Junior Achievement of Southwest New England is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and mobility for young people. Working alongside schools, businesses and community organizations, JA provides free programs that help K-12 students build financial literacy, explore career pathways and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Through hands-on learning and mentorship, students gain the skills and confidence needed to own their economic success.
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Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments.
Over the past year, we expanded our impact by serving 44,431 students through JA programs, a 6.3% increase over the previous year. With the support of 2,119 volunteers, we delivered 257,307 instructional contact hours — a 30% increase year over year — across 1,897 classes.
We expanded access to postsecondary opportunities, with more than 1,600 students enrolled in JA semester-long courses that provide free college credit through our higher education partners. We also launched and expanded a major workforce initiative called JA Maritime, a program focused on getting young people interested in careers in the submarine manufacturing ecosystem.
We also reached major milestones toward opening Connecticut’s first JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, securing a 26,000-square-foot space in downtown Hartford to build a simulated indoor city that will ignite the dreams of thousands of young people each year. Together, these efforts continue to expand economic opportunity and workforce readiness for young people across Connecticut.
What are your plans for future growth?
Looking ahead, our priority is the launch of JA BizTown and JA Finance Park in Hartford in 2027. This innovative learning center will help prepare up to 10,000 students annually with practical skills in financial literacy, workplace readiness and career exploration. By strengthening strategic partnerships, engaging more volunteers and growing flexible funding, we will expand our statewide impact and help more young people build the skills and confidence needed to achieve economic mobility.
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