Imagine a generation where young people, no matter their background, know how to budget, save, and invest. A generation that is armed with the self-determination, confidence, and understanding to take control of their financial futures and their careers. A generation that no longer wonders what they are going to do as adults, but instead asks, “what kind of innovator do I want to be?“
The JA Free Enterprise Center will house two state-of-the-art learning labs, the Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator® and the Robert and Judi Newman JA Finance Park.® Together, they will fuse the physical and digital worlds to deliver innovative, real-world, and inspirational learning experiences in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, reaching an additional 20,000 students annually.
When not in use by JA, spaces within the JA Free Enterprise Center will be available for community use, including conference rooms, a large terrace overlooking the Rocky Mountains, and event space with capacity for 80-150 people.
The Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator® is an interactive and responsive career exploration experience that will motivate high school students to develop a plan to pursue a meaningful career. This experience will bring careers to life by sharing stories of emerging entrepreneurs and Colorado Business Hall of Fame inductees tailored to each student’s interests and aptitudes. After students’ initial visit, JA will provide ongoing learning opportunities and additional resources customized to each student’s experience, guiding them through a process to identify, research, refine, and pursue their goals.
A second JA Finance Park® in Denver Metro will double JA’s capacity to provide teens the opportunity to become adults for the day in this immersive simulation. Recognized by Harvard University as a best practice for teaching financial literacy, students explore a mini-city, learning first-hand how to budget for housing, insurance, transportation, retirement investments, and more. Volunteer role models share their experiences, helping teens connect their learning to the real-world.
Join us in supporting a $20 million capital campaign to build the JA Free Enterprise Center, so we can serve an additional 20,000 students annually! We have already raised $15 million toward this goal and construction of the facility is underway, with a planned opening in spring 2023!
To make a legacy gift, or to learn more about naming opportunities for the JA Free Enterprise Center, please contact Robin Wise at RWise@JAColorado.org.
