EVERY CHILD.
WORLD READY.
Our dream, our work, our vision:
ALL children in Memphis and the Mid-South have the tools they need to build the careers and futures they want.
Junior Achievement empowers children to solve problems, think critically and become engaged members of their community so they are excited for the future and know how to reach their dreams.
Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South delivers Education for What’s Next.
Through hands-on, career-connected learning, we help students see the relevance of education, build durable skills, and access opportunity-filled futures.
Since 1955, JA of Memphis and the Mid-South has partnered with schools and communities to prepare K–12 students for what’s next. Working alongside educators, district leaders, and business partners, we connect classroom learning to real-world experiences that build skills, confidence, and opportunity.
Each year, over 25,000 students across our 71-county service area in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas participate in Junior Achievement learning experiences delivered by educators and trained community volunteers.
Together, these partnerships help students become confident, capable, and connected while creating lasting impact across our region.
Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South has been educating K-12 students about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy since 1955. Working with our education and community partners — and using an extensive array of experiential, hands-on programs supported by best-in-class curriculum — JA helps children discover the tools they need to own their economic success and build the future they want.
More than 40,000 students participate in JA programs each year within our 71-county service area that includes schools in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Our programs are taught by both classroom teachers and trained volunteers from across the community. These partnerships, along with the support we receive from our corporate and financial partners, are what fuels our success and guarantees our future.
PROGRAM PILLARS: THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK
Entrepreneurship
Work-readiness
Financial Literacy
OUR IMPACT
We prepare students for real life through experiential learning that drives engagement, achievement, and economic mobility.
Our solutions support students from elementary through high school with age-aligned, career-connected learning experiences. Through a mix of classroom curriculum, digital resources, and immersive, hands-on experiences, students actively apply what they’re learning. Our approach goes beyond traditional instruction—immersing students in real-world scenarios that make learning relevant and meaningful.
Junior Achievement's elementary-aged programs build foundational financial literacy, career awareness, and life skills through interactive, play-based learning that introduces them to how the real world works.
The middle school grade programs deepen students' understanding of career pathways, personal finance, and decision-making—developing the skills needed to plan for their educational and career journeys.
Our high school programs help students engage in career-connected learning experiences that help them explore in-demand careers, build workforce-ready skills, and make informed postsecondary decisions.
- OUR IMPACT PARTNERS
