Junior Achievement of Dallas Inc.

In Dallas, we see far too many bright young people limited not by their potential, but by a lack of knowledge about personal finance, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. Many students in our community face barriers, such as the cycles of poverty, that prevent them from imagining—and building—a successful future in a competitive world and thrive. This is where we step in!

At Junior Achievement of Dallas, Inc., we actively shape the next generation of leaders through immersive, volunteer-driven programs that reach K-12 students. Our Experimental Learning Centers (ELCs), like JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, turn complex concepts into real-life experiences—students manage mock businesses, balance checkbooks, set up bank accounts, commit every-day work responsibilities, and make community decisions. Through innovative curriculum in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy, JA Dallas equips students with life skills that schools alone can’t provide.

Our impact is reflected in the confidence and aspirations of our participants. Each student develops practical skills, but more importantly, gains a sense of agency and belonging in our economy. Here is our impact: 

• Over 90% of JA students report that they see savings as a necessity and plan to save money for the future. 
• Nearly 90% of 3rd-grade students identify earning, saving, spending, and donating as the choices they have with money after participating in JA. 
• 94% of JA Finance Park students say that participating in JA taught them how to manage money. 
• Nearly 80% of JA Entrepreneurship Pathway students know the steps to create a business plan and over 74% plan to own a business after participating in JA. 
• 4 out of 5 students identify soft skills such as listening, critical thinking, and communication as important skills for the workforce.

At JA Dallas, we strive to:

• Create an inclusive and diverse future workforce.  
• Tackling the racial, ethnic, and gender wealth gap.
• Develop the next generation of young entrepreneurs and leaders. 
• Leverage technology to expand access and impact for every student.

JA Dallas is also a change agent and diligently working to help break the generational cycle of poverty in our community by:

• Introducing students to the transformative power of career exploration and career planning.
•  Teaching financial strategies to empower students to be fully engaged in the economy.  
• Connecting students with business role model volunteers to instill entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial mindsets.  
• Investing in innovative virtual learning experiences to increase opportunities for students and volunteers.