| Type | Service organization |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Optimist International Headquarters 4494 Lindell Blvd St. Louis, Missouri, Missouri, U.S. 63108 |
Membership | 15,000+ |
Official language | English, French |
Key people | Sophie-Chanel Bourré (President) Julia Cooper (Past President) Cole Mullins (Past President) Mathew Nacev (Past President) |
| Website | https://www.joi.com |
Junior Optimist International (JOI) is an active youth service organization that was created in 1988[1] and is affiliated with Optimist International, its sponsor. The current Junior Optimist International President is Sophie-Chanel Bourré from Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, with the 2020-2021 JOI theme being "Shooting for the stars of Optimism". There are more than 18,500 members in over 675 communities around the world.[2]
There are two types of JOI clubs that are separated by age groups: Alpha Clubs (6–9 years), Junior Optimist Clubs (10–18), and previously Octagon Clubs (14-18).[3] Due to the various age groups, each type of JOI club serves their community in different ways. While different approaches are undertaken, the main goal of JOI members is "to promote positive change in their communities."[1]
Like Optimist International, JOI is "a community-based organization with a hierarchy that can take a member from a club to office at zone, district, national and international levels."[4] Typically, each club plans their own fundraisers and service projects. The money raised is then donated to (projects and organizations that will improve the well-being of others, such as the Childhood Cancer Campaign (CCC).
JOI’s motto is "Kids Serving Kids."[5] Since JOI keeps leadership local, it is able to "empower young people to make positive decisions to serve fellow youths and their community."[5]