After college, Dionella Martinez was looking for a way to volunteer and discovered the Junior League. Now she serves as their membership vice president, a volunteer position she juggles alongside her full-time job at an advertising agency. The Junior League of League Houston is made up of over 4,000 volunteers who enjoy serving the community and growing as leaders. Let’s learn more!

How did you first get involved with the Junior League of Houston?

“I joined the Junior League because throughout high school and college, I was always one of those people who was really involved in clubs, activities, and student government. Once, I was getting ready to graduate from undergraduate, I was really looking for a structured way to continue volunteering and helping support the community. That’s when I realized Junior League was a really good fit for me.”

How does Junior League directly impact Houston women?

“What’s really special about the Junior League as a whole, the impact is very cyclical. As an individual member, you definitely get back what you put in. There is so much opportunity for training, leadership, learning new skills, and being able to take those skills and apply them in your workplace, in your personal life. We work with a preparatory school for girls in the Houston area, who based on where they’re located may not have as many educational resources. We actually have a member who went to that school while she was growing up. She’s actually now a mentor to the girls who’re currently in that school. It’s really come full circle for her.”

If you could go to the same restaurant in Houston every weekend, which one would it be?

“I would say Doris Metropolitan. I’ve had a lot of dinners there over the years. Their short rib is life-changing. It 100% falls off the bone. They do this root vegetable puree to go with it. I always order that whenever we go. I dream about that short rib and that root puree even though I’ve had it a million times.”