The World Out There Starts Here
At Junior Achievement of Southern California (JASoCal), our mission is clear: to inspire and prepare young people to thrive in today’s global economy.
Since our establishment in 1954, we’ve proudly served as a leading nonprofit business-integrated education partner. Our expertise lies in experiential learning, cultivating vital mindsets and skills that empower students to navigate life confidently and succeed.
Through our high-impact programs, delivered by dedicated corporate and community volunteers, we drive tangible outcomes in financial literacy, career readiness, and the entrepreneurial spirit. From JA’s in-class programs to immersive experiences like JA Finance Park and JA Job Shadow, we cater to students aged 5 to 25. Our innovative 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement are also revolutionizing public high school education.
Each year, we reach over 50,000 local students, sparking meaningful conversations about college and career readiness and significantly impacting the economic landscape of Southern California.
With offices in Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, and the Inland Empire, we are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, driving progress and opportunity for all.
What We Do:
Junior Achievement of Southern California works in partnership with local schools and the business community to provide educational programs aligned with state standards that prepare students for their futures by focusing on three pathways of success:
Financial Literacy
Developing Financial Independence
JA’s hands-on financial literacy programs teach young people smart saving and investing, thoughtful spending and credit, taxes’ role, employment value, community involvement, and opportunities for global trade. We prepare young people for lifelong financial health.
Career Readiness
Preparing Youth for the jobs of the future
JA’s immersive, volunteer-led work-readiness programs teach critical work skills that prepare young people for college, trade school, or the workforce. Whether job shadowing mentors, testing their skills through digital experiences, or developing solutions during business challenges, JA students are prepared for the future of work.
Entrepreneurship
Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset
Through JA’s real-world entrepreneurship programs—the longest-running in the world—students ignite their entrepreneurial spirit by developing an innovative product or service, financing their startup, marketing their product or service, and launching their careers as entrepreneurs.
Reengineering Education
As a 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement provider, we are re-engineering high school education to be more relevant, experiential, and authentically connected to the complexities of the real world in order to more fully prepare today’s students for the demands of tomorrow’s economy.
Why Junior Achievement:
JA USA
Junior Achievement of Southern California is part of the JA USA network. Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’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 intelligent academic & economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge & skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in 109 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide.
