Junior Achievement North and the CenterPoint Energy Foundation celebrate investments in experiential learning and career exploration for Minnesota students
Today, Junior Achievement North and the CenterPoint Energy Foundation celebrated the opening of the CenterPoint Energy shop at Junior Achievement North’s facility in St. Paul, which will support learning and career exploration for elementary, middle and high school students throughout Minnesota. Junior Achievement North’s on-site interactive programs provide students with hands-on opportunities to run a business, explore potential future career pathways, and practice personal finance and budgeting skills.
The CenterPoint Energy shop will highlight the diverse careers that exist in the energy industry and how those careers benefit their local communities. When running the shop, students perform jobs necessary to operate a utility company, such as reading meters to verify energy use, building a cost-effective energy system by weighing benefits and evaluating opportunities when routing new infrastructure, and promoting vital safety campaigns like calling 811 before any digging project.
To develop the CenterPoint Energy shop, its associated curriculum and to support student access to educational opportunities, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation awarded a $150,000 grant to Junior Achievement North.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome CenterPoint Energy to our family of shops at our experiential learning center in St. Paul! This wonderful partnership is essential to our mission of providing high-quality, immersive learning experiences for young people. Together, we’re equipping them to lead empowered, fulfilling vocational and personal lives beyond the classroom” said Junior Achievement North Vice President of Partnerships Maryse Birr.
The hands-on activities at Junior Achievement North offer in-person experiences in a simulated city at Junior Achievement North’s St. Paul facility. Several weeks of classroom learning culminates in a day-long visit where students are paired with volunteers to work in one of the shops or move through a series of structured financial budgeting simulations. The CenterPoint Energy shop and other shops at Junior Achievement North provide students with the ability to develop leadership skills and confidence by learning how to run a business, practice budgeting skills and govern a simulated community.
CenterPoint Energy Vice President for Minnesota Gas Brad Steber remarked, “The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is proud to support Junior Achievement in inspiring our next generation of leaders and empowering them to see the possibilities that exist for them in their future careers. Through the CenterPoint Energy shop at BizTown, we are excited to showcase the diversity of rewarding careers that exist in energy and how those careers support the vitality of our communities.”
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation strives to be a catalyst in the communities it serves by leveraging everyday opportunities and resources to increase the vibrancy of these communities. Grants are awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations with programs that support community vitality and education in CenterPoint Energy’s footprint.
About Junior Achievement North
Junior Achievement North focuses on empowering students and creating equitable access to opportunities across Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin. Junior Achievement North prepares young people with the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Through experiential learning focused on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship, students build the skills required to succeed in today’s dynamic world. More information about Junior Achievement North and their programs can be found at: JANorth.org.
About the CenterPoint Energy Foundation
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where CenterPoint Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. In Minnesota, the Foundation contributes close to $2 million annually in charitable gifts to nonprofit organizations. More information about the Foundation can be found at CenterPointEnergy.com/Foundation.
