Written by: Kathyrn Chavez
Edited by: Mary Reich

Junior League of Washington Members enjoying making life long friends before a membership meeting

“Life catches up with you in your twenties, and it is really cool to almost have a bunch of older sisters you can ask questions to,” said Grace Robinson, a member of the Horton’s Kids Committee. “It made me more excited to grow up.”

With the demographics of Washington, DC, changing, as it has seen a significant increase in millennials, the online generation has entered the JLW chat. In 2021, Washington, DC, was the city with the largest number of Gen Z moving in. Emma McMorran, National Museum of Women in the Arts Committee member, has a story like many women in Junior League’s hundred-year history, but she is new to DC. “I was looking for ways to get involved with community service,” said Emma. “I liked the Junior League, and I’m from the South, so I had heard about it. My mom had been in Junior League, and a bunch of other women that I knew had also been in Junior League, so I felt really excited about the idea of joining.”

Emma, who moved to DC for graduate school and now works at an art gallery, is like many women in a new city looking to connect with their new home. A true member of the online generation, Emma is a popular TikTok creator. She shared her participation in the Little Black Dress Initiative last year on the platform. Emma spends her free time creating social media content and maintains a social life, along with juggling her full-time career, still makes time for JLW. “Everybody in DC is a powerhouse person. Everyone is busy,” she shares. However, to Emma, being an involved JLW member is a part of living a full, healthy life, “feeling socially, spiritually healthy, and connected to your community is 100% part of it. If you’re not connected to your community, you’re probably not very happy.”

A part of feeling socially connected to a city is having places to make that connection. “I feel like, as a Gen Z, a lot of discourse I have seen is looking for third spaces. I think the Junior League house can be that for a lot of people,” said Emily Whittaker, Friends of Junior League member, originally from Mississippi. “Like, Esprit has so many fun events, from Friendsgiving to the Jane Austen Tea last Summer. JLW brings people together over common interests and common goals.”

It is not just a cliche that making friends as an adult is harder. For Gen Z, where so much life is lived online, joining an organization like JLW may feel outdated, but women like Emily know that the JLW is a place where everyone wants to make genuine connections. “At JLW events, you could go up to anyone and be like, ‘Hi, I would like to be a friend, and they’re like, I would also like to be your friend.'”

Not only does JLW create a space for women to meet each other, but it also offers abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth. “There is so much room to rise,” said Grace. Both Emily and Grace experienced being tapped on the shoulder by League leaders. Emily, who works at a Historical Women’s Society, joined last year. She was asked to speak on a panel at this year’s orientation about her new member experience. This is a testament to the opportunities for growth and leadership within the League.

Paulina Enck at the inaugural Art of Entertaining Event

Grace, a consultant, was entrusted to be the chair for Kids in the Kitchen this year. After serving on the committee last year and seeing how genuinely supportive and collaborative the women in the League are, she knew she could take on this leadership position. “My favorite part of a volunteer event is when a child hugs you,” she said.È You’ve been able to connect with someone, even if it’s over the course of baking a cookie for 15 minutes.”

While everyone joins JLW for different reasons, they all link together to connect. “I wanted to break out of my bubble, get to know more people, and make the wonderful kind of friends that I might not otherwise get to know. I really have met so many people whose paths in life I wouldn’t cross, but I would now count them as dear friends,” said Paulina Enck, Folger Shakespeare Library member from New Jersey.

There are a lot of stereotypes about being in your twenties, some more true than others. But, for women in JLW, knowing that there is a league to welcome them and connect them to wherever home may become is something to look forward to. “I know that as I grow as a person, whether in DC or a different city, there’s going to be a community for me to join,” said Brooke Cox, Art of Entertaining member and a consultant originally from Colorado. “It is a great way to integrate into a city quickly. Be able to explore, meet new people, honestly, make moving to a new city less scary.”

“For long-standing organizations like the Junior League, it’s important and nice to recognize the history and impact that they’ve had,” said Emma. Gen Z is the next, but not the last, generation to join JLW. Gen Z is excited to grow in the organization and also grow the Junior League.

Emma McMorran: National Museum of Women in the Arts Committee
Emily Whittaker: Friends of Junior League
Grace Robinson: Horton’s Kids
Paulina Enck: Folger Shakespeare Library
Brooke Cox: Art of Entertaining