Goodwill Industries of North Florida is the latest partner forJunior Achievement's new Experiential Learning Center that will provide hands-on experiences in financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship for 30,000 students annually.
Goodwill, which uses its donated-goods outlets to support job training, education and employment services, will contribute $60,000 to the $15 million project. The nonprofit will have a "storefront" presence in the center's BizTown and Finance Park programs, featuring interactive exhibits and facilitated simulations for fourth- through sixth-graders and seventh- through 12th-graders respectively.
"Economic mobility is at the heart of what we want to make possible for young people, and that makes Goodwill
an especially meaningful partner," said Shannon Italia, president of Junior Achievement of North Florida. "We both believe that exposure to opportunity, practical skills and clear career pathways can change the trajectory of someone’s life. … Students will see firsthand how a business operates, explore careers they may not have considered and begin connecting the decisions they make today with the opportunities available to them tomorrow."
The center will be on Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Downtown Campus, with groundbreaking in March or April 2027.
David Rey, president and CEO of the area Goodwill, said the organization "believes in the power of work to change lives and this partnership gives us an opportunity to introduce young people to the many pathways available to them. Students will see that Goodwill is much more than a place to donate or shop. Those activities help fuel our mission to remove barriers to employment through training, education and career opportunities, creating pathways to meaningful work and greater economic mobility."
For more information, go to northflorida.ja.org/campaign/building-future-ready-youth-for-a-future-ready-northeast-florida,
Beth Reese Cravey has been a reporter for The Florida Times-Union for 45 years, currently specializing in nonprofits and health. She can be reached at bcravey@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Goodwill joins Junior Achievement plan for student career center
