At BridgeView, people come first, every time. That means we are deeply invested in our community, looking for ways to support and encourage those around us. Every quarter we look forward to our next BridgeView Karma Day, a time where we can come alongside one of our local non-profits or charities and help them in their mission. This quarter, our team partnered with Junior Achievement – Rocky Mountain, a unique and needed organization that teaches students necessary life skills that will pave the way for a bright future.
Empowering Future Innovators Through Junior Achievement Denver
In a world driven by technology, innovation, and rapid change, the leaders of tomorrow must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed. Junior Achievement (JA) Denver is dedicated to preparing young minds for the challenges ahead by fostering financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking. At BridgeView, we recognize the critical role that organizations like JA play in shaping the future workforce, and we are proud to support their mission.
The Role of Junior Achievement in Workforce Readiness
For decades, Junior Achievement has been instrumental in equipping students with essential life skills. JA Denver’s core programs focus on three key areas:
- Financial Literacy: Teaching students the fundamentals of budgeting, investing, and responsible financial decision-making.
- Career Readiness: Providing hands-on experiences such as job shadowing, resume building, and interview preparation.
- Entrepreneurship: Encouraging problem-solving, leadership, and innovation through real-world business challenges.
These initiatives help bridge the gap between education and the workforce, ensuring that young individuals enter their careers with confidence and competence.
Why We Support Junior Achievement
Since 1919, Junior Achievement’s (JA) purpose has been to inspire and prepare young people to thrive in a global community. They are committed to providing vital education that enables a successful future – teaching financial responsibility, budgeting, critical thinking skills, career readiness, and entrepreneurial efforts. Too many kids lack training in these areas.
To meet these needs, JA provides in-school and off-site programs for students, starting in kindergarten and going all the way through 12th grade. These hands-on programs are led and delivered by volunteers in the community, many of whom have corporate experience and can provide a real-world perspective to prepare them for future careers at no cost to the schools. JA has three core competencies they teach their students:
- Entrepreneurship – identify business opportunities and applying efforts and resources to create new business endeavors
- Financial Literacy – gain a greater knowledge of economic concepts and terms for local and global enterprises and personal money management.
- Work Readiness – organize personal characteristics and goals to match needs presented in the workplace
Why Investing in Junior Achievement Matters to Tech Leaders
Developing a Future-Ready Workforce
As businesses increasingly rely on emerging technologies, having a workforce skilled in critical thinking, data literacy, and problem-solving is essential. Supporting JA means investing in students who will one day lead technological advancements in fields like software development, AI, and cloud computing.
Promoting Diversity in STEM Careers
Junior Achievement actively engages students from diverse backgrounds, providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to explore careers in STEM. By fostering inclusivity early on, businesses can help create a more equitable and dynamic industry landscape.
Leadership Development for IT Executives
Mentoring with JA offers more than just a way to give back—it enhances leadership skills, fosters personal growth, and strengthens company culture. IT leaders who volunteer can build meaningful connections while shaping the future of the industry.
How BridgeView Denver Helped JA
One specific event JA hosts is called JA Finance Park. Volunteers immerse students in a reality-based decision-making process that addresses aspects of individual family budgeting: housing, transportation, food, utilities, healthcare, investments, philanthropy, and banking. Each student is presented with a unique life situation that identifies the details of their adult persona, from marital status to education to the number of their dependents to salaries.
For our team of volunteers, the day began with training from the JA organization, and then we each had a group of students to mentor and assist. The students used their tablets with a preloaded budget to navigate their scenario and plan accordingly with their allotted finances. The program challenged students to think like entrepreneurs and covered everything from budgeting to practicing interview skills to investing.
“This program teaches kids how to think like entrepreneurs and take ownership of their choices, empowering them with the knowledge and tools to be financially responsible adults. The program covers a number of areas – everything from taxes, budgeting, interview skills, investing, and how to apply for loans,” mentions Courtney Truesdel, Associate VP of Business Development.
“I have a particular interest in the program as my three kids are often asking when they will use certain elements they learn in school. While school is teaching them the fundamentals and how to be critical thinkers, JA complements this nicely by teaching them life skills not taught in school. These skills often tap into the current values of our kids, meaning if they want to buy a certain car, video game, or attend a concert, they understand how much they would need to make, save, and budget to do these things. They get to have choices, but all those choices come with different costs. By providing this financial education to our youth, we are setting them up to be accountable, empowered, and confident adults.”
“Our BridgeView team did an outstanding job of jumping right in to help these students,” stated Tim Glennie, Managing Partner & Founder. “We have always been a people-first organization, so to spend a day supporting the leaders of tomorrow was a joy.”
If you want to donate or volunteer with JA, you can find out more information here.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re a technology leader, HR professional, or business executive, there are several ways to support Junior Achievement Denver:
- Volunteer: Share your expertise through mentorship and job readiness programs.
- Partner with JA: Sponsor initiatives that promote STEM education and career development.
- Support STEM Learning: Encourage data science, cybersecurity, and AI literacy programs for students.
Shaping the Future, One Student at a Time
Investing in Junior Achievement isn’t just about philanthropy—it’s about shaping the future workforce and fostering the next generation of problem solvers, innovators, and leaders. By supporting financial literacy and career readiness, we empower students with the tools they need to succeed.
Get involved with Junior Achievement Denver today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Junior Achievement Denver?
Junior Achievement Denver is a nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs for students, helping them develop real-world skills for success.
How does Junior Achievement help students prepare for the workforce?
JA offers hands-on experiences, mentorship programs, and business simulations that teach students about budgeting, investing, job readiness, and leadership.
Why should technology leaders support Junior Achievement?
Tech leaders can help shape the future workforce by mentoring students, supporting STEM initiatives, and investing in programs that prepare young minds for careers in AI, software development, and cybersecurity.
What industries benefit from Junior Achievement programs?
While JA’s programs benefit all industries, fields such as technology, finance, healthcare, and engineering particularly benefit from the workforce readiness and leadership training it provides.
How can businesses partner with Junior Achievement Denver?
Companies can get involved through sponsorships, employee volunteer programs, mentorship opportunities, and STEM education initiatives.
What impact has Junior Achievement had on the business world?
Many JA alumni go on to become business leaders and entrepreneurs, contributing to a skilled workforce that drives innovation and economic growth.
How does BridgeView’s involvement with Junior Achievement align with its business model?
BridgeView focuses on connecting businesses with top-tier technical talent. By supporting JA, we invest in the next generation of problem-solvers and industry innovators.
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