Board Information & Resources
Overview of 70 Years, 1 Million Journeys Campaign. You’ll find that Ochsner’s campaign slides in the left column when viewing on a computer (mobile will show differently) provide a great overview of the many assets they have created. You’ll also find the airport exhibition layout in the left column when reviewing on a computer. The right column, which comes after the slides on a mobile device, provides you with access to videos to share, facts about JA that you can share, social media posts that you can copy and paste. The final section offers students stories that you can share when advocating for JA. If you need any additional tools, please do not hesitate in reach out to kelly@jagno.org.
The above video was created and produced by Ochsner’s incredible team. We are so grateful. If you would like to view additional videos or download them to share on your own social media, you will find them stored by Ochsner here.
The following is information and copy that you can copy and paste into your own emails or social media posts.
Our Story
Since 1955, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA) has worked to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need to build thriving futures. With a focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, JA has reached youth across 13 parishes in Southeast Louisiana and 29 counties in Mississippi. As we approach our 70th anniversary, we’re preparing to celebrate an extraordinary milestone—reaching our 1 millionth student.
JA Alumni Data:
Independent research highlights the transformative outcomes of JA programs:
JA alumni achieve a 93% high school graduation rate and are 30% more likely to earn a college degree.
Alumni earn 20% more than the general population and move out of poverty at significantly higher rates.
88% of JA alumni report career satisfaction, with many becoming business owners or leaders in their fields.
Dynamic programs for the 21st century:
Junior Achievement's innovative programming is designed to prepare young people not just for today’s challenges, but for tomorrow’s opportunities. Our hands-on, experiential learning model helps students imagine and create a future where they can thrive.
Future Connect links middle and high school students with local employers through career fairs, job shadowing and workshops to gain confidence.
Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge challenges high school students to unleash creativity and entrepreneurial potential by pitching ideas to local leaders.
JA BizTown introduces 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to the world of work, business, and civic responsibility as they take on running shops as CEOs, CFOs, Marketing Directors, Business to Business and Business to Consumer sales personnel in a simulated city.
JA StartUP empowers young adults ages 18–25 as they pursue entrepreneurial ventures. The program is tailored for creatives, culture bearers, innovators, and entrepreneurs of necessity.
Where We’re Headed
Reaching the next generation – 1 millionth student campaign
This region-wide campaign honors our legacy while looking boldly toward the future. As we work to identify and celebrate our 1 millionth student, we are also evolving our role in the region’s education and workforce landscape. Junior Achievement is not only preparing young people to succeed—we are positioning ourselves as a catalyst for ecosystem-level change.
We are deepening our partnerships with school districts, community organizations, economic development agencies, and employers to create sustainable pathways from education to employment. Our work increasingly focuses on systems alignment—ensuring students gain not just knowledge, but access to real opportunities, industry credentials, mentorship, and entrepreneurship support. Whether through early financial education or advanced entrepreneurial training, JA is building the infrastructure for long-term wealth creation and economic mobility.
Social Media Posts
Click here for access to Social Media animated assets you can download.
Click here for LinkedIn Instructions.
Click here for photos that you can use.
Posts You Can Use:
Looking for our 1 millionth student! Could it be your child? For 70 years, JA has inspired young people to explore careers, build financial literacy, and embrace entrepreneurship. I’m honored to serve on the JA Board and help drive this vision forward. Learn more at https://www.jagno.org/1-million
Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans is celebrating 70 years of impact! We’re approaching our 1 millionth student served—will it be your child? Proud to stand with JA as we prepare the next generation for financial success, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. Learn more at https://www.jagno.org/1-million
#JA70 #1MillionJourneys
For 70 years, JA has helped young people dream bigger and achieve more. We’re about to reach our 1 millionth student—a milestone that speaks to lasting change in our community. I’m proud to be a JA Board Member as we continue this incredible journey. Learn more at https://www.jagno.org/1-million
#JA70 #1MillionStudents
For 70 years, Junior Achievement has inspired and prepared young people for success. As we approach our 1 millionth student, you can help us reach this milestone. Every gift fuels financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship education. Donate today: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/70years1millionjourneys/
#JA70 #1MillionJourneys
As a proud Board Member of Junior Achievement, I’ve seen firsthand the impact JA has on our community. For 70 years we’ve prepared young people for success—and now we’re about to reach our 1 millionth student. Join me in celebrating this milestone with a gift today: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/70years1millionjourneys/ #JA70 #1MillionJourneys
Serving on the JA Board has shown me how powerful this mission is. We’re celebrating 70 years of impact and are close to reaching our 1 millionth student served. I invite you to join me in making a difference by donating here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/70years1millionjourneys/ #JA70 #1MillionStudents
I’m proud to be a JA Board Member during this historic moment—70 years of empowering youth and nearly 1 million students served. Your support ensures even more young people gain the skills to own their economic success. Please consider giving today: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/70years1millionjourneys/ #JA70 #1MillionJourneys
The following tells of just some of the ways JA has impacted young people.
Our true impact lives in the lives Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans helped shape and in the sparks of possibility ignited in classrooms, mentorships, and workshops. Numbers may chart our growth, but it’s the stories of students like Javon, Kelly, Maya, Ivan, and the JA StartUP cohort that tell you who we are.
Javon, a student at International High School of New Orleans, found more than just a resume boost through JA, he found his future. After participating in JA’s career exploration programs and mock interviews, he earned an internship at Trimedx, where he shadowed a biomedical equipment technician team. His mentor, Bryant Hawkins, a deeply committed JA volunteer, became a guiding force offering not just career advice, but life lessons in purpose, professionalism, and pride. When Javon later underwent a surgery and saw Trimedx equipment being used in his own care, everything came full circle; he knew a career in Biomedical Equipment Technology was his future. Javon told his story at a career day event, and his experience moved the President of the College of Biomedical Equipment Technology to offer him a scholarship on the spot. It was mentorship in action and proof that exposure and encouragement can change the trajectory of a young life. Today, Javon is enrolled in the College, on his way to becoming a Biomedical Equipment Technician.
That same spirit of transformation lived in this year’s JA StartUP cohort. Designed for young adults ages 18–25, JA StartUP supports entrepreneurs of necessity and culture-bearers who are building businesses not just to survive, but to uplift their communities. In Southeast Louisiana—a region defined by its resilience, creativity, and cultural richness—this program places deep value on ideas born from our local traditions and lived experiences. From candle companies inspired by our artistic culture to wellness platforms rooted in community care, participants brought forward ventures that reflect both the spirit and substance of our region. This year’s top awardees was Ty’reous Day, whose business, New Orleans Instrument Repair, earned funds for its focus on restoring musical instruments and educating young musicians, an enterprise that honors the heartbeat of our city’s world-renowned music culture. Through training, mentorship, and seed funding, each participant gained not only tools but also affirmation: that their dreams have economic and cultural value. They left with concrete plans, lasting networks, and a new sense of purpose. They are standing taller in the knowledge that their ideas are worthy of investment and that their voices matter in shaping the future of our region.
That belief was modeled years earlier by Kelly Yu, a graduate of our Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge. Kelly, a Chinese-American filmmaker raised in New Orleans, credits the entrepreneurial skills she learned through JA—pitching, marketing, and storytelling—with helping her stand out as a creative. Today, her award-winning films explore cultural identity and human complexity. She says JA taught her that “anything is possible, no matter how crazy or challenging the idea is”—a lesson she carries with her on every set.
Our story grows each year at our YouthForce NOLA + JA Career Expo, where nearly 2,000 high school students filled UNO’s Lakefront Arena. This year, 9th grader Maya had not considered working in healthcare—but it was at a CPR resuscitation race table that she experienced what it meant to have hands-on impact. Under the guidance of a volunteer paramedic, she performed chest compressions and realized her compassion could translate into a career. Throughout the day, industry reps—from maritime safety to utility maintenance—opened new doors for every student. They didn’t just speak about jobs; they engaged students in the thrill of saving lives, powering cities, and building futures. This immersive moment ignited something in Maya and hundreds of others: a belief that high-wage, high-growth opportunities could be more than just dreams—they could become reality.
And then there’s Ivan, a student at Opportunities Academy, a New Orleans-based post-secondary program designed for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Opportunities Academy equips students with the skills, experiences, and confidence they need to achieve meaningful employment and independent living. Ivan began participating in JA career and work readiness programs at his school and then joined JA as an intern through our Future Connect initiative. After two years, he transitioned from intern to valued staff member by learning new tasks and contributing meaningfully to our day-to-day operations. Ivan’s journey is a reminder that when we create inclusive spaces that recognize every individual’s potential, we don’t just expand opportunity—we strengthen our workplace and our entire community. He is not just part of the JA team; he is part of the JA story.
These moments—Maya pushing hard on a CPR dummy, Kelly Yu turning a film into cultural storytelling, Ivan finding his voice at JA, and Javon stepping into purpose—aren’t just program outcomes. They reflect the heart of our work. Behind every metric is a young person standing a little taller, dreaming a little bigger, and stepping boldly into a future they may not have seen without us. This is the heart of JA—and it's beating stronger than ever.