About JA

Changing the Lives of Young People

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. The inspiration piece comes from community volunteers who not only deliver our lessons, but share their experience. In the process, these volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young people’s perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. Preparation involves our proven lessons that promote financial capability, work and career readiness, and business ownership.

Empowering the Next Generation

Junior Achievement’s proven lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship are shown to positively impact the lives of young people. These lessons align with national and state educational standards and are delivered to millions of students across the country with the help of our education partners and volunteers from the local community.

Research shows that JA Alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.

Learn more about Ipsos/JA Alumni Report

Junior Achievement Facts

What is Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement is 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.

Junior Achievement’s programs, which focus on the key content areas of financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship, ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

Volunteers

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts partners with more than 275 volunteers to bring JA’s programs to local students. Our volunteers come from all walks of life including business people, college students, parents, and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization. For more information on becoming a JA Volunteer, click here.

Purpose

Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

Organizational Overview

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts is headquartered in New Bedford, and serves the Greater Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Wareham districts.

Program Reach

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts impacts over 7,000 young people annually through programs inside and outside of the classroom. JA programs are taught by volunteers across 21 cities and towns in Southern Massachusetts.

Proven Success

Junior Achievement is one of a few nonprofits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on Junior Achievement's effectiveness. Findings prove that Junior Achievement has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. We invite you to read the Programs Evaluation Results.

Leadership

The Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts team consists of President Jeffrey Pelletier, and three support staff, who are overseen by an active Board of Directors. The Board, made up of committed volunteers hailing mostly from the business community, provides governance and assists the staff with securing volunteer and funding resources.

A Brief History

Junior Achievement was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph; Horace Moses, president of Strathmore Paper Co.; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. Its first program, JA Company Program®, empowered high school students to solve a problem in their community by building and managing their own start-up company. In 1975, the organization entered the classroom, and over the last 39 year Junior Achievement has expanded its offerings to provide programs for students inside and outside of the classroom.

Locally, JA chapters in Massachusetts were incorporated in New Bedford in 1948, Fall River in 1976 and Attleboro in 1977. In 1993, JA chapters in Greater Fall River and Greater New Bedford merged and were joined by the Attleboro and Taunton areas by 1999.

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts Team

Staff

Our staff is committed to making your experience working with us absolutely the best!

JA Staff

Leadership

Meet the passionate and committed team that is working hard to empower our youth.

JA Leadership

Board

Our Board Members includes the finest business and individual leaders in our community.

JA Board

More about Junior Achievement

Financial and Annual Reports

We've consistently received high grades for accountability and transparency.

JA Financials

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 K-12 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 Commitment To Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion