JLPB Response to Racial Injustice

Dear Members,

For us, the events of the past week have once again underscored the severity and violence of racism that our communities experience in the United States and across the world every day.

This has been a tragic week, where we’ve all watched the hurt and anger on display at the death of an unarmed and restrained Black man. And now we see cities across our country have erupted in response to racial injustice.

As Junior League Leaders, we cannot stay silent and sit on the sidelines watching as our community feels the heaviness of grief.

We are members of one of the largest and most effective women’s organization in our community. This is not a political position or a partisan issue. The Junior League is an anti-racist organization, period. For the past eighty years the Junior League of the Palm Beaches has worked tirelessly on issues of inequality, inequity, and injustice.

The Association of Junior Leagues International has taken a strong stance urging Leagues this week to take action:

“As an organization that believes in building better communities and strives for leadership excellence, many of us have asked what we can do. We as Junior League women strive to be civic leaders in our communities. As such we should hold ourselves accountable for our own racism. We must do the work. We must be willing to be humiliated and vulnerable. We must speak out and we must be visible. We have to know when to be quiet and listen. And equally important, when to speak up. . . . We must give support to our Black members — and all members of color — neighbors, friends, coworkers, partners . . . and as an organization be an authentic ally in this fight for justice.”

Our League’s commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion is as important as ever. The Junior League of the Palm Beaches will continue to remain grounded in an authentic and abiding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and guided by our shared values of respect, service, and leadership. We are catalysts for lasting community change, and our work and attention at this time are desperately needed.

We must give support to our Black members and all members of colors – neighbors, friends, coworkers, partners – and as an organization be an authentic ally in the fight for justice. Our commitment to equality and inclusion is as important as ever.

With All the Warmth,

Julie Rudolph
President of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches

What can we do?

Join our Diversity & Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee, led by Sarah Cohen. (SarahCohen@jlpb.org)

Educate Yourself & Those Around You

Resources: