Category: JLP Works Blog

Come participate in JLP Day on March 18th! The day starts at 8:30 AM and goes to 3:30pm.

8:30 Welcome & JL Overview (~10min) This is the opening to the day.
Please note, no credit given and there is no signup on the Event Calendar.

Time: 8:45-9:30am
Event 1: Community Partner Project (Jeanne Reiche-Face to Face).
Please note this event is worth 1/2 a GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: Philadelphia has the highest rate of poverty of any large city in the United States. Germantown has levels 50% higher than the city, with one third of its residents living in Deep Poverty ($6,380 individual; $13,100 family of 4), making it difficult to afford necessities of food or shelter. Hospitality, Mutuality, and Transformation – speak to our belief that individuals experiencing poverty should be treated with respect. Come learn more about our community partner Face to Face and how JLP helps support their mission.

Time: 9:45-10:30am
Event 2: Breastfeeding and the Impact on Food Insecurity (Jabina Coleman- The Lactation Therapist) Please note this event is worth 1/2 a GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: In addition to its health and nutritional benefits, breastfeeding can save low-income, food insecure mothers the cost of infant formula so that money can be spent on food and other necessities. Yet breastfeeding may exacerbate food insecurity by negatively affecting maternal employment. The relationship between food insecurity and breastfeeding has been explored previously, with varying results. This discussion will explore the relationship between prenatal food insecurity and breastfeeding initiation and early cessation.

Time: 10:45-11:30 am
Event 3: Food Insecurity, Health/Wellness, and Impact on Health Disparities in Philadelphia (Avery Ince, MD Janssen Cardiovascular and Metabolism)
Please note this event is worth 1/2 a GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: Adults who are food insecure may be at an increased risk for a variety of negative health outcomes and health disparities. For example, a study found that food-insecure adults may be at an increased risk for obesity. Another study found higher rates of chronic disease in low-income, food-insecure adults between the ages of 18 years and 65 years. Food-insecure children may also be at an increased risk for a variety of negative health outcomes, including obesity. They also face a higher risk of developmental problems compared with food-secure children. In addition, reduced frequency, quality, variety, and quantity of consumed foods may have a negative effect on children’s mental health.
Neighborhood conditions may affect physical access to food. For example, people living in some urban areas, rural areas, and low-income neighborhoods may have limited access to full-service supermarkets or grocery stores.

Time: 11:45am -12:30 pm
Event 4: Hunger Simulation- The Hunger Coalition Katie Milhoun and Team Mission
Please note this event is worth 1 GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: This hunger simulation will allow you to experience a day in the life of a person facing hunger, and the heart wrenching decisions they must make daily to survive.
The goal of the simulation is to provide an experiential, educational opportunity that explores issues of food access and availability. The simulation normally runs about an hour and a half (including time for introduction and debriefing), but that time varies based on the interests of participants.

Time: 12:30-1:15 pm
Event 5: Placement Fair & Lunch
Please note this event is not worth a mission credit, but we still have a sign up in DC.
Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: We know women’s lives have changed dramatically over the last 100 years and the one size fits all approach to Junior League membership no longer applies. We must transform our model to be member-centric, which will create a more meaningful experience for each of you. To deliver on our Mission, we need to develop you as civic leaders with the skills and competencies to improve our community.
Our League has committed to making these changes and has used the placement matching tool over the last two years. Please come learn about the placement process and how you can have a unique League experience in 2023-4.

Time: 1:30-2:15 pm
Event 6: Understanding concepts of sexual orientation and Gender Identity (Jenny Bidey, DNP)
Please note this event is worth 1/2 a GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: For gender diverse people, their identity is about presenting something more outwardly authentic to the world, whether they understand themselves to be differently gendered, or have no gender at all. It is important to recognize that many cultures throughout history have recognized gender diversity beyond masculine and feminine. Today the internet has provided a platform where people can explore common experiences with gender diversity and a lot of the language used to describe these experiences is still evolving. There are often misunderstandings that report of there being hundreds of genders, each with unique rules, language, and pronouns. A lot of these claims are exaggerated, taking into account very niche and specialized terms, or very personal explorations of gender.

Time: 2:30- 3:15 pm
Event 7: Kid’s Safe training: Loutel and Associates
Please note this event is 1/2 a GMM credit; sign up on DC: Register Here in Digital Cheetah

Description of Event: The PA Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth, and Families’ vision is for all children and youth to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and permanent family and community. Their mission is to support the provision of quality services and best practices designed to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of Pennsylvania’s children, youth, and families.

The PA Department of Human Services supports child abuse recognition and reporting training through a variety of delivery methods, including web-based and in-person. Loutel and associates will provide this training for League members as many events will have children participate and we also employ minors in the Thrift Shop.

3:15-3:30 Closing remarks
Please note, no credit given and there is no signup on the Event Calendar.

The JLP’s Reopening Policy states that for all events at Headquarters or offsite, we follow the most conservative of recommendations from the CDC or guidelines from federal, state or local governments. With events offsite, in addition to the foregoing, we also abide by any specific guidelines put in place by the venue or partner where we are convening. Given that our Headquarters is in Montgomery County and many League events occur in other counties with differing restrictions, we understand that this portion of the policy can cause some confusion.

In accordance with the updated mask guidance issued by the CDC on February 25, 2022, indoor masking in Montgomery County is no longer required. As a result, the JLP will not be requiring masks indoors at our Headquarters or any League event planned in an area where masking is not required unless or until the applicable guidelines are changed. At present, Philadelphia County still has an indoor mask mandate, and certain venues or partners may have their own specific mask or vaccine requirements.

Please know that JLP members may make their own decisions about wearing masks at JLP events. Anyone who wishes to continue to wear a mask will be fully supported in that decision. We expect all members of our League to respect those individual choices.

The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. has updated their COVID-19 Risk Acknowledgement and Waiver. This document reflects the current CDC and local health department guidelines and is in place to protect all JLP members, partners, vendors, and the community. The waiver is required to be completed by all who attend JLP events, whether at JLP HQ or elsewhere. The waiver is available at all JLP events and on the members page of the JLP website.

International Women’s Day, March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is “Break the Bias.”

On Sunday, March 6, the Thrift Shop Committee will be hosting a tea to celebrate the achievements of women and our League. The event will consist of a “History of Royal Cuisine and Tea,” with Jennifer G. Morgan, JLP Past President and Sustainer, a talk with Kristin Contino, local author of “A House Full of Windsor,” who will discuss the role of The Queen and women in the royal family along with her book’s connection to Philadelphia, and a discussion about the achievements of our League year.

We are offering a pickup of afternoon tea boxes which include eight tea sandwiches, a scone, three pastries, and tea to brew at home. For an additional amount, you can purchase a teacup and saucer set from the Thrift Shop and receive one Ways & Means Credit for the event. Or, you can brew your own tea, or pick up from your favorite local café, and join us for the virtual event. All participants will be entered in a drawing to win a fabulous gift from the Thrift Shop.

Pickup locations for the boxed afternoon tea will be at the Thrift Shop on Saturday, March 5 and in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia on Sunday, March 6. Both locations will require a mask for pickup.

The event is open to all. Members may invite guests; however, tickets must be purchased on the member site. Venture in the Thrift Shop for tea-related outfits, teacups and more! The Thrift Shop will be open during the Saturday tea box pickup. After the event, we hope to see members posting on social media using the #spilltheteawithjlp hashtag to celebrate.

Ticket prices for the virtual event are: $10 Virtual event only; $35 Virtual event plus Afternoon Tea box from A Taste of Britain; $45 Virtual event plus Afternoon Tea box, teacup and saucer set, and one Ways and Means Credit. Click here to purchase tickets.

This event has been postponed and ticket purchases will be refunded. If you have immediate questions, please email Focus Fundraising Chair, Kelly Murphy at kmurphy632@yahoo.com.

The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. has updated their COVID-19 Risk Acknowledgement and Waiver. This document reflects the current CDC and local health department guidelines and is in place to protect all JLP members, partners, vendors, and the community. The waiver is required to be completed by all who attend JLP events, whether at JLP HQ or elsewhere. The waiver is available at all JLP events and on the members page of the JLP website.

The focus of the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is to raise funds for community organizations that focus on eliminating food insecurity. This year, The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc.(JLP) will host its third annual campaign from October 11-15, 2021. Participants will wear a black dress or black outfit for five consecutive days as a visible symbol of participation and to start conversations and raise awareness about food insecurity in the Philadelphia area. Participants will also use social media to solicit funds from family, friends, and coworkers. This will allow the JLP to donate to our four selected partner organizations.

JLP members can register to participate through the member portal and they will receive the LBDI participant communication package. All are welcome to contribute at https://donorbox.org/2021-12.

The recipients of our fundraising efforts this year will be The Food Trust, Face to Face, Methodist Services and The Philadelphia Orchard Project. All selected organizations are aligned with the mission and goals of the JLP’s Apple A Day Healthy Living Initiative™.

The Food Trust
http://thefoodtrust.org/
The Food Trust works to ensure that all Philadelphians have access to affordable, nutritious food and information to make healthy decisions. They partner with neighborhoods, schools, grocers, farmers, and policymakers to improve food access by combining nutrition education and greater availability of affordable, healthy food. With your donation The Food Trust will be able to send a classroom of Kindergartners home with four weekends worth of fresh produce for their families.

Face To Face
https://facetofacegermantown.org/
Face To Face has been serving the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia for over 20 years. They are a human services organization that is dedicated to the health, well-being, and stability of the community. They offer a dining room with freshly-prepared meals, a nurse-managed Health Center, a Legal Center, a Social Services Center, a ‘washeteria,’ early childhood education, summer camps, after school programs. Face to Face serves 2,500 individuals and families annually.

Methodist Services
https://methodistservices.org/
Serving an average 2,800 children, individuals and families, annually, Methodist Services is devoted to the well-being of children in all walks of life. By providing access to a safe home and family life, health of mind and body, children, adults and families can achieve their greatest potential. It is with these supports that our most vulnerable citizens can make contributions that have a positive impact in our communities.

Philadelphia Orchard Project
https://www.phillyorchards.org/
Founded in 2007 by economic development pioneer Paul Glover, POP is part of a growing movement across the world to develop more sustainable, equitable, and ethical local food systems. Philadelphia is one of the centers of this work, with some 40,000 vacant lots and the highest poverty rate among big cities in America. As the cost of energy, food, and health care rises, the low-wealth neighborhoods where POP plants are the most vulnerable to hunger and related health problems. Orchards and community vegetable gardens offer neighborhoods the most direct access to healthy food, and build people’s capacity to feed their families and neighbors.

We look forward to your participation in helping us achieve our fundraising goal of $20,000!

The Board of Directors of the Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. has updated the JLP’s Reopening Policy to provide that the JLP will follow the most conservative of state and/or local ordinances and regulations as well as CDC guidelines.

Presently, CDC guidelines recommend masking indoors for Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. As a result, masks will be required for indoor events at this time.

We will continue to keep membership informed as any of these ordinances, regulations, and/or guidelines change and it affects our Reopening Policy.