Dear JA Friends,
This time of year always energizes our Junior Achievement team, as we watch students shift from summer fun to fall studies. We marvel at how resilient young people are, and have high hopes that they will step up to the unique challenges of this academic year.
For JA, back-to-school historically meant powering-up our three JA Finance Park® facilities, and prepping our 8,000 volunteer partners and educators to return to the classroom. And while this year will no doubt look much different, we just can't help but feel an enhanced sense of excitement brought on by so many new opportunities.
Junior Achievement is meeting head-on the demands posed to traditional learning in the classroom. Since March we’ve worked with JA USA headquarters and local school system leadership to adapt our delivery models to virtual applications while maintaining our high standards. And through it all, we stayed true to our educational methodology grounded in relevant business connectivity and authentic project-based applications, brought to life through our career readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs and experiences.
Here's how we're working with our school system partners for the upcoming academic year:
Junior Achievement developed a virtual version of JA Finance Park that's self-guided and teacher-supported, and we are launching it with 40,000 youth across the region this October.
All entrepreneurship experiences, including the JA Company Program, will take place virtually with remote volunteer mentor support and reformatted events and competitions.
3DE by Junior Achievement just launched virtually at the District's Ballou High School in Anacostia and at Prince George’s County’s Potomac High School in Oxon Hill.
We’ve seen how uncertain circumstances can bring communities together, and we’re reminded how much connectedness matters. We also know that access equals opportunity, and remain committed to facilitating unique experiences to help guide students in the real world.
This will certainly be like no other year. It’s partners that bring the content to life, and this year your support is especially helpful for JA to continue adapting and supporting our area’s youth.
Thank you, and we look forward to working together.
Ed Grenier
President and CEO
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington