Community Outreach

The Junior League of San Diego Community Outreach Council focuses on direct service programs to support the San Diego Community through advocacy, community partner outreach, volunteering and increasing awareness of our Focus Area of Food Insecurity. 

The Community Outreach Council is comprised of 6 Committees that focus efforts on making a direct impact within the San Diego Community: 

  • Advocacy
  • Community Action
  • Strategic Community Partnership
  • Community Impact
  • Community Table
  • State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC)

Advocacy

The Junior League of San Diego is committed to serving the needs of the San Diego community through effective legislative and community advocacy efforts. The Advocacy Committee works to raise awareness and provide education to our members and the San Diego community on our Focus Area of Food Insecurity as well fostering collaboration and communication with Community Partners and elected officials. The Advocacy Committee supports the JLSD State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) delegates regarding Public Policy advocacy initiatives.

Examples of past JLSD Advocacy Initiatives:

  • A Growing Community Starts with You Webinar Series
  • Community Impact Forum
  • Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Rally
  • The Little Black Dress Initiative

For information on Advocacy opportunities with JLSD please contact community@jlsd.org

Community Action

The Community Action Committee manages a hands on Community Project that supports the needs of our Community Partners and those they serve. 

Current Community Project: Diaper Bank and Period Pantry

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the San Diego community in unforeseen ways such as the increased need for child care which inhibits the ability to work and can contribute to a family’s difficult choice to feed their family, buy diapers or purchase feminine products. The Junior League of San Diego identified an opportunity to create a Diaper Bank and Period Pantry (feminine product bank) to support the community.

The JLSD Diaper Bank and Period Pantry has been able to donate thousands of diapers and feminine products to the following community partners: Alliance for Africa, Monarch School, Rady Children’s Hospital, Jewish Family Services, YMCA Youth and Family Services Transitional Housing Program, Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, Casa de Amparo and San Diego Youth Services.

For information and opportunities to donate to the Diaper Bank and Period Pantry:  https://www.jlsd.org/donationdrives/

If your organization would like to run a Donations Drive with the JLSD, please submit a Donation Request Form.

Strategic Community Partnership

The Partners committee focuses on developing and establishing lasting relationships with Community Partners as well as identifying new potential partnerships and collaborations. The committee works with Community Partners to determine their needs and how JLSD can help provide direct service and support advocacy efforts. 

The Strategic Community Partnership Committee connects Community Partners with the appropriate Community Outreach committee depending on the needs of the organization as well as provides training opportunities for non-profits. The committee collects feedback and evaluations of our Community Partnerships to ensure that we are truly meeting the needs of our Community Partners by providing meaningful service and timely communication.

Current Strategic Community Partnership Project: Infant Formula Resources Guide

Along with our Community Partners we identified a need for families struggling to find formula for their infant children during the nationwide formula shortage. We compiled a list of resources to help these families and created a printable brochure and page with links to these resources: https://www.jlsd.org/formula-supply-resources/

For information on Community partnership/collaboration opportunities with JLSD please contact community@jlsd.org or submit a Partnership Request Form.

Community Impact

The Community Impact Committee plans and executes community service projects with dozens of non-profit organizations in San Diego that address immediate needs through single day, high impact volunteer shifts. The Community Impact committee works directly with Community Partners to plan the overall goals and needs of the organization pertaining to the volunteer shift request. 

For information on Impact opportunities or to request an Impact volunteer shift please contact community@jlsd.org or submit an Impact Shift Request Form.

Examples of Community Impact service project Community Partners:

  • SD Food Bank
  • Kitchens for Good
  • Father Joe’s Village
  • iCare
  • Promises 2 Kids
  • My Girlfriend’s Closet
  • St. Paul’s Senior Center
  • Urban Street Angels
  • Wreaths Across America
  • I Love a Clean San Diego
  • Family Justice Center
  • Hope Through Housing
  • Fred Finch Youth and Family Services
  • Hannah’s Family Center
  • Salvation Army
  • Hearts to Hands Food Drive
  • Classics 4 Kids
  • Boys and Girls Club of San Dieguito

 

Community Table

The Community Table Committee focuses on providing training opportunities for Community Partner participants highlighting the use of the Junior League House Kitchen at 210 Maple in Bankers Hill. The goal of Community Table is to bring the community together and to provide opportunities for education, gaining skills and experience and fostering connection. The Community Table committee is central to the JLSD Focus Area of Food Insecurity.

Examples of Community Table Initiatives:

  • Food Insecurity Webinar
  • Dine and Discuss

For information on opportunities with Community Table please contact community@jlsd.org

SPAC- State Public Affairs Committee

The State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) works to educate JLSD members on important community issues and provide legislative advocacy training. SPAC connects with Local elected officials to learn about issues affecting our community and how JLSD can advocate for efforts to improve lives.

The JLSD SPAC Committee is part of the California State Public Affairs Committee (CalSPAC). The Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee’s mission is to take action on state and national issues that affect our projects and focus areas, to facilitate communication among the member Junior Leagues of California on public policy, to educate League members on selected issues, to provide training in advocacy skills, and to act as the representative of member Leagues.

Since 1971, the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (CalSPAC) has represented the interests of its member Leagues and their community projects to policymakers at the national, state, and local levels. CalSPAC advocates for legislation in the areas of education, family support, health, human trafficking and violence prevention. 

The members of the CalSPAC delegation advocate for specific legislation relevant to member league issues, educate their home Junior League members about advocacy and public policy, and coordinate the exchange of information from community-based league projects to policymakers. Since 1992, CalSPAC has sponsored six bills and co-sponsored three bills that are now California Law; sponsored two California Resolutions; and co-sponsored one Congressional Resolution.

CalSPAC represents 17 member Junior Leagues comprised of over 8,500 women who volunteer over 110,000 hours to 121 community projects, and give over $1 million dollars annually to their communities.

Examples of SPAC Initiatives:

  • Bubbles and Ballots
  • What is a Recall Webinar
  • Bill Tracker Ad Hoc Committee
  • Day at City Hall
  • Trainings: Becoming an elected official, Boards and Commissions and Leadership

For more information on SPAC/CalSPAC please contact community@jlsd.org