Empowering the next great business minds
"JA has helped me begin to shape my future and to find a true passion." — Peter, high school student
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness. The goal is to teach concepts through experiential learning, allowing young people to put their new knowledge and skills into practice. For example, students in an elementary school might learn about unit versus assembly line production by producing donuts. Or, high school students might participate in our popular JA Stock Market Challenge, a stock market simulation game in which teams compete to build their stock portfolios.
JA-Rocky Mountain, Inc. . . .
- Builds young people’s capacity to spur economic development and contribute to America’s global competitiveness.
- Inspires students to stay in school by demonstrating relevant benefits to education and work readiness.
- Partners with local businesses to provide rewarding employee volunteer programs.
- Trains 3,400 volunteers to teach students through relevant, responsive, innovative programs in more than 500 participating schools.
- Reached 100,000 students throughout Metro Denver, Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming during the 2009/2010 school year.
- Implements fun, educational competitions like JA Stock Market Challenge and JA Business Week.
- Celebrated 60 years of service to Colorado in 2010.
Junior Achievement’s Vision
To inspire and prepare young people to embrace free enterprise and succeed in a global economy. JA will build generations of young people who are financially literate, work ready, entrepreneurial, and believe in the power of their own potential.
Junior Achievement’s Core Values
- Belief in the boundless potential of young people; the JA experience will be extended to all young people and schools regardless of their ability to pay
- Commitment to the principles of capitalism
- Passion for what we do and promotion of a culture of integrity, ethics and trust
- Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives and backgrounds of all individuals
- Fostering a collaborative community of businesses, schools, volunteers and other service organizations
- We emulate entrepreneurial values in our business and encourage innovation, competition and risk
Our Educational Pillars
- Entrepreneurship — JA students recognize opportunities and organize resources to maximize innovative thought and creative activity.
- Financial Literacy — Our students have the personal financial knowledge necessary to effectively meet personal fiscal challenges and obligations, take advantage of economic opportunities, and plan courses of action to achieve goals.
- Workforce Readiness — JA students possess the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to demonstrate their readiness to successfully engage in meaningful and productive work.