Junior League of Saint Petersburg

Description

The Junior League of St. Petersburg Announces Little Black Dress Initiative Poverty Awareness Campaign

THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS OCTOBER 18, 2021

THE GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN
The Junior League of St. Petersburg (JLSP) members will raise awareness of the
restrictions poverty places on choices, opportunities, and access to resources. Efforts
will highlight food insecurity in St. Petersburg and its effects on school success and the
overall development of children in our community. Florida ranks in the top 10 states
with the highest child food insecurity rates. 1 in 5 children are food insecure and the
state has seen an amplification of food insecurity due to COVID-19. In Pinellas County,
123,860 (12.9% of residents) were considered food insecure before the pandemic. Job
loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of
food insecurity in Pinellas County to 18.3% by the end of the year.

The JLSP is committed to raising funds to continue to fight food insecurity during these
times and fund programs that support children in the community. The organization will
be collecting monetary donations through social media to be used for projects and
services which directly address the heart of the League’s community outreach focus:
School Success through literacy and health and nutrition, all of which are affected by
childhood poverty.

HOW THE CAMPAIGN WORKS
The Junior League of St. Petersburg (JLSP) members will be participating in the annual
Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI). During LBDI Week, which begins on October 18,
2021, Junior League members will wear one little black dress for five straight days to
spark conversation and awareness of the choices that those who are not facing poverty
are fortunate to make every day—what to wear to school or work, or what to eat for
breakfast—while many families in the community do not have the opportunity to make
these choices.

HOW THE EVENT STARTED
The Junior League of London pioneered the Little Black Dress Initiative with the goal to
“Make Poverty Unfashionable.” While their fellow Londoners were attending London
Fashion Week in 2014, local Junior Leaguers were wearing the same black dress every
day to work, parties, dinners, and events to increase awareness and raise funds for
poverty in the city. The first campaign was so successful that they decided to take the
initiative worldwide. The JLSP joined the initiative for the first time in 2016.

This year’s LBDI Week follows World Food Day (October 16, 2021). Collective
action across 150 countries is what makes the day one of the most celebrated days of
the United Nations calendar. The day is an opportunity to call for global cooperation and
solidarity to make sure the threats COVID-19 is posing to food security are confronted.
JLSP is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. While hunger is present in the local
community, it is a global issue. JLSP’s efforts in St. Petersburg ladder up to statewide,
national, and even international change for the better, and we are proud to align with
World Food Day 2021.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
❤ FOLLOW
The JLSP’s Little Black Dress Initiative can be followed on our social media
channels including Facebook and Instagram.
❤ DONATE
https://JLSPLBDI2021.givesmart.com 
❤ SHARE

Throughout the awareness campaign, JLSP will be sharing, via social media,
poverty statistics that affect St. Petersburg, Florida. Participants and community
members are encouraged to repost LBDI promotions throughout the week to
engage social networks.

Tag @Juniorleagueofstpetersburg #LBDIJLSP.