If you see more black dresses around the office this week, don’t be afraid to ask why.

To shed light on the existence of generational poverty and its effects on women and children, members of the Junior League of Atlanta will wear the same black dress for five days. The week of October 9-13, 2017 will mark the 3rd year of the Little Black Dress Initiative, which has raised nearly $125,000 towards the JLA’s mission since its inception.

Georgia has one of the highest poverty rates in the United States, with 17 percent of the population and nearly one quarter of its children living below the poverty line. Growing up in poverty is one of the greatest threats to healthy child development, and poverty and financial stress can impede a child’s cognitive development and their ability to learn.

“Generational poverty, which occurs in families where at least two generations are born into poverty, is prevalent in Georgia. This prevalence is one of the reasons why the Junior League of Atlanta adopted generational poverty as a focus area. We provide critical education on this issue and raise money to effect change,” said JLA President Rebekah Henry Murphy.

Funds raised through the Little Black Dress Initiative allow the JLA to dramatically improve the community through partnerships with 100 community partners. It also provides volunteers with leadership, training, and development opportunities.

The JLA’s Little Black Dress Initiative hopes to build on the success of previous years. For this year’s LBDI Community Buy-In Day on Friday, October 13, members of the community can participate by wearing a black outfit and sticker stating “I support LBDI”, advocating on issues related to generational poverty, and providing a donation to the JLA at https://lbdijla.causevox.com/.

“The LBDI is an initiative conducted by Junior Leagues throughout the world to increase awareness of the effects of poverty. We aim to show that breaking the cycle of poverty isn’t just about access to a proper education, housing or food individually, it takes a strategic vision combining all of these resources. The dress symbolizes the fact that, without something as simple as proper clothing or the confidence needed to be successful in a job interview, many Georgians will remain below the poverty line,” said Elizabeth Jones, LBDI chair.