Junior Achievement of Utah

Many great success stories begin with the same words: it's not possible. ?at Junior Achievement, we believe in possible. By building a wide range of skills and nurturing self-belief through volunteers serving as mentors, Junior Achievement prepares young people for the future of work, teaches them how to think entrepreneurially, and ensures they have the tools to be financially capable adults. Our mission is to empower young people to discover their purpose. We help students connect what they're learning in school with life outside the classroom. We facilitate a deeper understanding of how the world works, encourage our youth to invest in their futures, and inspire them to follow their dreams. Junior Achievement's in-class programs are innovative, hands-on learning experiences that equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and in life. The curriculum is focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness and is facilitated by volunteers who mentor, inspire, and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. These volunteers come from all walks of life; they are community members, parents, business leaders, retirees, and college students and we know the connection with them is making the difference, especially to our most at- risk students. A recent ja alumni study reports 56% of our alumni have worked or are currently working in the same field as one of their ja volunteers. Junior Achievement's programs are especially impactful to our at-risk students who seldom see the various career opportunities available to them in their future. The spencer f. eccles ja city in salt lake has served students since 2007, and we are pleased to announce that we opened a second location, woodbury ja city in orem, in the spring of 2023. Together, the two ja cities host over 19,000 fifth and eighth grade students annually and are each home to storefronts and kiosks sponsored by local businesses. Each ja city is a 10,000 square foot learning facility, and students bring these spaces to life as they learn about 21st century skills including critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, problem solving, financial literacy, and communication, both from a business and personal perspective. Ja city hosts two vibrant experiences: ja biztown and ja finance park. The ja biztown interactive program creates an unmatched experience where fifth grade students participate in a simulated economy and take on the challenge of operating a business. Students not only learn the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also discover the abundance of opportunities available within their city. At ja finance park, students have the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Eighth grade students are given a personal scenario in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate our complex economic environment and discover how decisions made today can impact tomorrow and a lifetime. Junior Achievement of Utah and Junior Achievement of Idaho joined in 2022, and together they are committed to providing quality education to Utah's and Idaho's students.