Junior Achievement of Dallas (JA Dallas) and Richardson Independent School District (RISD) opened the JA Discovery Center at Greenwood Hills Learning Center on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a ribbon-cutting followed by a community open house. The experiential learning center is a hands-on financial literacy and career readiness space where students run a simulated city and build a personal budget.

Every RISD fifth grader and every RISD seventh grader will participate in learning experiences at the center. That totals 5,000 students in the first year, and more than 7,500 annually at full capacity.

Speakers in the ribbon-cutting ceremony included:

• Tabitha Branum, superintendent, Richardson ISD
• Chris LaTurno, president and CEO, JA Dallas
• Angie Lee, executive director of student success and leadership, Richardson ISD
• Wendy Stewart, board chair, JA Dallas

Attending the evening’s celebration were Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, Richardson ISD board of trustee members, JA Dallas board of directors members, community sponsors of the JA Discovery Center and students who attend RISD schools and their families.

The center is built as a small city with familiar Richardson-area landmarks like Main Street and storefronts sponsored by area businesses including CORE Construction, Credit Union of Texas, FedEx, Glenn Partners, Richardson ISD, State Farm and Toyota.

RISD fifth graders will spend weeks in the classroom on business and economics, then come to the center for JA BizTown. They apply for jobs, run the storefronts, open bank accounts, pay taxes, meet payroll and take out and repay business loans.

Seventh graders will come for JA Finance Park beginning in spring 2027, where they build a personal budget, evaluate financial choices and manage real-life scenarios tied to income and expenses.

"At The JA Discovery Center, we aim to help young people see themselves and opportunity differently," said LaTurno. "It’s about a fifth grader realizing they could own a business someday, and a seventh grader understanding that the smart financial choices they make today can shape the life they build tomorrow. "The fifth grader who discovers maybe I could own a business someday. The seventh grader who begins to understand that the choices they make today can shape the life they build tomorrow."

The JA Discovery Center also revives a piece of district history. RISD previously ran its own simulated city, Enterprise City, at Canyon Creek Elementary starting in 1985, and generations of RISD graduates still name it as a favorite school memory.

"One of the most difficult moments as a superintendent just a few years ago was making a recommendation to consolidate schools, and this school, Greenwood Hills, was one of them," said Branum. "But we delivered a promise that we were going to continue to invest in it and make it something special for their students and for generations to come. We have taken a space that, if we allowed, could be empty of dreams, and instead it hosts a whole new generation of dreams,"

"The open house ran from 6 to 8 p.m. with guided tours, a DJ, giant games, face painting, the Richardson Library outreach van and food provided by the Credit Union of Texas Community Grill. The first student sessions at the JA Discovery Center begin Sept. 15.

About Junior Achievement of Dallas
Junior Achievement of Dallas (JA Dallas) inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. For more than 70 years, the nonprofit organization has provided students across the region with hands-on learning experiences focused on financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship. During the 2025–26 school year, JA Dallas served 28,300 students with the support of 1,782 volunteers who gave 205,448 hours of their time. Since its founding, JA Dallas has reached more than 1.3 million students across the region. Research shows that JA alumni are more likely to pursue higher education, feel confident managing money, experience career success and start businesses. For more information, visit jadallas.org.

About Richardson Independent School District
Richardson Independent School District (RISD) serves 35,000 students across 49 schools with a strong commitment to academic excellence and student growth. Focused on its North Star Goal for every student, teacher and leader to meet or exceed their academic growth goals, RISD provides innovative learning opportunities through comprehensive academic programs, including magnet and career-focused pathways. RISD's focus on achievement, innovation and whole-child development prepares students for success in college, careers and life.