About Us
Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts impacts thousands of young people each year,
opening their minds to their potential and preparing them for life after graduation.
As a member of JA USA, JA of Western Massachusetts is a part of the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
Junior Achievement envisions a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. JA programs are offered to schools and community groups throughout Western Massachusetts and Vermont. All JA programs correlate to U.S. National Standards, Common Core Standards, and MA and VT Academic Content Standards.
Our age‐appropriate, academically challenging programs are offered to local schools and community groups in part with the financial support we receive from hundreds of local businesses, individuals, and foundations, in addition to our special events.
Our History
Junior Achievement was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph; Horace Moses, president of Strathmore Paper Co.; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. Junior Achievement has since grown to become the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.
JA’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
Our Purpose and Core Values
Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. We maintain an active vision for how we can have a positive impact on the lives of more students, guided by our core values:
- Belief in the boundless potential of young people
- Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship
- Passion for what we do and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how we do it
- Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals
- Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration
- Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
We at Junior Achievement are dedicated to providing a positive, enriching learning experience free of bias that promotes greater economic opportunity and equity. Junior Achievement welcomes students, volunteers, educators, staff, and other partners and stakeholders, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other legally protected characteristic.
Our Approach
JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students. Embodying the heart of JA, our more than 400 classroom volunteers transform the key concepts of our lessons into a message that inspires and empowers students to believe in themselves, showing them they can make a difference in the world.
Our Impact
Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, Inc., serves over 8,500 students each year in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties as well as part of Worcester County (Quaboag, Tantasqua, and Quabbin School Districts), and the state of Vermont.
Junior Achievement has a beneficial impact on students’ attitudes and knowledge base, which they take with them into the adult world of work and to improves the likelihood of their future success . When asked if being a JA student positively affected their future, 92 percent of JA alumni responded with a resounding “Yes!” Learn more in our 2021-2022 annual report. Please stay tuned as our fiscal year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 report will be shared soon.
Our Supporters
Our goal as an organization is to better serve the community, and support it with an educated future workforce. In return, we require the support of the community so we can continue as an organization. This includes finding volunteers from who are willing to go into the classrooms and other settings to support our work. It also means finding community members and business professionals who are willing to serve as board members or committee members to support the mission and administrative side of Junior Achievement.
