Empowering the Future: Back to School with Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans
As we embark on the 2023-2024 academic year, we are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements and exciting initiatives that Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA) has undertaken in the past year:
JA BizTown Springs Back to Business after Pandemic Shutdown: After remaining closed to students during the height of the Covid Pandemic, JA began welcoming 4th, 5th and 6thgraders back to our simulated city to operate businesses such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Capital One Bank, Chick-fil-A, City Hall sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, Ochsner Health, and P. Moreover, we have adapted JA BizTown to bring career awareness and skills to special needs students from Opportunities Academy, which is Collegiate Academies' rigorous, full-day program for college-aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
YouthForce NOLA + Junior Achievement Career Expo Returns to the UNO Lakefront Arena: After a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, JA’s career expo welcomed over 1,400 Orleans Parish public school student freshmen and over 85 employers, training providers, and educational institutions together to highlight high-wage, high-demand career paths specific to the Greater New Orleans area. Students learned about career opportunities in Business Services, Digital Media & IT, Health Sciences, and Skilled Crafts & Manufacturing, all pathways that are forecasted to have immense growth locally over the next several years. This year’s Career Expo also included a targeted focus on career opportunities for students with disabilities.
JA of Greater New Orleans Expands into Mississippi: After serving just one school in Gulfport, Mississippi in 2022, the Gulfport School District invited JA to deliver programs in all its schools. Moreover, word of JA’s impactful programs spread to Long Beach School District and Pass Christian School District. Thus far, JA has provided programming to more than 4,000 youth in Mississippi in the 2022-2023 academic year with this expansion expected to continue during this school year to include students in Stone County as well.
JA Reaches Beyond K-12: Once a young adult graduates from high school, they are faced with a multitude of challenges. JA realizes that many young people remain woefully underprepared to make decisions regarding their journey to college and career, their financial capabilities, or even understanding how their skills can align with their purpose. Therefore, JA is expanding programs to help young adults to age 25 build financial capabilities and to provide them with mentoring and career connections.
With the unwavering support of our community, we have made a significant impact on the lives of over 27,000 young people in our community in the past year; our programs are equipping these students with the knowledge and skills necessary for future success.
None of our accomplishments would have been possible without compassionate and forward-thinking individuals like you. As we start the 2023-2024 school year, we humbly request your continued support for our mission: to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
Why Your Support Matters
Your generous donation will directly impact the lives of thousands of students in the Greater New Orleans area and Mississippi. Here's how your contribution can make a difference:
1. Essential Life Skills: Your support enables us to provide students with crucial life skills, such as financial literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship education. These skills are the building blocks for a successful future.
2. Career Exploration: Through JA programs, students have the opportunity to explore various career paths and gain insights into the world of work. Your donation helps open doors and expand horizons.
3. Future Leaders: By investing in JA programs, you are investing in the future of our community. You are helping nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and responsible citizens.
How You Can Help
Please consider making a contribution today to support youth across our region. Your investment in our programs is an investment in the future of our community. Every dollar makes a difference and brings us one step closer to empowering the next generation.
As we return to school, let's return with a commitment to empower our youth and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Thank you for being a part of the Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans family. To make a donation or to learn more about our initiatives, please visit our website at www.jagno.org.