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.
At Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, we believe in Education for What’s Next—preparing students not just for today, but for the opportunities of tomorrow. Through experiential, career-connected learning, students build the skills, confidence, and vision they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Since 1955, JA of Memphis and the Mid-South has partnered with schools and communities to deliver experiential learning that prepares K–12 students for career readiness, financial capability, and long-term success in a rapidly changing economy. Working alongside educators, district leaders, and business partners, we deliver integrated education solutions that connect classroom learning to real-world application—helping students take ownership of their economic futures.
Each year, nearly 40,000 students across our 71-county service area in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas engage in Junior Achievement learning experiences that expand opportunity and prepare them for what’s next. These experiences are delivered by educators and trained community volunteers—bringing real-world perspectives into the classroom and strengthening connections between students and the workforce.
These partnerships power measurable outcomes for students and drive long-term impact for our community.
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 develop and nurture young learners with real-world experiences.
Our programs are available to children aged kindergarten through high school. We use all kinds of methods to deliver our work, including video lessons, curriculum for classroom teachers, and trained volunteers. We are best known, though, for our hands-on learning experiences.
Our goal: EVERY CHILD becomes WORLD READY, thanks to their parents, teachers, their community — and what they learn at Junior Achievement.
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Junior Achievement's elementary school programs are the foundation of its K-12 curricula. Play-based learning and multimedia resources shape students' attitudes toward money, work, and community.
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
The middle grades programs build on concepts the students learned in Junior Achievement’s elementary school programs and help teens best prepare for their educational and professional future.
HIGH
SCHOOL
Junior Achievement’s high school programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and foster skills highly useful in business.
- Our Partners
