JA CLIC –
Career, Leadership & Innovation Center
Since opening in the fall of 2023, the Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts
Career, Leadership & Innovation Center (CLIC) represents a major renovation to our
office space in Tower Square in Springfield. We have already welcomed hundreds of
students from all over our area to explore career paths and engage in hands-on activities!
The CLIC emphasizes:
- Career Exploration: Helping students identify fulfilling career options and make wise decisions pertaining to post-secondary education.
- Innovation & Leadership: Expanding student thinking and skill development to prepare future leaders, entrepreneurial thinkers, and innovators.
- Financial Education: Providing students with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to make informed and effective decisions with their financial resources.
About the Career Center
The new CLIC is a 21st-century environment for young people to engage with Junior Achievement programs.
The center includes:
- Full Traditional Classroom
- Manufacturing Room and Maker Space
- Skills Assessment & Career Exploration Lab
- Collaboration Zone
Students will complete experiential learning using several JA programs tailored to their skills and needs, including JA Inspire Virtual, a career exploration program designed to highlight careers and educational opportunities in the region. At CLIC, students will participate in a full day of activities supported by JA staff and led by community volunteers, including: an interactive seminar with a local business leader; rotation through modular-based learning experiences focused on career exploration, entrepreneurship, and transferrable leadership and “soft skills”; and a financial literacy excercise.
CLIC is open after school by appointment for students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship in the maker space using learning experiences found in the JA Company and JA Be Entrepreneurial programs. In the evenings, the center is available by appointment to community organizations and local employers as a hub for learning and collaboration.
Student Programs
Programs offered at the CLIC are linked to career exploration/workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Activities are designed to help students with the skill development necessary for career success.
These skills include:
- Attention to Detail
- Critical Thinking
- Strong Communication
- Aptitude for Technology
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Dependability
- Entrepreneurial Thinking
Financial literacy activities are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to make informed and effective decisions with their financial resources. Students will gain skills and financial education including:
- Financial Planning
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Understanding Compound Interest
- Managing Debt
- Profitable Saving Techniques/Wealth Management
- Understanding Student Loans
- Handling Credit Cards
- Getting Jobs
- Applying for Mortgages
Goals
- 75% of students will indicate that they have a more positive attitude about personal finance after a JA program.
- 65% of students will indicate that they can identify their skills and interests after a JA program.
- 70% of teachers will indicate that their students demonstrated collaboration skills within a team situation after their JA program.
- Increase the percentage of low-to-moderate-income middle and high school students served by 3% annually.
- Increase the number of high school students served by 10%.
- Increase the number of students served by 10%.
Partners & Sponsors
Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts created the JA CLIC – Career, Leadership & Innovation Center in collaboration with MassHire of Hampden County, the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, and other community agencies to provide an in and out-of-school space for students to gain the knowledge and experience to better prepare them to become successful, contributing members of our regional community.
