At our most recent meeting, we welcomed Pelletier, President of Junior Achievement of Southern MA. Jeff lives in New Bedford and is the father of three kids, including one newborn son. His first interaction with Rotary was overseas in college when he did nonprofit work in Haiti and Honduras. His translator (and later wife) was a Honduras Rotary member. Thankful for the longterm support of JA from Rotary, board member Will Mendonca and Lou Ricciardi. JA is about empowering young people and preparing them for success, giving them the gift of optimism for the future, as well as taking inspiration and training them into reality, empowering, preparing and making our region better. Over 7,000 students are in JA, double the amount in the last three years. 100% of the programs are free. He has worked closely with former and present superintendents Hackett and Cabral to integrate with the Taunton schools, dramatically expanding their offerings. 650 students in Taunton are apart of JA each year which includes all of Elizabeth Pole school. Currently working with Bennett and Taunton High to expand programming there as well. 

More information can be found on their website. https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-somass/.

1. Financial Literacy - Foundation skill, teaching them real hard work
2. Work Readiness- Preparing to work from K to 12th grade. In Bristol and Plymouth County
3. Entrepreneurship- encouraging young people to create their own job and company