At Lierac, we find our inspiration in all women, who embody strength and beauty on all levels. The Junior League is made up of over 160,000 such women who exemplify strength and beauty, and their amazing work to empower all women and build better communities makes us a proud and an inspired sponsor. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are kicking off Lierac's first JL interview and we plan on continuing this trend each month!
Julie Anne Elginer, is a member of the Junior League of Los Angeles, and below she shares her inspirations and words of wisdom with us.
When did you join Junior League, and why?
I moved to Los Angeles in 1999 after graduating from business school on the East Coast. As a native Midwesterner, I really knew very little about the issues facing the city, including homelessness, poverty, literacy, and more. Working for a large biotechnology company located in suburban LA, I felt disconnected from these issues. A friend in the Junior League of Washington DC suggested that I join a local League. I joined The Junior League of Los Angeles in 2003 searching for an opportunity to affect change and to enhance my network among women who shared my passion for volunteerism. What I found was beyond my expectations!
What past Junior League member do you wish you could have worked with, and why?This may sound hokey, but I have long admired Eleanor Roosevelt, even as a child. When I lived in DC, I used to visit the FDR Memorial, and I found it so inspirational that Eleanor has a statue within the monument to her husband. No other Presidential memorial contains a First Lady. Her contributions to history are significant. She was a strong woman who navigated the political and social climate with poise and confidence. When I learned that she was an early Junior League member, I smiled, nodded my head and thought to myself, “Of course she was.”
Which woman in history would you have liked to meet, and why?I am astounded at the tremendous impact that Mother Teresa left on the world. She fought for social justice issues through her unyielding commitment to the most impoverished. Small in stature, her legacy is mighty. She epitomized selflessness and unconditional love. She understood the need to combine direct service with advocacy to create lasting and sustainable change in her community.
Which chapter are you in & what initiatives are you working on now?I am incredibly honored to serve as a Board member of the Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA). As the Public Policy Director, I’m fortunate to work with nearly 40 women who share my commitment to non-profit public policy. Our Board of Directors and League leadership share my conviction for affecting social change through advocacy. Our prioritized issues include perinatal depression awareness, human trafficking and the educational achievement gap. Secondary issues are childhood obesity, literacy and foster care. A sampling of the initiatives (tactics) to address these include:
- Conducting legislative advocacy, through sponsored state legislation addressing the educational achievement gap and perinatal depression. In that capacity, we draft the legislation, find a state senator or assembly member to author the bill, create a coalition of support and shepherd the bill through the legislative process. We also support over 30 pieces of legislation that impact our community partners in the areas of health, education, violence prevention and family support.
- Developing media advocacy for perinatal depression awareness through a public awareness campaign in partnership with community partners and other Leagues throughout Southern California.
- Convening an annual community leadership forum which brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors to address an emerging issue within our community. This year, our focus is partnering with law enforcement to address human trafficking within LA.
- Training our members to understand city, county, state, and federal levels of government such that they can engage in the public policy process on behalf of nonprofits. This is accomplished through our award winning program “Public Policy Institute” and through our newest training program entitled “Appointments to Boards and Commissions Institute.” This new program provides a unique opportunity for our members to learn to navigate the process by which citizens are appointed to public boards and commissions. These boards and commissions make substantial policy decisions that affect our society and women are grossly underrepresented in these roles.
Who or what has most influenced and inspired you during your time with the Junior League?
I am consistently inspired by the women within the League both in California and throughout the four countries. Many of these women are extraordinary and are incredibly accomplished. Truly, they are a force for good and I often find myself in awe of their perspectives, passion, energy, insights, dedication and accomplishments. By and large, the women of the Junior League make things happen when no one else can…or will. Volunteering is their hobby and they demonstrate a lifelong commitment to service. They radiate energy and generate enthusiasm for effecting change in their communities.
What event in history do you wish you could have been present for/fought for?Women's suffrage. I still cry when I watch videos or read stories of our foremothers who refused to accept anything other than equality. The struggle for women’s right to vote endured for decades before the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920.
What areas do you see the most impact from the Junior League’s work in?I’m partial to our collective advocacy work at the state level through our State Public Affairs Committees (SPAC). In California, 16 Junior League chapters represent nearly 11,000 women throughout the state. Each League sends two delegates to participate in collective legislative advocacy on behalf of our community partners and focus areas. Within its 40 years, the women of SPAC have led the development of tremendously important legislation including:
- The first children’s bicycle helmet law
- A required number of hours that a woman can remain the hospital after giving birth
- Calling on the US Congress to create a branch within the National Institutes of Health dedicated to microbicide research, which would allow a woman to protect herself against HIV transmission without relying on a man to agree to use a condom.
This work is invaluable, particularly when you consider that it is conducted by women volunteers. The California SPAC joins other SPACs throughout the country including New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, Washington and more. These women are creating systemic change through advocacy. It’s remarkable.
What words of wisdom do you wish you could impart to all girls & women?- To quote from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”
- “Sometimes, your only available transportation is a leap of faith” – Margaret Shepard
What makes a woman beautiful?Her spirit of generosity.
Thank you, Julie for inspiring us! For more information on the Association of Junior Leagues International, please visit
http://www.ajli.org/ or stay connected at
http://connected.ajli.org/Now you tell us - are you a woman making a difference in our world today? Or has one particular woman inspired you?
We'd love to hear your thoughts.
