NorthPark Center will host an exhibit to celebrate the Junior League of Dallas’ (JLD) Centennial, “Legacy of Leadership, Devotion to Dallas,” which will be on view from Jan. 27 through Feb. 17. The exhibit includes historical documents, memorabilia and photos that showcase JLD’s impressive 100-year history and current-day projects. The exhibit will be located on Level One near Bread Winners Café & Bakery.
The JLD began in 1922 with a group of 40 women determined to make a difference. Women had received the right to vote two years prior, but opportunities outside the home were still few. The League provided a place for these women to grow their talents and give back to their city. Today, the JLD is nearly 5,000 women strong.
This exhibit will allow patrons to see pieces of the League’s incredible history of leadership training from 1922 through present day through a video, photographs and more. In its 100-year history, the JLD has given nine million uncompensated volunteer hours to more than 200 agencies, which will be recognized in the exhibit, including Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Museum of Art, Promise House, Notre Dame School, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the JLD’s first project, and many more.
The exhibit also highlights a few of the Junior League of Dallas Signature Projects, including Kids in the Kitchen, a national program created to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and reverse the trend of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. Through the Kids in the Kitchen interactive program, children and their families are taught how to prepare easy, nutritious meals, work safely in the kitchen and incorporate exercise into their daily lives. All recipes are kid tested and truly kid friendly, calling for simple ingredients that do not require an oven or stove.
In 2020, the Junior League of Dallas announced the rehabilitation of the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House as its Centennial project, which will be represented in the exhibit. The City of Dallas had been working to turn the Juanita Craft House into an educational museum, but efforts came to a halt when a sprinkler pipe burst in the attic and flooded the home in 2018. JLD is working with the City of Dallas to raise funds and rehabilitate the home.
“The Centennial team and our members have been working passionately to bring the history of the League back to life through this special exhibit,” said Centennial Co-chair Andrea Cheek. “There are so many stories to be told, and it has been inspiring to see all of the work the Junior League of Dallas has done around Dallas over the last 100 years.”
Along with the Centennial exhibit, the League will host its annual Community Volunteer Fair on Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at NorthPark Center. During the Community Volunteer Fair, the Junior League of Dallas offers the Dallas community a chance to connect with the nonprofit agencies the JLD supports. During this event, attendees will be able to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Centennial Co-chair Margo Goodwin said, “We are so grateful to NorthPark Center for hosting this exhibit as we commemorate our Centennial and look forward to partnering with our community to build a better Dallas for the next 100 years.”
The Community Volunteer Fair and Centennial exhibit are both free and open to the public. More details on the exhibit and the Community Volunteer Fair can be found on https://www.jld.net/.