FEATURED .ORG OF THE MONTH: Detroit Chapter Jack and Jill
DETROIT JACK AND JILL
The Detroit Chapter of Jack & Jill, Inc. was founded in January 1953 with a group of 15 mothers. The first president of the Detroit chapter was Frances Polk. Interest in membership to the newly founded Detroit chapter was electric. At the installation of new members in September 1953, 42 mothers were installed. In 1953, the national organization increased the age of children who could participate to 19. The Detroit chapter stood fast and decided not to include teens. Initially, there were only two groups of children, ages 2 to 5 and 6 to 12 in Detroit’s chapter. By 1956, with the continued annual installation of new members, Detroit expanded their age groups to five with a maximum of 20 children in each age group, which now included a teen group.
In 1956, Detroit was one of 16 chapters nationwide. In the early years, the monthly mother’s meetings rotated among the homes of members. Civic activities were an integral part of the mission for the Detroit chapter. For example, in the 50’s with the rise of polio the Detroit chapter along with the other nationwide chapters donated $10, 000 to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
The National Teen convention was first held in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio. In those days, before the civil rights movement opened up housing accommodations, the teens that participated in the conventions resided in the homes of hosting chapters. Activities during conventions were held at local schools or churches. By the late sixties, the growth of the teen convention resulted in the hosting chapter also utilizing dorm rooks at local universities to house the participants and their chaperones for the three-day event. Today, most teen conventions are held in hotels and convention facilities. There has always been a friendly rivalry between the teens from the different chapters as they compete for various awards. When the graduating seniors move on to college, they frequently meet other students who were also in Jack & Jill and discover valuable mentors and forge instant friendships.
As of 2007, the Detroit Chapter now boasts a membership of 78 mothers and 126 children. We are proud to be among the oldest of the chapters throughout the USA, Europe, and Africa. The Detroit Chapter of Jack & Jill, like all of the other chapters of this respected organization has attracted to their membership, a variety of outstanding professional and prominent people. It’s the dedication of these mothers to enriching the lives of their children and the creation of lifelong friendships that has been the ties that bind us. For this reason, legacies return, new members join and the Detroit Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
