Junior Leagues of New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee

The Junior Leagues of New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee (NJ SPAC) is a statewide, non-partisan committee made of delegates from the eight Junior Leagues of New Jersey. We advocate for initiatives and legislation that strengthen the quality of life for women and girls in New Jersey and provide training and education to League members and the public. NJ SPAC was formed out of concern that abandoned babies were being placed in an overcrowded municipal hospital in Newark for extended periods of time. The Junior Leagues of Newark, Montclair and The Oranges-Short Hills appealed to the elected freeholders for an infant shelter in Essex County. Due to the work of the three Leagues in affecting this change, they became acutely aware of the need for improved services for children. This issue prompted the reactivating of the State Public Affairs Committee in April 1970 to study the problems of New Jersey’s abandoned, abused, and neglected children and to work toward changing the state’s laws affecting children. NJ SPAC has since grown in size and stature in the state of New Jersey, and lobbies on behalf of over 1400 women in the eight Leagues throughout the state. NJ SPAC selects public issues, concepts or legislation for study and action based on established guidelines. Key NJ SPAC activities include: advocacy, education of member leagues and the public, coalition building, lobbying and testifying before commissions and legislative committees. chair@jlnjspac.org