Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South

What does a purpose-driven journey really look like? In our JA Letters to Myself: Hometown Heroes series, local leaders reflect on the lessons, dreams, and defining moments that shaped their paths, and the message they would send back to their younger selves. For Tomeka Hart Wigginton, now President and CEO of @uwmidsouth, it started in North Memphis—shaped by teachers, role models, and big dreams—and unfolded through a path that was anything but linear. From teacher to lawyer to public servant to nonprofit leader, each step has built toward the work she does today helping people thrive in our community. One reminder she shares with her younger self says it best: “Each new role will feel like it might be the destination, but it will turn out to be just another step in a purpose-driven journey.” Sometimes the path isn’t straight—but every step is preparing you for what’s next. -- Listen to the World Ready Radio podcast episode here: jamemphis.org/world-ready-ra… 🎥: @prptlmotion #EveryChildWorldReady #JALettersToMyself #JAHometownHeroes

What would you tell your younger self? Introducing JA Letters to Myself: Hometown Heroes—an 11-part video series where leaders from across the Mid-South share the real stories behind their journeys. The risks they took. The setbacks they faced. The decisions that shaped who they are today. These are the journeys behind the titles, and the lessons that don’t always make it into a resume. We gave you a sneak peek of this series a few months ago, and now, we’re ready to bring the full story forward. And this is just the beginning. Starting next school year, this series will be paired with JA curriculum, helping bring these stories directly into classrooms and connecting them to the skills students need for their own futures. You’ll be able to watch each episode on YouTube and across our social channels, or listen on the go with our World Ready Radio podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Because when students hear directly from the people building our workforce and shaping our communities, they start to see what’s possible for their own path, and how to take that first step. Stay tuned—Episode 1 drops tomorrow. 🎥: @prptlmotion #EveryChildWorldReady #JALettersToMyself #JAHometownHeroes

We’re proud to introduce a new video series from Junior Achievement: JA Letters to Myself: Hometown Heroes. ✉️ In this series, hometown heroes from across our region read a letter they wrote to their younger selves—reflecting on the journey, the lessons, and the courage it took to get where they are today. We’re honored to launch the series with Rose Jackson Flenorl, @FedEx Global Citizenship & Human Resources Manager, a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and proud @OleMiss alumna. Rose has spent her career leading global engagement at FedEx at the highest level, but it’s the lessons learned along the way—and her gratitude even for the failures—that shine through most. “Dreaming big in an uncertain world takes courage. But just because it’s never been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done.” As we look ahead to new opportunities for students across Mississippi, we hope stories like this spark possibility. Stay tuned—more voices, more letters, and more to come. 🎥: @prptlmotion #EveryChildWorldReady #JALettersToMyself #JAHometownHeroes #JAforMississippi

“I give to Junior Achievement because I believe every young person deserves the confidence and skills to own their future. JA empowers students to see what’s possible … to dream bigger, think smarter, and take control of their own success.” – Jason Campbell, JA Board Chair and @FedEx executive IMAGINE the change you can make for children across our region when you join with Jason and make your generous gift to JA TODAY. Your gift will be matched through the end of the year. Thank you for helping us make sure EVERY CHILD is WORLD READY. secure.qgiv.com/for/endofyearg… #EveryChildWorldReady #JAMM70 #InvestingInTheNextGen #JuniorAchievement

We’re thrilled to share a recipe for success this season: Junior Achievement is proud to partner with the Marco’s Pizza Foundation! 🍕 During the holiday hustle, when time is short and cooking feels impossible, making an impact can still be simple. By rounding up your order at any @MarcosPizza across Memphis and the Mid-South, you’re helping support education, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship — the building blocks students need to step confidently toward their futures. Dinner solved. Impact made. Bright futures secured. Learn more about the Marco’s Pizza Foundation and how you can make an impact in our region: marcos.com/foundation/ #MarcosPizzaFoundation #JuniorAchievement #RoundUpForChange #BigDreamsStartFromScratch #WorkforceDevelopment #Entrepreneurship

🎁✨ What if your holiday to-do list could help inspire future leaders? Every time you print, ship, or handle your seasonal errands at your local @TheUPSStore, you can help Junior Achievement open more doors for students across Memphis and the Mid-South. By rounding up at checkout, every cent fuels JA lessons in financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship, empowering the next generation of business leaders. Together, we can make sure every child is world ready! #StartSmallGrowBig #EveryChildWorldReady

Thanks to @StateFarm's incredible support, students across the Mid-South are gaining real-world financial skills through JA Finance Park. They’re stepping into adult roles--balancing jobs, families, and budgets--and realizing just how much goes into managing money. As one 7th grader from Maxine Smith STEAM Academy shared: “I learned that adults have a lot on their plates when it comes to expenses aside from what they want or what their kids want, and as a result of this it's really easy to come up short.” We’re so grateful to @StateFarm for helping make this learning possible and for investing in the financial success of students across our region. ❤️ #EveryChildWorldReady #JAFinancePark #StateFarm

Real-world lessons, real-world decisions. 💡 Lowrance K-8 School students put their financial skills to the test at JA Finance Park! After weeks of learning about budgeting, saving, and smart money choices in the classroom, they stepped into our hands-on simulation — managing jobs, families, and expenses like pros. Having support from @simmons_bank, @FSNBna, and our community made every scenario come to life, helping students connect what they learn in school to how money moves in the real world. These students left ready to make smarter choices today and even bigger moves tomorrow! #JAFinancePark #EducationForWhatsNext #MoneyMoves @lowrancek8 @MSCSK12

40 years of strikes and spares for student success! 🎳 This year’s ruby anniversary of JA Bowlin’ on the River Bowl-a-thon brought together accounting, corporate, and community teams for a night of fun, friendly competition, and big impact in making #EveryChildWorldReady. Huge thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating four decades of bowlin’ for a cause and to our friends at Billy Hardwicks All Star Lanes for hosting another unforgettable event. Fundraising stays open until October 31, so there’s still time to make your impact and keep those pins (and pledges) rolling. Stay tuned to see who wins the coveted traveling trophy! 🏆 bowlathon.com Our incredible Fall bowlers: @Allstate Arthur Horne Law Group @BaptistOnline @cbz @Deloitte Edge Memphis @EY_US @ForvisMazarsGrp @kapsi1911 JA Young Professionals Board @KPMG The Marston Group @rbgcpa @TateComputers @WUCPAS See you in the Spring for Round 2 of the 40th! #JAMM70 #JABAT40 #JABowlAThon #FutureReady

This week at JA BizTown, students proved they’re ready for what’s next. 🏙 5th graders from Germanshire Elementary and Cromwell Elementary stepped confidently into the world of work to manage businesses, collaborate as teams, and discover how every decision shapes their city’s success. Thanks to our incredible volunteers from @FSNBna, Planters Bank, @Truist, University of Memphis, @YMCAMemphis, @FirstHorizonBnk, @BCBST, @MSCSK12, and our amazing parent volunteers who gave their time to make an impact. This is more than a field trip. It’s a launchpad to a future full of possibility. 💚 #JABizTown #EveryChildWorldReady #FutureReady #WhatsNext

“Today at JA BizTown I learned that loving your job makes every day better.” – 6th grader, New Albany Middle School 💼 Through our partnership with @Toyota, students are discovering what it means to find purpose in their work and see how their passions can power their future. Thank you, Toyota, for helping us inspire the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs to be #FutureReady! #JAInspires #JABizTown #EveryChildWorldReady

We loved having college students from @Creighton and @LSU join us today through @Serve901 to volunteer in JA BizTown! 💛 Our JA BizTown students light up when they connect with their “big friends” and today’s encouragement, high-fives, and post-sale celebrations made a lasting mark. Watching one generation of learners inspire the next is what it’s all about. 🤝 College groups, we’d love to have you join us too! Learn more about getting involved through Serve901 or jamemphis.org/volunteer Together, we’re building bridges between generations and helping make #EveryChildWorldReady! #JABizTown #JAInspires #Serve901

Fifth graders at Winchester Elementary in Whitehaven went on a history adventure today during our JA Career Speaker Series! 📚🔎 RaSean Jenkins from @MSCSK12 shared how his curiosity about growing up in Whitehaven—wondering how and why his own neighborhood looked different from others in the city—sparked his passion for urban history and led him to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and now doctoral studies in the field. He encouraged these students to become “detectives of the past” right now, showing how their own curiosities can lead to discovery and even a career path! #EveryChildWorldReady #FutureLeaders #CuriousMinds #JACareerSpeakerSeries

Keystone Elementary School's 3rd and 4th graders got a hands-on lesson in banking during today’s JA Career Speaker Series with Demecia Todd from @FSNBna! 💵 She showed students how the math they’re learning in class connects directly to the world of finance. She even brought withdrawal forms so they could practice filling them out, and a few students were already dreaming BIG with “one trillion dollar” withdrawals! It’s never too early to start honing skills like these, and Demecia made it clear that every student has the potential to be money smart. #JACareerSpeakerSeries #EveryChildWorldReady #FinancialLiteracy #FutureLeaders #MoneyMath