JSA changes lives, and we need your help! The Junior State of America (JSA) is the largest student-run organization in the nation. This non-partisan organization seeks to develop active citizens for the future through leadership building, community service, and political discussion. South Jersey Chapter members have worked hard to have been named chapter of the year twice and have come in second for the national civic award twice among 10,000 students. Student leaders from our chapter have held regional and state level elected positions and our chapter offers fifteen leadership positions each with distinct responsibilities. As part of our community service efforts, we have raised over $20,000 from benefit concerts, have …show more content…
The young people are able to voice opinions on political and social issues, refine ideas through debates and thought talks, and attend activism events and mock congresses. At the first annual convention, the students will debate and discuss current issues revolving around the convention’s theme "Opportunities and Obstacles: Fulfilling the American Dream." Its application in today's society will be the central idea which will allow for topics varying from cultural appropriation to the 2016 presidential election. At the Winter Congress convention, students will participate in a mock congress by writing, presenting, and debating legislation. Finally, at the last annual convention of the year, students will debate topics of education, foreign policy, social issues, inequality, healthcare, government spending, and the economy. We will also participate in campaigns, learn about candidates, and make educated votes, as it will be election season for our state and regional elected official positions.
These conventions are so vital to the chapter’s mission that we have established a scholarship fund to cover costs of attendance so that no one will be priced out of the marketplace of ideas. If we raise $15,000, we can send all our members to all three annual conventions. I would ask you to join us in our mission to enrich our students’ lives by giving a gift. A donation to our scholarship fund is an investment in the future, as you will be directly building the next generation of