, Author at Junior Achievement of South Florida

juniorachievement

Annual JA Business Hall of Fame Returns May 13th

Five Top Community Leaders will be Inducted into Business Hall of Fame. Two Additional Outstanding Individuals will Receive Prestigious Awards.

For Immediate Release

City of Coconut Creek, Florida — Junior Achievement is hosting the JA Business Hall of Fame, presented by American Express, Friday, May 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Event will occur at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion.

Five top community leaders, who have made a significant impact in their industry and have demonstrated vision, commitment to excellence, courageous leadership and community responsibility, will be inducted into the JA Business Hall of Fame. The 2022 Laureates are Jon and Ron Antevy (eBuilder), Milton L. Jones (Milton Jones Development Corporation), Ramon Rodriguez (WithMyDoc, Inc.) and Mark Warren (International Materials LLC).

This year’s special award honorees are Harry Patten (Patten Family Foundation) and Juliet Roulhac (Florida Power & Light). Harry Patten, who’s loyal dedication to Junior Achievement of South Florida, will receive the Huizenga Lifetime Legacy Award, created in honor of the late Marti and Wayne Huizenga in 2016.

At the Patten Family Foundation JA Career Discovery Park, each year more than 20,000 eighth grade students from Broward and south Palm Beach Counties learn how financial decisions will impact their lives. These include expenses related to family health care, real estate and home improvements, automobiles, insurance, entertainment, education, and purchasing items such as clothing, furniture and groceries.

Juliet Roulhac will receive the Melissa Aiello Character Award, created in 2015 in recognition of Melissa Aiello, the former CEO & President of Junior Achievement of South Florida who lived her life with integrity and honor. Juliet has dedicated her life to philanthropic endeavors and community engagement so much that it has become her career.

“We are so thankful to these incredible leaders who have supported our mission and the greater community,” said Laurie Sallarulo, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida. “They are role models to the over 54,000 students who participate in our innovative entrepreneurship, financial literacy and career readiness programs. This event gathers some of the top community advocates together to recognize these outstanding leaders and raise funds to support our impactful mission.”

The 2022 JA Business Hall of Fame is sponsored by American Express, CITY Furniture, Delta Air Lines, Huizenga Family Foundation, TD Bank, Rick Case Automotive Group, eBuilder, Florida Power & Light, R-Squared Charitable Fund, Transworld Business Advisors, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Kaufman Rossin, Mark Warren Family Foundation, Stiles Corporation, Health Foundation of South Florida, Office Depot, American National Bank, Lifestyle Media Group and Silver Lining Catering.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and digital advertising, contact Jennifer Barb at Je***********@************da.org, call (954) 979-7101 or visit JASouthFlorida.org/BusinessHallofFame.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered 20+ programs to over 54,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
Ch*********@************da.org

Latest News

Sea the World Educates Youth About Marine Industry Careers

Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Sea the World Storefront Seeks to Continue the Next 3-year School Year Term

Coconut Creek, FL – April 15, 2022: Junior Achievement of South Florida’s Marine Industry Storefront “Sea the World” seeks to continue the next 3-year school year term. Each year more than 20,000 8th grade students from Broward and south Palm Beach Counties visit the Marine Industry Storefront to learn about the multitude of career opportunities in the maritime community. The storefront exists to keep the industry thriving with a new generation of workers.

On April 20, 2022, Junior Achievement of South Florida’s (JA) Marine Industry Storefront will hold a Champagne Reception. Guests will tour the Patten Family Career Discovery Park at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Well Pavilion and learn more about the community-strengthening cause. The reception is from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Our nation, across all industries, is experiencing a workforce crisis. We are facing unprecedented challenges in finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Research shows that the most critical and widespread challenge facing businesses is the inability to hire qualified workers for available jobs they need to fill. That’s where Junior Achievement comes in.

JA engages with students in a comprehensive classroom curriculum about finances, careers, income, expenses, savings, and credit. Not only does the JA teach financial literacy, but it also works towards inspiring the students that enter its walls to get excited about joining the workforce using immersive simulation experiences.

“Sea the World” storefront space originally came together in April of 2019. Understanding the need to keep the marine industry booming, Christine Battles with Advanced Mechanical Enterprises and 23 marine industry companies joined forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida to create the Marine Industry Storefront.

The storefront inspires students to join Florida’s 12.5 billion-per-year economic engine that provides the tri-county area with 149,000 careers/jobs. “Sea the World” has already impacted 150,000 students, several of whom are now high school juniors.

Three years after cutting the ribbon on the space, we’re working towards keeping this momentum going. Junior Achievement and maritime professionals are gearing up for the next 3-year school term and are seeking new partners. Both founding and new partners will contribute to leasing the storefront space and adding maritime elements to bring the “WOW factor” to students. The financial ask is $5k yearly for a 3-year commitment (May 2022 – April 2025). All donations are tax-deductible.

“What keeps port industry executives up at night? It’s not the economy. It’s not their competitors. It’s knowing if there will be a workforce in place to carry on for them and continue to serve the needs of the industry. Junior Achievement of South Florida maritime development program serves to do just that! Students are introduced to a great career field and well-paying, sustained, interesting and diverse jobs for their future. At the same time, Junior Achievement lays the groundwork for a plentiful maritime-specific educated and trained workforce for the next generation,” said Lori Baer, Executive Director, Port Everglades Association.

“From what we’re experiencing as a nation, now more than ever, our cause is crucial in gearing up our next generation of maritime professionals. It’s exciting to see the progress we have made so far with the Marine Industry Storefront and its impact on the students,” said Christine Battles, CAO, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, “but there is still a lot to be done. If you believe in fueling our industry with new talent, we encourage you to become a partner and join the cause.”

“The marine industry plays a vital role in the South Florida economy and like all high-growth industries, needs a strong workforce pipeline. We are proud of our partnership with the companies that support the Sea the World storefront in the Patten Family Foundation JA Career Discovery Park. Preparing young people for work and success requires the support and partnership of the business, nonprofit and education community.” said Laurie Sallarulo, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida.

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

Latest News

Junior Achievement is Non-Profit of the Year

Junior Achievement of South Florida Receives Prestigious Honor

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) received the Memorial Healthcare System Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award at 211 Broward’s recent 11th Annual Community Care Plan Non-Profit Awards Ceremony. The awards celebrate the inspiring work of Broward County’s non-profit agencies and recognize the individual efforts of outstanding non-profit executives and board leaders. This particular award celebrates stellar management practices, accomplishes significant goals, and serves as a model for other non-profit organizations. The ceremony was on March 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

JA was also a finalist for the Truist Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Collaboration award for our collaboration with Broward County Public Schools.

The winners in each category receive a monetary grant award of $1,000 for their non-profit organizations courtesy of the Ray Pollard Jr. Family Paying It Forward Fund and Award partners. The finalists in each category will each receive a $500 grant for their organization.

For more information about the 211 Broward Non-Profit Awards, CLICK HERE.

###

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

Latest News

JA Worldwide Nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize

Junior Achievement of South Florida Celebrates this Prestigious Honor

We’re proud to announce that JA Worldwide has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Junior Achievement of South Florida, a member of the global JA network, has been serving young people in Broward and south Palm Beach counties since 1959, equipping them with the skillset and mindset to create sustainable businesses, find meaningful employment, and build thriving communities.

Nominations may be received only from heads of state and certain elected officials, university professors in selected fields, past Nobel laureates, and a few other notable individuals. Although the identity of each nominee officially remains anonymous for 50 years, JA Worldwide received permission to share that JA was nominated by a distinguished Professor of Law and International Affairs who was impressed by our global reach, our success in delivering economic empowerment to youth at scale, and our ability to find unity in diversity. For centuries, unemployment and poverty have led to political instability, violence, and war. By economically empowering youth on all continents, JA serves a conduit for peace.

Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide, shared his perspective in response to the nomination: “Peace is only possible when youth in all countries and regions have economic empowerment. JA Worldwide is honored to receive this nomination and will continue our work to enable all young people to have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Our primary hope for solving the world’s most complex problems rests in the young people of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Although all other Nobel prizes are awarded in Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, assisted by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which acts as its secretariat. Grete Nykkelmo, CEO of JA Norway (Ungt Entreprenørskap), responded to the news in this way: “We are delighted to share in this recognition as a proud member of the JA Worldwide network. Our unique blend of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness enables us to impact individuals, communities, and society. Peace is achieved when young people have economic opportunity, and we are honored that JA has been recognized alongside other nominees that are striving for a more peaceful world.”

###

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

Latest News

Go Riverwalk January 2022: A Triumphant Return

SAMPLE DISHES AND DRINKS FROM LOCAL CHEFS AND VENDORS AT JA WORLD UNCORKED

Go Riverwalk
Fort Lauderdale’s City Magazine
January 2022

The non-profit organization Junior Achievement of South Florida has been making an impact on K-12 students for more than 60 years. With 20 different programs, their focus is on instilling students with the confidence to navigate their futures through learning about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness.

“Our programs are realistic and impactful. It’s all about teaching kids real-world skills they might not learn anywhere else, and we have 55,000 plus students who come through JA World each year,” said Diana Metcalf, director of development at Junior Achievement of South Florida.

Unfortunately, for JA, one of its biggest fundraising events had to be cancelled earlier this year due to Covid but luckily this Jan. 29, the JA World Uncorked event will finally be making its triumphant return. The annual event is hosted by one of the Junior Achievement’s biggest supporters, the Circle of Wise Women, which was founded in 2009 with the goal of supporting the organization and its programs in a substantial way.

“When we first founded the Circle of Wise Women, we had a very simple mission — to advocate for and support Junior Achievement of South Florida and their programs,” said Metcalf.

Since its inception, the group has raised more than $4.5 million for Junior Achievement of South Florida, and more specifically through its signature event, the annual JA World Uncorked. At the culinary showcase, guests may sample gourmet bites prepared by leading South Florida chefs and sip on wines, spirits, craft beers and cocktails from local vendors.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE

CLICK FOR INFO ABOUT JA WORLD UNCORKED

Press

IT’S OFFICIAL: JA WORLD UNCORKED IS BACK!

South Florida’s Top Food and Wine Festival Attracts 600+ Guests and Raises Funds for Junior Achievement Programs

For Immediate Release
For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Miller, Marketing Manager
Junior Achievement of South Florida
(954) 979-7110
Ch*********@************da.org

CITY OF COCONUT CREEK, FL – Junior Achievement of South Florida’s (JA) Circle of Wise Women will host its signature culinary event, JA World Uncorked, presented by Breakthru Beverage Florida and amplified by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lilian S. Wells Pavilion.

JA World Uncorked is an indoor food and spirits festival featuring tantalizing bites and indulgent desserts from some of South Florida’s finest restaurants and a vast selection of premier wines, champagne, spirits and craft beers from Breakthru Beverage Florida and Funky Buddha Brewery.

“JA World Uncorked is the complete experience for wine and food lovers. We anticipate more than 600 people to attend this event that brings music, gourmet food, assorted spirits, wine and craft brews together in one amazing venue for a great cause. There’s something for every attendee to enjoy,” said Laurie Sallarulo, Junior Achievement of South Florida President & CEO.

Tickets are $150 until December 15th, when they increase to $185 per person and can be purchased at www.JASouthFlorida.org/JAWorldUncorked. Attendees will enjoy unlimited food and beverages, live music, dancing and raffle prizes.

Special thanks to this year’s three Co-Chairs, Circle of Wise Women Lisa Duke, Alyssa Lovitt and Susan Renneisen. “We have some incredible Co-Chairs and Culinary Chairs on board for this highly anticipated event. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is proud to support the Circle of Wise Women and Junior Achievement’s mission. It’s going to be an exciting evening you don’t want to miss,” said Susan Renneisen of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Also, Executive Chef Marc Gruverman of The Capital Grille, Chef Jose Gonzalez of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Chef Paul Niedermann of SALT 7, and Chef Anibal Suarez of Cuba Libre are the event’s Culinary Chairs.

JA World Uncorked is sponsored by Breakthru Beverage Florida (Presenting Sponsor), Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, ESG Safe, Florescue Family Foundation, CITY Furniture, Exotech, Bob & Sandra Moss, Bluegreen Vacations, Comcast, Rick Case Automotive Group, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Office Depot, MST Foundation, Dickinson Wright LLP, Gray Robinson, Fran and Peter Woolf, Austin & Christine Forman, John Buyers, Greenberg Traurig, OK Generators, Susan Rindley Sotheby’s International Realty, Centennial Bank, Centuric, and NextEra Energy (FPL). Special thanks to this year’s Host Sponsors: Connie Chaney, Milin Espino, Jill Ginsberg, Alyssa Greenspan – Community Capital Management, Jennifer Homan, Blaire Lapides, Johanna Maytin, Diana Metcalf, Jan Nouss. Thanks also go out to this year’s Partners: Argyle Coffee Roasters, Brandstar, Daoud’s Fine Jewelry, Funky Buddha Brewery, Lifestyle Media Group, Print Basics, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and WPLG Local 10.

Now in its eleventh year, this culinary event raises funds to benefit Junior Achievement’s educational programs. Each year, these programs help educate 50,000 kindergarten-12th grade students in Broward and south Palm Beach counties about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. Since it was founded in 2010, the JA Circle of Wise Women have raised more than $4.5 million through JA World Uncorked and other initiatives.

The event is held at JA World, which is the largest JA facility in the world at 60,000 sq. ft. JA World houses JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. In JA BizTown, more than 21,000 5th graders each year operate a hands-on mini city as citizens, consumers, employees and business owners. JA Career Discovery Park welcomes 20,000 8th graders each year to learn how financial decisions will impact their lives – including budgeting for family health care, real estate, home improvements, automobiles, insurance, entertainment, education, purchasing goods and services and more.

For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Diana Metcalf at Di***@************da.org or (954) 979-7120.

###

About Junior Achievement of South Florida

Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) inspires and prepares youth to succeed in a global economy. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Career Discovery Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida.

CLICK FOR TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS

Latest News

Comcast Newsmakers: Training the Next Generation of Workers

COMCAST NEWSMAKERS
Hosted by:Nathalia Ortiz Produced by: Florida Newsmakers Team
Posted: December 06, 2021

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to as high as 14%. While things have improved since early 2020, organizations like Junior Achievement of South Florida have proven vital in assisting the next generation of talent by getting them ready for the workforce. Organization President and CEO Laurie Sallarulo talks about their programs.

Press

Inflation, Scarcity and Teachable Moments

Author: Jack E. Kosakowski, President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA

Most Americans under the age of 40 are experiencing something they haven’t before; inflation. With the exception of a brief period at the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008, inflation has been restrained for nearly four decades. That means prices rising at a pronounced rate in a short amount of time is a new experience for many Millennials and members of Generation Z.

There are several contributing factors to the recent and sustained increase in prices. Though there are more academic ways of explaining how inflation works, a simple definition is “too many dollars chasing too few goods.” The sudden reopening of the economy following the initial shock of the pandemic, combined with government stimulus efforts, labor shortages, and the struggles of the global supply chain to keep up – creating scarcity of some products – are all contributing factors to the current surge in prices.

The impact of inflation and scarcity is not going unnoticed by young Americans. A recent survey by Junior Achievement and research firm ENGINE Insights found that 75 percent of teens have noticed changes during recent shopping experiences, including higher prices (49%), harder-to-find items (47%), and fewer checkers/less help at stores (32%).

From a financial literacy standpoint, these hopefully short-term economic realities present a teachable moment. There’s an old saying, “People fear what they don’t understand.” And while this doesn’t mean that today’s inflation shouldn’t be a cause for concern, as anyone who experienced the double-digit stagflation of the 1970s can attest, the factors contributing to today’s price increases are different than those of the past. Fostering a greater understanding of basic economic concepts among our young people will help them put their concerns into proper context.

To help achieve this, Junior Achievement delivers financial literacy learning experiences to young people in communities across the country with the support of business leaders, educators, and volunteers. Financial literacy is one of three educational pathways promoted by Junior Achievement, along with work- and career-readiness, and entrepreneurship. JA’s approach to these subjects has been shown to positively impact students’ knowledge, attitudes, and competencies related to these essential life skills. A 2020 study by research firm Ipsos shows that JA alumni credit Junior Achievement for helping them have a better understanding of how money, business, and careers work.

To learn more about how you can be part of these “teachable moments,” contact us today.

Latest News

Sun Sentinel: Building the Next Generation of Thinkers and Innovators

OPINION
By LAURIE SALLARULO AND DONNA KORN
SPECIAL TO THE SUN SENTINEL | DEC 03, 2021 AT 8:00 AM

Unleashing the highest potential of every young person is at the core of Broward County Public Schools and Junior Achievement of South Florida’s missions. The partnership between the two organizations has deepened over the past 13 years and is focused on integrating relevant, experiential Junior Achievement programs around work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy into core curriculum. These programs provide classroom lessons and simulations that help students connect academics and real life while building knowledge, skills, habits and mindsets that prepare them for success.

In addition to teaching work skills, another common goal of BCPS and Junior Achievement is exposing students to pathways that spark their interest and passion. A key pathway is entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship education builds character as well as critical thinking skills, which prepare students for any path our students decide to pursue.

Entrepreneurship education not only provides the capacity to start companies, which more and more young people are interested in today, but also teaches students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to think creatively, solve problems, work collaboratively, build confidence and develop talents and skills critical to success.

Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning experience, starting as early as elementary school and progressing through higher education. Studies of high-school-level curricula in youth entrepreneurship report that students increase their career goals, interest in college and leadership behavior after participating in entrepreneurship programs. In addition, the study shows that students who participate in entrepreneurship education are four times more likely to develop a sense of ownership — businesses, homes, cars, financial and job ownership.

Each year, Junior Achievement of South Florida provides entrepreneurship education to over 600 high school students across 28 BCPS high schools. Over the course of the school year, these students develop problem solving, communication, collaboration, presentation and critical thinking skills by starting real operating companies, taking them from ideation to capitalization to dissolution. Students source, market and sell their products, learning about supply chain and logistics management, customer service and financing. Student company teams compete locally and nationally for Company of the Year status. This program is transformative!

But this education should be available to every student. This type of learning can help address systemic inequities in our education system, as research suggests that at-risk students who develop these skills early are more likely to enroll in post-secondary education, be prepared for the workforce, and engage in entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship education can provide a chance for every student to change their circumstances and self‐determine their future. It can create a level playing field where the best ideas win.

The nature of the workforce is changing rapidly and we must focus on getting our students ready to succeed in the new global marketplace. Preparing today’s students to succeed in tomorrow’s world requires that students be prepared with the capacity to achieve not only in business as we know it today but in future business models that we have yet to explore. This is a pivotal responsibility for education today. It is imperative that we all play a role in this responsibility. Corporate leaders must invest in preparing the future workforce; parents must advocate for entrepreneurial education, ensuring their children possess the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset they’ll need to be successful; and local, state and federal political leaders need to support this curriculum as a core competency in education.

Junior Achievement of South Florida and Broward County Public Schools continue to explore expanded opportunities to work together to provide more students with an entrepreneurial opportunity along their educational journey.

We can all be a catalyst in creating a vibrant, equitable culture of innovation and entrepreneurship for all of our children. Join Junior Achievement and BCPS in this educational movement! For more information about Junior Achievement entrepreneurship programs, how to get involved as a mentor or advocate or to support these programs, visit jasouthflorida.org/ja-fellows.

Laurie Sallarulo is President and CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida, and Donna Korn is a member of the Broward County School Board.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE IS FOUND HERE

Press

10 Million Reasons for Work and Career Readiness Education

Author: Jack E. Kosakowski, President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA

Recently, and for the first time, the number of job openings in the United States exceeded 10 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) Report. At the same time, there are more than 7 million who are eligible to work but who are unemployed.

Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of conversation around what’s happening in the American workforce. This includes “The Great Resignation,” where record numbers of workers are quitting their jobs, citing everything from pandemic-related burnout and lagging wages to a complete reassessment of what a job should be in light of everything our society has experienced recently. When you hear these accounts, it’s natural to assume that this is a short-term issue that will work itself out over time as COVID-19 becomes more manageable and people get to the point where they must work to provide for themselves and their families.

The fact is, there is a longer-term problem at hand. Even before the pandemic, employers were struggling to find qualified workers. This had been an issue for several years. However, the difference between now and then is that record numbers of qualified professionals, primarily Baby Boomers, accelerated their plans for retirement during the pandemic. Unfortunately, while one of the most skilled generations in our nation has begun to move out of the workforce en masse, there aren’t similarly skilled younger workers prepared to take their place. More than anything else, this reality could help explain why there are 10 million job openings in need of qualified applicants and so few who can fill them.

The question is, “Why aren’t today’s younger workers more inclined or better prepared to take on these roles?” Ironically, Millennials are one of the most educated generations in history. Unfortunately, according to a 2015 study from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), that education failed to sufficiently cover critical skills needed for employment, including STEM, communication, and critical problem-solving, for too many members of that generation. Additionally, in terms of career aspirations, a 2019 survey by Morning Consult showed that 86 percent of teens and young adults were interested in “Social Media Influencer” as a career choice.

Now, this isn’t to say every teen or young adult is on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram trying to be the next Kim Kardashian or Jake Paul. For instance, the top college majors as of 2021 still focus on critically needed professions like business, healthcare, engineering, and education. And there are millions of Millennials and Gen-Zers who are finding work and career success in those and many other fields. But when our young people look to career role models, should it be surprising that those role models come from something they are extremely familiar with, like social media, and not engineering, for instance?

The truth is, as a society, we need to do a better job of tying education to work and career outcomes so that we don’t end up with such a significant disparity between people looking for jobs and jobs looking for people. This includes helping young people draw the connection between what they are learning in school and its application to success outside of the classroom. This means helping students explore their interests, talents, and strengths and linking them to an educational pathway that results in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies needed to find meaningful and rewarding jobs and careers. This also means putting them in contact with successful professionals in their communities who can serve as role models to inspire them to be the next engineer, technician, educator, skilled tradesperson, or physician, and not necessarily the next social media star.

Junior Achievement learning experiences do just that. As the result of JA’s work and career readiness pathways approach, which complements similar coursework in financial literacy and entrepreneurship, our program alumni tell us that Junior Achievement played a significant role in increasing their educational attainment, professional development, and career satisfaction. Part of our educational delivery includes engaging professionals from the local community as volunteers to deliver our learning experiences while sharing their work and career journeys with students. The combination of our volunteer delivery model and curriculum has been shown to inspire and prepare young people to find work and career success as adults.

Latest News

‹
5
6
7
8
9
›