Our Mission

PURPOSE
To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

HOW IT WORKS
JA teaches young people how to be successful in life. Our volunteers prepare youth for adult life by emphasizing the importance of staying in school, teaching career skills and de-mystifying the business world. Our programs are generally taught by classroom volunteers during the school day, using our nationally developed curriculum.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
JA of Southern California is dedicated to inspiring kids to achieve at the business of life. We've been doing this for 50 years and we are proud of the life-changing impact we have had on millions of kids in southern California. JA is engaging, its relevant and its an experience not soon forgotten by the 200,000 children and 22,000 volunteers and educators that will be part of the program this year. The high quality, state-sanctioned JA curriculum is delivered by volunteers who educate and inspire kids toward successful futures. JA teaches young people about free enterprise, financial literacy, life skills, and career awareness but most importantly JA gives kids hope for a better future.

More important than what we do, is why we do it. We are committed to our communities. We are dedicated to inspiring the future leaders of one of the largest economies in the world to achieve by involving business professionals as volunteers in areas where they live, work and play.Community is not just where we work; it’s why we work. JA is making a difference, one child at a time.

Andrew Ratner

Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc.&

JA of Southern California former Board Chairman