JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY, INC
stations, with a focus on STEM and other high-demand, high-growth careers. Employee volunteers share their career advice with students and engage them with equipment, technology, and the opportunity to “step into the shoes” of workers. Students conduct mini-interviews, take notes, and participate in hands-on activities that open their eyes and minds to the world of work. This positively impactful event not only helps NJ youth gain a sense of purpose and map a plan of action as they consider their high school path, but helps our region build its future workforce. New Jersey has to strengthen its economic-innovation engine to remain competitive. The growing STEM job marketplace needs talent for middle skills jobs and jobs that require a college degree. Placing more emphasis on STEM education, mentorship, and career exploration is essential to better prepare our children for the future and to support the next genera- tion of innovators. This is the very innovation New Jersey desperately needs to support its pharmaceutical, bio- technology, and chemical industries.
Junior Achievement’s INSPIRE New Jersey is a powerful and exciting initiative that will bring together a coali- tion of educators and industry leaders to give hundreds of New Jersey 8th and 9th grade students hands-on experiences and information about STEM and other high- growth career opportunities, igniting a spark and helping them envision a bright future for themselves. Provided at no cost to schools, JA INSPIRE New Jersey supports teachers, provides career education and mentorship to students at a time they need it most, engages state and regional businesses, key industries, government and public service organizations, and nonprofits; highlights NJ’s higher education institutions, and strengthens NJ’s future workforce. This unique program, first of its kind in our state, begins in the classroom with teacher-led ac- tivities that focus on soft skills, job interview techniques, information on career clusters and future job outlook, and a career assessment based on individual students’ strengths and interests. These activities prepare stu- dents for the JA Inspire Career Expos held on NJ college campuses. Here, students will connect with representa- tives from all industry sectors at 20-50 interactive career
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