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Date: 4/11/2023
SPRINGFIELD — It was an unusual groundbreaking on April 5 as it was both indoors and didn’t rely on a shovel.
Instead, Mayor Domenic Sarno and state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) took a swing with a sledgehammer at a wall in the offices of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts to denote the start of a renovation project which will yield later this year the Junior Achievement Career, Leadership and Innovation Center.
The organization has its headquarters on the second floor of Tower Square and CLIC will be used to help students with career exploration; expand their thinking and skill development and to provide students with financial knowledge and skills.
There will be a full classroom, a manufacturing area, a skills assessment area and career exploration lab as well as a collaboration zone.
The organization is now offering naming opportunities to help underwrite the cost of the construction for the manufacturing room and the career exploration zone as well as seeking donations for objects such as worktables, storage carts, and activity tables, among other items.
Jennifer Connolly, the president of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts, noted the educational program started in Springfield in 1919 and has spread to 90 counties serving 10 million students worldwide.
She explained the original idea behind the program was to give children coming from farming communities the skills to succeed in a workforce that was switching to manufacturing.
The Western Massachusetts program is reaching 6,519 students in the 2022-23 school years. Of that number, 67.3% are economically disadvantaged and 55.8% are from under-represented backgrounds.
Locally, there are JA programs in schools in Agawam, Chicopee, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Shelburne, South Deerfield, Springfield, Warren, West Springfield, Westfield, Westhampton and Wilbraham.
The program stresses financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness.
Sarno noted the program is “near and dear to my heart” as his daughters participated in it. He added he has supported the program locally with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Sarno added the program allows young people to “move forward and give back in a positive way.”
In a written statement, Sarno said, “I want to thank and applaud Junior Achievement President Jennifer Connolly, the Board of Directors, their dedicated staff and team, and all of the supporters and sponsors of this much needed and important project to help support and provide a learning and nurturing environment for our students and young adults. This new state-of-the-art Career Center will help serve our students and provide them the resources and programing needed to successfully explore career options and other educational opportunities in the region.”