The New York Junior League (NYJL) champions policies that support women and children, and advocates for public policies on their behalf alongside New York state, federal, and local city public policy makers.  

For more than a century, the New York Junior League has been on the forefront of defining historical events, including: immigration and the settlement movement, the suffragette movement and ratification of the 19th amendment, and the Harlem Renaissance and the civil rights movement. Today, the organization remains dedicated to serving the New York City community through its continued focus on advocacy of public policy aimed at improving the lives of women and children. 

These exciting and meaningful advocacy developments are a continuation of the League’s long legacy as a legislative advocacy powerhouse. Given that the League counts Eleanor Roosevelt (former First Lady and U.S. delegate to the UN General Assembly) and Ruth Sears Baker Pratt (the first woman to represent New York in the U.S. Congress) among its early members, it’s no surprise that this important work continues to be a part of the NYJL’s long-held traditions.

Founded in 1901, The NYJL began its work in New York City’s tenement neighborhoods, addressing the health, education, and social welfare needs of immigrant and working class families living on the Lower East Side. In 1921 the NYJL founded its official advocacy program which continues to operate today.

As an early supporter of working women, the NYJL founded the New York Junior League Hotel for Working Women in 1911 and later operated a childcare program in the 1930s. From 1970 to 1990, the NYJL focused its  advocacy efforts on issues surrounding children’s rights, education access, job discrimination, medical insurance coverage, equal rights, and reproductive health. In the early 1990s, the NYJL began collaborating with New York State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior League (NYSPAC), the advocacy group which represents over 21 Junior League throughout New York State. They successfully advocated together for the City Scald Burn Bill which forced landlords to restrict the temperature of building water to prevent burns.

As a longstanding advocate for survivors of domestic violence, the NYJL has supported programs & policies that protect survivors of violence, such as the Helping Abused Spouses to Escape (HASTE) program, Clinic Access and Anti-Stalking Act which became law in 1999, and most recently in 2025, the New York State Speak Your Truth Act and New York City Rental Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors local law. 

During the 2024 / 2025 and 2025 / 2026 years, the NYJL focused on issues in four key areas: Women’s Health and Equity, Domestic Violence, Poverty Relief and Mental Health. 

For the 2025/2026 year, the NYJL moved to increase the effectiveness and provide more opportunities for volunteers with two focused committees: City Advocates for Public Policy and State Advocates for Public Policy.

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Recent Advocacy Achievements 

• 2024-2025: The NYJL successfully advocated, with a coalition of more than 350 non-profits, for the Universal School Meals as part of the FY2026 Final Enacted Budget, which was funded for the 2025-2026 school year and provides breakfast and lunch for 2.7 million students in New York. Additionally, the NYJL advocated for State bills that prohibited toxic ingredients in beauty and the Speak Your Truth and for City bills that provided rental assistance to survivors of domestic violence and required night clubs to post signage and provide training about harassment.The NYJL advocated for the reintroduction of the federal Michelle Alyssa Go Act to expand mental health coverage by Medicaid named in honor of the late NYJL member. The NYJL also held a panel discussion: Breaking Barriers and The Michelle Alyssa Go Act with National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Treatment Advocacy Center, and Room to Grow.The NYJL hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast at Astor House on October 23, 2024 including policymakers including Governor Kathy Hochul and community organizations. This year’s conversation was centered on the topic of the Equal Rights Amendment.  One month later, New Yorkers voted to add the protections of the bill into the New York State Constitution.
• 2023-2024: The NYJL’s Advocates for Public Policy (APP) committee successfully championed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act. The SAFE For Kids Act requires social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under the age of 18. Governor Hochul signed the bill into law in June 2024.The NYJL hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast at Astor House on February 7, 2024, focused on creating discussion on Health Equity in New York City with elected officials and community partners. 
• 2022-2023: The NYJL hosted an in person Legislative Breakfast in January 2023 focused on mental health with Former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as keynote speaker. The event connected over 50 guests including representatives from the NYC Mayor’s Office, City Council, and community partners.The NYJL advocated for the introduction of the Michelle Alyssa Go Act, which removes limitations related to Medicare coverage for facilities providing mental health services based on number of beds, thus increasing mental health support. 
• 2021: The NYJL hosted a virtual Legislative Breakfast in December focusing on the issues of mental health, food insecurity and domestic violence. New York State Attorney General Letitia James highlighted the importance of work to end gender based violence, and domestic abuse which the NYJL champions through public policy advocacy at the City and State levels. 
• 2018-2020: The NYJL successfully advocated with a letter of support to the New York State Assembly for the Separation of Children Accountability Reporting (SCAR) Act which promotes transparency about the number of unaccompanied immigrant children in the care of New York agencies such as foster care.
• 2017: The NYJL successfully advocated for the NYC Salary History Ban which prevents employers from asking and making hiring decisions based on salary histories. The NYJL also held a training session to help the NYJL volunteers, members of the community and job seekers understand their rights. 
• 2015: The NYJL advocated for the Paid Family Leave Act,during the Albany Advocacy day. The Paid Family Leave Program was enacted in the 2016 NYS Budget and provides employees job protected time off to bond with new children, care for family members with serious health conditions. 
• 2007 to 2015: The NYJL advocated for the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act (TVPJA) which enhances protection for sex trafficking survivors and increases accountability for those who traffic. The bills was signed into law, along with seven other bills in the Women’s Equality Act, in late 2015. 
• 2010: Alongside the Women in Prison Project, the NYJL began advocating for the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) to grant judges discretion when issuing sentences to survivors of violence who are convicted of crimes related to their abuse. Under this law, judges may order lesser sentences or send survivors to community-based programs instead of prison. Then-Governor Cuomo signed this bill into law in May 2019.
• 2008: The NYJL successfully advocated for New York State funding for shelters protecting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
• 2006: The NYJL hosted a forum of service providers, legislators, and government agencies to spark dialogue about the complicated policy issues surrounding foster care. The NYJL advocated for the reduction of cases assigned to caseworkers and the provision of Medicaid to youth aging out of the foster system. 
• 2005: NYJL advocated for the Sex Offender Registration Act, or “Megan’s Law,” creating a state-wide registry for convicted or formerly incarcerated sex offenders, which was signed into law in 2006. NYJL also successfully supported two NYC bills focused on improving air quality through removing toxic cleaning products in NYC schools and from reducing emissions in school transportation vehicles which were both signed into law. 
• 2004: APP and NYSPAC advocated for Timothy’s Law, which passed in 2006. This legislation increased mental health parity in health insurance coverage, by eliminating some insurance limitations. 

Be a Voice for your Community • Community Boards

• Applying to your local Community Board is a great way to become more civically engaged and advocate for needed changes in your community! See below for more information about Community Boards by borough.

Education Councils

• The Community and Citywide Education Councils give parents a powerful voice in shaping the policies and priorities for New York City schools. From advising the Chancellor to working directly with the district superintendent and reviewing district educational programs and needs, the 32 Community Education Councils and 4 Citywide Education Councils play a major role in education policy and help make our public schools the best they can be.