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Teen ENTREPRENEURS AT WORK! By: Jane Jacobsen NEW BEDFORD, MA- For the fifth summer, The City of New Bedford's CS2 - Communities and Schools for Success educational initiative, in collaboration with ArtWorks! Partners for the Arts and Community, hosted 20 local teens in an innovative "summer of work and learning" program. The six-week summer program started July 9 and finished on August 17. While earning minimum wage, teens began their workday at 8:30 am and ended at 2:00 pm. During this time, the teens paired new entrepreneurial training and art skills to produce viable small business plans accompanied by creative logo designs and promotional materials. In the morning session, at Webster Bank in downtown New Bedford, teens learned the fundamentals of starting their own business. They were given the opportunity to become economically-productive members of society by improving their academic, business, technological, and life skills. For example, they learned how to draft a strong mission statement and marketing plan for their business as well as calculate monthly operating costs, projected yearly income statements, return on investment, and time-management plan. Utilizing the Massachusetts Work-Based Learning plan, instructors worked with the teens on developing job- readiness skills, understanding the supervisor/employee relationship, and also provided assistance with their written and oral presentation skills; a key component since they were expected to present their business plans to a panel of community and business leaders during the final week of the program. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) curriculum is taught by Mr. Fred Pimentel and Mrs. Valerie Alves, business department teachers from NBHS. In the afternoon, the teens learned how to create marketing materials, PowerPoint presentations, and business cards at ArtWorks! Art and graphic design skills were taught by Ms. Lynne LaBerge and Mrs. Ivone Spencer, both of whom are part of the Communities and Schools for Success (CSē). Students gained familiarity design principles, using hand skills and computer graphics. Basic typography and layout skills, both on and off the computer, were explored. A visit to the local newspaper, The Standard Times, introduced the students to marketing and graphic design related jobs. Through this intense process, they created logos and marketing materials for their small businesses. Each year the curriculum is enhanced by business speakers, workshop presenters, trips to local businesses, and panel members who help the teens prepare and present their plans. Community partners this year include: The Standard Times, the One-Stop Career Center, Webster Bank, Oceans 18, J C Penney, Elaine's T-Shirts, BCC, and UMass Dartmouth. Plan presentations and community outreach was facilitated by Mrs. Jane Jacobsen of CS2. "Involvement in arts-related programs is one avenue by which teens can gain the skills they need to be productive participants in today's workforce. This program combines art, academic, and workforce skills making it engaging for our youth" states Ms. LaBerge. Funding for the program is provided by the Department of Labor and the Massachusetts Department of Education through the Youth Council of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. in collaboration with New Bedford Public Schools, New Directions South Coast, Inc., Artworks!, and The City of New Bedford's CS2 - Communities and Schools for Success educational initiative. 227 Union Street, Suite 206, New Bedford, MA 02740-5946 PH 508.979.1504 • FAX 508.979.5680 E-mail: Webmaster@gnbwib.org |