Junior Achievement of Eastern Shore to bring unique experience to 10,000 students

SALISBURY, Md. – Progress is being made at the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury. The mini city is expected to open its doors in September, welcoming 10,000 students from seven counties across Maryland and Virginia’s Eastern Shores.

A Taste of the Real World

It’s outfitted with mock storefronts, where students will learn how to do things like buy a car, get insurance, hold down a job, and more.

“You might be 48 years old, have two kids, make $50,00 a year, and you’ve got to buy a house, buy a car, go grocery shopping, all of those things,” said President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, Jayme Hayes. “What’s unique about this, is local corporate sponsors get to outfit their storefronts and make it as realistic and immersive as possible.”

“Tell them the rules and give them the parameters,”

Hayes says it’s an experience that not every student gets to have. Adding, it makes a huge difference in their preparedness post graduation.

“I always use this analogy; you can’t talk to kids about soccer, right? You can tell them the rules and give them the parameters,” said Hayes. “But, until they get on the field and see what it feels like to run and kick a ball and have someone try to take the ball from you, it doesn’t click. And, that’s a problem with some of the things that we do. We don’t give students a chance to try it out.”

Woven into the Curriculum

But with a memorandum of understanding between Junior Achievement and local school districts, Hayes says now students will be guaranteed a taste of the real world.

“This will be woven into the curriculum. So, we’re not building this and hoping they’ll come. The schools have been an integral part in making sure that this all comes to fruition,” said Hayes. “They will implement 17 or 18 lessons prior to coming to the experience.”

Looking Ahead

More than financial literacy skills, the students will also gain a new lease on life.

“I’ve been to many of these across the United States,” said Hayes “And, there’s nothing better than the kids’ faces when the doors open and they see this beautiful city. It’s very empowering to be an adult, even for four and a half hours.”

Construction on the exterior of the building is expected to be complete in August. Inside, work should be done by July. The Center hopes to welcome its first round of students in September.