Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain and Economic Literacy Colorado merge

Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA-Rocky Mountain) and Economic Literacy Colorado (ELC) announced they have merged, effective Sept. 1. The combined organization will operate as JA-Rocky Mountain; ELC will become a program of JA-Rocky Mountain.

JA-Rocky Mountain and ELC have more than 125 years of combined experience preparing students to achieve personal financial sustainability and self-sufficiency.

“Their programs complement each other, and the combination allows for a more complete approach to meeting the growing and changing needs of our students, teachers and schools. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise and resources to deliver high-quality educational programs to teachers and students,” JA-Rocky Mountain said in a statement released Tuesday.

“The merger is a multiplier, increasing our effectiveness and impact,” said JA-Rocky Mountain president and CEO Robin Wise. “It represents a major step forward in ensuring that young people develop the skill sets, mindsets, and connections that empower them to lead meaningful and choice-filled lives in our free market economy.”

JA-Rocky Mountain’s financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs bring learning to life, reinforce new concepts with hands-on experiences, and support the development of core competencies needed for an ever-changing economy. They align with national and state educational standards and are delivered to students with the help of education partners and volunteers from the local community.

The addition of ELC’s quality professional development for educators ensures that teachers embrace the concepts that students learn through JA programs so that they can better educate their students. ELC’s university-accredited economics and personal finance programs will continue to be offered at low or no cost to teachers by raising sufficient funds.

“This merger not only honors ELC’s legacy but also amplifies our capacity and expands our reach to ensure that teachers possess knowledge and tools they need to inspire economic understanding and financial literacy among students,” said ELC President Amy Sherman. “When you educate one teacher in personal finance and economics, you reach classrooms full of future decision-makers for many years to come.” Sherman will join the JA-Rocky Mountain team as vice president of public affairs.

JA-Rocky Mountain programs provided in the past will continue to be offered at no cost to students and schools. ELC’s university-accredited graduate-level continuing education for educators will continue to be offered at low or no cost to teachers by raising sufficient funds. The organizations will communicate additional information as it becomes available by email and through their websites, JA-Rocky Mountain and ELC.