Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week!
April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week, and there is no better time to pause and recognize the selfless contributions of our extraordinary JA Volunteers who inspire and motivate us every day.
Throughout the week, we’ll be featuring JA Volunteers who go above and beyond to connect students with the learning experiences they need for an inspired and successful future.
Read JA Volunteer Jeff Allum’s Q&A with JA below!
Jeff Allum, Director of Research, Association of American Law Schools
JA: How have you volunteered with JA and what compelled you to do so?
Jeff: I have been a classroom volunteer at Woodlin Elementary School for the past six years, and I have been a coordinator for the past four. I was compelled to volunteer for a few reasons. It was an opportunity for me to participate more directly with my son, his classmates, and his teachers in the classroom, something that I don’t get a chance to do very often. It also gave me a chance to volunteer with parents and school administrators, which was equally as fulfilling. Finally, JA is one of the few places where young people can get guidance and experience on matters concerning work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
JA: What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a JA volunteer?
Jeff: Because the JA experience is so different from their daily classroom routine, students really get engaged, and that – for me – is really exciting. To see the expressions on their faces, to listen to the questions that they ask, and to observe the way in which they are interacting with the materials and one another is all the evidence I need to show that JA is really an important opportunity for them.
JA: What is your favorite JA memory?
Jeff: During the first year in which I coordinated JA in a Day at Woodlin, we had a huge volunteer turnout, one of the largest ever. And some of the parents, who happened to be communications professionals, volunteered to craft a press release that ultimately led to press coverage from MCPS-TV, WTOP radio, and WHAG news. It was great news for everyone – JA, the school, the students, and the parent volunteers.
JA: What do you wish more people knew about JA or what would you tell someone that is thinking about volunteering with JA?
Jeff: JA delivers content about work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy that is in such short supply these days, content that is essential for the well-being of everyone. The bottom line for me is this: the children and youth of today will be our managers, doctors, bankers, business owners, and teachers of tomorrow. We are going to depend on them then, and they are depending on us now to do everything we can to prepare them for successful and fulfilling lives.
JA: What advice would you give to the next generation?
Jeff: The next generation needs to be prepared for a very different world of work than what their parents prepared for. Gone are the days when employers provided a commitment to long-term job security, career guidance in the form of continuous training, and a full array of benefits. The jobs of tomorrow are going to necessitate that workers be more self-directed, drive their own careers, find their own training, and (for better or for worse), be at least a little more self-promotional. That being said, I would advise the next generation to really be confident in making their education and career decisions, and to do that through experience: get a part-time job, volunteer for a local organization, exercise leadership in school clubs, practice good money management habits, even if it is using allowance money. The more they do this at an early age, the better prepared they will be for the future.
Interested in hearing more inspiring stories from our JA Volunteers? Check out more spotlights below.
To learn how you can get involved with or support JA, send us an inquiry.
