2016 JANUARY

HERO SPOTLIGHT
JA Our City





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About Us

JAES is a nonprofit organization committed to giving young people in all communities the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Through its hands-on, age-appropriate programs JA inspires our youth to live within their means, prepare for the world of work, and understand the free enterprise system. Today, JAES teaches more than six-thousand students across the Eastern Shore. 

It is through supporters like you that we change the futures of thousands of children across the Eastern Shore.

Jayme Hayes
President


123c Camden Street
Salisbury Maryland 21801
410.742.8112


 



A librarian who goes above and beyond, and the ins and outs of (JA) Our City in this month's JA Hero  spotlight.

 


An Interview with Andrea Berstler, Wicomico County Public Library Director -- January 2016's JA Hero
 
As our JA Hero, you have made efforts to promote financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and/or workforce readiness in the community. How did you become involved? What is your specific involvement? Why do you feel there is a need to promote this effort?
 
The role of a library in any community is to make as much information as possible as available to as many people as possible. That is our job in a nutshell. Financial literacy is one of the key literacies we try to address. The others are basic literacy (ability to read), health literacy, technology literacy, and information literacy. Having studied business as an undergrad and worked in mostly smaller organizations, I found the skills needed by a business owner to be similar to those needed in running a non-profit. Similarly, the skills needed to successfully manage a household budget can serve one well in running a business or non-profit budget. People who lack those skills find themselves behind the eight ball in business as well as in their personal finances. 
 
My role is to make sure that as much as possible, people in our community can find, access, and use information that will help them manage their finances successfully, whether they are personal, business, or non-profit finances. Sound financial management is one of the keys to a well-run organization or family budget.

 
Read full interview


A hero is nothing without her support system. Meet the Wicomico County Library staff that our Hero says makes it easy for her to shine.


Grade level: 3
Sessions: 5
Session Duration: Forty-Five Minutes
 
JA Our City introduces students to the basics of financial literacy, the characteristics of cities, and how people and businesses in cities manage their money.
Students will explore zoning found within a city; the importance of money to a city, paying taxes, and how people use different methods to pay for goods and services. They also will explore how financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and news media contribute to the financial well-being of a city.
The program is for students in third grade. It is composed of five sessions, and the average length of each session is 45 minutes. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed plans for the volunteer and materials for 32 students.
JA programs correlate to state social studies, English, and math standards, and to the Common Core State Standards in English/language arts and mathematics.
Our thanks to Tony Weeg of  Tony Weeg Photography for the amazing photos of our hero!

 

Do you know someone who supports the spirit of JA in our community? Someone who upholds and endorses one of our three pillars of success--financial literacy, job readiness, and entrepreneurship? 

 Click below to nominate them as a JA Hero