How Did You Get Involved with JA of Middle Tennessee?
In 2022, I (Nikki) joined the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Middle Tennesse but my love for JA started in 2021 when our oldest son, Grayson, experienced JA BizTown.
Grayson attended JA BizTown with his fifth grade class and returned home that day telling us all about his feildtrip. He described how he was the CEO of The UPS Store and responsible for helping the business pay off a business loan. He shared about signing paychecks, making sure his team members had health insurance, managing a workers strike and staggering staff breaks.
After witnessing Grayson's excitement and realizing how meaningful the experience was for him, I knew I wanted my company to be involved with JA. A short time later, JA President, Trent Klingensmith arranged a meeting and tour of JA BizTown for our team. That visit solidified my decision and I eventually joined the board. Now, I have a front row seat to how this incredible nonprofit is managed and how every contribution is thoughtfully stewarded to expand student access to JA's powerful programs.
Harper's Experience in JA BizTown's New Construction Company
Fast forward to 2024, and our youngest son, Harper, was highly anticipating his class's visit to JA BizTown. Prior to the feild trip, he and his classmates received over 13 hours of instructional learning on how to interview for a job, write a check, fill out a deposit slip and balance a ledger.
Harper landed a position as Project Manager in the new Construction Company in JA BizTown. This is the dedicated storefront in JA BizTown that exposes kids to trade jobs, including: plumber, electrician, HVAC technician and carpenter.
My husaband Brian and I both volunteered with JA programs. There is nothing better than seeing kids learn the skills they need to be successful in life.
One Thing I Wish Others Knew About JA
JA programs are a GAME CHANGER for kids! Grayson and Harper both learned lifelong lessons about adulting. The soft skills they learned in JA BizTown include team work, communication, time management and problem solving. They also learned important hard skills like budgeting, direct deposit and voting.
Our hope is that every 5th grade student in Middle Tennessee can experience JA BizTown and other JA programs. That's why our family is helping raise $2,500 so JA of Middle Tennessee can reach over 36,000 kids this year. We would love for you to consider supporting JA and our page!