Imagine a town created so middle school students can learn about financial literacy and workforce preparedness. Now step inside the new Junior Achievement (JA) of Alabama Economic Education Center in downtown Birmingham. About 20,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students will walk through the doors each year and be immersed in a fun, day-long learning experience where they take on the roles of business leaders, consumers and employees.
The grand opening for the 30,000-square-foot education center was held June 11, and AMERICAN’s storefront was revealed, along with those of Regions, Alabama Power, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brasfield & Gorrie and others. AMERICAN’s store will represent water utilities and sanitation services in the make-believe town and feature the essential role of our pipe, valves and hydrants in delivering our most valuable resources: water and energy. This partnership with JA is part of the company’s AMERICAN For Life 2030 initiative.
“In this simulated ‘real-world’ environment, students will create budgets, pay bills, plot business strategies, run factories and stores, and learn about town governance,” said Senior Vice President of Human Resources Julie Shedd, who also serves on the JA Board of Directors. “They are cultivating important life skills they can use throughout their adult lives. A special thank you to employees across the company who worked with JA for more than a year to design AMERICAN’s space.”
Throughout the summer, area educators will be invited to experience the center firsthand to build excitement among students this fall. To learn more about the JA Economic Education Center, visit JA’s About the Project page.
