What is the Little Black Dress Initiative?
The Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is an advocacy campaign that seeks to raise community awareness around the issue of poverty in Boston. During the week of February 26, 2018 through March 2, 2018 , LBDI Advocates will wear the same black dress for five consecutive days to illustrate the effects poverty can have on a woman’s access to resources, her confidence and professional opportunities.
Where do proceeds go?
This year, 100% of all funds raised during the LBDI week will go to the Junior League of Boston Homelessness Prevention Fund at Women’s Lunch Place, which will put eight deserving women back into secure housing. Women's Lunch Place is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care with dignity for all women in need in the Boston community. To learn more about WLP, their mission and extensive services, click here!
During the week, Advocates will also be collecting and donating clothing and toiletries for high school aged girls on behalf of Catie's Closet, a local organization that aims to reduce absenteeism, get kids off the streets and back into school to focus on their future by providing an in-school resource of clothing and toiletries so kids can succeed in school and in life. Finally, Advocates are encouraged to dry clean and donate their Little Black Dresses at the end of the LBDI week!
How can you participate?
We hope you will join us by taking part in one (or more) of the opportunities below:
- Make a donation and support an Advocate's campaign!
- Take it a step further and become an Advocate yourself! Wear the same dress/outfit for five days beginning 2/26 and share our campaign with your friends, family and coworkers. It is fast and easy to get going. Click here to join our team!
- Organize a clothing drive at your office or with your friends to collect clothing and toiletries for Catie's Closet. Their most needed items are jeans and sweatshirts for boys and girls. Drop it off at Junior League of Boston headquarters (117 Newbury St, Boston, MA) by March 3rd and we'll make sure it makes a difference for a student in need. Advocates are also encouraged to donate their dry-cleaned LBDs at the Fashion Affair Saturday, 3/3.
LBDI Week Events:
Throughout the week of LBDI, we will have several opportunities to volunteer time, raise awareness, learn more about poverty and homelessness in Boston and celebrate our efforts!
- Monday, February 26: Day 1 of LBDI! Start the week right by volunteering for the lunch shift at Women’s Lunch Place from 11am-3pm.
- Wednesday, February 28: Join us for a fireside chat at JL HQ with Women's Lunch Place's Executive Director, Elizabeth Keeley, to discuss the issues surrounding women experiencing poverty in Boston from 6-8pm.
- Thursday, March 1: Participate in an evening LBDI volunteer session at Women’s Lunch Place from 6-8pm.
- Saturday, March 3: Celebrate our success and fundraising efforts at A Fashion Affair at A LOFT 11am-2pm.
Have questions about The Little Black Dress Initiative? Please email us at LBDI@JLBoston.org!
***UPDATE Monday, February 26: Only 15 hours into the first official day of LBDI week, we have already exceeded our original $12,500 minimum goal- so we've changed our goal to reflect our REACH goal of $25,000, which represents the poverty line for a family of 4 in Boston. Thank you to all our team members for volunteering your time and energy to such a deserving cause, and thank you to all our generous donors! We're thrilled to be able to ensure that 8 deserving women at Women's Lunch Place are placed into safe and secure housing. Let's not stop here though! The more money we raise, the more women we can get back into stable housing! We can't do it without your help!
