promoting voluntarismdeveloping womenimproving communities
The Junior League of Des Moines, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Junior League of Des Moines announced its new community impact focus, foster care, at its June annual meeting. The meeting also recognized its new board and management leadership for the 2018-2019 program year.
"Throughout the past year, Junior League of Des Moines undertook a community research process to identify its next community impact focus," said Meg Malloy-Disbro, president of Junior League of Des Moines. "The process involved reviewing community assessments, conducting stakeholder conversations, and engaging its members to understand community needs and opportunities for Junior League to make an impact."
The process resulted in selecting foster care, with a focus on teenage girls as the next community impact focus for the next three years. The issue was selected given the high need for foster families for children of all ages and unique challenges with placing teenage girls. There were more than 5,900 Iowa children in foster care in 2015 and Iowa is among states with the highest share of children in foster care.
"Junior League of Des Moines will volunteer with local organizations working with teenage girls in foster care and explore additional opportunities to support how its members can have an impact in this issue area," said Malloy-Disbro. "Junior League has already established a partnership with Youth Emergency Services and Shelter (YESS) to volunteer monthly with teenage girls placed in their care and we are in the process of finalizing additional partnerships."
For the past three years, Junior League of Des Moines' community impact focused on human trafficking including providing financial support to Dorothy's House, a home for victims of sex trafficking. Junior League of Des Moines has a proud history of supporting community initiatives of all sizes throughout its 85 year history in Des Moines. Some of its most notable initiatives include Des Moines Science Center, Convalescent Home for Children (now ChildServe), Living History Farm Guild, Botanical Gardens, and the Civic Center.
WOMEN OF NOTE
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Pictured: President, Meg Malloy & Dr. Peggy Whitson
Congratulations to Dr. Peggy Whitson on her upcoming induction into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Whitson, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, was the first woman Chief Astronaut for NASA. Additionally, she was the first woman to command the Internation Space Station, has completed the longest single space flight by a woman astronaut, and has spent more days in space than any other NASA astronaut, including her male peers. Dr. Whitson retired from NASA in June of this year. Congratulations again to Dr. Whitson and her fellow inductees: Dr. Dianne G. Bystrom, PhD: Ruth R. Harkin, JD; Dr. Jean Y. Jew, MD; and the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justic Recipient, Janice T. Edmunds-Wells, BS, MSW. The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust St., Des Moines. The ceremony is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bargain Basket Second Saturday Sale
Oct 13th, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
3811 Ingersoll Ave., DSM
Nov. General Membership Meeting
Nov. 5th, 5 p.m. social hour/6 p.m. meeting
ChildServe, 5406 Merle Hay Rd., Johnston
Bargain Basket
Held on the Second Saturday of Every Month
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
3811 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, IA
(515) 279-5339
Click here for more info or visit our facebook page for updates and sales.
