All posts tagged: JA USA

The Payoff Behind Time Management

How to build a necessary life-skill

Author: Hannah Henry
JSA USA BLOG

Panic rushes over you. You’re late. The alarm didn’t go off, and now you’re scrambling to start your day. As you nearly drip toothpaste down your shirt, you can’t help but wonder, “how did I let this happen?!”

The Cambridge Dictionary defines time-management as “the practice of using the time that you have available in a useful and effective way….” But where do these skills begin? And what is the real benefit?

Basics of Time Management

From the start of life, we learn how to prioritize daily events. From waking up to dinner time to bedtime, we become accustomed to routines. Time management, or what some may say “personal management,” follows the same guidelines, only we adjust our day to fit the non-routine elements better. While this soft skill benefits children of all ages in their learning, it has the long-term impact of benefiting them once they are in the workforce.

Understanding the basics behind managing time can reduce stress, increase performance, and all-around enhance work-life balance. Here are the steps to help manage the time in your day better:

Prioritize
Start your day off with making a list, identifying which items need to be done first and which tasks take a lower priority.
Organize
If a big project can’t be accomplished in a day, be sure to set deadlines for more bite-sized pieces to ensure success. A great way to do this is by identifying the components needed for the project and then spreading them out on your calendar to be accomplished along the way.
Reduce Distractions
Eliminating all distractions is unrealistic. We will always face a phone ringing, an email landing in our inbox, or the unexpected colleague drop-in, but being able to resume work promptly or putting a non-urgent call or email on the backburner is key.
Eliminate Multitasking
We live in a world where we are trained to jump back and forth between homework assignments or work projects. In our minds, it’s the performance idiom we all know, “kill two birds with one stone.” Yet, when we split our attention, our work tends to suffer. In fact, psychology professor David Meyer, PhD, found that even quick shifts between tasks can cause someone to lose as much as 40% of productive time.
Take Breaks
Giving your mind a break helps replenish your energy and focus, but only after you have finished a task. Before continuing your to-do list, be sure to get up from your desk for a short time to stretch and refresh your mind.
Reward Yourself
By managing your time better, you will face opportunity costs. These costs are things that you could have done instead of spending your time on the prioritized tasks you identified. Not to mention, high productivity can be exhausting! Be sure to disconnect from work when your workday is done and participate in a hobby or activity you enjoy. You’ve earned it!

The Payoff for Employees and Employers

While some may depend on procrastination to give them the willpower they need to meet deadlines, this method rarely results in high-quality work. Employers know the value of an employee with the soft skill of time management and what it means for their team and company. Employees who possess and practice better control of their time often excel in many aspects, including:

Ability to work under pressure of deadlines
Dependability on projects and in meetings
Organization skills in all areas of work

But the payoff doesn’t stop with employers; research from 158 studies of 50,000 people over the past 30 years found 72% of people had greater life satisfaction when they could structure and manage their time. Researchers believe this is due to the sense of self-accomplishment after completing their schedules day-to-day around tasks that align with their internal motivators (values and beliefs).

The proof is in the time stamp when it comes to managing the hours in your day wisely. Not only does it pay off to learn these skills young and perfect them in school, but they also transfer into your value in the workforce and personal fulfillment.

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Two Local JA Fellows Start-Up Teams Head to National Awards

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and NSU University School student entrepreneurship teams selected to compete for JA USA’s 2021 National Company of the Year

City of Coconut Creek, Florida – Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) is proud to announce that two of its twenty-five JA Fellows student company teams have been selected to compete for the 2021 JA National Company of the Year at the virtual Junior Achievement National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) on June 22-24.

JA Fellows teams Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Smile Senders and NSU University School’s ClippedNotes took their companies from an idea to a profitable company in eight months.

“We are thrilled to see these innovative teams represent Junior Achievement of South Florida at this prestigious national competition. This is our 6^th consecutive year running the program, which has engaged over 3,000 students to date, and the 6^th time our teams have made it to nationals,” said Laurie Sallarulo, Junior Achievement of South Florida President & CEO. “We applaud all 550 students who participated this year for their outstanding efforts and thank our teachers, mentors and community partners who support the program.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was the inspiration for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Smile Senders gift boxes filled with items to cheer up people.

“Smile Senders is beyond excited to have been chosen for the National JA Competition this June! We cannot thank the Junior Achievement of South Florida leadership, as well as our mentors, friends, and family for their support. We hope to see you at the Summit live and cannot wait to bring a smile to your face,” said Jacob Foster, President of Smile Senders.

ClippedNotes, NSU University School’s JA team, came up with a product that gave people a creative way to jot notes or reminders for each other.

“The ClippedNotes team is so excited and honored to have been selected as an NSLS finalist. Having received top honors in the regional competition, we are hopeful to have continued success while spreading our story and mission nationally,” said CEO Kennedy Clark.

Only fifteen JA Fellow company teams, out of over 500 nationwide, are invited to compete at the NSLS. The competition’s top honor is JAUSA Company of the Year, first, second, and third-place awards will be Livestreamed on June 24.

The student companies will be assessed on their financial performance, individual team members’ personal and professional development, a self-produced commercial about their product or service, their team’s live presentation to a panel of business leaders, and their company’s overall performance.

The other awards that will be presented at the 2021 NSLS virtual event include the Delta Social Impact Award, the EY Innovation Award, the FedEx Access Award, and the ICE NYSE Best Financial Performance Award.

In addition to competing, JA Fellows Company Program® students will build their professional network with fellow teens from across the country, participate in professional development seminars to further build on their entrepreneurial skills, and will have the opportunity to engage with national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business through virtual webinars.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida
Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA offers cutting-edge skills training that enables young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; prepares and places students in summer jobs that give them real world experience; teaches students how to start and run businesses and develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skills; and provides education of financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 proven programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and simulations 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 www.JASouthFlorida.org.

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 3 million students annually in 105 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

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NBA Legend, TikTok Star and Sageworks Founder on “The Arena”

Young Entrepreneurs…Are You Ready to Enter “The Arena?”

When: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Where: Virtual Webinar
Time: 1:30 PM EST

“The Arena” is an action-packed web series where teen entrepreneurs present their businesses to a group of coaches who are successful entrepreneurs, Olympians, professional athletes and celebrities. It’s not an idea pitch or pitch event; these teens already have a small business and are looking for advice and being able to showcase their businesses as examples for youth across the country. The coaches know what it’s like to be in the arena and will provide advice the young people will need to grow their skills and their venture.

The event will be moderated by JJ Ramberg, former host of MSNBC’s Your Business. Two aspiring entrepreneurs will “Enter the Arena” to get input and feedback from former LA Laker and 3-time NBA Champion AC Green; TikTok star Ryan Shakes; and Sageworks Founder Brian Hamilton.Register to be a part of the audience below!

To view The Arena Episode 1 & 2 view the video below.

Need More Information?

For more information about this event, please contact JA USA!

THE COACHES AND SPECIAL GUESTS

AC Green
Former LA Laker And 3-Time NBA Champion

Brian Hamilton
Founder, Sageworks and Brian Hamilton Foundation

JJ Ramberg
Former Host of MSNBC’s Your Business

Ryan Shakes
TikTok Star

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Economic Empowerment for a More Equitable and Just Tomorrow

Why JA? And Why Now?

By Junior Achievement USA

The Realities of Economic Inequity

Economic inequity has been a reality in the U.S. throughout its history, and it continues to this day. For instance, research by the Pew Research Center shows that the U.S. has the highest income inequality among G7 nations. Despite a narrowing of income and wealth gaps in recent decades, there continue to be vast disparities, especially between white and Black households. In 1970, for example, there was a 78 percent gap in income between white and Black households. And even though that gap marginally improved over time, it was still 64 percent as of 2018. A 2020 study by the Brookings Institution shows that the median net worth of white families in America is ten times greater than that of Black families.

Hispanics and Latinos in the United States face similar challenges, according to research from the Economic Policy Institute. Hispanic men earn nearly 15 percent less than their white counterparts for similar work requiring comparable skills and education. For Hispanic women, it is 33 percent less. At the same time, while Hispanics and Latinos are making greater gains in postsecondary education, that success isn’t reflected in the commensurate reduction of the wage gap compared to working white Americans.

Other research shows that the overall wealth gap more than doubled between America’s richest and poorest families, regardless of race, between 1989 and 2016. To address economic inequity, substantial systemic changes need to occur that are well beyond the mission of an organization like Junior Achievement. They need to happen on the legislative, legal, policymaking, and institutional fronts. But the pressure to eliminate these barriers needs to happen from both ends of the spectrum; not only from those in positions of oversight, but also from those who aspire to break through color lines, cultural divides, and glass ceilings.

Lasting institutional change is only possible if the people most likely to benefit are prepared with the information and skills necessary to navigate a changing landscape. Knowledge is power, and Junior Achievement’s proven approach will give today’s young people that power in the form of financial capability, career and work readiness, and entrepreneurship. These skills will not only improve their lives but will bolster their families, their communities, and our nation.

Click to Read Full Article

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Why JA? And Why Now?

A Response to the Uncertainty and Inequity Facing Gen Z

By Junior Achievement USA

Growing Up in a Time of Uncertainty

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis has impacted everyone. But it has been particularly challenging for women, African-Americans and Hispanics, those lacking education beyond high school, and, most notably, the young. Generation Z, including the class of 2020, has been dubbed the” Pandemic Generation,” and the “Lockdown Generation.” This is due to the sudden and dramatic decline of economic opportunity for those graduating high school and college amidst a historic pandemic. There are already concerns that if something isn’t done to bolster its prospects soon, Generation Z is at risk of becoming a “lost generation,” illprepared to achieve its potential in a world that is already challenging to navigate for the young.

Confronting Inequity

At the same time, economic inequity has been a reality in the U.S. throughout its history, but it continues to this day. For instance, research by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows the U.S. has the highest income inequality among G7 nations. Despite a narrowing of income and wealth gaps in recent decades, there continue to be vast disparities, especially between white and black households. For example, in 1970, there was a 78 percent gap in income between white and black households. And even though that gap marginally improved over time, it was still 64 percent as of 2018. A 2020 study by the Brookings Institution also shows that the median net worth of white families in America is ten times greater than that of black families. Other research shows that the overall wealth gap more than doubled between America’s richest and poorest families between 1989 and 2016.

At this moment, this generation’s perceptions of our country and what it stands for are being shaped in ways that will define their entire lives. The question is, will those perceptions be of hope, opportunity, and unlimited possibilities? Or will they be something else entirely. To ensure the former, this means addressing the uncertainty and inequity in our country. Undoubtedly, there are substantial systemic changes that need to happen that are beyond the mission of an organization like Junior Achievement. These changes need to occur on the legislative, legal, and policymaking fronts, and they appear to be taking place. The hope is these changes will once and for all eliminate structural barriers to progress for everyone aspiring to reach their potential in this country.

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For Immediate Release
March 12, 2109

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

Junior Achievement of South Receives Two Distinguished National Awards for Top Performance

City of Coconut Creek, Florida—Junior Achievement of South Florida has been awarded, for the first time in its 60 year history, the Peak Performance Team Award. This award recognizes superior annual performance by a JA Area team in achieving growth in students reached or contact hours delivered, while sustaining financial and operational soundness. The nonprofit organization was one of 17 JA Areas (out of 107 total) to earn the 2017-18 Peak Performance Team Award.

“Junior Achievement of South Florida has been focused on creating deep impact programming that meets the needs of its local school district, employers and community organizations. In addition, the organization has worked hard to build its brand awareness and credibility. Congratulations to Laurie Sallarulo and the entire team,” said Jack Kosakowski, JA USA President & CEO.

In addition, for the second year in a row, Junior Achievement of South Florida received one of Junior Achievement USA^®’s (JA USA) highest ratings: the 4 Star Award. The purpose of the Star Award is to recognize staff and boards of JA Areas that meet Junior Achievement’s national standards in operational efficiency. Recipients must demonstrate growth in student impact and superior fiscal performance. Achievement against these criteria is certified through JA USA and audited financial statements.

In 2017-18, Junior Achievement of South Florida served nearly 47,000 students in Broward and south Palm Beach counties. The number of combined hours of impactful instruction provided to students was a record 1,050,975. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of a record-breaking 7,150 volunteers and mentors. In addition, Junior Achievement of South Florida will reach a significant milestone this year, its 60^th anniversary, of serving 1 million students since its inception in 1959.

“These accomplishments cannot be achieved without an exceptional team, dedicated Board of Directors, our partners, teachers, the thousands of volunteers and business mentors and our donors, who truly believe in our mission of inspiring and preparing youth to succeed in a global economy,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President/CEO. “We set very ambitious goals for the organization, and we’ve worked hard to achieve these milestones and to be honored for our dedication and teamwork. We are dedicated to being part of the solution to the workforce challenge.”

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 www.JASouthFlorida.org.

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in over 100 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.JA.org for more information.

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