Announcing the 2020 Volunteer Award Recipients!

Junior Achievement of Central Texas recognizes the following volunteers for their exceptional dedication and service to our schools and, most importantly, to our students this year.

"These volunteers are a valuable part of making Junior Achievement so successful in our Central Texas schools," Taylor Vogelsang, president of Junior Achievement of Central Texas. "They bring their personal and professional experiences to students in this community, and it has helped make the connection between what students learn in school and what they will need to succeed in work and life." 

We recognize Kendrick Barnet with City of Austin, Eric Browne with Nimail3 Business Solutions, Stacy Knight with H-E-B and Katherine Sobel with PeopleFund as Emerging Volunteer Leaders. Each one has volunteered for less than three years with JA of Central Texas yet have already made an impact in the classroom and in our organization by taking on multiple classroom assignments and going above and beyond connecting with students. We look forward to building relationships with these volunteers and impacting more students. 

Our Excellence in Volunteering Award goes to Ali Wittich with Publicis Sapient, and David Gonzalez of EY. These volunteers have not only taught in the classroom, but have also joined our local planning committees to shape the future of JA of Central Texas. They help to guide our fundraising, planning and outreach efforts. We are grateful for their collaboration.

JA Champion Volunteers have not only dedicated multiple years to JA of Central Texas but also shown distinguished service to the organization. We recognize the following volunteers as crucial to our success.

Jullie Strippoli with Charles Schwab started volunteering with Junior Achievement in middle school classrooms more than ten years ago. Since then she has participated in teaching elementary, middle and high school programs. She helped create and serve as a chair of the JA F.E.M. Forum Executive Committee, an event for professionals and students focused on financial equity for women. Her role with JA has continued to evolve and meet the needs of the dynamic Austin community.

William “Bill” Taylor has been volunteering with Junior Achievement for more than 30 years. When he began his career with 3M he was already a dedicated JA volunteer and stipulated that he needed time to continue to volunteer in the classroom. He has since retired from 3M, but not from JA. He continues to volunteer with elementary, middle and high school students. He has even led an award-winning group of teens with the JA Company Program. This Program unlocks the innate ability in high school students to fill a need or solve a problem in their community by launching a business venture and unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit. Bill is an ever-ready and dedicated volunteer whose kindness and ability to connect with students forms the foundation of our volunteer program.

"All of our volunteers have helped reinforce the value of an education to countless students," Vogelsang said. "These volunteers are a wonderful example of how one person can make such a huge difference in the lives of young people in our community."

Locally, Junior Achievement serves approximately 5,000 students each year in the Austin area. JA volunteers are a part of a national network of business and community volunteers who are helping young people develop the competence, confidence, and character needed for success in school, work, and life. 

We couldn’t do what we do without the dedication of our volunteers. Please join us in a round of applause for the 2020 JACT Volunteer Award winners! Congratulations!

JA Goes Virtual!

Ali Wittich, Marketing Operations Lead, North America with Publicis Sapient speaks with us after being our first virtual volunteer to pilot a virtual JA Company Program.

What is your JA history? 

I have been a classroom volunteer with JA for nearly 10 years – in both Washington, DC and now in Austin. I remember being a Junior Achievement student when I was growing up in small town Montana, and my mom was a classroom volunteer when I grew up also- so I have a very strong affinity for JA and the work they do on a national level.

Why do you think JA is important?

I think it’s alarming how little the public school system teaches students about the basics of financial literacy – how to make a budget, how taxes work, jobs, skills, interdependence, needs vs. wants, etc. If you reflect back to your time in school you’ll remember tiny tidbits from long classes in geometry, physics, history, etc. But you probably won’t remember anyone teaching you about the basics of how money works. These critical financial literacy & life skills are left in the hands of parents to teach- making the disparity even greater for kids from single-parent or low-income homes. I think JA is so important because for many students, this is the only time they have someone come into the classroom to get them excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of them.

Why do you volunteer for JA of Central Texas?

I volunteer because I strongly believe in JA’s mission that ‘Opportunity is for Everyone’.

Why did you reach out and want to help a student when the pandemic happened?

I’ve seen first-hand through volunteering in classrooms with JA how school is a solace for many kids, and I wanted to help a young person who was on the right track but had that opportunity taken from them with the quarantine. I reached out to my at JA to see if there was an at-risk, but high potential student who would benefit from mentorship and JA. Through JA’s network, one teacher at Travis High School – Ms. McClure identified a bright student named Michael who had a big idea to launch a polaroid printing business, and then all was put on hold when schools shut down. Over the course of a few months, Michael and I met on Zoom, used the JA “It’s My Business” curriculum, and worked through his business plan – discussing SWOT analysis, budgets, competitive research, etc.

 As a way to celebrate his work I asked Austin friends if they would judge Michael’s final pitch in a Zoom “Shark Tank” – something I thought would be fun and get more friends interested in JA.

 It was a heart-warming grand finale to all his work and growth – and I was proud to watch the shy kid transform into someone who was confident enough to pitch in front of a group of strangers.

 Special thank you to my friends and business leaders who offered amazing feedback and seed funding for Michael on the final pitch.

• Eric Browne, Nimali3 Business Solutions

• David Gonzalez, EY

• Lisa Kotler, Fintech evangelist

• Jess Martin, Stronghorn Fitness

• Jen Smith, DLA Piper

• Natalie Watson, Watson Works

• Hayes Whitney, Superior Healthplan

 It was great to see the JA team open to quickly pivoting to try virtual mentoring – providing opportunity for a high schooler to launch a business in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s hard to measure what the long-term effects of Michael’s future trajectory will be with this Junior Achievement experience and curriculum, but it’s been great to be part of JA’s shift to virtual programming.  

Thank you Ali and all those that jumped in to give this opportunity to Michael!

Looking to be a part of our mission and virtually volunteer with JA this school year? Email: programs@jacentex.org

JA Teens and COVID-19 Impact Survey

 Two-thirds of America’s Teens are Concerned About the Financial Impact of COVID-19

Research Shows Financial Wellbeing as Big a Concern among Teens as Health

Access the Survey Here

The financial impact and pressure brought by COVID-19 are weighing heavily on American teenagers, with more than two-thirds of teens (69%) saying they are either somewhat or very concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their families and day-to-day lives, according to a new survey by Junior Achievement USA (JA) and Citizens Bank.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. teens, aged between 13 and 18 and not currently attending college, found that nearly three-quarters of teens (72%) say they have had a discussion with their parents or guardian about finances as a result of COVID-19. Almost a quarter (24%) of teenagers say their parents or caregivers have shared with them their concerns about paying bills while nearly one-in-seven (13%) say their parent or caregiver has lost their job due to COVID-19.

Other key findings include:

• More than half of the teens surveyed (57%) are concerned about how COVID-19 will impact their plans for the future. The only concerns that worry them more include a family member other than a parent or guardian getting sick (60%) or a parent or caregiver getting sick (59%).

• 44% of high school juniors and seniors say COVID-19 has impacted their plans to pay for college, with a majority (58%) saying they are now more likely to take out student loans to help pay for college. Meanwhile, 30% said they have had to delay college start date, and 13% said they have changed what school they plan to attend because of COVID-19.

• More than a quarter of teens (29%) have a job outside the home, with 46% saying that they or their families depend on their income for living expenses. Most teens who work (62%) say they would need to violate social distancing recommendations to continue working

“Families across America are dealing with the short and long-term challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and teenagers are feeling these impacts, while also navigating being home from school and not knowing what the future holds for them,” said Brendan Coughlin, Head of Consumer Banking at Citizens Bank. “Now, more than ever, it is important that banks help their customers navigate these unique and broad implications and provide economic stability for our communities.

Making Sense: Work in the Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 is having a big impact on jobs

Many people are out of work because of COVID-19. When will they be able to go back? “Making Sense: Work in the Time of COVID-19” by Junior Achievement explores what is happening and what it might mean for the future.

Making Sense: COVID-19, Business and Innovation

Many of our favorite businesses are closed, but what does this mean?

COVID-19 has severely affected many businesses, but entrepreneurs are also playing a role in the fight against the coronavirus. See how they are using innovation in the fight against the coronavirus.

Making Sense: The Impact of COVID-19 on Business and Innovation from Junior Achievement has some of the answers.

Making Sense: Understanding the Financial Impact of COVID-19

We have released a free resource or teens titled Making Sense: Understanding the Financial Impact of COVID-19. The guide is designed to answer teens’ questions about the economic implications of COVID-19, including “Why are some store shelves empty?”, “Why are some people losing their jobs?” and “Are we going into a recession, or even a depression?” The guide is available here.

“While social distancing is essential to fighting COVID-19, the disease and the steps we must take to address it are having a financial impact. Our goal is to help young people better understand what’s happening,” said Taylor Vogelsang. “April is Financial Literacy Month, and this is really an important time to be sharing this kind of information.”

The guide is written with middle school and high school students in mind. It uses relatable examples to explain what a recession is, how the Federal Reserve works and steps being taken by government and the private sector to deal with the economic impact associated with COVID-19. JA is also offering free resources to teachers and parents who may have students finishing school online this semester. Those resources are available HERE!

Project Tomorrows

Today feels uncertain, but tomorrow represents hope and promise.

COVID-19 has quickly and profoundly changed our daily lives. Across the country, schools have closed and many will be switching to online-only learning for the duration of the spring semester in support of social distancing. As unsettling as the past few weeks have been to us as adults, consider the impact this is having on millions of young people who will be finishing school at home.

To support our young people, Junior Achievement is offering online resources for free to teachers and parents at www.JA.org/Tomorrows. We are doing this so that our children can spend more timing planning for and dreaming about tomorrow, and less time worrying about today. We are working hard to adapt more programs for online and home usage as we all move through these challenging times.We are committed to doing this until we can all be certain again.

Here are a few simple things you can do to support this effort.

Share

Please share the www.JA.org/Tomorrows link with any teachers or parents you may know. Also, please share the link and video via social media with your friends and connections, as well. The more the word gets out about these resources, the better JA will be able to support those who can use them the most.

Give

Consider giving a financial gift to Junior Achievement, it is critically important now, as JA is committed to continuing to serve the youth in their communities in new and creative ways. Preparing today’s youth is a critical mission and JA is acting nimbly in order to continue serving the ever-changing needs of students.

JA Central Texas COVID-19 Update

Junior Achievement of Central Texas is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our volunteers, students, teachers and staff during this public health crisis. We want to assure you that we are being vigilant of ongoing updates and are following best practices in conjunction with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Department of State and Health Services. We have also been in communication with our school partners as the situation progresses.

At this time, we are suspending all JA student programs/experiences involving JA volunteer personal interactions with students until April 30th. At that time, we will re-assess the situation and make decisions about how to move forward.

JA Programs

JA's traditional in-class program delivery model is built around volunteers coming into the classroom so that students can learn from the expertise of professionals who work in their communities. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we are adjusting our model to meet the needs of our communities, including teacher-led programming and virtual program delivery. Over the next week while schools are on spring break, we will be working to implement alternative methods of delivery so that students do not miss out on JA Programs.

JA Volunteers 

Junior Achievement will be in communication with our current classroom volunteers to outline next steps while programs are suspended. We will also be adjusting our delivery to allow more flexibility for virtual volunteers and teacher delivery. Moving forward we will continue to monitor the situation in regards to programming scheduled for later in the school semester. Please know that we will update you with these decisions via our website, social media, and email platforms.

JA Special Events

At this time, for the health of our community we have made the decision to postpone the JA F.E.M. Forum scheduled for April 2nd. We will contact attendees with our new date as more information becomes available. All sponsorships will be honored at the time of the rescheduled event.

We would like to thank all of our volunteers, corporate partners, and friends of Junior Achievement of Central Texas for their continued faith in our mission of empowering students to achieve their dreams.

We ask parents, families, employees, volunteers and companies to stay up-to-date on information, employ disease-prevention strategies, and trust only reliable sources including those found below:

AustinTexas.gov/COVID19

DSHS.Texas.gov/Coronavirus

CDC.gov/Coronavirus/2019-nCOV

Wooten Elementary School’s JA in a Day was a Hit for the Students and Volunteers!

Thank you to all the volunteers from all walks of life in our community who came to Wooten Elementary to share their experiences and teach JA’s three pillars, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Work Readiness! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time as much as the students did having you in their classrooms!

Here is what our volunteers are saying:

Jenna Mejia, BBVA

I had a blast with Mr. Comer and his class.  The kids left today feeling empowered from the experience and they really connected well with the JA Our Community curriculum.   

Lindsay Scheld, Endurance International Group

Thank you so much for sharing this opportunity with us! I really had a great experience and I'm ready to come back again!! 

Eric Rivera, Community Volunteer

    I enjoyed my time in the classroom and look forward to the next JA in a Day! This curriculum is so impactful for students. The topics introduced will greatly prepare them for the global and internet economy of tomorrow. The vocabulary and Cha-Ching videos were great resources (and so catchy!)

Priya Iyer, Cadence Bank

    We had a wonderful time with our 2nd graders, and really enjoyed the day.

Andrea Simco, First United Bank

This is amazing!!! Thank you for organizing our visit. It was smooth and very fun! Just love those kiddos!  Please let us know when more opportunities become available.

Andrea Colson, First United Bank

This was a very special day and I enjoyed it even more than I expected! The kids were so well behaved, very brilliant and engaged.  I would love to do it again!

Volunteering as a Corporate Benefit

By Carol Urton

Gone are the days of blank checks going to charities from corporations. In today’s world of giving, corporations look to target their philanthropic support in ways that match what their employees are most passionate about.  

An opportunity to volunteer through your workplace or an established Corporate Social Responsibility program has major unseen benefits. Employees who volunteer are happier, make new workplace friendships, learn new skills, feel healthier and in many ways – advance their career.  

In my opinion, as a CSR leader for six years, the mindfulness that comes from volunteering is the most fascinating unseen benefit. When people get to know the organizations they partner with, they begin to understand the needs of their communities. This also brings an awareness of the many additional things they can do to help. When co-workers volunteer together, they build stronger relationships with each other. This is especially important for those with roles that require long hours of solo work and remote workers. 

When leaders get involved, it gives employees an opportunity to get exposure to people in the company they might not otherwise get to interact with.  Employees get involved on a deeper level when they are engaged in an activity in which the playing field is level. It’s important for leaders to set the pace of community involvement and set the example by taking their valuable time to do something for the greater good.

Experian is a proud supporter of Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Texas.  We do this by participating in the amazing programs JA has to promote financial health. In May 2020, we will send 80 volunteers to participate in “JA in a Day” to promote financial literacy among elementary school children.  We are also excited to sponsor the 2020 JA F.E.M Forum. When companies invest in people through volunteering efforts, it allows them to give back to their communities and feel good about doing good. At Experian, we believe sustainability is fundamental to creating a better tomorrow. This means working with integrity, valuing our people, investing in our communities and unlocking the power of data for social innovation.

The component that holds all of this together is the relationships we build with each other, with nonprofits and with the people they serve. Building relationships, using our talents, and investing time and resources for causes that matter to us has the power to change the world.

Carol Urton is a Director, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Experian. Experian is a School Sponsor of the 2020 JA F.E.M. Forum and a longstanding supporter of JA’s mission that “Opportunity is for Everyone.”

Austin companies of all shapes and sizes are encouraging financial literacy and equity dialogue by supporting the JA F.E.M. Forum on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020. JA F.E.M. Forum brings together professional women with female students over breakfast for a morning of networking, mentoring and financial education. It’s the only event of its kind in Austin, the biggest annual fundraiser for JA Central Texas, and is designed for companies and business leaders who believe #FinancialEquityMatters. Learn more about the event and how you can support here.

Junior Achievement fundraiser could bring financial literacy lessons to over 2,000 Austin area students

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

February 4, 2020

For More Information Contact:

Joanne Parker

Junior Achievement of Central Texas 512.826.3551

joanne@jacentex.org

 

Junior Achievement fundraiser could bring financial literacy lessons to over 2,000 Austin area students 

The 2nd annual JA F.E.M. (Financial Equity Matters) Forum brings together Austin business women and female high school students for a morning of important financial literacy lessons, and could be the largest fundraiser of the year for the organization.  

Austin, Texas - 

Junior Achievement of Central Texas is excited to announce their 2nd annual JA F.E.M. Forum upcoming on Thursday, April 2, 2020 from 9:00am – 11:30am at the Charles Schwab Event Center in Austin, Texas. 

It’s the only event of its kind in Austin, bringing together professional women with female high school students for a morning of networking, mentoring and financial education. With the support of experts, participants will learn about various financial strategies women can employ during different life and career stages -- including workforce entry, the family and career-building years to the pre-retirement years and ultimately to the retirement years -- to help build a platform for financial equity and freedom. 

Local businesses and national corporations alike are taking note of the momentum JA of Central Texas is building to both raise critical funds for the community and open up a larger dialogue about women and financial equity.

 Delta Air Lines is the title sponsor for the second year in a row, with Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director of Community Engagement, citing the event’s importance:

“Delta is proud to be the returning title sponsor of JA F.E.M. Forum - we made this decision a second year in a row because the funds raised directly impact the next generation of Austin's leaders by giving young people access to JA's proven programs in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness. Austin is a city of growth and entrepreneurship, and we're excited to be a part of the momentum.”

Other key sponsors, to date, include: Experian, EY, DLA Piper, Intelligent Logistics, NFP, H-E-B, and Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Junior Achievement’s core belief is that Opportunity is for Everyone. If you want to secure one of the last remaining corporate tables to demonstrate your company’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders, contact Joanne Parker at joanne@jacentex.com.

To learn more, visit http://www.jacentex.org/ja-fem-forum and follow the conversation on social media using #FinancialEquityMatters.

About Junior Achievement of Central Texas

Junior Achievement of Central Texas is a locally-run, 501(c)(3) youth education organization. JACT is part of the JA Worldwide network, the global leader in economic empowerment serving 10 million young people annually in 100 countries. JA inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. JA teaches young people (ages 5-25) entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA's unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students. Our programs show students how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.

Visit www.jacentex.org for more information. To get involved, contact us at programs@jacentex.org.

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Martin Middle School Students Explore Economics & Entrepreneurship

For six weeks, on Thursdays, a group of JA volunteers from all walks of life come to help the students of Martin Middle learn the tools to reach their full potential through JA’s economic and entrepreneurship programs. The volunteers and students are now halfway through this program and the students are really blossoming, they are becoming more curious, confident and are starting to trust their volunteers. Students are starting to offer more ideas and answer more questions while engaging with the content.

Junior Achievement believes that opportunity is for everyone and are dedicated to bringing resources to the schools we serve. Our dedicated volunteers do more than disseminate JA program curriculum- they are mentors cheerleading for the success of their students. We couldn’t do what we do without caring community members stepping up to help expose these students to the possibilities, and helping students turn “I Can’t” into “I Can”.

Thank to our Junior Achievement Mentors at Martin Middle School!

You are creating a better community one student at a time.

Thank you Texas Capital Bank volunteers, Tim Caperton, Doug Mangum, Becky Rewalt, Mike McConnell, Michelle Scott, Chris Wheeler, Greg Kalb, Christina Yoder, Cristina Vera and Liz Pledger!

Thank you to our Oracle volunteers, Elizabeth Kirchner and her crew!

Thank you to our community volunteers, Erik Jones of Enterprise Holdings, Inc., Joseph Ulloa of San Juan Diego Catholic High School, Kendrick Barnett of Austin Code Department!

#OpportunityIsForEveryone

Financial Implications of an Impossible Beauty Standard

By Ali Wittich

There’s no doubt that women have made progress in the workplace: by taking on more leadership roles, opening up career possibilities, rising in representation in STEM fields, and addressing bias. Although we’ve gained professional traction, the statistic remains that women earn on average $0.79 for every dollar a man makes.

As we continue to work towards financial equity, one area women are in complete control is where we spend our money. And yet there’s still an impossible expectation of beauty that is keeping women poorer than men.

Everywhere you look—from photoshop and filters on social media, constantly-changing women’s fashion, and plastic surgery billboards young girls see driving down the road in Austin —there’s an overwhelming pressure to achieve an unattainable beauty standard, and scrutiny when you miss the mark.

Here’s a thought experiment to illustrate: for all the money women spend to maintain their image—fake lashes, hair maintenance, facials, injections, makeup, workplace fashion that changes seasonally, waxes, tanning, manicures, pedicures, plastic surgery—is there a male equivalent that is so costly? Look no further than what men carry in their toiletry bag versus what women have to pack.

While it’s unlikely the beauty industry is going anywhere, let’s recognize the discriminatory double-standard and reframe the conversation around spending behavior.  

The best advice I received about beauty spending was to not think of it as a line-item on my monthly budget, but rather to consider the future value of that money.

For instance, I get a manicure every two weeks. Instead of thinking of this as an $80 per month expense, consider its worth if it had been invested. $80/month (or $960/year) at an average 10% return would mean that my perfectly polished nails could have netted over $16,000 in ten years.

Applying this thinking to all your beauty spends will force you to get clear on which ones actually bring you joy—and are worth the huge loss over the long-term—versus which ones are unnecessary, trendy norms that are keeping you poor.

Ali Wittich leads Marketing Operations at Publicis Sapient. She has been a regular JA classroom volunteer in both Washington, DC and Austin, TX, and is on the committee for the 2020 F.E.M. Forum.

Austin companies of all shapes and sizes are encouraging financial literacy and equity dialogue by supporting the JA F.E.M. Forum on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020. F.E.M. Forum brings together professional women with female students over breakfast for a morning of networking, mentoring and financial education. It’s the only event of its kind in Austin, the biggest annual fundraiser for JA Central Texas, and is designed for companies and business leaders who believe #FinancialEquityMatters. Learn more about the event and how you can support here.

#FinancialEquityMatters #PersonalFinanceForWomen #HerMoney

Crockett High School entrepreneurship students prove innovation is thriving in our young people!

Junior Achievement is at Crockett High School this year working with students in the Entrepreneurship Incubator as they bring their businesses to life. Some students in this program have been working on their business plan for years while others just started this semester. Both groups blew the judges away with their poise, innovation, and delivery. Judges saw companies pitch environmental tires, climate controlled guitar cases, video game controller app for your phone and more… As their final on Friday, December 19th Crockett High School students presented their business pitches to a group of local professionals and JA Alumnus all the way from South Korea!

We are so grateful to have volunteers from People Fund working with this class. They help the students think further about their businesses as we strive to bring them the resources to turn their idea into a lucrative reality.

Thank you to Eric Browne, Joy Hernandez and the folks from People Fund for being pitch judges!

Austin High School Students Impress with their Business Ideas!

Before school let out for winter break, community professionals volunteered to participate in a pitch competition at Austin High School.  JA It's My Business students pitched their business ideas and the volunteers judged the merits of their business plans. Judges heard pitches from two business classes that ranged from fashion apps, to compact folding beds for hospitals. Over two days judges heard pitches from over twelve businesses and dedicated winners in each class. We can truly say that the world is in good hands with this next generation.

Thank you to our JA mentors who spent the last six weeks working with these students to perfect their business ideas and pitches:

Kendrick Lamar from the City of Austin Code Department

Melissa Trepinski of Avanade

Ian Huang of Saint Davids Foundation

Steven Apodaca of PWC

We also want to thank our pitch judges:

Chris Lanshe, Robert Buckwalter, Lindsey Goldsmith, Dennis Drent, Hunter Healy, Wesley Raper, Virginia Kocher, Ashley Espinosa, and Rachelle Oribio!

Click HERE to learn more how you or your workplace can join the JA movement and help bring Opportunity to Everyone.

Charles Schwab and JA partner with Harmony School of Science

"Giving students the tools to make thoughtful financial decisions and fostering a healthy, informed relationship with money and can help them achieve financial security and success as adults." - Stephanie Roberts

Charles Schwab and JA partnered with Harmony School of Science this fall to bring the full scope of Elementary school programs to a new group of students. Schwab volunteers taught the JA financial literacy curriculum, one class a week for five weeks of lessons for over 400 kindergarten to 5th-grade students.

"It is amazing to have experts in the world of finance come and teach financial courses to our students. The Charles Schwab volunteers are so excited and energetic to teach, and that excitement transfers to the students," said Waylon Stengler, school principal.

Students in 3rd-grade class, taught by Schwab volunteer, Conor Brantley, are learning the choices people have with money, recognizing methods of payment, examining the importance of money to a city and its citizens, and describing how entrepreneurial businesses meet the needs and wants of citizens. When asked why he enjoys volunteering teaching JA, he stated his love for being a positive influence on students and moving them to a successful future by teaching them personal finance and economics.

"I grew up in a fairly low-income household, and I could have really used some of the skills that we teach while I was growing up," said Brantley, Digital Product Manager at Charles Schwab. "The knowledge that we pass to these children through the JA lessons would have helped me greatly in some of my struggles, and I am eager to help people avoid some of the pitfalls that come from a lack of financial literacy. "

If you would like more information about bringing JA to your child's school or sponsoring a school near your workplace, contact Suzannah Gravatt, JA Program Manager, for more information at suzannah@jacentex.org.

Ridgeview Middle School Students Pitch their Businesses!

The students at Ridgeview Middle School have been thinking big and working hard this semester in JA It’s My Business culminating in the students pitching their companies to both professional and student JA Alumnus. They presented business that are everything from GPS dog collars, tutoring platforms, more efficient ovens to custom eye glass and more!

Thank you to the student’s teacher, their mentors, and judges for helping to further our cause to bring #OpportunityToEveryone.

A Different Kind of Pie This Year

by Joanne Parker

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I ask myself if a new kind of pie should be on the table in my household: a budgeting pie. 

My son graduates college in May. A couple of weeks ago, he asked me to help him develop a plan so he can be financially independent within 6 months of graduation. Considering that a recent study showed that only 24% of young adults in 2018 were financially independent by age 22 or younger, I’m thrilled he wants to be ahead of the curve. 

Thankfully, I work for the largest global provider of financial literacy education for students kindergarten through 12th grade, Junior Achievement. This means I have access to excellent resources on topics like understanding a credit score, reading a credit card statement, interest rates, saving, and budgeting. But I also asked some friends and colleagues in the financial services field what advice they would give their 22-year-old selves about becoming financially independent. Here’s what they had to say: 

Ellen Ambrose, from Liveoak Technologies says, "Keep your lifestyle the same, even as your income increases through your 20's. That means don't buy a new car, keep the same apartment, don't take expensive trips. Use the extra money to 1) participate in a 401K if your employer offers it and 2) set up automatic deposits into a brokerage account. Tell yourself the accounts are off limits until the future.”

Jenna Mejia, from BBVA says, "I would tell my 22-year-old self to be cautious of how small, unnecessary expenses can really add up! I would tell her to plan ahead, bring leftovers for lunch, and slow down on the frequent coffee shops stops in the morning on the way to work!"

Lisa Kottler, FinTech Evangelist says, “Spend less than you make! Always. Pay cash for everything (except your home). Don’t be tempted to keep up with the Jones’ because it’s possible they went into debt to get that fancy car or expensive vacation.”

Allegra Moet Brantley, from FactoraWealth suggests, “I would open an investment account (in addition to any employer sponsored retirement account available) and set up an automatic deposit of $100 a month from my paycheck hit. I would raise the monthly amount by $100 for every birthday, raise, or promotion I got. Everytime I wanted to get a nicer apartment, car, etc, I would only do it if I could also increase my investment account contribution too (only gifting myself if I could also gift future me!) This would allow me to use my 20’s for investing (which a lot of young people miss out on) and would give me an extra decade for compound interest to work its magic.” 

As we enter the holiday season, are we able to give our loved ones the best gift of all: the gift of financial independence? 

Joanne Parker is a development manager for JA of Central Texas. She is a former sales executive with Abbott Laboratories and is the JA staff lead for JA F.E.M. Forum. Joanne strongly believes that financial literacy education is the foundation to achieving economic equity for all.

Austin companies of all shapes and sizes are encouraging financial literacy and equity dialogue by supporting the JA F.E.M. Forum on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020. F.E.M. Forum brings together professional women with female students over breakfast for a morning of networking, mentoring and financial education. It’s the only event of its kind in Austin, the biggest annual fundraiser for JA Central Texas, and is designed for companies and business leaders who believe #FinancialEquityMatters. Learn more about the event and how you can support here.

#FinancialEquityMatters #PersonalFinanceForWomen #HerMoney

Delta Air Lines Host JA Job Shadow

As a part of their continued support of Junior Achievement Central Texas Delta Air Lines welcomed a group of students from William B. Travis High School to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for a JA Job Shadow. Throughout the day students learned about the opportunities that exist in their own backyard and as well as the ins and outs of the airport. In addition to learning more about the company students got a look behind the scenes to see how the airport operates.

It was a really cool experience to see the airport and learn how it works. We also learned a lot about Delta, and what it is like to work there. You can start from the bottom and really work your way to the top of the company!

-Marco

Thank you Delta for having JA Students for this JA Job Shadow and showing our kids that opportunity is for everyone!

Why I’m passionate about JA

by Donald Scott II

Band or Home Economics?  When I was headed into sixth grade, all students had to choose an elective for the next three years.  We either signed up for learning an instrument or learning how to be financially responsible.   Over time home economics has been removed from the standard elementary curriculum, but it is now making its way back into schools as financial literacy or entrepreneurship workshops and classes become more common.  Back then, I chose band.  I learned to play the trumpet, how to control my breathing, how to read sheet music.  But what I remember most about choosing band is why I chose band…my mother said she could “teach me how to balance a checkbook at home”.

Donald’s mom Cynthia is a JA Alumnae.

Legacy:  Today, I am on the Board of Junior Achievement of Central Texas.   I believe in entrepreneurship, and I am especially passionate about teaching lessons on financial literacy and how to manage one’s future relationship with money.   When I told my mom that I would be teaching an 8th grade class for 6 weeks as a JA volunteer in Austin, Texas she shared with me that she was in Junior Achievement in middle school.   She said in 7th grade she knew she wanted to be a business owner, and that it was during her JA class where she learned the importance of being financially responsible.  Because of the amazing influence of a JA volunteer in Chicago many years ago, my mother opened a business, became a pillar of the community, and was confident in her ability to teach her children how to balance a checkbook, giving us the freedom to pursue artistic opportunities in school.

Social Responsibility:  Many companies today are using technology to make the world a better place and Junior Achievement’s success at connecting professionals with students enables their corporate relationships to exponentially enhance the experience of the employees and JA volunteers and students.  I am proud to work for and serve two organizations that continue to touch lives around the world and give each of us an opportunity to do the same.

I encourage everyone to look for a Junior Achievement office near you.  If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a note directly and I’d love to share my personal story and passion about supporting Junior Achievement and the lessons of entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Donald Scott II serves on the board of directors for JA Central Texas and is extremely active in the community. He is a passionate evangelist of JA because he believes that it is our responsibility to support our future leaders. You can contact him via LinkedIn