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The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) has announced its inaugural 40 Over 40 recognition class.
This initiative aims to celebrate and honor outstanding Junior League members who have demonstrated exceptional achievements across various fields and careers. This recognition aims to acknowledge and highlight the accomplishments of women who have made significant impacts on their professions and communities.
The honorees exemplify the spirit of empowerment, leadership and community impact.
Through their dedication and hard work, they have not only excelled in their respective domains but have also inspired others to reach their full potential and driven positive change in their communities.
Selected from a pool spanning across six countries and 297 leagues, the nominations were outstanding. The winners were recognized at an awards ceremony during the 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, on May 29. Representing Miami, Theodora “Theo” Hayes Long, was selected as a member of this inaugural class.
The nominees were required to embody aspects of:
Empowerment: The nominee, through her work and community involvement, empowered both herself and others. Highlights were to include initiatives that uplifted and inspired individuals to reach their full potential.
Leadership: Showcase outstanding leadership in her profession or area of service.
Community Impact: The nominee should be actively creating a positive impact on her community. The impact can encompass contributions to local organizations, volunteer work, or initiatives that address community needs.
Hayes Long has dedicated over three decades to conservation, education, and community engagement, leaving a profound impact on Miami-Dade County. As the executive director of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center since 1992, she has raised over $16 million to support the center’s construction, operations, and educational programming.
She has been instrumental in providing underserved children with free access to environmental education and summer camp programs, fostering a lifelong respect for the natural world among Miami-Dade’s youth.
Hayes Long’s journey was shaped by her involvement with the Junior League of Miami, which she joined in 1985. It was through the League that she first encountered the vision of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who sought support for building a nature center by the sea.
Inspired, Hayes Long took on the Biscayne Nature Center as her League placement, serving as a committee member, project chair, and eventually the center’s executive director.
The Biscayne Nature Center, under her direction, established important partnerships with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Parks and Recreation to provide educational programs and interactive exhibits for the community. Her efforts have ensured the Center’s sustainability, making it a cornerstone of environmental education in South Florida.
When sharing her experience about how The Junior League has made an impact on her leadership skills Hayes Long shared that “it has taught me that true commitment means seeing a project through to the very end. That sense of responsibility and follow-through has deeply shaped how I serve my community.”
Beyond her work at the Nature Center, Hayes Long has contributed significantly to Miami’s broader community. She revitalized the Community Service Organization at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, serving as president from 2014 to 2021, where she introduced the annual Full Moon Gala fundraiser and helped bring families back to the park through free community events.
Her initiative during the pandemic to produce a short film, Who Was Bill Baggs?, earned a 2022 Suncoast Emmy Award and ensured that the park’s history remains accessible to all.
Her commitment to conservation extends into her personal life, from planting 100 trees in her Miami neighborhood in 1984 to serving as a board member of local environmental organizations. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2007 Miami-Dade County In the Company of Women Award, the 2022 Defender of the Everglades Award, and the 2023 Citizen for a Better South Florida Award.
Throughout her career, Hayes Long credits her foundation in leadership to the Junior League of Miami.
She reflects, “The League gave me the confidence, skills, and empowerment to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact.”
Hayes Long continues to inspire her community through her unwavering dedication to conservation, education, and public service.
For more information, contact the Junior League office at 305-443-0160 or visit www.jlmiami.org
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