Contact Us
For any information not found here, contact:
Sandimar Timberman: (303)-628-7362
History
In 2005, Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc. was one of four U.S. JA offices to receive a grant from the Goizueta Foundation to underwrite the costs of launching the JA Impulsa (JA Impulsa) beginning in the 2006/07 school year.
Locally, Hispanic students account for more than 50% of our school’s drop out rate. This large number of His¬panic drop outs indicates the necessity to improve the understanding among these students in establishing the connection between their education and the “economics of life.”
This vital idea was the driving force behind the launch of the JA Impulsa and our mission to encourage Hispanic youth to stay in school by inspiring them to embrace free enterprise and prepare for success in a global economy. The success of the JA Impulsa is crucial to the future of the Hispanic community and the economic vitality of all Coloradans.
In six Denver school districts, Hispanic students represent more than half of the student population. The large Hispanic drop out rate indicates an immediate need to improve the academic achievement of Hispanic students in Denver. To address this need, we have implemented the JA Hispanic Initiative.
The Difference
What sets Hispanic Initiative programs apart from regular JA programs?
- We specifically seek Title 1 schools and schools with more than 60% Latino student population.
- Our curriculum can be taught in both English and Spanish with accompanying Spanish material if needed.
- Latino volunteers teach and serve as “role models” in the classroom. Our hope is that with the Latino volunteers we will reach more than 10,000 Hispanic students this year, inspiring them to stay in school.
- Parents are sent bilingual postcards after each classroom lesson to promote parent involvement.
- There is a Parent Outreach component which is a workshop that teaches the skills of helping parents help their child be successful in school, the differences between the American educational system and Hispanic systems and provides resources to scholarships and financial aid specifically for Hispanics seeking a post-secondary education.
Our Goals
- Increase Hispanic high school graduation rates
- Ignite Hispanic student motivation and pursuit of high education
- Inspire a workforce that is better prepared for local industry demands
- Develop a generation of Hispanic students who are financially literate
Additional Information
Hispanic Initiative Sponsors
The following organizations provided financial and volunteer support for JA Impulsa, JA's Hispanic Initiative, during the 2008-09 school year:
|
