ABOUT

EDUCATION FOR WHAT’S NEXT^TM

Helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow

Junior Achievement is one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to preparing young people for success in the future of work. Through experiential, career-connected learning, JA helps students connect education to real-world opportunities, build durable skills, and access opportunity-filled futures.

For more than 100 years, Junior Achievement has partnered with schools, educators, businesses, and communities to make learning relevant and prepare students for success in a rapidly changing economy.

Since 1955, Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South has advanced this mission across a 71-county service area spanning Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Each year, nearly 40,000 students participate in JA learning experiences delivered by educators and trained community volunteers. Together with our school, business, and community partners, we help students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences and future careers.

REIMAGINING EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE

The future is changing faster than ever. New technologies, evolving industries, and workforce demands are creating new opportunities and new challenges for today’s students.

Junior Achievement helps bridge the gap between education and the real world through experiential learning that makes classroom lessons meaningful and future-focused.

Working alongside educators, district leaders, businesses, and community organizations, we help students see what’s possible and build pathways toward economic mobility.

ACCELERATING ECONOMIC MOBILITY

At Junior Achievement, our purpose is accelerating economic mobility through education. We help students connect what they’re learning today to the opportunities they’ll pursue tomorrow.

Our approach combines experiential learning, community partnerships, career-connected experiences, and skill development to help young people build opportunity-filled futures.

HOW WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WHAT'S NEXT

While our purpose is accelerating economic mobility, our work is rooted in three interconnected areas that have defined Junior Achievement for generations:

CAREER READINESS

Students explore career pathways, develop durable workplace skills, and connect classroom learning to future opportunities through hands-on experiences and interactions with business professionals.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Students gain the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions, manage resources responsibly, and build a foundation for long-term financial well-being.

ENTREPRENSURSHIP

Students learn to think creatively, solve problems, identify opportunities, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that prepares them to thrive in any career path.

Together, these experiences help students build the skills, confidence, and connections needed for opportunity-filled futures.

At Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they start.

Our work is centered on helping students become confident, capable, and connected so they can thrive in school, career, and life.

Watch our mission video to learn what being “World Ready” means in our community.