Junior League of Los Angeles

Active Projects

The Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) provides volunteers and funding to area non-profit agencies for the benefit and enrichment of the Los Angeles community and the development and education of our League volunteers. Nearly 500 league volunteers contribute more than 60,000 hours of volunteer work each year to the League's projects and programs. In addition to the volunteer service that League members contribute to our community, the JLLA has provided millions of dollars over the years to fund programs and agencies that improve the overall well-being of our community. Find out more about the JLLA’s full-time projects by clicking below:

Aviva Family and Children's Services

Aviva Family and Children's Services (Aviva) is a multi-service agency serving the greater Los Angeles community.  Aviva provides care and treatment to abandoned, neglected, abused and at-risk youth and their families.  Services include residential treatment, community mental health services, family preservation, after-school care, special education, and foster family placement. 

JLLA has created a structured mentoring program, and project workshops include self-esteem classes, social skills, career/college focus, and independent living skills.

Website: http://www.avivacenter.org/index.htm

Children’s Institute, Inc.

Children's Institute, Inc. (CII) helps children who have been affected by violence in their homes or communities. Since 1906, CII has been serving at-risk children and families throughout Los Angeles County. The agency provides healing and support so traumatized children can recover and lead healthy lives. They lead children away from tragic outcomes and on the path toward opportunity and achievement.

The JLLA “Stories Abroad” program aims to increase literacy among 8-11 year olds who use CII’s services. Both fun and educational, the curriculum has activities chosen to increase comprehension and educate about different cultures. The program goals are to improve the children's literacy skills, help them learn more about themselves and their families and ultimately make them feel more confident and secure.

Website: http://www.childrensinstitute.org/

Downtown Women’s Center

The mission of the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) is to provide permanent supportive housing and a safe and healthy community fostering dignity, respect, and personal stability, and to advocate ending homelessness for women. DWC is committed to providing the resources homeless women need to reconnect with their sense of self and reclaim goals and dreams that have become lost in their day-to-day struggle for survival. After just one short year, DWC presented the JLLA with their “Angel Award” to recognize the impact of their volunteer work.

The JLLA-created “Whole Woman: Saturdays for Yourself” program aims to assist homeless and formerly homeless women to both re-define and realize their potential. This program guides women on a path toward self-awareness, self-motivation, and self-sufficiency with supportive services. Employing a holistic approach to women’s empowerment, the curriculum helps women to define a personal vision and to establish a plan that will achieve individual goals through a broad-based, inwardly focused curriculum.

Website: www.dwcweb.org 

EcoAcademy

EcoAcademy, in conjunction with the LA Conservation Corps, is a charter high school which provides students with a holistic learning experience that integrates academics with experiential learning opportunities, facilitating success for nontraditional learners.  This campus is unique because it emphasizes environmental studies in the classroom, and environmental service in the community, with at least 40 hours required each year.

EcoAcademy offers a small school setting of approximately 100 students, and small class sizes of approximately 15 to 20 students per class.  Caring teachers take the time to work with students and help them learn.  It also has case managers who are available to meet with students and assist them with overcoming personal challenges to successfully graduating.  In its first two years of existence, the EcoAcademy has already helped 33 young people who had dropped out of traditional schools earn their actual high school diploma and 14 of these students are now in college.

JLLA has partnered with EcoAcademy to design a career mentoring program.   

HOLA

Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) empowers inner city youth to advance their lives and revitalize their communities through enrichment, personal development and leadership programs.  HOLA seeks to enrich lives by providing arts, athletics, and educational programs of the highest quality for young people ages 6-19 who attend overburdened inner city schools -- children who are hindered by poverty, immigration status, and living in communities that are impacted by illegal drug trafficking and gang violence.

JLLA has partnered with HOLA to mentor high school juniors and seniors thorugh the college application process.  Building on HOLA's existing College Prep 101, JLLA will spend the year designing or incubating a program to help more HOLA students get accepted and enroll in colleges and universities.  In the new program, it is likely that JLLA members will actively work with students to identify appropriate colleges, complete financial aid forms, and evaluate applications.

Website:  www.heartofla.org

Turning Point

Established in 1983, Turning Point Transitional Housing is a 55-bed shelter for homeless men and women that offers housing and supportive services for up to 9 months. The project seeks to break the cycle of homelessness and to integrate homeless individuals back into the community by providing comprehensive, individualized services designed to address their physical and emotional needs.

JLLA implements the “Life Leadership” workshops aimed at assisting residents who are already employed and close to completing the Turning Point program to develop the everyday life skills needed to make the transition to self-sufficiency. The workshops focus on important life skills such as creating a personal mission statement, making a good impression, securing housing, establishing credit and cooking on a budget.

"The Junior League's programs at our Turning Point Transitional Housing are the highlight of the year with our guests. They strike the right balance between fun and empowerment, offering participants the opportunity to explore the possibilities for their life through practical, hands on workshops. So many of our guests have lost hope and a sense of purpose, but the women of the Junior League provide that spark of encouragement that lets them know they are cared about and can achieve their goals."

John Maceri, Executive Director
Ocean Park Community Center

Website: http://www.opcc.net/