Junior Achievement of Arkansas is expanding financial literacy and career readiness education in the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta thanks to a new two-year investment from the Walton Family Foundation.
The initiative will serve students in Jefferson and Phillips counties in Arkansas, as well as Coahoma County, Mississippi, providing hands-on instruction in budgeting, saving, credit and career exploration.
Working alongside Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, the program will offer a K-12 financial literacy pathway that includes classroom lessons, a high school financial literacy course and virtual career exploration opportunities.
More than 2,500 students are expected to participate each year in school districts including Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, KIPP Delta, Helena-West Helena, Clarksdale and Friendship Aspire Academy.
“This investment allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact in the Delta,” said Tonya Villines, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Arkansas. “We are equipping students with the financial knowledge and career exposure they need to make informed decisions and build successful futures.”
The initiative is designed to help students develop practical money management skills while introducing them to potential career paths. Programming will include student assessments, project-based learning and opportunities to interact with local business volunteers, giving students real-world perspectives while helping educators measure learning outcomes.
The new programs are scheduled to begin in fall 2026, with additional expansion planned throughout the two-year grant period. For more information, click here.
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