Advocacy & Initiatives Council

JLGO Past President, Alex Rister (far left) Heather Case, Founder and CEO of One Purse, (middle) and Mikala Klein, One More Child’s Director of Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams, (far right) at the JLGO’s Human Trafficking Community Awareness Event.

The Advocacy and Initiatives Council of the Junior League of Greater Orlando (JLGO) is dedicated to empowering our members and the community through strategic advocacy, impactful initiatives, and comprehensive training. This Council leverages the civic leadership skills of League members to address pressing issues in our community, ensuring significant and sustainable solutions.

 Our goal is to make an IMPACT:

• Increase Community Engagement: Foster active participation within our community.
• Make Strategic Partnerships: Build meaningful connections with key stakeholders.
• Promote DEI Initiatives: Ensure our work is inclusive and diverse.
• Advocate with Officials: Engage with local, state, and federal officials to advance our causes.
• Cultivate Diverse Membership: Attract and retain members from diverse backgrounds.
• Train Effective Advocates: Provide comprehensive training to empower our members as advocates.

Committees within the Council:

1. Public Affairs Committee:
   • Attends JLFL State Public Affairs Committee (JLFLSPAC) trainings, including legislative days in Tallahassee.
   • Trains members on state-wide advocacy and liaises with Central Florida legislators.
   • Advocates for specific legislation at the state and national levels relevant to JLGO’s mission and focus area.
   • Partners with local legislative offices and creates state-wide advocacy trainings.
   • Publicizes community advocacy trainings and DIADs for JLGO members.

Our impact area covers the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area outlined above in red which includes the counties of Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Osceola, Florida.

2. Local Advocacy & Initiatives Committee:
   • Focuses on local municipal, county, and school board advocacy work.
   • Researches and attends relevant public workshops, meetings, and hearings.
   • Trains members on local advocacy and partners with local government offices.
   • Creates local advocacy trainings and publicizes community trainings and DIADs.

3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee:
   • Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion within JLGO.
   • Provides cultural competency training and plans educational and other training opportunities.
   • Adapts AJLI DEI resources to fit JLGO’s needs and promotes DEI goals at all levels.
   • Participates in relevant meetings and trainings to discuss and implement DEI plans.

Signature Events and Initiatives:

• Ballots and Bubbles: An engaging event to discuss and learn about important ballot issues and advocacy.
• Meet the JLGO Breakfast: A networking event to introduce public officials to the work JLGO does as well as our community partners and leaders.
• JLFLSPAC Conferences: Opportunities to engage in state-wide advocacy and training as well as meet with State elected officials.

Public Affairs Committee members meeting with State elected official in Tallahassee during the 2024 Legislative Session.

• The Training Collaborative of Junior Leagues: A national Junior League initiative amongst certain Leagues to provide virtual training on nonprofit leadership and other key topics. Learn more about the Training Collaborative here.

Ready to Advocate:

Being a member of the Junior League of Greater Orlando means taking action on local, state, and national issues that impact our community. We empower you to advocate for causes you care about, whether it’s on behalf of JLGO or as an individual.

Apply to Serve on Local Government Boards, Committees, and Special Districts

Take the first step now! Applying to your local government boards, committees, and special districts are a great way to become more civically engaged and advocate for needed changes in your community! Below, you will find information on this by county. For local municipality, city, and town, please refer to the respective county’s resources. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Tyechia Brown, VP of Advocacy of Initiatives, at AdvocacyVP@jlgo.org.

Orange County (button for Learn more) The button will take them to the following website.

Seminole County (button for Learn more) The button will take them to the following website.

Lake County (button for Learn more) The button will take them to the following website.

Osceola County (button for Learn more) The button will take them to the following website.

Explore Resources: Interested in learning more about your state legislators or upcoming elections? Visit Vote411.org to access comprehensive voter information, including candidate profiles, ballot measures, and polling place locations.

Why Vote411.org? Vote411.org provides unbiased, nonpartisan information to empower voters. It’s a trusted resource for understanding election issues and making informed decisions that align with your values.

Advocacy with JLGO: At JLGO, we advocate for specific issues related to our focus areas and in alignment with the direction of our Board of Directors and JLFLSPAC. However, we encourage you as an individual to advocate for causes you are passionate about. While you may not be able to advocate for all  issues and those you are personally passionate about. Don’t let that stop you from advocating. Your voice matters in shaping our community. We encourage you to use it as an individual. We want to empower you.

Take the next step in advocacy and make your voice heard. Create positive change in Greater Orlando and beyond!

Issue-Based Community Impact:

The Council’s work is grounded in an issue-based approach to community impact, leveraging the leadership skills of members to address community needs with sustainable solutions. This includes understanding the community, building networks, and mobilizing support on key issues to position JLGO as a resource in combating these problems.

Through the Advocacy and Initiatives Council, JLGO strives to create meaningful community impact, develop civic leaders, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our efforts.