JA. 100 Years. 100% Ready.

Not many organizations can say they've made it to 100 years.

Junior Achievement has learned a lot in the last century, both across the country and around the globe. Here in Greater Washington, our growth, even within the last year, has been particularly profound.

What strikes us most is how JA continually adapts to the future of work. Our reputation as an educational thought-leader positions Junior Achievement as the region's go-to school system advisor and implementer of real-world education—helping educators turn real-life experiences into everyday lessons.

In 2019, we placed our stake in the ground with a bold, strategic educational blueprint for the future—rooted in bridging business and education to unlock greater economic opportunity for all students.

They’re big plans, and here’s what’s on the horizon.

First, in partnership with Washington, DC’s public, private and community leadership, Junior Achievement is bringing the JA Discovery Center to the District of Columbia. This will be JA’s flagship facility in Greater Washington, and will enable DCPS and the District’s charter schools to fully integrate hands-on, career-readiness and entrepreneurship experiences into their traditional academics for over 10,000 District youth each year.

Second, we’re significantly scaling our efforts to bring together students from all backgrounds across the region and pairing them with mentors to start and run real businesses. We were founded on this concept 100 years ago, and we can tell you that the appetite for this among youth today has never been higher, which is a good sign for our future economy.

And third, we’re officially launching 3DE by Junior Achievement this fall at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and Ballou High School in the District. The 3DE model systemically transforms comprehensive high school education, using case methodology to integrate all core academic subjects through the coordinated lens of how it’s applied in real-world, relevant situations in partnership with the business community.

As we launch JA into the next 100 years, and deliver on our bold plans, know that we’re guided by generous partners, volunteers, educators, students and parents—like you—who make our work possible. You inspire us to achieve each and every day.

Thank you.

Sincerely,