Junior State Of America

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, JSA SUPPORTS HIGH SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS. JSA'S FULL-TIME STAFF AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER TEACHER ADVISORS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS SUPERVISION FOR THE STUDENT-LED PROGRAMS. THE SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO 9 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, AND SOUTHEAST STATE. 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, 2023, A TOTAL OF 3,888 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN JSA CONVENTIONS. THE AVERAGE FIVE-YEAR STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN JSA CONVENTIONS IS 6,305. 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 MORE THAN 20 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 REGIONAL EVENTS EACH YEAR.

SUMMER PROGRAMS (YWLI, CIP, BURD INSTITUTE) - JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA ADMINISTERS SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES AND TERRITORIES. IN THE FIVE YEARS LEADING UP TO THE PANDEMIC, AN AVERAGE OF 278 STUDENTS ATTENDED BOTH JUNIOR STATE SUMMER SCHOOL AND INSTITUTE PROGRAMS FOR AN AVERAGE 1,683 EDUCATION DAYS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, JSA OFFERED FOUR SUMMER PROGRAMS: BURD INSTITUTE ON MEDIA & POLITICS, STERN CIVICS IMMERSION PROGRAM ("CIP"), CIVICS IMMERSION MICRONESIA, AND YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. THE GENE A. BURD INSTITUTE ON MEDIA & POLITICS IS AN ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON 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 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 STERN CIVICS IMMERSION PROGRAM IS A THREE WEEK INTENSIVE INPERSON PROGRAM. CIP FEATURED 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. CIVICS IMMERSION MICRONESIA IS A WEEK-LONG PROGRAM OFFERED ON AN ISLAND IN SAIPAN AND IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE LONGER THREE WEEK STERN CIVICS IMMERSION PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS IN THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES AND TERRITORIES.