All posts tagged: Career Readiness

Junior Achievement Benefits From $70,000 State Farm Grant

Funding Supports Financial Literacy and Career Readiness Programs for At-Risk Youth

For Immediate Release

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (June 23, 2022) – The Junior Achievement Florida Foundation has announced today that it has received a $70,000 grant from State Farm. The state-wide initiative will support Junior Achievement learning experiences in eight localities throughout Florida, enabling thousands of young people to participate in the organization’s nationally recognized financial literacy and career readiness learning experiences.

“State Farm believes that financial literacy education is critical to building stronger and more resilient communities” said Jose Soto, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Analyst. “Part of our education funding is directed toward initiatives and programs that support K-12 financial literacy and pathways for college and career success. We are proud to support Junior Achievement financial literacy and career readiness programs across Florida.”

Each of the eight Florida-based Junior Achievement areas will use the support to advance learning experiences most needed in their region.

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA), along with JA Space Coast and JA North Florida will use the support to:

Provide JA Personal Finance introducing high school students to the interrelationship between today’s financial decisions and future financial freedom.

“Thanks to partners like State Farm, JA can provide students with opportunities to grow their confidence and resiliency, explore career possibilities, learn and practice financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills they will need to succeed in the workplace and life,” said Laurie Sallarulo, Junior Achievement of South Florida President & CEO.

JA Tampa Bay, which includes Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands and Sarasota Counties will use the support for:

JA BizTown, a capstone learning experience that introduces 5th graders to economic concepts, workplace skills, and personal and business finances. They act as employees and consumers, from paying bills to handling customer service, they experience what it is like to earn and work in a community.
JA Finance Park, another capstone learning experience that is a real-life simulation, where students enter the game of life and apply financial concepts to balance their personal budget and learn to make choices that support their future goals.
3DE schools by Junior Achievement, the newest JA learning experience, teaches students in high school relevant business skills and core competencies through business case methodology.

JA Miami will use the support to:

Provide local elementary students with an interactive JA Day where they will explore the concepts of financial literacy and workforce readiness.

JA Palm Beaches will use the support to:

Provide JA Personal Finance at area high schools where students are introduced to the interrelationship between today’s financial decisions and future financial freedom and JA Inspire Career Expo where students explore their skills and interests.

JA Central Florida will use the support to provide:

JA Finance Park Virtual Advanced to 12^th graders in Orange and Osceola districts where students will build a foundation for making intelligent and informed lifelong personal finance decisions.

JA Southwest Florida will use the support to:

Provide JA Personal Finance, JA Economics for Success and JA Career Success

The JA Florida Foundation areas have worked with local State Farm representatives to build out an interactive Career Exploration booth for the JA Inspire Career Expo. This virtual platform provides students with the opportunity to explore over 100 business and education booths and listen to dynamic speakers. Live virtual interaction days are scheduled where students can ask volunteers industry related questions. Across the state over 25,000 students will participate.

All areas will offer volunteer opportunities for State Farm associates to participate either in person or virtually, the length and scope varies for each experience.

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 5,000 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 73,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About Junior Achievement Florida Foundation

Chartered in 2010, the JA Florida Foundation represents the nine Florida JA chapters joining forces to link to schools across the state of Florida. This collaboration has allowed us each to grow our impact on our area’s marginalized youth through statewide funding and support. Junior Achievement delivers K-12 programming for entrepreneurship, financial literacy and career readiness. For more information on the organization, visit www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-floridafoundation.

About State Farm®

For 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been and continues to be to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and approximately 61,764 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 42 on the 2022 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

For More Information, Contact:

Christopher Miller, Senior Marketing and Media Production Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110

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Go Riverwalk Magazine: JA’s Educational Programs

JA World Uncorked Returns to Help Students Thrive

By Madelaine K. Boyer

Go Riverwalk

January 2023 Edition

Throughout her high school career, Jonerra Henrisnor has soaked up financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills and career readiness through several programs at Junior Achievement of South Florida.

The Stranahan High School senior, who aspires to attend Florida A&M University and eventually become an orthodontist, has been involved in different JA programs, including its career bound and summer internship programs. She has even gone on to get a job at State Farm as part of their youth employment program where she has already gotten her Florida 4-40 Customer Representative license and is working toward getting her life insurance license.

Henrisnor is one of 54,000 students that the South Florida organization reaches each year. “It’s amazing to see how far she’s come,” said Kenneth Hart, one of her teachers at Stranahan High School. “I had her as a ninth grader and she was always intelligent and just very bright even before she was put into the Junior Achievement Program.

“But now, as a senior, after getting involved in their programs, I can see how it helped her harness her abilities and put them towards her life outside of school. It gave her something new to work towards,” Hart said. Attending JA of South Florida has been a positive experience, Henrisnor said.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE

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Junior Achievement Partners with Synovus Bank to Deliver Financial Literacy Lessons

Support will also include work and career readiness and entrepreneurship lessons

City of Coconut Creek, Florida (October 19, 2022) — Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) is one of five local JA operations across the country participating in a partnership with Synovus Bank. Synovus recently contributed $250,000 to Junior Achievement USA through its Here Matters Community Fund to deliver lessons on financial literacy, essential life skills, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship to thousands of students in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The lessons will educate and empower children throughout their journeys toward a bright and successful future. The Synovus contribution was the bank’s first donation to a nonprofit since establishing the community fund.

Through this partnership, Junior Achievement of South Florida, alongside local Synovus Bank representatives, will determine which learning experiences best meet the needs of the Broward and south Palm Beach communities.

“Our research shows students are eager to learn about money, business ownership, and work and careers, but they often don’t know where to go for help,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. “With the commitment of Synovus, we will be able to help thousands of young people gain knowledge in these critical life skills.”

JA learning experiences depend on volunteers from partners like Synovus to help bring lessons to life for the students it serves. As part of Synovus’ community outreach program called Here Matters, Synovus team members will help teach JA programs in local schools.

“At Synovus, our purpose is to enable people to reach their full potential,” said Sean Simpson, Synovus’ FL Division CEO. “JA inspires young people to take charge of their financial futures, and we’re proud to partner with the nonprofit to strengthen communities and positively impact future generations.”

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 69,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

About Synovus Bank

Synovus Bank, a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and retail banking and a full suite of specialized products and services, including private banking, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, premium finance, asset-based lending, structured lending, and international banking through branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company and is on the web at synovus.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

For More Information, Contact:

Christopher Miller, Senior Marketing and Media Production Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110

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Sea the World Educates Youth About Marine Industry Careers

Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Sea the World Storefront Seeks to Continue the Next 3-year School Year Term

Coconut Creek, FL – April 15, 2022: Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Marine Industry Storefront “Sea the World” seeks to continue the next 3-year school year term. Each year more than 20,000 8th grade students from Broward and south Palm Beach Counties visit the Marine Industry Storefront to learn about the multitude of career opportunities in the maritime community. The storefront exists to keep the industry thriving with a new generation of workers.

On April 20, 2022, Junior Achievement of South Florida’s (JA) Marine Industry Storefront will hold a Champagne Reception. Guests will tour the Patten Family Finance Park at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Well Pavilion and learn more about the community-strengthening cause. The reception is from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Our nation, across all industries, is experiencing a workforce crisis. We are facing unprecedented challenges in finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Research shows that the most critical and widespread challenge facing businesses is the inability to hire qualified workers for available jobs they need to fill. That’s where Junior Achievement comes in.

JA engages with students in a comprehensive classroom curriculum about finances, careers, income, expenses, savings, and credit. Not only does the JA teach financial literacy, but it also works towards inspiring the students that enter its walls to get excited about joining the workforce using immersive simulation experiences.

“Sea the World” storefront space originally came together in April of 2019. Understanding the need to keep the marine industry booming, Christine Battles with Advanced Mechanical Enterprises and 23 marine industry companies joined forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida to create the Marine Industry Storefront.

The storefront inspires students to join Florida’s 12.5 billion-per-year economic engine that provides the tri-county area with 149,000 careers/jobs. “Sea the World” has already impacted 150,000 students, several of whom are now high school juniors.

Three years after cutting the ribbon on the space, we’re working towards keeping this momentum going. Junior Achievement and maritime professionals are gearing up for the next 3-year school term and are seeking new partners. Both founding and new partners will contribute to leasing the storefront space and adding maritime elements to bring the “WOW factor” to students. The financial ask is $5k yearly for a 3-year commitment (May 2022 – April 2025). All donations are tax-deductible.

“What keeps port industry executives up at night? It’s not the economy. It’s not their competitors. It’s knowing if there will be a workforce in place to carry on for them and continue to serve the needs of the industry. Junior Achievement of South Florida maritime development program serves to do just that! Students are introduced to a great career field and well-paying, sustained, interesting and diverse jobs for their future. At the same time, Junior Achievement lays the groundwork for a plentiful maritime-specific educated and trained workforce for the next generation,” said Lori Baer, Executive Director, Port Everglades Association.

“From what we’re experiencing as a nation, now more than ever, our cause is crucial in gearing up our next generation of maritime professionals. It’s exciting to see the progress we have made so far with the Marine Industry Storefront and its impact on the students,” said Christine Battles, CAO, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, “but there is still a lot to be done. If you believe in fueling our industry with new talent, we encourage you to become a partner and join the cause.”

“The marine industry plays a vital role in the South Florida economy and like all high-growth industries, needs a strong workforce pipeline. We are proud of our partnership with the companies that support the Sea the World storefront in the Patten Family Foundation JA Finance Park. Preparing young people for work and success requires the support and partnership of the business, nonprofit and education community.” said Laurie Sallarulo, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

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IT’S OFFICIAL: JA WORLD UNCORKED IS BACK!

South Florida’s Top Food and Wine Festival Attracts 600+ Guests and Raises Funds for Junior Achievement Programs

For Immediate Release
For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
[email protected]

CITY OF COCONUT CREEK, FL – Junior Achievement of South Florida’s (JA) Circle of Wise Women will host its signature culinary event, JA World Uncorked, presented by Breakthru Beverage Florida and amplified by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lilian S. Wells Pavilion.

JA World Uncorked is an indoor food and spirits festival featuring tantalizing bites and indulgent desserts from some of South Florida’s finest restaurants and a vast selection of premier wines, champagne, spirits and craft beers from Breakthru Beverage Florida and Funky Buddha Brewery.

“JA World Uncorked is the complete experience for wine and food lovers. We anticipate more than 600 people to attend this event that brings music, gourmet food, assorted spirits, wine and craft brews together in one amazing venue for a great cause. There’s something for every attendee to enjoy,” said Laurie Sallarulo, Junior Achievement of South Florida President & CEO.

Tickets are $150 until December 15th, when they increase to $185 per person and can be purchased at www.JASouthFlorida.org/JAWorldUncorked. Attendees will enjoy unlimited food and beverages, live music, dancing and raffle prizes.

Special thanks to this year’s three Co-Chairs, Circle of Wise Women Lisa Duke, Alyssa Lovitt and Susan Renneisen. “We have some incredible Co-Chairs and Culinary Chairs on board for this highly anticipated event. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is proud to support the Circle of Wise Women and Junior Achievement’s mission. It’s going to be an exciting evening you don’t want to miss,” said Susan Renneisen of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Also, Executive Chef Marc Gruverman of The Capital Grille, Chef Jose Gonzalez of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Chef Paul Niedermann of SALT 7, and Chef Anibal Suarez of Cuba Libre are the event’s Culinary Chairs.

JA World Uncorked is sponsored by Breakthru Beverage Florida (Presenting Sponsor), Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, ESG Safe, Florescue Family Foundation, CITY Furniture, Exotech, Bob & Sandra Moss, Bluegreen Vacations, Comcast, Rick Case Automotive Group, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Office Depot, MST Foundation, Dickinson Wright LLP, Gray Robinson, Fran and Peter Woolf, Austin & Christine Forman, John Buyers, Greenberg Traurig, OK Generators, Susan Rindley Sotheby’s International Realty, Centennial Bank, Centuric, and NextEra Energy (FPL). Special thanks to this year’s Host Sponsors: Connie Chaney, Milin Espino, Jill Ginsberg, Alyssa Greenspan – Community Capital Management, Jennifer Homan, Blaire Lapides, Johanna Maytin, Diana Metcalf, Jan Nouss. Thanks also go out to this year’s Partners: Argyle Coffee Roasters, Brandstar, Daoud’s Fine Jewelry, Funky Buddha Brewery, Lifestyle Media Group, Print Basics, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and WPLG Local 10.

Now in its eleventh year, this culinary event raises funds to benefit Junior Achievement’s educational programs. Each year, these programs help educate 50,000 kindergarten-12th grade students in Broward and south Palm Beach counties about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. Since it was founded in 2010, the JA Circle of Wise Women have raised more than $4.5 million through JA World Uncorked and other initiatives.

The event is held at JA World, which is the largest JA facility in the world at 60,000 sq. ft. JA World houses JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. In JA BizTown, more than 21,000 5th graders each year operate a hands-on mini city as citizens, consumers, employees and business owners. JA Finance Park welcomes 20,000 8th graders each year to learn how financial decisions will impact their lives – including budgeting for family health care, real estate, home improvements, automobiles, insurance, entertainment, education, purchasing goods and services and more.

For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Diana Metcalf at [email protected] or (954) 979-7120.

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About Junior Achievement of South Florida

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Inflation, Scarcity and Teachable Moments

Author: Jack E. Kosakowski, President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA

Most Americans under the age of 40 are experiencing something they haven’t before; inflation. With the exception of a brief period at the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008, inflation has been restrained for nearly four decades. That means prices rising at a pronounced rate in a short amount of time is a new experience for many Millennials and members of Generation Z.

There are several contributing factors to the recent and sustained increase in prices. Though there are more academic ways of explaining how inflation works, a simple definition is “too many dollars chasing too few goods.” The sudden reopening of the economy following the initial shock of the pandemic, combined with government stimulus efforts, labor shortages, and the struggles of the global supply chain to keep up – creating scarcity of some products – are all contributing factors to the current surge in prices.

The impact of inflation and scarcity is not going unnoticed by young Americans. A recent survey by Junior Achievement and research firm ENGINE Insights found that 75 percent of teens have noticed changes during recent shopping experiences, including higher prices (49%), harder-to-find items (47%), and fewer checkers/less help at stores (32%).

From a financial literacy standpoint, these hopefully short-term economic realities present a teachable moment. There’s an old saying, “People fear what they don’t understand.” And while this doesn’t mean that today’s inflation shouldn’t be a cause for concern, as anyone who experienced the double-digit stagflation of the 1970s can attest, the factors contributing to today’s price increases are different than those of the past. Fostering a greater understanding of basic economic concepts among our young people will help them put their concerns into proper context.

To help achieve this, Junior Achievement delivers financial literacy learning experiences to young people in communities across the country with the support of business leaders, educators, and volunteers. Financial literacy is one of three educational pathways promoted by Junior Achievement, along with work- and career-readiness, and entrepreneurship. JA’s approach to these subjects has been shown to positively impact students’ knowledge, attitudes, and competencies related to these essential life skills. A 2020 study by research firm Ipsos shows that JA alumni credit Junior Achievement for helping them have a better understanding of how money, business, and careers work.

To learn more about how you can be part of these “teachable moments,” contact us today.

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10 Million Reasons for Work and Career Readiness Education

Author: Jack E. Kosakowski, President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA

Recently, and for the first time, the number of job openings in the United States exceeded 10 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) Report. At the same time, there are more than 7 million who are eligible to work but who are unemployed.

Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of conversation around what’s happening in the American workforce. This includes “The Great Resignation,” where record numbers of workers are quitting their jobs, citing everything from pandemic-related burnout and lagging wages to a complete reassessment of what a job should be in light of everything our society has experienced recently. When you hear these accounts, it’s natural to assume that this is a short-term issue that will work itself out over time as COVID-19 becomes more manageable and people get to the point where they must work to provide for themselves and their families.

The fact is, there is a longer-term problem at hand. Even before the pandemic, employers were struggling to find qualified workers. This had been an issue for several years. However, the difference between now and then is that record numbers of qualified professionals, primarily Baby Boomers, accelerated their plans for retirement during the pandemic. Unfortunately, while one of the most skilled generations in our nation has begun to move out of the workforce en masse, there aren’t similarly skilled younger workers prepared to take their place. More than anything else, this reality could help explain why there are 10 million job openings in need of qualified applicants and so few who can fill them.

The question is, “Why aren’t today’s younger workers more inclined or better prepared to take on these roles?” Ironically, Millennials are one of the most educated generations in history. Unfortunately, according to a 2015 study from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), that education failed to sufficiently cover critical skills needed for employment, including STEM, communication, and critical problem-solving, for too many members of that generation. Additionally, in terms of career aspirations, a 2019 survey by Morning Consult showed that 86 percent of teens and young adults were interested in “Social Media Influencer” as a career choice.

Now, this isn’t to say every teen or young adult is on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram trying to be the next Kim Kardashian or Jake Paul. For instance, the top college majors as of 2021 still focus on critically needed professions like business, healthcare, engineering, and education. And there are millions of Millennials and Gen-Zers who are finding work and career success in those and many other fields. But when our young people look to career role models, should it be surprising that those role models come from something they are extremely familiar with, like social media, and not engineering, for instance?

The truth is, as a society, we need to do a better job of tying education to work and career outcomes so that we don’t end up with such a significant disparity between people looking for jobs and jobs looking for people. This includes helping young people draw the connection between what they are learning in school and its application to success outside of the classroom. This means helping students explore their interests, talents, and strengths and linking them to an educational pathway that results in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies needed to find meaningful and rewarding jobs and careers. This also means putting them in contact with successful professionals in their communities who can serve as role models to inspire them to be the next engineer, technician, educator, skilled tradesperson, or physician, and not necessarily the next social media star.

Junior Achievement learning experiences do just that. As the result of JA’s work and career readiness pathways approach, which complements similar coursework in financial literacy and entrepreneurship, our program alumni tell us that Junior Achievement played a significant role in increasing their educational attainment, professional development, and career satisfaction. Part of our educational delivery includes engaging professionals from the local community as volunteers to deliver our learning experiences while sharing their work and career journeys with students. The combination of our volunteer delivery model and curriculum has been shown to inspire and prepare young people to find work and career success as adults.

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A third of U.S. teens say they need additional emotional support from caring adults this school year.

This thought leadership piece and video below show how the volunteer/mentoring and social-emotional learning components of JA learning experiences can help!

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic goes beyond the disruptions students experienced during the 2020-21 school year and possibly into the current one. The “new normal” America’s youth experienced in education, including the uneven quality of and access to remote, hybrid, and virtual learning, combined with the lack of regular social interaction with peers, teachers, and mentors, may have long-term impacts on countless students’ educational achievement and overall wellbeing.

According to a January 2021 study by the U.S. Department of Education titled The Disparate Impact of COVID-19 on America’s Students, “Emerging evidence shows that the pandemic has negatively affected academic growth, widening pre-existing disparities.” The research also notes that “Nearly all students have experienced some challenges to their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic, and many have lost access to school-based services and supports.”

Teens’ Concerns

To better understand teens’ perspectives on the new school year, Junior Achievement USA conducted a survey of 1,003 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 in conjunction with the research firm ENGINE Insights. The survey occurred between July 8 and 13, 2021, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

The focus of the survey was to gain a better understanding of how teens felt the pandemic impacted them and what could be done to support them as they make the transition into what is hopefully a more predictable school year. The survey results show that nearly 2-in-5 (39%) teens feel that they are behind educationally because of the pandemic. Of those, more than a third (37%) feel they are behind permanently.

Much of this could be attributed to the quality of educational delivery models schools, teachers, and students struggled with due to restrictions associated with COVID-19. Most teens (56%) rated the quality of education during the pandemic as “fair/poor,” while the rest (44%) rated it as “excellent/very good/good.” Teen interest in participating in online-only classes in the future was split down the middle, with nearly half interested (46%) and almost half not (48%).

Even though survey participants reported that they are looking forward to in-person classes and interaction with friends during the school year, a third of teens (34%) expressed concern about attending school in-person this year, compared to two-thirds (66%) who have little to no concern. Most teens (91%) say they need additional support this coming school year. This support includes being able to interact in-person with teachers and fellow students (53%), the ability to attend school entirely inperson (44%), and more individual attention from teachers to help with learning (32%).

More than a third of teens (34%) say they need “emotional support” from teachers, parents, counselors, and other caring adults to help their “mental wellbeing.” These “caring adults” include mentors and role models that teens may not have otherwise had access to during the COVID restrictions.

The Role of JA

While Junior Achievement is not a mental health organization, there are elements of its delivery model that can be beneficial when it comes to students’ sense of purpose, self-esteem, and general wellbeing.

First, JA volunteers act as mentors and role models. Online mentoring platform Guider cites several studies from the Mental Health Foundation, the nonprofit Mind, and The Advocacy Project that show mentors can positively impact mental health and overall wellbeing. These include reducing a sense of isolation, increasing belief in self, and fostering hope for the future.

Second, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been demonstrated to result in positive outcomes when it comes to mental health and overall wellbeing, resulting in positive short-term and long-term outcomes, as noted in research by the nonprofit Education Development Center. Elements of SEL that can be found in Junior Achievement learning experiences include goal setting, interpersonal communication, problem solving, and self-motivation.

A 2020 survey of JA alumni by research firm Ipsos highlights some of the reported benefits to those who participated in Junior Achievement as students. According to Ipsos, about 4-in-5 JA alumni report that the JA program played a somewhat important or very important role in their decision to pursue further education (79%), their professional development (79%), and their personal development (78%). Eighty-five percent (85%) of JA alumni say the JA program played an important role in fostering the belief that they could achieve their goals, and 83% say it also played an important role in boosting their confidence in new situations. Three-quarters say it played an important role in their career path (75%).

Men and women JA alumni are equally likely to say they were positively impacted in some way by the JA program (92% of men and 87% of women). Black (96%) and Hispanic (95%) JA alumni are equally likely to say that the JA Program positively impacted their future choices and perceptions as their white counterparts (93%).

Conclusion

While Junior Achievement’s goal is to promote competencies around work and career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship amongst students, its delivery model – which combines caring volunteers with proven programs – has been shown to promote self-belief and a sense of purpose in students.

These outcomes go beyond the individual aspects of knowledge, attitude, and skills to foster a holistic “I Can” mindset, helping young people gain confidence in their ability to feel they have more control of their lives. Promoting this mindset is especially important as young people search for emotional support and positive reinforcement in what are hopefully the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Virtual Career Exploration Program Reaches More Than 8,000 South Florida Students

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:

Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
[email protected]

VIRTUAL CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM REACHES
MORE THAN 8,000 SOUTH FLORIDA STUDENTS

Junior Achievement of South Florida is hosting JA Inspire Virtual, an online and interactive career exploration program on February 2-3, 2021. JA Inspire is a virtual career exploration fair targeting up to 8,000 8th, 11th and 12th grade students introducing them to high growth/high demand career pathways. These pathways include automotive, aviation, construction, finance, government, health, hospitality, marine and technology.

“Building a talent pipeline across industries is a common problem faced by our community. This is an opportunity for all of us to work together to inspire and excite our young people about jobs available right here in South Florida,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO. “JA Inspire gives students the ability to connect with employers who will answer the students’ questions about their industries, career paths, job responsibilities and business culture.”

The program will feature more than 50 exhibitors that have the flexibility to make their booths creative with videos, pamphlets, flyers, photos and career stories using the VFairs platform. Students will be given the choice to add information to their “backpack” so they can re-visit the booths for up to 90 days after the live event.

When students sign into the virtual platform, they will enter a virtual lobby along with other student avatars. They can then maneuver to an information center, an auditorium with live webinars, and visit virtual halls. Students will find specific industries using the directory provided to them, or can explore the virtual halls and stop at exhibitor booths. Throughout the day, there will be games to keep the students interested and engaged.

“Why JA Inspire? Students will begin their explorations with mostly abstract notions and will end up focused and activated, with real insights on what industries interest them, what specific jobs are like, and what education is required to do them successfully,” Sallarulo said.

For exhibitors and partners, this is an opportunity to inspire today’s students by sharing great things about your industry/business, financially contribute to JA programs through a sponsorship, and market your company to students, educators, parents and other businesses. Thank you to our current sponsor, The City of Pompano Beach and our exhibitors, Crewfacilities.com, Coconut Creek Fire Rescue, Publix and Tri Rail.

To get involved with JA Inspire, or to learn more visit https://jasouthflorida.org/JAInspire call Claire Aguilera at (954) 979-7104.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

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