Monica Brinkley Davis does not take lightly her role as a trailblazing officer of the Junior League of Richmond.

The Henrico County resident is the first African-American president of the 89-year-old organization, whose mission is to train strong female leaders through community service and to strengthen communities.

“I am honored and blessed to serve as the first black president of the Junior League of Richmond,” Mrs. Davis proudly says.

She stepped into the post in June 2014. Her yearlong term will end next month.

She said the Junior League welcomes “women of all races, religions and national origins who wish to join and share their interest in and commitment to voluntarism to come be a part of this amazing legacy,” she said. “We value the differences and experiences of our membership, as that is what enables the Junior League of Richmond to reach and impact the community we serve.”

Mrs. Davis, 40, joined the League in 2003, shortly after moving to Richmond.

“I was invited to become a member by a friend,” she recalls. “I was looking for volunteer opportunities in the area. I also wanted to learn about the needs of the community that had become my home. The Junior League provided the opportunity to meet both of my needs.”

Mrs. Davis worked her way up the ladder to become the president of the organization that is comprised of nearly 1,000 members.

She says she chose to serve as president “because I wanted to put my League training to the test.

“I have had the opportunity to serve with 11 women (presidents) who I watched blossom as leaders and nurture the spirit of the League in this role,” she adds. “I’m hopeful my service to the organization in this role will make our past presidents and members proud.”

One of her last acts as president will be to lead the league’s annual fundraiser — the 70th annual Book & Author Event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd St. in Downtown. Five authors are scheduled to discuss and sign their books of hope, humor and inspiration.

Last year’s event raised more than $53,000 to assist the league in its community service efforts.

Details on the event: www.jlrichmond.org or (804) 643-4886.

In her professional capacity, Mrs. Davis is talent development manager for MeadWestvaco Corp., a global packaging company based in Richmond.

Here’s a look at this week’s Personality, Monica Brinkley Davis:

Date and place of birth: Jan. 8 in Baltimore.

Current home: Henrico County.

Alma maters with degrees: The University of Virginia, bachelor of arts in English language and literature, 1997; Averett University, MBA, 2005.

Family: Husband, Damon L. Davis, an agent with State Farm Insurance, and daughter, Brinkley Simone Davis, a fourth-grader at Chamberlayne Elementary School.

When Junior League of Richmond was formed: 1926.

Requirements for membership: Must be a woman at least 21 years old, with a love of voluntarism, improving the Richmond community and developing your personal potential.

League’s top four projects:

(1) Community programs, such as Good Sports and Families First.

(2) Training opportunities, particularly training courses designed by and for Junior League members that arm our members to lead within and outside of the League community.

(3) The Clothes Rack: Two shops that sell gently used clothes, owned and operated by the Junior League of Richmond, located in Carytown and Stratford Hills. The proceeds from the stores support League operations. Donations are welcome at either location during business hours.

(4) Annual fundraising efforts: Annual Book & Author Event and 10th Annual Touch a Truck – Saturday, October 3, at Richmond International Raceway.

Connections with other community-spirited organizations: Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, Communities in Schools via Woodville Elementary School and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Hospital Hospitality House, Leadership Metro Richmond, Peter Paul Development Center/Richmond Promise Neighborhood, Reinhart Guest House, Southside Child Development Center, and Virginia Mentoring Partnership.

How League is perceived: As we prepare for our 90th anniversary in 2015, the JLR will celebrate decades of continuous service to our members and the Richmond community. The legacy of the Junior League of Richmond is strong and the work of League members has created, supported and sustained some of Richmond’s most beloved organizations. I’m proud to say I’m a small part of what moves this organization forward. I invite other women in the Richmond metropolitan area to join our ranks and see what I’ve loved for 12 years.

How I want it to be perceived: As the premiere organization for female volunteers in Richmond.

Number of members: 962; 115 new members, 325 active members and 522 sustaining members.

What League does to promote diversity: Through JLR’s Training Institute for Leadership Impact (TILI), training is provided to support members in leading with inclusion and to flourish in our organization through leadership development and volunteer opportunities.

Junior League of Richmond’s No. 1 challenge: To sustain and grow membership.

How I plan to meet it: I plan to meet it by differentiating what the League offers its volunteers versus other organizations. We offer women the opportunity to develop themselves and build the community in parallel.

What makes me tick: Seeing results.

How I relax:Spending time with my family and friends.

Three words that best describe me: Tall, extrovert and consistent.

People who influenced me the most: My mother, Georgianna Hamlin, and my grandmother, Lucille Hammond Hill.

What I’m reading now:A book by my high school classmate, Jess Row, titled “Your Face in Mine.”

If I’ve learned one thing in life, it is: Treat every individual with dignity and respect.

Next goal: Developing my culinary skills in order to pinch hit for my husband a couple of nights a week.