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"Junior Achievement's commitment and intentionality around diversity and inclusion is amazing.”
By Erika OShea
Community Involvement
Emily Brown participated in Junior Achievement programs as a young girl in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. “I was in the 3rd or 4th grade when Junior Achievement came to my classroom. I also participated in a JA summer camp. I vividly remember being so excited for JA every month” The tools and skills she learned in those programs help inspire a passion for entrepreneurship and social change in...
"Our JA leaders taught us you're never too young to have dreams or set goals for yourself."
By Erika Oshea
Community Involvement
De’Na and De’Onta Newborn were first involved with Junior Achievement at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy as elementary students. Over the course of their education, JA volunteer mentors have exposed them to career paths and have helped them define their...
CommunityAmerica Credit Union Makes Historic $1 Million Investment in Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Kids
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
Kansas City, Missouri (November 18, 2019) — Students across the Kansas City metro area will thrive as a result of a transformational $1 million gift from CommunityAmerica Credit Union. The partnership is longstanding, with the organization’s first gift made to Junior Achievement in 1997. With this latest gift, CommunityAmerica’s lifetime investment in JA totals $1,285,436. CommunityAmerica’s gift...
"You’re building a legacy for students when you give back to Junior Achievement."
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Community Involvement
Although Janice Clark is currently retired, she loves to stay busy — and one of her greatest passions is volunteering with Junior Achievement where her grandchildren go to school, at Brookside Charter. “I love this excellent organization,” Janice says. “I enjoy volunteering for Junior Achievement because the role they play in Kansas City is huge. It’s been around a long time and affected a lot of...
“Junior Achievement played a significant role in where I am in my life today. It gave me an early start."
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Entrepreneurship
Lirel Holt, founder of CARSTAR, has been his own boss since age 21 — and it all started with his JA experience at Raytown South High School. JA inspired Lirel to create and launch CARSTAR and grow it to become the largest network of collision repair professionals in America. After incredible success growing, franchising and later selling CARSTAR, Lirel co-founded U, Incorporated, where he now has...
“It’s a needed service for a community that’s underserved.”
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
Eli Colmenero’s first experience with Junior Achievement was during a volunteer day at MarksNelson. With his team at MarksNelson, Eli was excited to head out of the office with a group of his colleagues and spend the day making an impact for Junior Achievement kids. While they volunteered behind the scenes, they made a difference on the front...
"I feel like I’m going to do better in life now.”
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Work Readiness
Last school year, as a fifth grader at T. A. Edison Elementary, Ava Guerra participated in Junior Achievement with JA President & CEO, Megan Sturges Stanfield, as her volunteer mentor. “I knew my family and friends believed in me,” Ava says. “Now I know Miss Megan believes in me...
“Junior Achievement is bringing in the real-world piece that our kids need.”
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Work Readiness
In her role as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools, Dr. Trinity Davis is laser-focused on the educational needs of students across the school district. “Junior Achievement is bringing in the real-world piece that our kids need,” Trinity shares. “Every kid knows about being a doctor, a lawyer and a teacher. But most students are unaware of the...
“Because of my involvement in Junior Achievement, I learned there was nothing I couldn’t do.”
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
“At the time, I had no idea what Junior Achievement was setting me up for,” Shelley McNair recalls. Today she’s the Director of Sales Support and Account Management at Principal Financial Group — but Shelley still remembers the vital lessons she learned in her JA program years ago as a student. “Because of my involvement in Junior Achievement, I learned there was nothing I couldn’t do,” Shelley...
“My Junior Achievement experiences have given me an appreciation for what I do now."
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Community Involvement
Junior Achievement has been part of Kate Hood’s life in so many ways. From being first a JA student, to hosting JA volunteers in her classroom as a teacher, and finally becoming a member of the JA staff here in Kansas City, Kate has seen many angles of Junior Achievement and experienced great positive change along the...
