Our Mission
Junior State of America, a student-led organization, prepares a diverse community of high school students to participate effectively in our democracy. We offer hands-on civic programs designed to activate the talents of young people, instill values of respect and understanding, and inspire them to be a new generation of American leaders.
Our History
JSA has been engaging tomorrow’s young leaders with civic issues and activism for over 85 years.
What started as a conversation became a nationwide community.
In 1934, Ernest Rogers organized a “Conference of Youth on American Ideals” at the Montezuma Mountain School for Boys in Los Gatos, CA. As the country began to emerge from the Great Depression, Rogers hoped to find a way to motivate students for the tasks of public service. He knew that a key to this enthusiasm lay in bringing students together to engage with issues of the day through discussion and debate in a respectful space. This principle has guided JSA throughout our history and remains as relevant to our national network today as it was to that original cohort of ten.
During its history, the Junior State of America has seen both incremental changes and dramatic growth. We were an innovator in offering college prep summer experiences at some of our nation’s most prestigious universities, which introduced many civics-minded students to our school-year program. Those students who weren’t JSA members wanted to bring JSA to their own areas and were empowered to start their own school year chapters. This student demand has brought our student-led, school-year experiences across the country, turning JSA into a national community, with chapters in 35 U.S. states, and eight territories.
The future of JSA is more exciting than ever, with new opportunities for students to connect with each other outside the bounds of chapter, region, or state. Today, there is a spirit of experimentation and collaboration that is unparalleled in our organization’s history, as we leverage new technology and a renewed student appetite for change in response to the times. Once again, the students of Junior State of America are finding opportunities to connect in innovative, inclusive, equitable ways and will be the ones defining what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America, and JSA.
Meet Meg G.
Meg found her second home at her high school’s JSA chapter. She became so fond of the warm dynamic that was created in the club, even though they were all completely online.
Our Publications
JSA’s annual reports are a compilation of our accomplishments and mission in action.
2023 Annual Report
We are excited to share JSA’s impact over the past year in our 2023 annual report. Read the full report.