Pfaudler Lecture Series: Where Kids Mean Business: Junior Achievement's Impact on Rochester

• Non-Members, register to attend via this form.
• Members, register via your OLLI registration account.

NOTE: The original speaker, Edward Ashton, had to cancel due to a work emergency, and we are in the process of rescheduling his talk on Mickey 17.

Presented by Rekha Kinsman & Marie Kamp, Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York

For 58 years, Junior Achievement (JA) has been making a difference in Rochester, NY by keeping students engaged, in school, and prepared for the future. Serving a 25-county region across Central and Western New York, JA's K-12 curriculum reaches students in the Rochester City School District and beyond, with a mission to prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

At the heart of JA's work is the Paychex JA Discovery Center at 200 W. Ridge Rd., a simulated mini-city of Rochester where students learn by doing. Community volunteers work alongside JA staff and educators to bring real-world experiences to life through two flagship programs:

JA Finance Park guides middle and high school students through personal financial planning and career exploration. After completing the classroom curriculum, students visit the realistic on-site facility where they explore career options, set lifestyle goals, and build a personal budget -- experiencing firsthand how their education, savings, and credit decisions shape their future.

JA BizTown immerses fourth through sixth graders in a simulated city where they take on real workplace roles for a day. Following weeks of classroom preparation, students are hired for jobs and tackle hands-on business and personal finance challenges in a fun, dynamic environment that builds teamwork, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.

Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, both at the Discovery Center and in classrooms throughout the region. Come hear how you can be part of this vital community investment!