The Junior Achievement Inspiration Center will impact over 8,000 students each school year with the learning experiences at JA BizTown® and JA Finance Park®.
JA BizTown is a daylong, hands-on experience where 4th - 6th grade students apply learned concepts in a lifelike community.
JA Finance Park provides captstone cirriculium to 8th and 9th grade students focused on personal financial planning and career exploration.
Every day we hear stories from students that reassure us of the
relevance and impact of this work on the lives of area children. Here is one example...
As a student from Rock Island was paying his bills at the end of his JA Finance Park experience, he panicked that he could not pay for his groceries because the simulation had only given him a debit card and no food stamps. He was never taught the difference between food stamps, cash, or credit. He may have learned it during his classroom lessons, but he did not fully understand it until his on‐site experience. If not for JA Finance Park, this fourteen-year‐old would still believe that he can only pay for groceries using food stamps. JA provides these life‐changing learning experiences that help our children see and create a better future for themselves and the community.
The rebranded Junior Achievement Inspiration Center will include expanded JA BizTown and JA Finance Park space and programming that will allow for:
- Opportunities for students to explore more educational pathways and career opportunities, especially in the trades, health care, and STEM‐related careers
- Upgraded technology (we are the only JA area in the country that does not use tablets in their simulations)
- A safe, convenient, and central location for school districts, partners, and volunteers
- Community meeting space
Based on a globally proven programming model, Junior Achievement generates real results, leading to a stronger global economy and a future talent pool for the companies and organizations that make up our community.