The Junior League of Rochester is dedicated to serving women and teenage women in the Rochester community. Our current programs include: GIRLSrock! and Public Affairs.  Some of our past projects were: Community Assistant Grants, Youth Awards, Kids in the Kitchen, Gilda's Club, Done-in-a-Day Projects, Treasured Memories, Sojourner House, and Children's Theatre. 

GIRLSrock!
The JLR believes all young women should have access to the tools necessary for a bright future. Our volunteers will have a positive impact on the lives of teenage girls, grades 7-12, through innovative programs focusing on self-esteem, nutrition, leadership and mentoring. GIRLSrock! consists of workshops that will be conducted individually throughout the year. Each program is approximately two and a half hours long. Click here for upcoming events and more details.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
The JLR kicked off its first Kids in the Kitchen event on April 22, 2006. The event partnered the JLR with the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, and targeted girls 7-12 years of age. The program focused on promoting health, nutrition and exercise with multiple demonstrations and interaction with the many girls at the GSGV Program Center services. In this Junior League volunteer day initiative, the JLR provided demonstrations and discussions by licensed Nutritionist Anissa Buckley founder of No Excuse Nutrition, Yoga-Fit classes by JLR member Lisa Cove, and healthy preparation of on-the-go snacks. The event also included a “planting station” for participants to begin to grow vegetables from seed. This AJLI-wide program took place in over 225 junior leagues internationally. Click here for more details. 

The second Kids in the Kitchen event was held on January 13-14, 2007 at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. The program was part of the ColdRush activities presented by the Greater Rochester Visitors Association and Preferred Care. The Junior League offered several education and fun exhibits for the children, including: information on healthy eating habits, healthy snack preparation, a planting station, and the “Hula till you Drop” activity. The JLR reached over 900 Rochester families at this free event. 

On March 3, 2007 the JLR held the Kids in the Kitchen event at the Eastside Family YMCA in Penfield (view flyer). We offered a free program for families with a focus on our target audience of young women in grades 7-12. Over 100 families participated in a variety of speaker and interactive activities including: healthy smoothies and trail mix preparation, a planting station of healthy vegetables and herbs for the younger audience, an interactive exercise station. We would like to extend a special thank you to the JLR volunteers, the Hyjea store in Penfield, the Goddess Hour in Brighton, Justin Tubiolo from Bay Side Karate, the RIT Student Dietetic Association, Ironman finisher Mary Eggers, Wegmans Food Markets, and the Penfield YMCA for their generosity. 

DONE-IN-A-DAY PROJECTS
This program provided hands-on volunteer services to not-for-profit agencies through projects such as:  

TREASURED MEMORIES  
The JLR hosted events at two separate locations in 2005 at YWCA of Rochester and Wilson Commencement Park. “Treasured Memories” gathered parents and their children, to provide them with an opportunity to take family portraits. Each family was able to take home a family portrait, just in time for Easter and Mother’s Day. The photographer, Cynthia Fay, generously donated her time to take the photographs of the families. The event included fun, interactive crafts/activities and delicious refreshments. We hoped to help each family create memories to last a lifetime and provide them with a chance to spend quality time together. We were excited to provide such a memorable service to two wonderful Rochester organizations, who share a common interest with the Junior League of Rochester-to make Rochester a better place for all. 

SOJOURNER HOUSE  
The Sojourner House Employment and Computer Training Project taught women in crisis the basic computer and work skills that most of us consider integral to basic employment today, so they could re-enter the workforce. The course was offered as part of a series of life skills classes the residents took during their stay at Sojourner. 

Sojourner House is a transitional home for women in crisis who are committed to rebuilding their lives. Here, women and their children live for up to six months receiving counseling and participating in very structured educational and recovery programs (www.sojournerhouse.org).   

CHILDREN'S THEATRE (since 1971)
In Fall 2004, the Children’s Theatre Committee collaborated with Nazareth College Theater Arts Department and the Rochester City School District to bring interactive theater to more than 2000 Rochester City School children.  Elementary students enjoyed these interactive performances which were in classroom settings. Theater Arts students portrayed characters in Officer Buckle, Ruby the Copycat, Strega Nona, Charlotte’s Web, Super Fudge and The Rough-Face Girl by local author Rafe Martin.  Study Guides for these books were created to encourage further interest in literacy.  A copy of the Rough-Face Girl was donated to each school library after each of the four performance dates.

Our Spring 2005 program involved a renowned local storyteller, Kenneth “Tiny” Glover, who educated and entertained over 600 K-6 students and faculty with his multicultural tales. These programs incorporated themes of friendship, self-esteem and telling the truth, which were very well received and Mr. Glover was asked to perform encore vignettes.  

 
Sojourner Computer Class Graduation

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