Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator
Coming in 2026, the Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator is an interactive and responsive career exploration experience designed to inspire high school students to uncover their passions and talents on the path to a meaningful future.
Through classroom learning and the two-hour Dream Accelerator experience, students gain valuable personal insight combined with real-world situations that help them envision where their chosen paths can take them while inspiring an entrepreneurial mindset.
See Dream Accelerator in Action!
A New Kind of Dream
The Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator helps students understand how their personal qualities and aspirations can support passion-driven careers. Students will:
- Gain inspiration from local professionals and tailored stories, while learning about the costs of adult lifestyles and necessary steps for post-graduation success
- Build skills in career readiness, money management, entrepreneurship, and workforce development while reflecting on their future goals
How We Bring the Dream Accelerator to Life
On-Site | Twin Cities Metro
In February 2026, JA North opened the doors to the on-site JA Dream Accelerator at our Hemak Learning Center in St. Paul, MN. This one-of-a-kind, immersive simulation now has the capacity to serve up to 10,000 students each year.
Mobile | MN, ND, & Western WI
To remove barriers and ensure accessibility, JA North is also equipping two mobile JA Dream Accelerator units that will expand the experience to sites across our three-state area. Hitting the road in 2026, we'll be able to serve up to 35,000 students annually by bringing JA Dream Accelerator to you!
Help Make Dream Accelerator a Reality
To launch the Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator, we’re embarking on an $8.5M fundraising campaign. $3.5M will be directed toward capital expenses, including all building construction at our St. Paul facility, furnishing, fixtures, and equipment. The remaining dollars will help fund the $1M in annual operating expenses for the first five years.
At scale, the JA Dream Accelerator will have the capacity to serve up to 45,000 students annually and is estimated to be $25 per student – the lowest program expense for any JA North program.
Inspired to learn more?
Contact Sara Dziuk, President & CEO of JA North