for public policy corresponded with 58 elected officials at the state level and traveled to albany to meet with elected officials at the state level to advocate on nyjl priority issues including ending the "voluntary intoxication" defense for sex crimes, a bill that passed in june 2023 in the state senate, but has not yet passed in the state assembly. Nyjl is one of 17 leagues throughout the state that comprises the New York state public affairs council (nyspac). Our current advocacy efforts focus on domestic violence, gender equality, healthcare equity, and public safety. In january 2023, the advocates for public policy committee hosted an in-person legislative breakfast that addressed the mental health care needs of those in New York City with congresswoman carolyn maloney as keynote speaker. the event fostered necessary dialogue between representatives from the nyc mayor's office, City council members, and nyjl community partners. At the federal level, the nyjl continues to advocate for the passage of the michelle alyssa go act, that would repeal the medicaid institutions for mental disease exclusion, opening up additional in-patient beds for adults experiencing a mental health crisis. the act received support from former congresswoman carolyn maloney, congressman dan goldman, congressman jerry nadler, representatives from the national alliance on mental illness of New York City, the treatment advocacy center, and City councilmembers erik bottcher, carlina rivera, and keith powers.training and leadership development:the ongoing development of trained volunteers is a central component of the New York Junior League's mission. Training and leadership development programs educate and train members and New yorkers on philanthropic values, board governance skills, and current nonprofit issues. These programs prepare members to be successful leaders and effective volunteers on their placed committees and serving our client populations in the community.in fiscal year 2023, training and leadership development programs hosted 21 trainings for the general membership bringing in over 40 speakers, including external expert guests as well as New York Junior League members, to address over 1000 attendees. Leadership development workshops prepare members for current and future leadership positions at the New York Junior League, in the community, and in their professional lives. Volunteer education and training workshops focus members on developing skills that are important to our volunteer work. These trainings are concentrated on our four core areas: community, fundraising, membership, and strategy, advocacy, and communications. Nonprofit education and training workshops train members and the public on the skills necessary to pursue board, Junior board, and/or professional roles in the wider nonprofit industry, partnering with nonprofits and community-based organizations that address a variety of critical issues.