Junior Achievement, Barrio Logan College Institute Prepare First Generation of Graduates

Written by Kristin Stephens, Junior Achievement of San Diego's education manager.

In December, local volunteers Chanae Jackson and Maria Toscano presented "More Than Money" to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. In just several weeks, the students gained valuable knowledge in personal finance, ethics and job skills through the interactive sessions. And… students and the volunteers had a great time together!

Each day the students eagerly greeted their volunteer and waited to see what engaging activity they would do that afternoon. At the end of the five sessions, every student received a certificate of achievement to mark the end of their successful program.

This school year, we have been happy to expand our partnership with Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI). Together, we bring comprehensive college-prep afterschool programs for local disadvantaged students and their families starting in elementary school and continuing until college graduation.

One-hundred percent of the students that BLCI serves will be the first generation in their families to go to college, and most will be the first from their families to graduate high school. And we can't be happier to have Chanae and Maria helping us with that!

But that's not all. We are looking forward to providing MORE programs this spring to the middle and high school students at BLCI.

Maybe you would be interested in volunteering in-class? If so, contact me, Kristin, at kstephens@jasandiego.org, and we'll get you going!