Junior Service League

In 1931, the Junior Service League was organized in Lansing. The organization differed from other women’s organizations in two major respects. First, it was dedicated to promoting voluntarism beyond its own structured borders by training and educating its members to work independently. This was accomplished through training and service. Secondly, the Junior Service League sought involvement in a variety of projects, aiming to meet the broad and timely needs of the community as well as offering enrichment to the Lansing citizenry.

Junior League of Lansing

In 1948, the Junior Service League became the Junior League of Lansing as a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, as it is known today. AJLI began in 1901. The purpose of the Association was to unite the member Leagues and to promote their individual purposes by offering leadership and assistance, while seeing that each League remained self-directed. Today, 155,000 women in 293 communities from four different countries are making a difference in their communities as Junior League members.

Our Commitment to the Greater Lansing Community

The Junior League of Lansing, together with its predecessor, the Junior Service League, has been an outstanding volunteer organization for the greater Lansing area. Members have initiated, developed and assisted in programs and activities to meet the needs of the child, the aged and the deprived. As JLL moves forward, the organization is to be recognized for its continuing and vital role in the life of the community of greater Lansing and its promise for future service and commitment.

With our focus on essential needs, the JLL has transformed our community by supporting more than 100 organizations with donations of volunteer hours and funding. We are proud to say that the JLL played an integral role in bringing the American Red Cross and the Sight Conservation Program (which was later adopted by the Lions Club) to Lansing in the 1940s. In the 1970s, the JLL was one of the first organizations to pledge money for the Impression 5 Science Museum. The JLL started to extend our interest into public policy areas. In the 1990s, JLL led the charge in bringing Ele’s Place, Ballentine Stepping Stones and Otto Health Clinic to our community.