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PERSPECTIVES
Citi Volunteers Teach Economic Empowerment to P.S. 96 in East Harlem, New York
July 29, 2014
By Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi, CEO Citi Holdings and Board Chair of JA Worldwide
Earlier this summer, a group of fellow colleagues and I teamed up with JA New York and JA New Jersey (Junior Achievement) to bring experiential learning in entrepreneurship, workplace readiness and financial literacy to more than 100 elementary school students at P.S. 96 in East Harlem, New York.
Teams of Citi volunteers brought their real-world business expertise, passion and creativity to teach 3rd and 4th grade students about basic economics, creating businesses, as well as the types of resources and the impacts of business on communities. The interactive JA curriculum is designed to provide young people with educational experiences that highlight the connections between school and the real-world, nurture their talent and energy, as well as foster self-reliance.
This event was a great opportunity to give back to our community, and to engage and mentor the young students at P.S. 96. Delivering practical education in financial literacy, workplace readiness and entrepreneurship, JA's educational pillars empower young people to understand their ability to engage in their own economic development and enrich their capacity to contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies. And, it is critical to the future of our global economy.
I am proud to be a champion of JA and its work in 123 countries around the world. I am also very proud to see our Citi employees volunteer their time to support this outstanding organization. Through its programs, JA gives professionals an opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences in ways that are empowering for students and personally rewarding for volunteers. I am continually inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved with JA.
This event was funded by Citi Community Development with a contribution that, earlier this year, also supported two JA programs in Queens. This year, nearly 200 Citi employees in the New York area will share their financial expertise with students. Citi's participation with JA NJ and NY is estimated to reach approximately 2,000 students, a majority of whom are from underserved communities.
My experience this summer with JA in NY, is part of Citi and the Citi Foundation's engagement with the JA organization across the world. Every year, more than 2,000 Citi volunteers mobilize to participate in JA youth programs and this complements the grant investments the Citi Foundation provides to JA throughout more than 40 countries.