South Fayetted-based Junior Achievement seeks applicants for leadership program

Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, headquartered in South Fayette, is looking for 50 high school-age girls to take part in the Intern to VP Professional Branding and Leadership Development Training Program taught by Moments of Focus LLC.

The program educates young women in leadership, professional development and personal branding. During four two-hour classes, participants engage in lectures and activities to learn how to discover their personal brands, prequalify for future opportunities, identify goals and action plans, improve communication skills, and launch their brand on social media.

“Social media can provide young women more professional opportunities than ever before, as long as they understand how to utilize it,” said Patrice Matamoros, president of JA. “Intern to VP provides our participants with a 10-year head start on leveraging their personal brands to stand out in the professional world.”

The program is taught by brand and leadership development expert BeNeca Griffin, a White House-recognized community leader, author and producer who previously served as a speaker for the National Football League Players Association. Her Moments of Focus corporate program has been taught nationwide at institutions such as Toyota USA, Howard University and American Water, and she’s excited to continue extending the program to high school-age girls.

“This program has taught me lessons I never imagined learning at my age,” said 2022 Intern to VP graduate Cara Salerno. “It opened my eyes to the possibility of being my own boss and starting my own business, and I now have the confidence to step up and take control of my future.”

JA will accept applications for high school-aged girls residing in the 56-county footprint of western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia through noon Dec. 1.

For more information, visit westernpa.ja.org. Organizations looking to support Intern to VP can contact Bill Lucas at blucas@jawesternpa.org.