Junior League of Norfolk Virginia Beach, Inc. has been positively impacting the local community for over 90 years. We provide trained volunteers for local projects as well as financial support for organizations in need.

We annually focus our support on a diverse group of programs to address the needs of our community in an effort to effectively impact as many organizations as possible. The variety of programs also helps engage our League members by providing a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

Community Programs

ELEVATE TO EDUCATE:

Elevate to Educate is a community initiative that improves the learning environment for elementary students in Hampton Roads. We believe that by elevating schools in need, we can create a lasting impact for students, staff, and surrounding communities.

Each year, one elementary school in South Hampton Roads will be adopted as our Elevate to Educate school of the year. This involves two years of programming, beginning with a complete school makeover. Throughout the first year, members of the Elevate to Educate team will work closely with school leadership to craft a makeover plan unique to the adopted school. This plan will be brought to life over the span of a school year. Members of JLNVB along with the help of volunteers from the Hampton Roads community, will elevate the school through landscaping, painting interactive and educational murals throughout school common spaces, and revitalizing the school playgrounds.

Following the school makeover, JLNVB will engage with school administration and staff to develop meaningful programming, and host special events focused on promoting JLNVB’s signature issues of childhood literacy and women’s health. These programs will be customized to the school’s needs and interests. Programs may include but are not limited to: hosting read alouds with local children’s authors, providing new books to the library and students, creating interactive bulletin board displays, supplying a period pantry with first period packs for young female students and hosting an International Day of the Girl celebration.

2023 MAKEOVER: INGLESIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PHASE I – MARCH 25TH & 26TH

Under the leadership of our Community Events Committee, volunteers:

• Power washed buildings
• Painted games on sidewalks
• Painted rails, doors, and murals to brighten up the school
• Painted murals to brighten up the school
• Fully made over the teachers’ lounge

LITTLE BLACK DRESS INITIATIVE

Founded in 2014 by the Junior League of London, the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is a week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that harnesses the power of social media and doing something “a little different” in order to educate people about local issues that Leagues work on in their communities.

During the Little Black Dress Initiative, members of the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach will wear the same black dress (or outfit) for five consecutive days to raise awareness about period poverty and to raise funds to provide period packs to girls in local public schools. By wearing a button that reads “Ask Me About My Dress,” they invite dialogue among colleagues, friends, and strangers to raise awareness about period poverty in South Hampton Roads.