Michelle Jackson is all about strengthening the community by empowering its youth. As the president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, Jackson believes that addressing the economy at the grassroots levels of youth and education has far-reaching impact.
“When you have youth that grow up and know how to manage their resources, what is expected of them in their careers and know how to act professionally, then we have less need for other services like food, shelter and clothing,” she said. “We then have more citizens who can contribute to our communities’ other needs and invest in other areas of community education.”
The goal for Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada is to bridge the gap between what students are learning in school and life outside the classroom. Under Jackson’s leadership, the nonprofit has expanded and thrived. Last year, JASN received national recognition when it received Junior Achievement’s Five Star Award following six Four Star years. The honor highlights the growth of the nonprofit, including a 78% increase of students and a 124% increase of contact hours, which is well above the national average.
Jackson is dedicated to providing financial education to students in the Clark County School District, in which financial literacy courses are not offered. Over the course of the pandemic, she and her team provided innovative solutions through online courses and even a virtual career fair.
In addition to her extensive work at Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, Jackson also serves on the Nevada JumpStart board of directors and is a fellow with the Jameson Fellowship. She finds great satisfaction working with up-and-coming leaders in the nonprofit industry and spends time giving back by mentoring those professionals and participating as a member of the Nonprofit Female CEOs.