Legislative Days give students the chance to meet with local and state leaders to promote the impact of iJAG and share their personal stories and aspirations for the future while putting their leadership and soft skills into practice. This year, more than 250 students visited the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines across two separate days. During the event, we were able to catch up with iJAG senior, Sisi, of Cedar Rapids Prairie High School. Read more in this article about her journey from Africa and how our program has inspired her plans for the future.

What’s the importance of iJAG’s middle school program model? A comprehensive support system filled with strategies that help youth remediate early onset academic challenges, get connected with community resources at a young age, and receive awareness about potential career paths!

Volunteer and support the state’s largest youth leadership conference of the year! iJAG is looking for virtual volunteers to judge preliminary student competitions between February 5 – 9, 2024. Competitions include Business Plan, Career Prep, Prepared Speaking, Project-Based Learning Showcase, Employability Skills, and the L.O.V.E. Project.

Our drive to jobs in skilled trades is creating sparks! As employer partnerships continue to grow, so do opportunities for our students.

Just last week, iJAG student Matthew Deshamp of GMG High School earned first place in a welding competition open to students across the state. The competition took place at the Skilled Trades Convention hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa.

Earlier this month, eight student leaders joined staff members for an annual trip to Washington, D.C. From meeting up with iJAG alum and National Career Association President Kira Canada for some sight-seeing to visiting with Iowa legislators on Capitol Hill before attending the National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA), this trip was filled with unforgettable experiences that help shape our young people and the future of iJAG.

This fall, we were thrilled to launch the iJAG ALUMNi NETWORK with kickoff events in Des Moines and Iowa City. With more than 30 alumni in attendance, it was humbling to hear firsthand how our program and Education Specialists have made a life-changing impact on their careers and lives.