History of AJLI

The first Junior League was founded in 1901 by an 18-year-old New York City college student named Mary Harriman. Moved by the suffering she saw around her, Mary mobilized a group of 80 other young women to work at a settlement house in lower Manhattan. The news of their work and accomplishments spread so rapidly that more and more women in cities across North America began forming their own Leagues. In 1921, more than 30 Leagues joined together to form the Association of Junior Leagues. In 1989 the Association of Junior Leagues became the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) in recognition of the Leagues that had been established in Canada, Mexico and London.

Since Mary Harriman convened the very first Junior League in 1901, the emphasis has been on learning. The Junior Leagues offer members extensive training in areas such as leadership and organizational development, community needs assessment, strategic planning, communications, advocacy, and fundraising. Through this unique training, our members learn to manage and train volunteers, unite communities and form partnerships. AJLI organizes regular conferences and meetings to create opportunities for networking, collaboration and shared learning.

History of the Junior League of Greater New Britain

In February, 1950 seventeen former members of the Junior League of Hartford founded the Service League of New Britain with the intention of becoming full members of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. The Junior League of New Britain was accepted into the AJLI in 1958.

In 1984, in order to best reflect our interest in bettering the larger community, our name was changed to the Junior League of Greater New Britain.

The purpose of the League is exclusively charitable, educational and primarily focuses its volunteer efforts toward the needs of women and children. As a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., JLGNB strives to empower volunteers with the highest caliber of volunteer service and leadership, to promote effective volunteer service and to provide the necessary financial support to bring projects to fruition. Historically, Junior League projects have had a major impact on the community.