A Bold Vision for Systemic Change

For more than seven decades, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA) has inspired and prepared young people to succeed. But today’s economic landscape demands more than inspiration—it requires a transformation in how we equip youth to pursue economic opportunity. As automation transforms industries, college enrollment declines, and more jobs demand higher degrees than they once did—often without changes in job duties—a new approach is needed to prepare the next generation for success.

JA is answering that call—not just as a program provider, but as a regional catalyst for systems change. Through a bold new strategy that builds "Future-Ready Youth" and "Future-Ready Ecosystems," JA is uniquely poised to convene school districts, educators, employers, economic development leaders, and community partners to align efforts around one powerful goal: increasing economic mobility for all young people in Southeast Louisiana.

We are no longer focused solely on what happens in the classroom—we are committed to transform the system itself.

JA is leading with a collaborative mindset. By acting as a trusted convener, JA seeks to bring together K-12 leadership, industry councils, and workforce development organizations to expose young people to high-wage, high-growth industries in our region—from healthcare and advanced manufacturing to technology and the creative economy.

This collaborative spirit is not just theoretical. Our partnerships with organizations like YouthForce NOLA, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, St. Tammany Corps have helped connect students to mentorship, internships, and real-world applications of classroom learning. Our career expos, mock interviews, and JA StartUP entrepreneurship incubator offer access to opportunity and the confidence to take the next step.

Even as we work toward large-scale ecosystem change, JA remains grounded in our long-standing commitment to financial literacy. In 2025, we will scale a locally developed, standards-aligned high school financial literacy course—ensuring students in our service area can meet Louisiana’s graduation requirement with a relevant, engaging curriculum that is rooted in their lived experiences.

But this course is more than a mandate—it is a gateway. Students who complete the financial literacy curriculum emerge with the knowledge to manage their money, the confidence to plan for their futures, and the insight to explore entrepreneurship or postsecondary education with purpose.

Our region’s future depends on more than getting young people into jobs—it depends on building a thriving talent ecosystem. That’s why JA is developing stackable experiences that prepare youth and young adults not just to participate in the workforce, but to shape it.

At JA, we believe that zip code should not determine destiny. We are committed to dismantling the structural barriers that limit opportunity for young people—especially for youth of color, those from low-income households, and young adults navigating nontraditional paths. By aligning our time-tested youth development strengths with an ambitious systems change agenda, we are creating conditions for enduring impact.

The path forward will require vision, investment, and shared commitment. But with the strength of our partnerships and the clarity of our mission, JA is ready to lead the way.

Together, we are not just preparing youth and young adults for the future—we are creating a future that is ready for them.