Junior State Of America Foundation

THE JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA PREPARES A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF AMERICA'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. WE EMPOWER STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS, CITIZENSHIP, AND CIVIC LIFE OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CLASSROOM.

SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS (FALL, WINTER, SPRING, ONEDAYS OTHER NATIONAL PROGRAMS)DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HIGH SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION'S FULL-TIME STAFF AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER TEACHER ADVISORS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS SUPERVISION FOR THE STUDENT-RUN PROGRAMS. THE SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO 10 REGIONS OR "STATES" WHICH ARE GOVERNED BY ELECTED STUDENT OFFICERS. THE REGIONS INCLUDE: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE, NORTHEAST STATE, MID-ATLANTIC STATE, TEXAS STATE, OHIO STATE, MIDWEST STATE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST STATE, SOUTHEAST STATE AND ARIZONA TERRITORY. THE FOUNDATION OF THE JSA PROGRAM IS THE HIGH SCHOOL-BASED CHAPTER. JSA CHAPTERS WRITE THEIR OWN CONSTITUTIONS, ELECT THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZE THEIR MEMBERS TO ATTEND REGIONAL CONVENTIONS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021, A TOTAL OF 2,429 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN JSA CONVENTIONS. THE AVERAGE FIVE-YEAR STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN JSA CONVENTIONS IS 12,285. EACH JSA REGION HOSTS A FALL, WINTER AND SPRING CONVENTION, WHERE CHAPTERS FROM ALL OVER THEIR STATE COME TOGETHER FOR DEBATES, THOUGHT TALKS AND WORKSHOPS. THERE ARE 30 JSA CONVENTIONS HELD NATIONWIDE EVERY YEAR. INDIVIDUAL JSA CHAPTERS MAY ALSO HOST THEIR OWN EVENTS OR MINI-CONVENTIONS ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS. THOUSANDS MORE ATTEND LOCAL REGIONAL EVENTS EACH YEAR.

SUMMER PROGRAMS (YWLI, CIP, BURD INSTITUTE)TRADITIONALLY, THE JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS ACADEMIC SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON THE CAMPUSES OF STANFORD, PRINCETON AND GEORGETOWN. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOLDS FOUR DAY LONG INSTITUTES ON GLOBAL ISSUES AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE FIVE YEARS LEADING UP TO THE PANDEMIC, AN AVERAGE OF 211 STUDENTS ATTENDED BOTH JUNIOR STATE SUMMER SCHOOL AND INSTITUTE PROGRAMS FOR AN AVERAGE 1,184 EDUCATION DAYS. STARTING IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, SUMMER PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY ONLY, AND THAT CONTINUED TO THE SUMMER OF 2021.IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, THE FOUNDATION OFFERED THREE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. TWO INSTITUTES, YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND BURD INSTITUTE OF MEDIA AND POLITICS, WERE OFFERED IN EIGHT SESSIONS SPANNING THREE WEEKS. THE GENE A. BURD INSTITUTE ON MEDIA & POLITICS IS AN ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON DIGITAL EXPERIENCE CREATED TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO THE INTERSECTION OF MEDIA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO POLITICS. THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS AN ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON DIGITAL EXPERIENCE CREATED TO EMPOWER YOUNG WOMEN IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. IN THIS INSTITUTE, YOUNG WOMEN LEARN ABOUT THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP STYLES, THE HISTORY OF WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES, HOW TO BUILD TEAMS AND MANAGE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS, HOW LEADERSHIP INTERSECTS WITH IDENTITY, AND HOW ALL YOUNG WOMEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CIVICS IMMERSION PROGRAM WAS A THREE WEEK INTENSIVE PROGRAM WITH 14 SESSIONS OVER THE THREE WEEK PERIOD. CIP FEATURES COURSES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LOOK BEYOND PROBLEMS, AND FOCUS ON SOLUTION-ORIENTED ACTION. TAUGHT BY FACULTY FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, THESE COURSES INSPIRE STUDENTS TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES WE FACE TODAY. THE THREE COURSES OFFERED IN THE SUMMER 2021 CIP WERE GLOBAL POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND JUSTICE; ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE; OR DESIGN THINKING FOR COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING.