Connected for Kids and Junior Achievement Bring Community Connections, Experiential Learning to Appleton Area

APPLETON, Wis.—Junior Achievement of Wisconsin – Northeast Region (JA) and Connected for Kids announced today a new partnership to bring experiential learning, health care career exploration, and youth development under one roof at JA’s Community First Career Exploration and Financial Literacy Center in Appleton.

Connected for Kids is a joint venture between ThedaCare, Emplify Health by Bellin and Children’s Wisconsin focused on improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents in northeast and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Junior Achievement of Wisconsin is a nonprofit providing K-12 learning programs promoting career development and economic mobility for young people across the state. Together, the new partners hope to multiply their impact on the lives of youth, their families and the region’s communities.

Matt Juedes, Director of Development for Junior Achievement of Wisconsin – Northeast Region, spoke about providing local youth with first-hand learning in the skills, pathways and career opportunities available in the growing field of community health.

We are extremely excited about this new partnership at our Experiential Learning Center in Appleton. By joining forces, Junior Achievement and Connected for Kids, a joint venture between Children’s Wisconsin, ThedaCare and Emplify Health by Bellin, are preparing young people to navigate the evolving world of health care with confidence and purpose. Through hands-on learning and real-world applications, this partnership will help students understand the many pathways within the health care field – from patient care to innovation, finance, and technology. Together, we’re ensuring the youth in our community have the knowledge, skills, and opportunity to shape a healthier future.

The Community First Career Exploration and Financial Literacy Center is one of JA’s signature experiential learning centers, an interactive, simulated community where students operate the economy of a small city. The new partnership, once complete, will feature Connected for Kids as one of the community’s new tenants giving visiting students the opportunity to participate in interactive displays and learning experiences.

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA learning experiences are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on lessons that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Junior Achievement is expanding its reach to 18-to-25-year-olds to provide young adults with critical life skills. Since 2021, Junior Achievement volunteers have taught life skills learning experiences for 24,696 students in the Green Bay area. For more information, visit NortheastWisconsin.ja.org.