Junior Chamber International
Slogan: JCI uses the slogan “Be Better.™” to communicate what the organization helps members achieve: to be better – better leaders, better managers, better professionals, better citizens, better business owners, better politicians, better parents, better spouses, better brothers, better sisters, better in whatever role in life we play.
JCI History: The origin of JCI can be traced as far back as 1910 to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, where a young man named Henry "Hy" Giessenbier dared to dream "impossible dreams." Together with other 32 young men, Giessenbier established the Young Men's Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA), JCI's First Local Organization, at the Mission Inn in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 13, 1915.
JCI was officially founded as an international organization in Mexico City on December 11, 1944, when representatives from eight nations met to create an organization that would address global concerns. From these eight nations, JCI has grown spanning every continent to include more than 100 nations.
JCI World Headquarters: The JCI World Headquarters was established in 1951 and was located in Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A., since 1969. In 2002, the JCI World Headquarters was relocated to Chesterfield, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., where the first local organization was founded in 1918. A professional staff of 23 full-time employees provides services to JCI members.
International Cooperation: JCI is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with active participation in the United Nations (UN) system. In this context, JCI has relations with the Office of the UN Secretary General (Secretariat) and a Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Furthermore, JCI has cooperation agreements with the UN Global Compact; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); the Pan American Health Organization; the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO); the NGO Committee on UNICEF; the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Chambers Federation; the Council of Europe; AIESEC International; and Goal4Africa.
